Punch PR

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Partner of a marketing agency

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Marketing

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Punch PR to accomplish?

• Raise awareness of a feature film project in Wisconsin

SOLUTION

How did you find Punch PR?

Referral

Why did you select Punch PR over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Punch PR were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The Punch PR team was tasked with raising awareness of the feature film Hundreds of Beavers among the residents of Wisconsin. The film recieved international acclaim, and would now be available for rental online. 

Punch sent out press releases to various arts publications in the Milwaukee area, as well as other major news outlets like NPR. They helped craft a story that would resonate with cinema lovers in our state. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Punch PR landed several articals in major publications, and they did it on an extremely fast deadline with almost no budget to speak of. They even had members of their staff who specialized in arts and entertainment who could speak the right language to culture reporters. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They were communicative and helpful all along the way! 

What was your primary form of communication with Punch PR?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Punch PR was extremely entrepreneurial in their approach and worked very quickly with a ton of enthusiasm.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Punch PR could have done differently?

No complaints! 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in communications for General Dynamics Information Technology, specializing in government and defense contracts. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Punch PR?

In each city we work in, we hire a PR specialist to help us connect us with the right people to help coordinate media. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Punch PR helped us form engagements and make plans. They were also responsible for introducing us to the right people to be successful. Punch PR created detailed schedules that included backgrounds on organizations and bios of the individuals we were working with. They did not write press releases, but they ensured that they went out to the right people. 

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Lauren (Partner); we also worked with two other individuals. 

How did you come to work with Punch PR?

We spent about $15,000. 

How much have you invested with them?

After conducting market research, we found Punch PR. We interviewed them and decided to move forward together. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between March–July 2023. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We measured impressions, and the total number in one week was over 10 million. 

How did Punch PR perform from a project management standpoint?

Punch PR kept us on time and budget. We primarily communicated via email and text. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

We want to shout out Lauren specifically; she was incredible to work with. However, their whole team was wonderful. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve worked with multiple PR companies, and Punch PR was the best. We also appreciated how they were so focused on mentorship within their company. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing we can come up with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be thoughtful and open to feedback because they know the market. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a premium pet food company that distributes all over North America and some parts of Asia. I’m the director of marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Punch PR?

We’ve been working with the Punch team for nearly 13 years, and our business is very different now than it was when we started together, but we’ve continued our relationship with them as we’ve expanded.

Initially, we needed part-time public relations support focusing on the local market, and then some trade channel work. This measured out to about 10­–15 hours per week. At this point, they’ve become more of a strategic partner, rather than a resource that works on one-off projects.

Punch PR has expanded their business at the same time as we have. Now, we work together on our annual planning for events, like major trade shows and consumer events, and ongoing public relations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Punch PR works through all kinds of avenues: Facebook, Instagram, email, and multiple print outlets. In terms of events, there are two major ones. The first is a consumer event that regularly has over 10,000 attendees. Coming up, this is going to be our ninth year in attendance. People from all over the city bring their pets and get to engage in fun activities with them. There’s another event that’s more of a trade event, and there are usually 400–500 people there.

For both of these events, as well as all the digital marketing services, Punch PR provides turnkey service; they handle the planning, volunteer organization, advertising, and more. We give our approval on everything, obviously, but Punch’s team manages everything.

What is the team composition?

Currently, we’re working with 4–5 people, including Lauren (Owner). We also work with Ashely (Account Manager), who acts as an event manager. There are another 2–3 people that support our work inside their company by organizing schedules and managing our events. If we’re somewhere with 10,000–12,000 people in a single day, then it’s all hands on deck for project coordination. They’ve never let us down in the 13 years that we’ve worked together, so we’ve progressed to a larger and larger relationship over the years.

How did you come to work with Punch PR?

One of our employees happened to be at an event that Punch was running, and we brought them in.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since June 2009.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

On the event side, with the public event, we started with around 6,000–7,000 people and around 1,5000 dogs, and now over 12,000 people and 3,500 animals attend every year. And with the larger size, comes increased management responsibilities around locations, décor, and advertising flow. The same is true for our trade show, which has grown from around 200 attendees to over 500.

How did Punch Perform from a project management standpoint? 

They’re excellent in project management, especially in follow-up and execution. Whether it’s a public relations task or an event, we can always count on them to do what they say they’re going to do.

We have in-person meetings with them every week, and there is a fair number of emails always going back and forth. Punch PR is always accessible; we try not to abuse that, but if we do have to call after hours, they’re always there. Lauren is always available to take our call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their combination of event management and PR is fantastic, as well as rare. Even though we’ve tried certain practices in the past, they’ve continued to bring new ideas to the party. In the last year, we’ve started running a virtual education learning conference in our consumer channel. It brings people together over Microsoft Teams to address certain topics in the industry. Punch put together the entire event. They’re very solid in the things that they’ve always done for us, but they also bring new ideas to the table.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there isn’t. We have a very open, fluid relationship from a communication standpoint. If there’s something that needs to be talked about, we talk about it. Nothing is left unsaid or should be done differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If another manufacturer is interested in working with Punch, be willing to let them do their thing. To do this, they need enough information to complete the assignment. Getting all your cards on the table and talking everything through with them will allow them to do their best job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the senior social media manager for a subdivision of a footwear company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Punch PR?

We needed a PR agency to partner with us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handle all of our PR. A big part of that entails negotiating and managing contracts with influencers. They communicate with them daily, seed products, and follow up on those products. 

They also place digital and print articles, create content, and generate coverage online and in print. They plan media coverage and create content for trade shows. They also handle press releases for new product launches.

They organize our annual media events as well. They’re three-day events in the summer that give content creators sneak peeks at upcoming products and helps them get to know our brand. Each event has entertainment, such as axe throwing, hiking, and other fun activities. 

Before I joined the company, they ran the social media accounts as well.

What is the team composition?

Our three primary contacts are Dave (Partner), Lauren (Partner), and Lauren (Account Executive). I’m not sure how many others are involved in working on our account.

How did you come to work with Punch PR?

They were already working with the company when I started working here. My manager had worked with them at a previous brand and liked their work and their reliability. They always do what they promise.

How much have you invested with them?

The budget is roughly $100,000 annually (approximately $300,000 so far).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around March 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

When we started working with them in 2018, we earned 43.5 million digital impressions and that number has only increased. In 2019, we earned 47.5 million impressions, and in 2020, despite the COVID craziness, we hit 83 million digital impressions. That is a 75% increase from 2019.  

Last year, they seeded six different styles of a new product, generating over 50 million social media impressions. One custom product, in particular, was our focus, and they seeded to roughly 30 influencers, resulting in 18 million impressions. 

How did Punch PR perform from a project management standpoint?

Whether we need to brainstorm a project or to resolve an issue, they’re available and responsive. We communicate via phone, email, Zoom, and Google Docs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re nimble and provide a personal touch. I really appreciate the ideas they bring to the table, and that they always strive to get the most out of the budget. They’ve never let us down; I know they’ll do what we ask them to and that it will be done right. And that holds a huge value for me. They’re a small team but are extremely responsive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. It's been a pleasure working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide them with as much information about the project as possible, and keep them in the loop of any changes, such as inventory, timing, etc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director of marketing for a design and manufacturing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Punch PR?

We leverage Punch PR as our external agency of record for our public relations services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Punch PR’s responsibilities include anything from press release creation to pitching to media content creation. They provide PR counseling and really act as our way of ensuring that we create engaging content for our external customers. 

The team has also done influencer campaigns, attributed articles, community management, and a lot of media pitching. For the most part, right now, they’re working with news outlets to get us in publications.

What is the team composition?

On average, we work with at least three people, but they’ll always pull in more resources if there’s a need to get something done. 

How did you come to work with Punch PR?

They had already been working with my organization when I came on board. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We look at a lot of different metrics, including impressions and the number of publications we’re featured in. Thanks to Punch PR we’ve done a plethora of interviews for large-scale newsworthy outlets. 

How did Punch PR perform from a project management standpoint?

We have weekly meetings and regular dispatch reports.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have an ability to truly understand our business. We’ve been working with them for a number of years, so they know the players and we trust them to keep confidential information confidential. Punch PR has earned our trust thanks to the guidance they’ve provided us over the years. The team follows through on what they set out to do, and we look at them as an extension of our own team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They very much appreciate open, transparent dialogue. The more they’re aware of your goals and objectives, the better solutions they’ll be able to create. They like to feel like part of the team, and they thrive knowing how to get the most out of any situation.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director for Wolverine Worldwide, a footwear company. We’re a family of about 12 brands, and I work on the Harley-Davison team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Punch PR?

We work really closely with Punch PR for our PR needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their role and responsibilities have morphed over the years of our engagement, but they’re essentially our PR partner. When I first joined the team, Punch PR was operating in a very traditional way. The team hosted press previews for industry and enthusiast editors twice a year at our New York showroom. They managed all of our media relationships, editorials, and the securing of media placements and gaining impressions for the brand. 

As media has changed, so has our relationship with Punch PR. They’re still involved with traditional press releases, but they’ve also taken a digital, strategic approach to our account as well. The team works with influencers and other key partnerships.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact has always been Lauren (Principal), though she’s shifted roles and responsibilities to her other supporting team members. 

How did you come to work with Punch PR?

They came on board before I joined the team. However, I believe Lauren was a member of the agency my company was previously working with. When she started Punch PR, we reached out to continue working with her due to their prior relationship, her expertise in the motorcycle industry, and her proximity to the motor company in Milwaukee.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $500,000 and $1,000,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in March 2013, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’ve worked with large editorial names, like Vogue and Elle, which is really impressive to see. We attribute those opportunities to Punch PR and their ability to develop fantastic relationships. Lauren specifically is always thinking outside the box, keeping us ahead of the curve and helping us transition through changes in media. She’s agile and knows her clients intimately, allowing her to think bigger and act quicker than a traditional PR firm might be able to. 

How did Punch PR perform from a project management standpoint?

The whole team, especially Lauren, works really hard. The team members at Punch PR are excellent idea generators. Often, I’ll offer big-picture ideas, and they’re fantastic at breaking it down into smaller, strategic pieces. Whatever our budget has been over the years, they’ve been able to build out forward-thinking plans across several focuses.

To track our projects, we use Google Docs, keeping specific deliverables tabbed so I can see snapshots of what we’re working on at any given time. Everything is transparent and I can keep up with it all in real-time, which has been a nice feature Punch PR offers.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Punch PR is a small firm of good, hardworking people. Their size allows them to be really nimble and develop a meaningful connection with us. We’ve always been happy with the amount of attention they provide; we have no complaints.

They’ve been great PR partners, but more than that, they’ve been great business partners. They’re knowledgeable about our industry and have built really key relationships for us over the years. They’re great at what they do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. Sometimes, the ideas they come up with are outside of our budget, and it can be tough to have to reel in the creativity, but it’s certainly not a negative thing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I led the marketing and communications department of a nonprofit providing college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Punch PR, and what were your goals?

Punch PR was hired to provide strategic public relations and marketing support with the goal of increasing brand awareness and supplementing our media efforts.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Punch PR came highly recommended by previous customers who had achieved great success.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

We have a monthly retainer with Punch PR for strategic communications support, which including writing and pitching press releases and managing our social media strategy, from drafting copy to scheduling and publishing.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked directly with Lauren, as well as Account Executives Josh and Hannah.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Since working with Punch, our engagement has increased across our social channels and we've received significant national media coverage.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Lauren and team are exceptional at communicating timelines and tracking deliverables.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their ability to pivot is unparalleled.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the SVP of Marketing for a 17 location restaurant group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Punch PR, and what were your goals?

We were launching our 17th store in the Milwaukee market and needed a well connected partner to help us fill our pre-opening event, secure press mentions and influencer relationships.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had a formal RFP process and selected them based on their proposal.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Create press releases and pitch to local media and influencers to include Tupelo Honey in their coverage. Secure reservations for our pre-opening event with various VIP community members.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We had a team of two at Punch. Their Managing Director and Account Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We had really great in depth press pieces and influencers that were eager to work with us post launch.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Very communicative and kept us apprised of all things coming and finished.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They are great partners who are well connected in the community.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Everything was great!