For Immediate Release Click here to download this press release in PDF format. September 30, 2009 Contact: Allison Short Public Relations Coordinator (614) 469-1001 ashort@chutegerdeman.com Agency Contact: Karen Schaffner Corporate Image Consulting (678) 579-9906 schaffner@direcpath.tv Chute Gerdeman Ranks Among Nation's Fastest Growing Companies COLUMBUS, OH—For the second year in a row, Chute Gerdeman Retail, the Columbus-based branding and retail design firm, has been ranked on two of the business and design world’s most prestigious lists: Inc. magazine’s Inc. 5000 and Interior Design magazine’s Second-100 Design Giants. “The recognition Chute Gerdeman has received from both these highly regarded and relevant magazines underscores the pride we take in our product, our teams, and our clients,” said Chute Gerdeman Executive Vice President, Wendy Johnson. “As we continue to grow in size and reputation, we are committed to never losing that focus.” The 2009 Inc. 5000 list serves as a unique report card on the U.S. economy. Despite the ongoing recession, aggregate revenue among the companies on the list actually increased to $214 billion, up $29 billion from last year, with a median three-year growth rate of 126 percent. The Inc. 5000 are responsible for creating more than one million jobs since their founding, making the list perhaps the best example of the impact private, fast-growing companies can have on the economy. “Savvy trend spotters and those who invest in private companies know that the Inc. 5000 is the best place to find out about young companies that are achieving success through a wide variety of unprecedented business models, as well as older private companies that are still expanding at an impressive rate,” said Inc. 5000 project manager Jim Melloan. “That’s why our list is so eagerly anticipated every year.” Adding to its A-list standings, Chute Gerdeman joins Interior Design’s Second-100 Design Giants, ranked number 128 on the 2009 list, which was announced in the July issue. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and a list of the fastest-growing companies (which can be sorted by industry and region), can be found at www.inc5000.com. About Chute Gerdeman Retail Founded in 1989, Columbus, Ohio-based Chute Gerdeman Retail is a retail branding and design firm. The firm’s client list includes Mattel, M&M’S/Mars, Target, Levi Strauss, Tween Brands Inc., Shopko, C&A Brazil and Kohl’s. In addition to its recognition as one of the industry’s “Most Exciting Design Firms” by the readers of DDI magazine for 12 years in a row, the firm has received numerous awards for its design leadership. For more information, please visit www.chutegerdeman.com.