Business Details
31 Years
experience
Creative Advertising & Marketing Agency in Chapel Hill
Rivers Agency is a full-service creative agency with 30 years of experience helping brands navigate complexity through innovative solutions. Founded as a woman-owned, woman-led business, we maintain an 89% employee retention rate in a fast-paced industry by fostering a collaborative environment where interdisciplinary teams deliver tailored strategies. Our approach combines deep listening, rigorous problem-solving, and adaptability to create impactful brand experiences across diverse sectors.We prioritize client partnerships over transactional relationships, assembling specialized teams for each project while maintaining independence as a founder-run organization. Our work spans brand strategy, digital transformation, and campaign development, driven by a commitment to simplicity as our core strength.
Services
Brand Strategy
Design
Campaigns
Social Media
Public Relations
Content Production
E-Commerce Development
Web Development
Paid Media
Digital Strategy
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We have 30 years of experience in creative brand strategy and marketing.
- Our woman-owned agency maintains an 89% employee retention rate.
- We employ 235+ experienced specialists across interdisciplinary teams.
- Our founder-led structure enables client-focused decision-making without corporate bureaucracy.
- We combine data-driven strategy with creative execution for measurable results.
Services
Brand Strategy
Our brand strategy services create cohesive market identities through data-driven research and competitive analysis. We develop positioning frameworks that align with business objectives while maintaining brand consistency across all touchpoints. Our approach combines market insights with creative execution to build lasting brand equity for clients across industries.
E-Commerce Development
We build scalable e-commerce platforms using Magento, Shopify, and custom solutions that drive sales growth. Our development team integrates enterprise systems while optimizing user experiences for conversion. From platform selection to ongoing support, we ensure digital storefronts align with brand strategy and business goals.
Social Media Management
Our social media services combine strategic content planning with real-time engagement to build brand communities. We develop platform-specific strategies that maintain consistent messaging while adapting to evolving trends. Our team manages content creation, community interaction, and performance analytics across major social channels.
Public Relations
We craft media relations strategies that position clients as industry thought leaders through targeted storytelling. Our services include press release development, media outreach, and crisis communication planning. We maintain relationships with key industry publications to secure strategic brand exposure.
Web Development
Our web development team creates responsive, SEO-optimized websites that serve as brand cornerstones. We specialize in user experience design, technical implementation, and ongoing maintenance. From information architecture to conversion optimization, we ensure websites effectively represent brand identities while meeting business objectives.
People
Lauren Rivers
CEO, Founder
Lauren founded Rivers Agency 30 years ago with a vision for client-focused creative solutions. She leads strategic direction while maintaining hands-on involvement in key client partnerships.
Sarah Owens
Chief Creative Officer
Sarah oversees all creative output, ensuring innovative design solutions that align with brand strategies. With 15+ years at Rivers, she leads the creative team in developing award-winning campaigns.
Ian Anderson
Chief Technology Officer
Ian directs technical operations, specializing in digital platform development and e-commerce solutions. He ensures technological excellence across all client projects while leading the agency's web development team.
Claire Blevins
Creative Director
Claire leads brand strategy initiatives, combining market insights with creative execution. She develops comprehensive brand frameworks that maintain consistency across multiple channels and touchpoints.
Evan Jacobson
Operations Director
Evan manages agency operations, maintaining the 89% employee retention rate through effective team management. He oversees resource allocation and ensures efficient project delivery across all departments.
Questions
What industries do you specialize in?
We work across diverse sectors including technology, healthcare, education, and consumer goods, adapting our expertise to each client's unique needs.
How do you approach client collaboration?
We assign dedicated account teams who combine cross-disciplinary expertise to develop customized solutions aligned with each client's business objectives.
What sets your agency apart?
Our founder-led structure enables agile decision-making while maintaining 30 years of accumulated expertise in creative strategy and execution.
Do you handle both strategy and implementation?
Yes, we provide end-to-end services from strategic planning through creative execution and technical implementation across all marketing channels.
How do you measure campaign success?
We use data-driven metrics aligned with your business goals, including brand awareness, engagement rates, and conversion performance tracking.
Can you support multi-channel marketing efforts?
Our integrated approach combines brand strategy, digital marketing, and traditional media to create cohesive cross-channel experiences.
Reviews (7)
Mr. Bright
Jun 17, 2022
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The woman or girl answered the phone and said Mercy. She was the devil herself. Super rude. So rude it blew my mind. So rude unbelievable.
Lily Rosenberg
May 29, 2022
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My internship experience at Rivers exceeded all my expectations. The team has such a client-focused work ethic. They truly care about the client's happiness and creating work that has meaning and drives results. I would recommend this internship to my friends because of how many experiences I had in just a semester. The people are kind, the office is open and naturally lit, and the hours are manageable as a full time student.
Kea Capel
Jan 29, 2022
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A sharp-edged take on every project we've brought to Rivers Agency keeps me coming back - with confidence. They're forward thinking, professional, creative and completely in tune with our messaging.
Danielle Healy
Sep 24, 2021
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I wish I could give them 10 stars. The professionalism, honesty, and the level of comfort & trust working with them is invaluable. They are worth every penny. They go above and beyond to ensure their clients receive a high caliber of service and manage expectations phenomenally. I highly recommend calling and learning about their services!
Schuyler Brown
Aug 17, 2021
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The Rivers team is the most competent, most responsive marketing organization I have worked with. Since 2013, when they designed a look that is still fresh today, they've helped keep my Shopify store working its best. Five stars.
Peggy Mattingly
May 02, 2016
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Excerpted from my email to Rivers: As for the final product, your staff did an OUTSTANDING JOB. Your staff took the outcome of it being an excellent product as seriously as I do, and it showed it in their attention to detail. You also have a wonderful team to work with - their professionalism is above and beyond, and I sincerely could not have been more pleased. I have already recommended your agency to a colleague.
I'm certain there were more people involved on the project than Sarah and Carrie so please extend my thanks and appreciation for a job extremely well done to all, but special thanks do go to those two and yourself for leading and carrying the project through to completion. Carrie did an outstanding job staying in contact with the online publication company to ensure continuity and completion of the work while keeping me well informed, and if possible, I'd give her a raise myself! Rivers is a cut above.
I'm certain there were more people involved on the project than Sarah and Carrie so please extend my thanks and appreciation for a job extremely well done to all, but special thanks do go to those two and yourself for leading and carrying the project through to completion. Carrie did an outstanding job staying in contact with the online publication company to ensure continuity and completion of the work while keeping me well informed, and if possible, I'd give her a raise myself! Rivers is a cut above.
Nancy Knowles
Feb 03, 2015
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We have worked with the Rivers Agency since our inception 1 years ago on projects ranging from logos to brochures, websites to event marketing materials. We are thrilled with the results! Rivers has been a true partner in helping us launch our brand and I simply cannot say enough good things about this team of talented and highly professional designers and developers. The Rivers Agency continues to be an integral part of our communications and marketing success. Nancy Knowles Director of Strategic Communications Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative Duke University