‘An incredible journey of growth, success, helping businesses scale’

Heather Graves

Staff

March 24, 2025

APPLETON – In the past 12 months, Freedom native Emilie Springstroh started her own business, had her work featured on Fox News Chicago, helped a client increase its customer base by more than 300% in less than three months and played a key role in amplifying the impact of the Outagamie County Fair.

And Springstroh said she’s only getting started.

As she celebrates the first anniversary of ES Marketing Solutions, she said she can’t help but reflect on the path that led her to realizing her dream of owning and operating her own marketing agency.

“Growth, both personal and professional, is a huge passion of mine,” she said. “I started ES Marketing Solutions to help businesses achieve the same in today’s ever-changing digital world.”

The path to here

Springstroh said she’s always been fascinated with the marketing industry.

“When I was younger, I would watch the ads on TV, and the ads intrigued me more than the TV,” she said. “I love the creativity and the psychology that goes into it. I’ve always kind of known that I wanted to have my own agency from a very young age.”

Over the years, Springstroh said that fascination continued to grow, and after graduating from Freedom High School, she attended Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC), where she obtained an associate’s degree in marketing.

“I got a certification in digital marketing as well,” she said. 

While at FVTC, Springstroh said she participated in DECA, going as far as nationals in 2023.

“I competed in the marketing management category, finding success qualifying as a national finalist, as well as being in the Top 10 competitors in my case study,” she said.

During college, Springstroh said she worked as a marketing intern for Jake’s Network of Hope.

“I helped with the creative side of things,” she said. “So, graphic design and whatnot.”

From there, Springstroh said she joined the team at VPI in Appleton as its marketing coordinator.

“That’s where I was before I said, ‘Okay, I’m going to take the leap and open my own agency’ – and that’s what I did,” she said. “I loved the work that I did there, but I knew it was time for me to open my own agency.”

Launching ES Marketing Solutions

As the founder – and for now the only employee – of ES Marketing Solutions, Springstroh said the inherent responsibility is what she likes most about being an entrepreneur.

“The direct output of the business is dependent on me and my efforts – I like that,” she said.

Springstroh said for her, it’s always been about helping people, and with ES Marketing Solutions, she can do just that.

“The fact that I get to use my creativity and knowledge to help other businesses grow – that’s huge for me, that’s what it’s all about,” she said. “When you talk with a client, and you see their faces light up and they’re just so appreciative and grateful – there’s really nothing like it.”

In its first year of operation, Springstroh said ES Marketing Solutions has helped a wide variety of small- and medium-sized businesses grow through effective marketing strategies and data-driven campaigns.

“I started ES Marketing Solutions to help businesses achieve the same in today’s ever-changing digital world,” she said.

Springstroh said the agency specializes in social media marketing, paid advertising and website development – “offering tailored strategies that drive real results.”

“Social media is obviously a huge thing right now – everybody has it,” she said. “Business owners recognize the importance of it and how they can leverage that to grow their business – not only by acquiring new interests, but by fostering those current relationships with their customers as well.”

That is an area of need that Springstroh said she saw as she contemplated starting ES Marketing Solutions.

“I saw that a lot of business owners don’t know the best strategies, or perhaps don’t have the time to put into social media,” she said. “That’s where I step in and help them with that growth.”

Finding success

Over the past year, Springstroh said ES Marketing Solutions has experienced significant growth – helping dozens of businesses expand their reach, strengthen their brand’s presence and achieve measurable growth.

In that time, Springstroh said many people have asked her what she’s enjoyed the most during the agency’s first year in business.

“I always say ‘I enjoy every single part of it,’” she said. “There’s nothing that I would rather do. The whole business has just been a dream.”

Though if she had to pinpoint it, Springstroh said it would have to be watching business grow through the help she provides.

“Contributing to their success, seeing how appreciative they are of that and how much it impacts not only their business but their lives as well – that’s the most rewarding part for me,” she said.

As far as some of the challenges she’s faced in the past year, Springstroh said “I would say time.”

“Time management has been somewhat of a challenge since I can work whenever,” she said. “I tend to work probably more than I should. But if it’s something you enjoy doing, it’s not ‘working,’ right?”

Springstroh said it’s been a year of “impactful results” for both ES Marketing Solutions and herself as a young professional.

Some of those results, she said, include:

Tripled client base

One of the agency’s early clients experienced more than a 300% increase in its customer base in less than three months. 

“Obviously, that had a huge financial impact on their business, but the appreciation and gratitude that client has shown me motivates me even more,” she said.

Major broadcast recognition

Springstroh said a website she designed for a client was featured on Fox News in Chicago – not only giving the client high-profile exposure but raising awareness of ES Marketing Solutions’ capabilities.

“That was a pretty cool thing to see,” she said.

Boosted awareness and engagement

Springstroh said ES Marketing Solutions played a key role in amplifying the Outagamie County Fair’s impact, drawing greater attention and participation from the community.

“This milestone reflects my amazing clients’ successes and how far we’ve come together,” she said. “There’s nothing better than contributing to the success of what others have worked so hard to build.”

Though ES Marketing Solutions focuses mainly on social media marketing, paid advertising and website development, Springstroh said her clientele has a much wider range.

“Whoever comes to me, I try to work with everybody,” she said. “Everybody has different goals, so I try to work with them however I can and give them the best advice.”

In terms of industries she works with, Springstroh said that varies greatly as well.

“There is a wide variety – restaurants, spas, logistic companies, manufacturing, transportation – I work with multiple industries.”

Springstroh said not having ES Marketing Solutions focus on a niche market or clientele base keeps things interesting.

“I love being a general agency, because there’s always something new, and you’re always learning,” she said. “Growth is a huge thing for me. I always love to be growing, so this helps me have the ability to do that.”

Just the beginning

Springstroh said she mentioned previously, for her and ES Marketing Solutions, “our journey is just beginning.”

She said this includes a soon-to-be-launched, self-paced course designed to equip those “looking to amp up their own social media game with the skills, tools and strategies they need to manage and grow their platforms effectively.”

“I recognized that a lot of smaller businesses (are looking for) more DIY solutions,” she said. “Many smaller businesses prefer to do their own marketing. The self-paced course will be for those business owners, so that I can still help a wide array of businesses even if they don’t need or want monthly social media management. Through this course, I can still give them the resources they need to do their best with social media and see that growth.”

Since the beginning, Springstroh said her main source of client growth has come from word-of-mouth advertising.

“People telling their business owner friends about me is how I have received most of my clients,” she said. “I hear a lot from clients about how trustworthy I am and how much I truly care about my clients.”

Springstroh said the “future is bright” for ES Marketing Solutions.

“We’re excited to expand our services, enhance our strategies and continue supporting more businesses in reaching new heights,” she said.

That growth, Springstroh said, will likely prompt the hiring of another person.

“I’m expecting to have to bring on someone fairly soon, just with the volume of clients that I have,” she said.

Further down the road, Springstroh said she anticipates bringing on more specialists to focus on each of ES Marketing Solutions’ services.

For more information, visit esmktgsolutions.com.