With offices in Los Angeles and New York, Autumn Communications handles PR and marketing for a wide range of clients across lifestyle, cannabis, food, fashion, beauty, entertainment and technology. The agency has recently found success across emerging sectors as well, including healthcare, biotechnology, corporate communications – and perhaps most notably, NFTs, crypto and Web3. Through unique, strategic partnerships with brands and nostalgic creators (think: Kitsune, West Coast Collections, the Picasso Family, Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, Scott Kelly and more), Autumn is leveraging pioneers in these spaces. In addition to crypto clients, the agency works with mainstream brands like Alo Yoga and The Clear Cut that are branching into the space, helping consumers feel comfortable navigating markets, investing and engaging around a decentralized, open network. In order to keep innovating, Autumn has continued to establish and expand critical divisions across the agency. The creative division is dedicated to helping tell clients’ stories through large scale productions and unique experiences. Through the sustainability and DEI divisions, they offer holistic consulting to both internal teams and clients on how they can make a positive impact every day.
Leadership team:
Shelley Reinstein, Principal
Ashley Carone, Managing Partner
Notable long-term clients:
Amazon, Logitech, Credit Karma, Therabody, Goldbelly, Rakuten, IMDb, Murad, Cle De Peau
New client wins:
Madison Reed, Fresh, Everlywell, Rodan + Fields, Cole Haan, WestField, Purely Elizabeth, Lavazza
How is the agency advancing DEI in the industry?
“Autumn Communications’ leadership team is DEI trained and has individual weekly coaching sessions. We also work with Language and Culture Worldwide to host various DEI workshops with our larger team. These training sessions have helped to lay the foundation and introduce our team to the concept of diversity, inclusion and culture. As an agency, we have also created an internal DEI committee established by our employees where we further support efforts by providing our team with a safe space and platform to share stories, news and personal thoughts. Our DEI committee also provides resources for all of our employees – we are launching a dedicated DEI newsletter in the coming months that discusses how our team can be the drivers for necessary changes.”
Wagstaff saw success on multiple fronts over the last year, stemming from its diligent efforts to bolster recruitment and staffing practices. The team added 43 new employees, including two notable leaders: Valerie Wilson, Managing Director of Culture & Lifestyle, and Tara Schroetter, Managing Director of Digital & Social. Their amplified focus on DEI in recruiting has resulted in a 15 percent increase in diversity in staff demographics, also drawing from a diverse range of backgrounds and skill sets outside of hospitality PR. With this leadership and employee environment in place, the team was proud to secure a slew of wins of late, including marquee culinary client the James Beard Foundation, Bahamas luxury resort Baha Mar, Noble House Hotels & Resorts and a benchmark in luxury Sonoma wineries, Vérité.
Leadership team:
Mary Wagstaff, President
Notable long-term clients:
South Australia Tourism Commission, Alisal Ranch, Commander’s Palace, Tourism Western Australia, Manresa, JW Marriott LA Live Los Angeles, The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles, The Godfrey Hotel Chicago, The Fladgate Partnership (Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca, Croft Ports), Westland American Single Malt, The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, Chef Brooke Williamson, Visit Carlsbad
New client wins:
Baha Mar Resort, Cornbread/Urban Vegan, Corner Bakery, James Beard Foundation, The Kitchen Restaurant Group, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Vérité Wines
Are there any new practice areas that you've started offering?
“To assist our clients in dialing in on their brand before they begin promoting it, Wagstaff has begun offering a personalized and detailed brand narrative service. A Wagstaff brand narrative promises to tee up PR partners so we can all best understand their brand and can effectively position and grow desired awareness for it. While not intended to be media facing, a brand narrative is a wonderful tool for PR partners to use as a starting point in crafting press kit materials, press releases and targeted pitches, in addition to other marketing and internal communication efforts.”
