ZORCH

As an entrepreneur, trailblazer, and social advocate, it can be said that Zorch founder and CEO, Nicole Loftus, has transformed the way the world looks at the $20 billion branded merchandise industry. 

Nicole began her career by working for the Fashion Director at the Chicago Apparel Center, and later joined Levi Strauss & Co. From there, Loftus moved on to Corporate Express. While working with some of the world’s largest advertisers, Nicole spotted an opportunity to revolutionize the branded products market by introducing a game-changing business plan, and as they say, the rest is history.  

The innovative Zorch model has been embraced by an impressive roster of marketers and top-tier advertisers. Zorch acts as a brand steward for some of the most valuable brands on the globe, providing agency caliber creativity as well as a smarter supply chain design.  Corporations such as AT&T, Citigroup, Chevron, Sara Lee, Coca-Cola and Waste Management have all been “Zorched” and have saved millions by sourcing branded goods through the Zorch Portal. 

Loftus, 41, is a proud member of several local and national organizations. Inspired by Mayor Richard M. Daley, Nicole created several programs with Chicago Public Schools to assist high school students with finding their entrepreneurial spirit. Visit Zorch on any given day and you’ll see Nicole’s belief in the community at work—literally. Giving students from her programs a chance to gain ‘real world’ experience, Nicole shows her dedication by hiring Chicago’s youth as interns.  

Loftus was appointed by Mayor Daley to the board of the Chicago Workforce Investment Council (CWIC), and is a recipient of the Anti-Defamation League’s Rising Star Award.  Loftus supports The White House Project, and also sits on the board of the American Red Cross.  Nicole serves as a mentor to small business owners through The Clinton Foundation and NFTE, The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.

Crain’s named Nicole one of their 40 under 40 leading business executives. Inc. Magazine recognized Zorch as the 8^th fastest growing company in America, and the # 1 woman-led company in the country.  

From a self-described “one woman show” to heading up multi-million dollar companies, Loftus has turned her ideas into reality.

And as Nicole likes to say, “It’s only the beginning.”