Our Story
Connecting Local People, Local Businesses
Best Michiana was founded in the summer of 2025 by South Bend native Stephen Barany, who saw a growing disconnect between digital marketing and genuine community engagement. Frustrated by the impersonal nature of online ads and the rising noise of digital spaces, Stephen set out to create something more personal, more effective, and more human.
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After exploring a wide range of outreach strategies, he landed on a proven, data-informed method of direct mail marketing—one that balances intentionality, functionality, and cost-efficiency. At its core, the model relies on a cooperative cost-sharing system among local businesses. This allows for the creation of a high-quality, thoughtfully designed mailer that avoids the look and feel of junk mail while landing reliably and prominently in the hands of the right households.
Using U.S. Census data and neighborhood demographics, Best Michiana can deliver targeted campaigns to local residents who are most likely to benefit from the services offered—making each mailing both practical for businesses and genuinely helpful for the community.
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Though it began as a grassroots effort, Best Michiana aspires to grow with a simple mission: to strengthen the connection between Michiana’s best local businesses and the people they proudly serve.