Reilly Connect Unites 5-Time Olympic Swimmer, Dara Torres, with Life Time Fitness and AmLactin® Alpha-Hydroxy Skin Care

Reilly Connect brought AmLactin® Alpha-Hydroxy Skin Care together with, five-time Olympic swimmer and best-selling author, Dara Torres, and Life Time Fitness as part of a heavy-hitting, four month, 360° brand integration.

The campaign was designed to give healthy, active people important skin care information. Reilly Connect developed creative featuring Torres, which permeated clubs through 3’x7’ banners, posters, and digital signage, including a :30 TV spot showcasing how alpha-hydroxy therapy, the powerful formulation found in the AmLactin® line of products, works below the skin’s surface to exfoliate and moisturize dry skin. Reilly Creative developed creative to inspire Life Time’s members with print advertising featuring the 46-year old beauty, and the success Torres has had with AmLactin® in managing her skin challenges from years of training in chlorinated water. The ads appear in Life Time’s Experience Life magazine, reaching 2.8 million readers. The integration included a brand activation with sampling and product demonstrations in Life Time clubs throughout the country, along with a series of Facebook contests. The campaign culminated with Torres leading an intensive “spin class” at Life Time’s Chanhassen club for members, bloggers and the media. Reilly Connect kicked off Torres’ appearance with a live interview at NBC KARE11 News.

“This campaign is a great example of our expertise at conceptualizing and executing brand integrations,” said Susan Reilly, president, Reilly Connect.  “It shows our skills and understanding of rallying a powerful idea around paid, owned and earned media.”

Reilly Connect Produces Documentary to Help Chicagoans Celebrate Portillo’s 50th Anniversary

Reilly Connect had the honor of producing a documentary for iconic eatery, Portillo’s, to celebrate their 50th year in business. Entitled, “Portillos: 50 Years in the Making,” the 22-minute film tells the inspirational American Dream story of Chicago native, Dick Portillo, the founder and sole owner of the Portillo’s Restaurant Group.  A true “rags to riches” documentary, Reilly Connect showcased key chapters in Portillo’s immense success through stories told by Dick Portillo and his wife Sharon, Portillo’s employees, and Portillo’s cult-like customers.  The journey begins in Portillo’s first location, known as the “Dog House”, which Dick bought with a $1,100 investment that he and his wife were saving to buy their first home. Today, Portillo’s Restaurant Group includes five restaurant concepts with 50 locations and employs 4,000 people.  The documentary aired on December 6, 2013 on NBC Chicago. Reilly Connect extended the opportunity for viewership to customers and fans outside the NBC audience through YouTube and social media.

“We were so honored to put Reilly Connect’s creative team to the challenge of producing a documentary that showcases Dick Portillo’s legacy in a way that he deserved,” said Susan Reilly, president, Reilly Connect, who served as the documentary’s Executive Producer.  “Let’s just say we were not short of amazing stories from Dick, his family, friends, employees and Portillo’s faithful customers about their amazing journey over the last 50 years. This documentary demonstrates the breadth of our video capabilities and our skill at storytelling.  We had a great story to tell and Reilly Connect Video Production team demonstrated their talent by doing the Portillo’s story justice in a short format.”