Public relations firm Berns Communications Group (BCG) flexed their strategic muscle over the past year, doubling down on a couple of key areas: influencer networks and DEI initiatives. In June 2022, agency president Stacy Berns founded The Z Suite – a diverse collective of Gen Z college students and influencers – to probe and understand their generation’s values, priorities, shopping habits and spending power. The group is formally connected to BCG’s Retail Influencer Network, giving these business leaders the opportunity to tap the brains of The Z Suite students to understand their generation’s values and concerns about issues such as sustainability, ethical labor practices and DEI as well as the way they think about brand loyalty and how that drives shopping behavior. In addition to co-founding The DealmakeHers (DMH), a collective influencer network that connects a diverse group of female C-level leaders with investors, analysts, VCs and activists, Berns led her team to partner with influencer and founder Kendra Bracken-Fergusen to launch the Braintrust Founders Studio, an incubator and accelerator for Black beauty and wellness founders.
Leadership team:
Stacy Berns, President
Notable long-term clients:
Alibaba, Trove Recommerce Inc., Delta Galil, Wharton’s Jay H. Baker Retailing Center, CommerceNext, First Insight, ShoulderUp
New client wins:
American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), Bubble Beauty, Obsess, Powered by People, Bolt, Cart.com, True Religion and Arc Technologies
How are you innovating and moving the industry forward?
“Although BCG is a strategic public relations firm, we have found over the last year that it is our influencer networks and ability to curate candid conversations between like-minded leaders that have led to industry-wide collaborations, solutions and progress. Our firm is acutely aware of the challenges facing both industries and society and we believe our networks are a catalyst for meaningful progress through community, storytelling and amplification. That said, our pro-bono work in support of nonprofits that are making meaningful contributions to underserved communities has always been key to our efforts to move the communications industry forward. Particularly impactful efforts this year included BCG’s partnership with The Annual Outstanding Mother Awards May luncheon benefiting Save the Children’s U.S. Programs. Proceeds from this annual luncheon go to Save the Children, a nonprofit organization that works to break the cycle of poverty and improve the lives of children in this country – which were a record breaking $800,000 this year. Stacy Berns is on the board of the committee and leverages her commitment to this cause with her team to curate the program and moderators, deliver sponsorships and amplify participation.”
Over the last year, the overarching theme for travel and lifestyle agency TURNER has been expansion – across footprint, categories and talent. The agency saw significant geographic expansion in its travel and tourism practice, gaining more market share domestically in the Midwest as well as internationally with the addition of Tourism Australia to their roster. TURNER has also been carefully expanding into categories adjacent to their core strengths of public relations, social media and influencer campaigns; they’ve expanded service offerings in experiential, celebrity and affiliate strategies plus DTC retail, winning business from brands that are launching in the U.S. and especially in the kids category. Finally, the remote and hybrid work movement has brought in phenomenal team talent that has also grown its geographic footprint; TURNER now has legs in Portland, OR, Austin, TX, Madison, WI and is expanding across Florida. The TURNER team is exploring more purpose-driven programming based on the requests of many of their brands, specifically programs that touch on multicultural, DEI and environmental campaigns.
Leadership team:
Christine Turner, Founder & President
Notable long-term clients:
Bermuda Tourism Authority, Duluth Trading Co, Mindbody, REI Co-op, Red Wing Heritage, Beaba, Discover South Carolina, Travel Wisconsin, Kimpton Seafire, Viceroy Snowmass
New client wins:
Tourism Australia, Tennessee Tourism, Topo Designs, Visit Bardstown, Provenance Hotel Group, Young Days, Pyvot
Highlight any particularly successful client campaigns and their outcomes.
“The past year was a rebuilding year for many of our travel, tourism and luxury brands, and our team has helped clients navigate rebuilding their brands in a changed consumer marketplace. We’re proud to have supported double-digit visitor growth in many destinations, from Wisconsin to Houston. One campaign example is our work with Discover South Carolina to generate media awareness for Black and Gullah Geechee culture throughout the state, whose time-honored traditions and heritage have shaped the state's Lowcountry region for more than 200 years. More than 30 stories highlighting the Black/Gullah narrative ran in publications including Food & Wine, New Yorker, Travel Noire, Vogue, Travel + Leisure, Essence and more, supporting the voice of diversity in the state and in mainstream and niche media outlets. Our work with South Carolina has been recognized with several awards including the HSMAI Adrian Award.”
