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DigitalHipster’s New West Akron Office to Host Local Networking Events, Marketing Seminars & Internship Program

December 3, 2025 2:45 pm By InBusiness Strategy

For most of DigitalHipster’s life, I never felt the need for a physical office. We’ve always been a digital-first agency—born online, raised online—and honestly, after COVID hit, everyone seemed to embrace the work-from-home lifestyle. My home office became command central for more than 15 years: late-night website builds, strategy calls, client campaigns, video editing and enough coffee to power a small village.

But this year, something changed.

DigitalHipster has grown. I’ve grown. And while I’ve loved the freedom of working from home, it finally felt like the right moment to return to a physical space—somewhere with energy, presence, and room for new ideas. So we made the move from Highland Square to West Akron. It’s only a short eight-minute commute down the street, but it feels like a huge step forward.

And with this move comes something I’m genuinely excited about: we’re bringing on a new intern in January (more to come). Fresh talent, new energy, and someone eager to learn the ropes of digital marketing and advertising here in Akron. It feels good to be growing again—not just in clients, but in people.

This new office also opens the door to something I’ve been wanting to do for years: hosting networking events, small workshops, and marketing seminars for local business owners. Akron is full of hardworking entrepreneurs and creatives, and I want this space to be a place where people can learn, connect, and get real, practical insights into growing their businesses.

On day one, I was standing in our new office, trying to pick a painting for the wall.

I was looking for something abstract—but not the generic “hotel lobby” kind. Something creative and a little wild, but not so wild that I lose focus staring at it during a Zoom meeting. Maybe something rooted in nature, because that’s always where I’ve found clarity and calm. In the end I settled on a photograph my wife and I purchased and had framed some 30 years ago when we lived in Tempe, Arizona.  When we purchased the picture, our adult lives were just beginning. It was there I started my career in print advertising at Phoenix New Times before the Internet was really a thing. The funny thing is that back then I was deciding between taking a job at Merrill Lynch cold calling my friends and relatives for stocks, or getting into advertising. In the end, I went with advertising because it just seemed like more fun where I could use my creative talents.  As a 20-something-year-old, the prospect of free concert tickets and movie tickets (a perk of media sales) helped tilt the scale.

It’s funny how choosing artwork can feel symbolic. This office represents a new chapter for DigitalHipster—a chapter with more collaboration, more community, more growth—and I want every piece of the space to reflect that.

Here’s to the next chapter. I’m excited for what’s ahead.

 

About Matt Ross

Matt Ross is the President and Founder of DigitalHipster Inc. est. 2009.  Matt and his Wife Wendy have two adult sons. He's a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Alumni, a member of The Society of Martin Scholars at The University of Akron, and an active member in a few book clubs. When he's not deep in code and cranking music, or trying to keep up with the latest Google Algorithm, Matt is gardening, mountain biking, off-roading in his Jeep, writing for fun or being a guinea pig for his wife's yoga instruction. He lives and works in Highland Square Akron, Ohio. For the 15 years prior to launching DigitalHipster Inc.  Matt worked as a Senior Advertising Account Executive and Integrated Sales Director for major television stations and newspapers in the Akron, Cleveland, Phoenix and Las Vegas markets. He has successfully planned, sold and executed millions of dollars in innovative multi-platform advertising campaigns consisting of television commercials, web video, content integration, multi-carrier mobile WAP sites, print ads, and radio. Matt says, "During my years working in broadcast and print media, I learned how to gather real-time advertising response rates and develop cost-effect creative that works for my clients.  By working for over a decade on the sales side with millions of dollars of advertising revenue, I learned how to spot bargains for my clients and see what worked and what didn't. We're not just a team of graphic designers, or artists that take chances with your ad budget. We have real advertising experience across all the major advertising channels."