Calgary-based ad agency Evans Hunt has created a Valentine's gift for its clients, and some might classify it as a bit racy for a business gift.

Chicago-based The Escape Pod has announced Mark Andeer, the marketing guy behind Kmart's "Ship My Pants" and "Show Your Joe" and OfficeMax's "ElfYourself," is joining the agency as CMO.

Now here's something a bit more substantive than the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter. Performance marketing agency Merkle has released its third annual Digital Bowl Report.

So yeah. The Super Bowl. It happened Sunday night, right? Did you love the ads? Did you hate the ads? Which one was your favorite? That Heinz ad was pretty cute.

The ad agency wannabe has scooped up design agency Ecx.io. It's all to bolster the tech company's in-house agency Interactive Experience or iX.

A recent BIA/Kelsey report released this week found more than 70% of franchisees work with an advertising or digital agency, the majority of which are small local agencies. The report, part of the BIA/Kelsey’s Local Commerce Monitor Wave 19 survey of small and medium-sized businesses, shows franchisees have increased their adoption of technology, using more digital media and platforms, including sponsored content, native ads and video display ads. Of the finding, BIA/Kelsey VP of Analytics and Insights Celine Matthiessen said, “Franchisees are not only testing the waters with these new formats, they are reporting good returns on their investments. When …

Hot Dog Diaries blogger Mark Andel writes: "Some Super Bowl copywriter and creative director and big-time ad agency apparently don't know Chicagoans -- or they don't care."

In yet another indication of ad agencies' waning dominance as providers of a brand's marketing needs, a new study from the Association of National Advertisers found a hefty percentage of brands turn to startups for social media and content development and management.

It comes without surprise that a trio of Chicago ad professionals has launched a new agency that, OMG, promises to be totally different.