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| Kristin Hooper |
BCW has launched the BCW Polycultural Consulting Unit, which will help clients understand, connect with and move diverse stakeholder audiences. The unit considers an audience’s multidimensional and sometimes fluid markers of identity, as well as highly differentiated life experiences and specific views on racial and societal issues. It is based on what the agency calls the “three key pillars of identity”—cultural heritage (including race, ethnicity, traditions and language), cultural status (which considers such factors as lifestyle, sexual orientation, education and class/income) and cultural zeitgeist (which takes factors including art, economics, fashion, pop culture and vernacular into account). Insights gained from this audience analysis will then be applied across offerings that range from research and strategy to internal and external communications programs. “Brands and organizations that overlook connecting with polycultural America now risk losing their relevance with an audience that is only going to continue to grow,” said BCW Polycultural Consulting Unit lead Kristin Hooper.
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Lambert & Co. is the lead investor in the recently launched TiiCKER, Inc., an intelligent software platform that engages, verifies and rewards individual investors through integrated content, stock perks and zero-commission trading. The platform enables publicly traded companies and their brands to gain new access to the high-potential demographic hidden in their retail shareholder base. By linking dozens of online brokerages to the platform and leveraging TiiCKER’s stock trading partner, Tradier, to provide free trading, individual investors are able to view their investments and perks all in one place. “We created TiiCKER specifically to convert the 56 million retail investors in the U.S. to consumers, while transforming consumers into shareholders in the brands they love,” said Lambert CEO and TiiCKER founder Jeff Lambert.
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Bolt PR has been acquired by Millwright Holdings, an independent marketing services holding company. The acquisition is intended to give Millwright new strength in consumer and lifestyle PR, communications strategy, influencer marketing, and digital marketing. Bolt founder and president Caroline Callaway will retain her position and Jo-Anne Coombes will remain vice president. Bolt, which provides brand positioning, digital and social strategy, media relations, influencer marketing and crisis communications for clients in the packaged goods, consumer technology, hospitality, fashion and beauty, finance, education, B2B services, health and fitness, and food and beverage categories. has offices in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Raleigh and Orange County, CA. “The addition of Bolt will enable us work with consumer-focused brands across a wide range of industries,” said Millwright Holding president and CEO Michael Young.
Caster Communications is acquired by long-time agency leaders Alexandra Crabb and Peter Girard... DiGennaro Communications launches The Authority Studio, a freestanding content strategy and production offering... The Brandman Agency, which specializes in luxury travel and lifestyle, rebrands as Brandman.
Public Inc., a social impact agency based in Toronto and New York, acquires Rocket Social Impact, an advisory firm that works with nonprofit and corporate social impact organizations... Ruder Finn launches “What’s Next: The Ruder Finn Podcast,” a new platform hosted by CEO Kathy Bloomgarden... Crowe PR joins United Partners Network, a network of independent PR agencies with members across more than 65 markets worldwide.
Ruder Finn launches rf.Voices, an integrated influence offering that brings together AI-powered influencer marketing, customer advocacy and paid amplification under one measurable framework... The Pollack Group is accepting applications through March 31 for The Big Red Grant, a $40,000 pro bono strategic PR and marketing engagement program awarded to a nonprofit organization ready for growth... D S Simon Media releases a report that says almost seven in ten producers (68 percent) are more interested in airing a story when they know it has been optimized for AI.
Precision Strategies, an integrated strategy and marketing agency with offices in Washington and New York, acquires Firehouse Strategies, a DC-based public affairs firm... AVENIR GLOBAL acquires London-based Thinks Insight & Strategy... Good Company, which bills itself as a “cultural engineering firm,” is launched by DJ Hardy, a veteran of Johannesburg-based communications consultancy arxna and M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and Casey Stickles, who has worked at 5WPR, Rubenstein and MWW.
PSC (Princeton Strategic Communications) acquires Nonprofit Partners... CG Life launches 24/364, a cultural brand platform intended to drive awareness, connection and action aimed at keeping rare disease at the forefront of the health and social conversation... Interluxe Group, which focuses on brand experiences and in-person activations; Quinn, a strategic communications agency; and media and digital agency North & Warren are uniting under the Interluxe Group banner.
