Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Prange.
Hi Bethany, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Right out of college, I launched my career as a journalist, starting as a news obituary writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I was privileged to learn from some of the most talented storytellers in the region. As the newspaper industry evolved and staff cuts became the norm, I transitioned into nonprofit marketing, determined to use my journalism skills to help organizations tell their stories with clarity and heart.
I spent years in communications at the St. Louis Area Foodbank and CASA of Southwestern Illinois, with a short stint at Washington University, before taking a leap of faith and starting my own business. When I founded 618 Creative, all I had was a dream, a second-hand laptop, and one client — a woman offering preschool tumbling classes. She referred me to a friend who owned an interior design business. That friend referred me to her husband who owned a chain of pizza restaurants. And from there, the referrals didn’t stop.
Ten years later, we’ve partnered with businesses of all sizes — banks, restaurants, realtors, retailers, construction firms, pet stores, nonprofits, cities, and more. During that first year, I said “yes” to everything a client or potential client asked for — whether I knew how to do it or not. Then I’d go home, open my laptop, and teach myself. It didn’t take long to realize I needed more hands and more talent.
Within the first year, I brought on Cintia Hecht, a brilliant graphic designer, photographer, and artist who is still with 618 Creative today. As our workload grew, we expanded again, adding two gifted editorial content writers and social media managers—Jennifer Mann, a former Post-Dispatch colleague, and Lindsey Kleinschmidt. And because so many clients needed websites, we welcomed Jessica Unger, an exceptional web designer and developer with a knack for elegant design and sharp troubleshooting.
We’ve remained a small but mighty team, and we pride ourselves on treating every client’s business with the same care we would give our own. When clients call, they talk directly to me. And every new project is an opportunity to build a long-term partnership. No two brands are alike, which is why our solutions are never one-size-fits-all. We customize every strategy to the needs, personality, and goals of each business, nonprofit, or personal brand.
The truth is that 618 Creative isn’t a traditional “agency” — and for our clients, that’s a great thing.
We’re a collaborative of independent creative professionals, experts in graphic design, photography, website development, editorial content writing, digital marketing, and social media management. We choose to collaborate because we love the work, and we’ve learned that the best results happen when we bring our strengths together.
When you partner with us, you get a consistent team of creatives dedicated to your brand. We each bring diverse experience from careers across journalism, nonprofits, corporate marketing, design, and development—giving our clients a deeper breadth of perspective than a typical agency structure can offer.
Above all, we pride ourselves on individualized attention, intentional strategy, and marketing that makes sense in the real world— not just on paper. Our mission is simple: to help you tell your story well and grow with confidence.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a small business isn’t easy — and anyone who says otherwise was either incredibly lucky or isn’t telling the whole truth. When I launched 618 Creative, I didn’t have investors, deep pockets, or a polished business plan. What I had was determination, a borrowed laptop, and a shoestring budget.
Oddly enough, that worked in our favor. It allowed us to truly connect with our earliest clients, many of whom were small business owners navigating the same challenges. We understood what it meant to stretch every dollar, so we helped them build marketing strategies that made the absolute most of the resources they had. Creativity wasn’t just part of our name; it was a necessity, and it shaped how we approached every project.
Like all small businesses, we’ve weathered the ups and downs of the economy and stood beside our clients through their own cycles of uncertainty and growth. In 2020, especially, we listened as many of our clients faced fears about the future. We helped them pivot — sometimes dramatically — by taking sales online for the first time, reinventing service models, and finding new ways to reach customers when the world suddenly shifted.
Those experiences didn’t just make us better marketers; they grounded us in empathy, resilience, and resourcefulness. They reinforced our belief that small businesses don’t just need marketing, they need partners who understand them, especially when times are tough.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about 618 Creative?
618 Creative is a marketing, branding, and web solutions collaborative based in southwestern Illinois/St. Louis metro east, and we exist to help businesses and nonprofits tell their stories with clarity, creativity, and purpose.
Unlike a traditional agency, we are a team of independent creatives — specialists in graphic design, photography, web development, editorial content, digital marketing, public relations, and social media management. We choose to collaborate because we love the work, and because we’ve learned that the best results happen when experts come together with a shared vision. Our clients benefit from a small, consistent team of creatives who truly get to know their brand.
What We Do & What We’re Known For
We help businesses of all sizes find their voice in the marketplace and reach new audiences through:
– Custom digital marketing strategies & social media management
– Website design and development that is beautiful, functional, and rooted in brand strategy
– Branding and rebranding, especially during periods of growth, transition, or change
– Design & photography that elevates visual identity across brochures, social media, advertising, billboards, and more
Every project begins with listening. Every client relationship begins with the belief that no two brands should be the same. We dig into who you are, what you offer, and what your audience needs. Then we build a strategy that fits the client, not a template.
What Sets Us Apart
We’re not an agency with layers of account managers. When clients call, they talk directly to the people doing the work. They get senior-level talent, personal attention, and a partnership built on trust and collaboration.
Our collaborative model allows us to tailor every service to each client’s unique needs and budget. We pride ourselves on offering marketing that works in the real world — not just on paper — and on being the kind of partner who grows with you.
What We’re Most Proud Of
Brand-wise, we’re proud of the reputation we’ve built for authenticity, creativity, and long-term relationships. Many of our clients have been with us for 5-10 years because they know we treat their business like our own.
They trust us to help them evolve, solve problems, find their voice, and navigate everything from new product launches to complete brand overhauls.
Recently, we had the joy of watching one of our earliest clients achieve her dream of opening a large store in a prime location—a full-circle moment that embodies why we do what we do and what long-term partnership truly looks like.
What We Want Readers to Know
618 Creative is here for the dreamers, the risk-takers, the community builders, and the organizations doing meaningful work. Whether you’re launching a new business, refreshing your brand, expanding your digital presence, or looking for a marketing partner who genuinely cares, our team is ready to help you tell your story and move your brand forward with confidence.
Any big plans?
In marketing, the future always feels like now. Trends shift quickly, technology evolves overnight, and our job is to help our clients stay ahead of the curve, not just keep up with it. As we look ahead, our plans focus on deepening our creative capabilities, expanding the services our clients rely on most, and continuing to sharpen the strategies that help their brands grow.
We’re excited to take on more creative, story-driven work; invest in new tools and training that enhance our digital and design services; and explore fresh ways to help clients connect with their audiences in an increasingly fast-paced marketplace.
While we don’t envision becoming a large, traditional agency, we do plan to keep strengthening our collaborative model—bringing in specialized talent when needed, refining our processes, and elevating the work we deliver.
Ultimately, our goal is simple: to keep getting better, keep learning, and keep giving our clients the most effective, thoughtful marketing strategies possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://618creative.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/618-creative
