RAHMWATCH: As thousands of teachers and their supporters picket across Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel issues a press release -- spouting corporate propaganda for Ulta!...
While thousands of teachers, students and other citizens across Chicago were picketing the city's 500 public schools on the morning of April 1, 2016, taxpayers paid to have "The Mayor's Press Office" issue a press release announcing that Ulta was establishing a small satellite office at Riverside Plaza in Chicago. Despite thousands of marchers who have been demanding that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel resign from his job, partly because of the Laquan McDonald video, Chicago's mayor continued in office on April 1, 2016. And just to remind the world about his priorities, while pickets swarmed across Chicago for the one-day Chicago Teachers Union strike for funding for education and other necessary public programs, Chicago's mayor issued a press release -- promoting another corporation!
The mayor continued to emphasize dubious claims of job "growth" with the April 1 promotional on behalf of Ulta. And part of Rahm Emanuel's public statement noted that Ulta is building its brand... "the company’s recently defined brand identity that invites shoppers to explore the 'Fun Side of Beauty'.
FROM THE MAYOR'S PRESS OFFICE:
ULTA BEAUTY OPENING SATELLITE OFFICE IN CHICAGO... Downtown Work Space Offers National Beauty Retailer’s Employees More Flexibility; Supports Growth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. April 1, 2016. CONTACT: Mayor’s Press Office 312.744.3334 Ulta Beauty Public Relations 630.410.5457
Ulta Beauty CEO Mary Dillon and Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced the company will open a new satellite office in downtown Chicago to offer employees workplace flexibility and to support the company’s fast-paced growth. Ulta Beauty is the largest national beauty retailer with nearly 900 store locations across the United States featuring cosmetics, fragrance, skin and hair care products and salon services. The satellite office will have 100 work stations and give all of the company’s employees flexibility and access to Chicago’s public transportation and business community.
"A Chicago location offers our existing employees more flexibility and the ability to collaborate with business partners in new ways, and it will also help us continue to attract the top talent we need to fuel our growth," said Mary Dillon, CEO, Ulta Beauty." Additionally, our new satellite office solidifies our position as members of the Chicagoland community and reflects our continued commitment to this world-class city."
“From the talent of our workforce to the quality of life in our communities, Ulta Beauty recognizes the many strengths and opportunities that Chicago offers for fast-growing companies and I want to thank them for doubling down on the City of Chicago,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “By expanding their presence here, Ulta Beauty joins a growing list of other companies who have chosen to make their future part of Chicago’s future.
The company’s satellite office will be located at 120 South Riverside Plaza (between West Adams Street and West Monroe Street), within a block of both Union and Ogilvie Metra Stations and is currently under construction. The building sits on the west bank of the Chicago river with direct views of the iconic waterway, offers a number of amenities including a gym and tenant lounge, and is steps away from many great city restaurants. The office will be approximately 23,000 square feet with up to 100 shared work stations, as well as conference space including collaborative huddle and multipurpose rooms. The 22-story office tower is owned by Ivanhoé Cambridge in partnership with Callahan Capital Properties. Ulta Beauty’s new satellite office is scheduled to open in the late summer of 2016.
Ulta Beauty’s corporate headquarters in Bolingbrook, Ill., currently employs more than 750 associates. Ulta Beauty continues to grow, last year adding more than 125 new jobs in its corporate office. This is in addition to the thousands of jobs the company has created nationwide. To support its continued growth, the company is also investing in its suburban location by expanding and renovating its headquarters. The renovation will be marked by bright, open spaces to reflect the company’s recently defined brand identity that invites shoppers to explore the “Fun Side of Beauty”.
The company is known as the premier beauty retailer offering All Things Beauty All in One Place™. In fiscal year 2015, the company delivered a 25.1 percent increase in EPS on an 11.8 percent increase in comparable sales and a 21.1 percent increase in net sales. At the same time period, Ulta Beauty has created thousands of jobs, opened one hundred net new stores, grown its e-commerce business by more than 47 percent and attracted dozens of new brands. The company continues to disrupt the beauty category with its highly differentiated product assortment across all categories and price points, and by offering a full-service salon in every location with expert hair, skin and brow services. “We welcome Ulta Beauty to the downtown business community,” said World Business Chicago President & CEO Jeff Malehorn. “This announcement further supports World Business Chicago’s mission to put Chicago at the forefront of the global economy by supporting businesses that are creating jobs and cultivating top talent."
“We are very excited that Ulta Beauty has selected 120 South Riverside Plaza as its downtown office location. With its prime West Loop location, efficient floorplates, extensive outdoor areas and abundant amenities, 120 South Riverside Plaza continues to attract premier tenants from a broad range of industries,” said Timothy Callahan, CEO of Callahan Capital Properties, which is Ivanhoe Cambridge’s partner in the ownership and operation of the property.
