Pear (formerly Apparel Media Group)

Pear, formerly known as Apparel Media Group, operates a community-marketing platform that facilitates sponsorships between national brands and local community groups. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

The business model is centered on a nontraditional sponsorship framework. Grassroots organizations, such as local clubs, teams, and schools, partner with national brands through Pear's platform. These groups then engage in fundraising by encouraging their networks to interact with the sponsoring brand's online content. This structure provides brands with a turnkey solution for hyperlocal marketing on a national scale, aiming to generate measurable customer acquisition, brand affinity, and purchase intent. For the community groups, it offers a way to earn donations, custom apparel, or other services provided by their brand sponsors by completing these online tasks.

The platform is designed to serve two distinct client types. For brands and businesses, it offers a channel to build personal connections with consumers at a grassroots level. For groups, teams, and organizations, it provides a sponsorship and fundraising mechanism. The company's online platform helps drive digital engagement metrics that are valuable for video distribution, content creation, and consumer insights initiatives. Pear was recognized as one of the top places for Millennials to work in Chicago by Brill Street + Partners.

Keywords: community marketing, hyperlocal marketing, brand sponsorship, grassroots fundraising, customer acquisition, brand affinity, digital engagement, community sponsorship, nontraditional marketing, fundraising platform, brand partnerships, local marketing, community engagement, sponsorship programs