Sometimes, a business can rely on word-of-mouth to keep profitable, such as those hidden gem neighbourhood cafes that only the locals know, love, and regularly frequent. Usually, however, and especially if you’re seeking to grow outside of your local neighbourhood, you’ll need some marketing and PR on your side. 

What is PR and digital marketing?

While these two umbrella terms seem similar, there’s a key difference. 

Public relations, what is commonly abbreviated as PR, primarily entails earned media. This includes media coverage, press releases, and gifted invites to encourage coverage and sharing about your business, from events to new product launches. The reason it is called earned media is because it’s free, or on a gifted or exchange basis; no spending involved. 

Digital marketing, on the other hand, consists of paid media such as digital advertising, boosted social media posts, paid media coverage, paid influencer collaborations, and so on. 

In short, PR is earned and digital marketing is paid. It’s important to understand this difference when constructing your marketing strategy and deciding how much and where to allocate your marketing budget.

In-house marketing vs a PR and digital marketing agency

There’s a few routes you can take when it comes to bringing PR and marketing professionals onto your team. The first is hiring an in-house professional, such as a social media manager. The second is to collaborate with an agency like Kin. 

Here’s when one option might be better than the other. 

Businesses seeking a stable, long-term approach to growth and that want to focus on establishing their brand with a defined audience would benefit from in-house marketing. This option is best for deepening a brand’s relationship with its audience, rather than attracting new demographics. 

Working with an agency is best for businesses venturing into new markets or experiencing a growth phase. Collaborating with an agency allows for scalability and flexibility, and agencies come with their own skilled team of professionals and a network of connections such as photographers and graphic designers who can help take your business further. 

Marketing agencies are best for brands with big campaigns and growth-focused strategies. Kin recently wrapped up two big campaigns of this kind – Superflux’s 5th Anniversary and WINGS’ Chicken Wing Day promotion, just a few examples of what a marketing agency can do for you!

Whether you decide to hire in-house or work with a marketing agency largely depends on your business goals. 

What services does a PR and digital marketing agency offer?

Agencies often offer an array of services that can be customized according to your marketing strategy. 

At kin, we offer strategy development, social media management, media relations and crisis communication, influencer and brand engagement, digital advertising, visual content creation, experiential event planning, email marketing and design, and copywriting services. 

Here’s a quick overview of what these services look like in action. 

• Strategy – We uncover everything from your brand’s origin story and values to opportunities left vacant by its competitors to develop a strategic plan that’s uniquely yours.
• Social media management – From brand launch to a total brand refresh, our social media strategies focus on engagement and growth, not just posting. 
• Media relations and crisis communication – We specialize in creating press materials, pitching stories, earning media coverage in magazines, blogs, radio, TV, and podcasts, and emergency crisis communication if something goes wrong. 
• Influencer and brand engagement – We get your product in the hands of influencers to develop content to expose your brand to their followers, as well as dream up collaborations between your brand and aligned businesses for activations like giveaways and pop-up shops. 
• Digital advertising – Our digital advertising campaigns ensure we’re reaching your target audience, supporting the growth of your sales, and increase your following.
• Visual content creation – We work with experienced photographers, videographers, animators and graphic designers to create still images for media, dynamic video clips for social content, design for branded collateral and much more. 
• Experiential event planning – We produce impactful events that connect your brand with targeted media, influencers, partners, and consumers and create experiences that resonate with the right people. 
• Email marketing and design – We use thoughtful design and applications to connect your brand with your audience via email, and convert readers into customers. 
• Copywriting – We offer copywriting and content writing services for your website and platforms to help elevate your brand using the written word, from sprucing up your bio to elevating a blog post. 

A PR and marketing agency will offer similar services, which you’ll oftentimes be able to customize into your own unique marketing strategy. Once you decide on an agency, there will be a few steps to take before you can begin to work together and start seeing real results.

At Kin, our client onboarding process begins with a discovery call where we discuss your brand and business goals. If we feel there’s alignment and once the contract is signed, we send you an intake form to fill out so that we can get a detailed sense of where your business stands and what you’re looking to achieve. Once we have an understanding of where your business is standing, we’ll set up a kick-off meeting where we’ll present you with a kick-off deck that goes over our scope of work, objectives, and next steps.  

The agency you decide to move forward with should have a similar onboarding process that takes into account your brand’s current positioning, your brand values and mission, and your business goals and objectives.

If you’d like to work with Kin, take a closer look at what we offer to make sure we’re the right fit for you, and get in touch! 

Though our back-to-school days are over, the fall still feels like a reset. Maybe it’s the shorter days and the return of pumpkin spice flavours or the new fiscal year, but this season always makes us want to deep-dive into planning and organizing. Here’s what we did at kin to refresh, revise, and plan ahead for the fall, and three simple steps that your business or agency can take as well.

Conduct An Audit

Just like some set new year resolutions in January to start the new year on the right foot, we conducted audits in September to start the new fiscal year with a clean-er, more tidy slate. 

We took a close look at what’s working both for kin and for our clients, and what isn’t. While we conduct regular audits for all our clients, autumn is when we take a deeper dive into our strategy and deliverables for each client. This encompasses social media management, digital marketing and advertising strategies, influencer engagements, public relations, and content creation, which are some of the services we offer at kin. For kin, our self-audit takes a look at how our business is doing and includes a competitive analysis as well as an internal analysis. 

Recently, we conducted a social media audit for several of our clients, including Ricky’s Restaurants, Humpty’s, Pokerrito, WINGS, and Superflux Beer Company which all received updated Instagram highlights and refreshed social media bios. 

Organize Your Workspace

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as an organized workspace, both digital and physical. Files and papers get accidentally misplaced throughout the year which is why September is the perfect time to reorganize. 

The kin team set aside some time during our work hours on a Friday to get together and collaborate on decluttering and re-organizing our shared Google Drive workspace. Fridays are also when everyone works a half-day thanks to our 4.5 day work week. As a team, we were able to get the task done in a matter of a few hours. Go team!

Plan Ahead

As with anything in marketing, you need a plan. Which is why we like to use this time to thoroughly prepare for the eventful months ahead.

What we plan for can look different from client to client. For our latest client WINGS, we’re excited to leverage the busy sports season of NFL, NHL, and NBA games. Meanwhile, for Pokerrito we’re leaning towards monthly themes such as the coziness of fall and the merriness of the Christmas season. 

For such planning, we develop and present strategy and tactical plans to our clients that take into account these key marketing moments over the next quarter. 

As we wind down from the slower pace of summer, it’s important to keep organized and plan far in advance. In September, we’re already starting to think about Christmas holiday tactics!

We also keep our own marketing top of mind, and with Riley having travelled out to Toronto this month the team was able to sit down for an IRL brainstorm together.

This month, Superflux Beer Company celebrated its 5-year anniversary and tapped kin to help spread the word of its week-long birthday festivities.

The beloved brewery has amassed a cult-like following in Vancouver since opening at 505 Clark Drive in 2020, popular for its tasteful brews, exceptional hot dogs, and IPA savvy. To celebrate its 5th birthday on August 16, Superflux held a big birthday party and a week of special events at the brewery as well as released multiple beer collaborations, including two special anniversary beers – the Anniversary IPA in collaboration with Threefold and, in collaboration with actor Steven Ogg, the Habanero Happyness.

Throughout the anniversary campaign, kin secured a mix of lifestyle and trade media coverage of Superflux’s 5th Birthday Party in Vancouver Is Awesome, CTV News, Daily Hive, Scout Magazine, and a feature story with Superflux’s co-founder Adam Henderson in the Georgia Straight. We also coordinated media and influencer visits to the brewery to celebrate the anniversary. 

On the day of the birthday bash, Superflux saw a wave of congratulations and support on social media from local fans, as well as a big turnout at the event, including visits from influencers @vancitywander and @tannedandhow. 

That week, Superflux saw an incredible increase across metrics on Instagram, with impressions jumping by 300% and engagements by 38%. The account also gained around 200 followers that week. This data reaffirms Superflux’s status as a go-to brewery in Vancouver and its loving, loyal fan base.

We’re excited about such great results for Superflux’s anniversary, including local media coverage and an incredible in-person event turnout, thanks to kin’s focus on media pitching and social media engagement. 

Happy birthday Superflux!

In June, kin welcomed WINGS Restaurants to our client roster, and we couldn’t be more excited about this partnership. 

Founded in British Columbia, WINGS Restaurants has become a beloved local destination for bold flavours, memorable moments, and game-day energy. With 28 award-winning wing flavours at the heart of their menu and a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere, WINGS brings together families, friends, and sports fans alike across 15 locations in the Lower Mainland and beyond.

WINGS has partnered with kin to create buzz and brand awareness with a focused social media and influencer engagement strategy. Together, we’re refreshing WINGS’ digital presence with consistent, crave-worthy content, strategic influencer collaborations, and a tone that reflects WINGS’ love for food, fun, and sports.

Since taking over WINGS’ social media on June 16, we’ve delivered strong early results across key performance metrics. In just over six weeks, total impressions grew by 18.4% to more than 2.27 million, while total engagements jumped by nearly 50%, indicating our content is not only being seen more but is also resonating more deeply with audiences. 

WINGS’ first campaign with kin launched at the end of July and saw incredible results.

National Chicken Wing Day: Kin Strategy + WINGS Wins

For National Chicken Wing Day on July 29 this year, kin helped WINGS launch their $1 Crunch Time Wings dine-in special. 

The special offer was available for one day only on July 29, but kin had been planning the one-day campaign for long before the kick-off date. Kin developed a strategy that encompassed social media promotion and paid ads, which brought in increased sales and social media engagement.

For this campaign we incorporated influencer marketing into our strategy to push the campaign on social media. We find influencers are and continue to be an effective marketing tactic for engaging in new audiences and building brand awareness on social media.

We tapped @babiitranxo and @eatswithbecca, two Vancouver-based micro-influencers in the local food scene for a gifted influencer visit to WINGS Downtown Tap + Social. We had them come in to experience the $1 Crunch Wing special, and were pleased to see both influencers organically share stories and reels promoting the deal. 

We also ran a sponsored ad on Facebook ahead of National Chicken Wing Day, which saw 61k impressions and over 2k click-throughs. WINGS’ email promotion also helped drive sales.

When the $1 Crunch Time Wings dine-in deal went live on Tuesday, July 29, WINGS stores reported either double or triple typical Tuesday sales, including orders that weren’t chicken wings. 

We’re thrilled to see such great results from kin’s first campaign with WINGS, thanks to a strategy that combined paid ads, email marketing, and influencer marketing.

Summer is always a lively, vibrant season at kin. We see it on our social feeds, filled with photographed memories of lake days, markets, and camping, and on our calendars with many holidays, weekend getaways, and bachelorettes being booked off. 

Summertime at kin is busy, fun, and balanced.

With Pam having joined Marin out east in Q2 this year, our team is split between Vancouver and Toronto. We love being present in both cities at the same time. 

This summer, kin is spending the sunny days exploring the best of what each city has to offer. We’re discovering local gems, finding our favourite food spots, and venturing into the outdoors. 

When it comes to summer, these are some of our favourites here at kin!

What’s your favourite summer activity in or around Vancouver/Toronto?

Pam: Anything outdoors! I love camping, sitting by the pool, taking long walks with my dogs or hitting a patio! 

Marin: Hiking! In my hiking girl era – so many great spots in Collingwood and nothing beats jumping in the bay after!

Riley: I love swimming and just getting outside! My favourite swim spots are Cultus Lake, Smugglers Cove on the Sunshine Coast and the Squamish River.

Maria: Paddleboarding (such a Vancouverite answer!). It seems like everyone in Vancouver has a paddleboard nowadays, but with the abundance of lakes and beaches around Metro Vancouver it’s simply the perfect summer activity. 

What’s your favourite food or drink spot in the city this summer (and what do you love getting there?)

Pam: I’ve been loving the rooftop patio at Gusto 501 this summer – their Carbonara Pizza is my fave!

Marin: Just tried Dear Grain in Toronto and I’m obsessed – their iced matcha latte hits the spot, and the cinnamon raisin sourdough is a standout!

Riley: Two words, Patio. Margarita. My favourites have been Hugo’s, Lucky Taco, and Cactus

Maria: This summer I’m in my matcha era so I’ve been visiting a lot of cafes around the city. A lot of the spots on my matcha bucket list are inspired from social media, and I’ve been on a bit of a side quest this summer trying to visit some of Vancouver’s coolest matcha cafes. I even stood in the winding line outside Cowdog in Kitsilano, but the wait was worth it. Next on my list is Boba Run, which is boba x matcha x coffee — all my favourite drinks in one! 

What’s your favourite community gem in Vancouver/Toronto? 

Pam: I’ve been loving the outdoor movie nights at Corktown Commons 

Marin: Just remembered how much I love Formula Fig facials! I went back after winning one through our mental health awareness bingo challenge, and now I’m definitely planning to make it a regular thing.

Riley: Monday’s Run Club!!

Maria: We Should Be Friends! I’m yet to go to an event but I very much love the initiative.

What’s your favourite part of being in Vancouver/Toronto in the summer?

Pam: What I love about both Vancouver and Toronto is that the cities come alive in the summer. The energy in both cities is infectious and I always make a point to spend as much time outside as possible. 

Marin: Local farmers’ markets – nothing better than picking up fresh produce and wandering around with an iced coffee.

Riley: All the fresh fruit stands and local produce

Maria: Vancouver truly comes to life in the summer. Everybody is outside and making the most of the great weather, festivals and outdoors events are popping up left and right, and the city itself is so beautiful. I love how lively this season is!

Your on-repeat song this summer is…

Marin: Easy Does It by Goldford – on repeat all summer, thanks TikTok!

Riley: Anything Country !! 

Maria: I’m loving Addison Rae this summer, especially “Headphones On” and “Fame is a Gun”

Your most recent trip this summer? 

Pam: We recently took a road trip with our two pups across Canada where we stopped in BC, AB, MB and SK and finished with a week in Northern Ontario. Everything about the trip was perfect and it was really cool to explore parts of Canada I haven’t been before. Saskatoon, SK and camping at Pancake Bay Provincial Park in Northern Ontario were two of the many highlights. 

Marin: I spent June and July up in Muskoka this summer. It’s always my favourite time of year!

Riley: I recently went to the Sunshine Coast up to Pender Harbour and had the best weekend. We stayed at Stonewater Motel, went to the beach, local restaurants and hiked Pender Hill.

Maria: I went to Whistler over the August long weekend and it was such a fun getaway! It’s been years since I’ve been up there so it was great to do some cycling, swimming, and strolling around the village. 

What’s one summer activity you’ve never done but want to try?

Pam: Running outside!  I’m in my treadmill running era right now but hoping to get outside more while it’s still nice. 

Marin: I say this every summer, but I really do need to finally take some golf lessons – this might be the year!

Riley: Backpacking Camping! I’d love to try a small hike and stay overnight on a beautiful mountain

Maria: Wakeboarding! I’ve done skateboarding, snowboarding, and even surfing, but never wakeboarding. It looks so much fun!

Spring brought the energy – and so did our clients. From launching crave-worthy menus and executing national campaigns to taking care of our team and ourselves, Q2 was packed with momentum.

Here’s a peek into how we showed up:

April

– Spring was in full bloom! We helped Ricky’s and Humpty’s launch their spring feature menus with a delicious content shoot. This time, we went heavy on video to drive engagement and generate serious buzz across their social channels.

– Marin made her way to the Winnipeg Home + Garden Show. From leading media relations to running the Show’s social media, planning influencer experiences, and curating on-site moments – we helped bring it all to life. With Scott McGillivray headlining and a stacked expert lineup, the Show delivered major inspo to homeowners. The results? 52 media hits, 80M+ potential reach, 821 total mentions, $1.8M PR value.

– A warm kin welcome! This month, we were joined by our intern Katrina! She jumped headfirst into the world of PR and digital marketing.

 – Our client Maple Organics shook things up with the launch of their Cramp Pain Relief Balm. We executed a targeted influencer drop that sparked massive love online – so much so that the website literally crashed. Back online now at mapleorganics.com, and stocked across Loblaws, Whole Foods, Thrifty Foods, and Sobeys.
 
– The Automatic Message premiered EMDR, an immersive film installation exploring the deeply personal journey of healing from PTSD. The exhibit ran from April 4–12, Tuesday to Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at VIVO Media Arts in East Van. We secured coverage including Georgia Straight, Vancouver Sun, Scout, VITA and many others.

May

– To mark Mental Health Awareness Month, our team leaned into rest, reconnection, and routine. Our wellness Bingo Challenge inspired mindful moments – like solo walks, screen breaks, and reaching out to loved ones. Because wellness is work worth doing.

– We presented our annual Strategic Plan for Humpty’s Big Plate Diner, outlining fresh goals, bold campaigns, and month-by-month tactics to help drive brand love and growth in the year ahead.

– We also presented a Strategic Plan for our client, Pokerrito to set the tone for upcoming content and campaigns – serving up big ideas with even bigger impact.

– Pam attended a workshop with The Roy Group’s Leadership Coaching workshop in Victoria, BC with the team at W Venture.

– Pam and Riley joined the scene at the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, celebrating the best of the city’s food and drink. A night full of flavour, connection, and inspiration.

– We’re thrilled to support Stripped Wax Co as they celebrate 15 years as BC’s go-to for pro waxing. Our team is driving a Canada-wide anniversary campaign with national media outreach and curated influencer partnerships. Follow the fun @stripped.waxco!

– We welcomed Maria to the team this quarter as our new Account Coordinator. We’re so lucky to have her!

– We wrapped up our project work with The Good Sauna, which resulted in 28 mentions and 1.3m in potential reach through influencer visits and media coverage.

– We took a grounding team visit to The Good Sauna, connecting offline to recharge, reflect, and – of course – sweat it out together. Balance matters, and so does sauna time.

– We welcomed @great_wings to our client roster! A BC-born favourite, @great_wings has built a legacy of bold flavours, unforgettable game days, and bringing people together across 15 locations and counting. Together, we’re refreshing WINGS’ digital presence by amplifying their story through thoughtful strategy, consistent content, and influencer collaborations.

June

– Marin celebrated her birthday in Muskoka and enjoyed a month of working remotely in cottage country!

– We gathered for our Semi-Annual Reviews, reflecting on wins, setting new goals, and aligning on where we’re headed next.

– We met with the Marketplace Events team to brainstorm and get excited for what’s coming next to the Home Shows.

– As we geared up to re-launch @great_wings on social media, we held a content shoot at their newest Downtown Vancouver location to capture video content that aligned with their brand and vision. We also worked with Allison Kuhl Photography on a photoshoot to create an updated collection of food photos and highlight the summer menu.  

– We produced fresh, on-trend video content for FDF Brandz, spotlighting Ricky’s and Humpty’s seasonal menu items in a way that’s made to move on social.

– Stripped Wax Co officially celebrated their 15th anniversary – and we made sure it landed with impact. A photoshoot with our longtime collaborator Allison Kuhl Photography captured fresh visuals for the milestone campaign. Influencer visits helped spread the love far and wide. Media coverage rolled in from The Kit, The Globe and Mail, and Canadian SME Small Business Magazine.

– The kin team got together for Happy Hour at Superflux to give Pam a happy send-off before her move to Toronto.

– In June, we raised a glass to Marin’s 3 years at kin. Happy kin-iversary to Marin!

 – Pam kicked off a cross-Canada road trip and made the big move to Toronto at the end of June.

 – We had several influencer visits to Pokerrito for their Patio Bundle and Summer Kick-Off campaigns and saw shares from local creators including @justwalls @stephanie.ntx @relishwithreese @alyssatryons @sierraoliviaa and @venesia.wijaya 

As spring turned into summer, we left Q2 with full calendars, full hearts, and lots to celebrate. As we move into the second half of the year, we’re focused, energized, and ready for what’s next.

With the first quarter of 2025 behind us, we’re reflecting on a season packed with purpose, creativity, and connection. From launching exciting campaigns to deepening relationships with our incredible clients, Q1 was full of memorable moments and meaningful wins. Our team showed up with passion and purpose every step of the way.

Here are some key highlights, client successes, and everything in between:

January

– We rang in 2025 with our team’s favourite tradition: the annual vision-boarding workshop. It gave us space to reflect, reconnect, and get inspired for what’s ahead.

– This quarter, we began collaborating with The Good Sauna, an immersive outdoor retreat that fuses the best of Finnish sauna culture with cold therapy and fireside connection. Our team is focused on strengthening their presence through strategic influencer partnerships and media outreach.

– Our team had the opportunity to travel to some amazing destinations this month: Marin soaked up the sun in the Dominican Republic, Riley visited Cabo, and Pam kicked off 2025 in Whistler.

 – We had the pleasure of supporting Ricky’s Family Restaurants in its participation in Dine Out Vancouver – Canada’s largest celebration of food and drink. Ricky’s served up an exclusive menu at 13 locations across Greater Vancouver, and we brought the flavour to life through a strategic mix of social media storytelling, influencer partnerships, and targeted digital advertising. The result? A total potential reach of 1.3 million and a whole lot of buzz!
 
– We took a day trip to Nanaimo with Hullo and met in person with our client, Tourism Nanaimo, to discuss plans for 2025.

– We partnered with Maple Organics to spotlight a clean, science-backed solution for menstrual discomfort: their Cramp Pain Relief balm. Crafted with potent botanical ingredients, this all-natural formula delivers fast, effective relief – without the chemicals. To launch the balm, we executed a targeted influencer campaign, sending thoughtfully curated packages to leading voices in the lifestyle and wellness space, including @spencer.barbosa, @melissawoodtepperberg, and @thekelseyrose_. Stay tuned for exciting results!

– Another Winnipeg Renovation Show in the books – and what a show it was! With the one and only Bryan Baeumler headlining alongside an exciting lineup of industry experts, the event was packed with inspiration. The kin team was on-site, leading the charge on PR strategy through targeted media relations, social media management, influencer engagements, experiential event planning, and talent management to amplify every moment of the Show.

– Marin stopped by a local Global Vintners Inc. retailer to dive into the craft-your-own wine experience – and capture every step on video. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or a beginner, Global Vintners provides everything you need to create premium, personalized wines. Follow along at @winexpertofficial and @vineco to learn more.

– The team stayed sharp and inspired by attending webinars hosted by Monday Girl, Sprout Social, and Meltwater – diving into the latest industry insights, emerging trends, and best practices shaping the world of PR and digital marketing.

February

– We hosted an unforgettable influencer event at The Good Sauna, spotlighting their special location and previewing some exciting upcoming events. Guests enjoyed refreshing cold plunges, soothing sauna sessions, and relaxed fireside moments – all while sipping on refreshing drinks from Container Brewing.

– We partnered with our long-time client, Famoso, to craft a strategic PR plan aimed at elevating awareness and generating excitement for their Guest Appreciation Month. By leveraging media relations and influencer collaborations, we achieved an impressive total potential reach of 1.2 million and a PRV of $18k. Key media outlets featured in the campaign included Franchise Canada, Surrey Now, and Canadian SME Small Business Magazine, while top foodie influencers like @curatedkw, @foodgressing, and @food_with_howie  helped amplify the message to their engaged audiences.

– This month, we wrapped up a successful collaboration with Dr. Bea Mackay – author, Registered Psychologist, and thought leader. The project garnered impressive coverage across both local and national media outlets, including: BC Today, VITA, and OptiMYz.

– We presented our spring 2025 Strategic Plan for our client Pokerrito!

– We presented our 2025 Strategic Plan for our client ABC Country Cranbrook. These plans outline objectives and goals for the upcoming year, paired with exciting and engaging campaigns for each month.

March

– Our team has been leading quarterly video shoots for our long-time client, Ricky’s Family Restaurants, showcasing their iconic breakfast dishes, seasonal campaigns, and exciting promotions. Through this content, we’re driving engagement and elevating visibility for the brand. Head over to @rickysfamilyrestaurants to see the magic we’re creating!

– The BC Home + Garden Show was bursting with spring inspiration featuring a presentation by Sarah Richardson, designer, TV host, producer, and author. We kicked things off with an exclusive opening night event for influencers and media, including two interactive workshops led by @theknottygarden and @honeybeezen. Plus, the show hosted ‘Deck Wars,’ a styling competition where local Vancouver creators @alifewellconsumed, @lifeisbetterathome, and @austynpaula showcased their talent. Each deck was bursting with personality, creativity, and fresh design inspiration.

– Pam and Riley attended the second annual WORTH Summit — the only event in Western Canada focused on empowering women in recreation, tourism, and hospitality. It was an inspiring day filled with leaders working to uplift women, strengthen businesses, and push the industry forward.

– Pam attended the Vancouver Women in Commercial Photography and Production Event at Crane Studio, which highlighted 6 top Female commercial photographers showcasing each woman’s work and journey.

– We worked with a new client, The Automatic Message to spread buzz and awareness about EMDR, an immersive film installation exploring the deeply personal journey of healing from PTSD. The exhibit ran from  April 4–12 at VIVO Media Arts in East Van. We secured coverage highlighting the exhibit, including VITA, Curiocity and Megaphone.

– We presented an exciting Strategic Plan for the year ahead to Ricky’s Family Restaurants, packed with innovative tactics designed to keep the brand top-of-mind for both families and foodies. This plan focuses on driving engagement, increasing visibility, and reinforcing Ricky’s reputation as Canada’s ultimate breakfast destination.

– Pam attended Clarté, an immersive, high-impact experience for visionary female founders.

– We began strategizing and brainstorming with new client, Josh Gale, Private Chef & Culinary Director. We’re excited to be supporting Josh with brand partnerships, talent management, and more behind-the-scenes magic. Check out what he’s cooking up over at @theChefOutWest.

– Riley welcomed a new member to her family, a golden retriever/aussie shepherd puppy named Maverick!

From immersive events to strategic wins, Q1 set the tone for what’s shaping up to be an incredible year at kin. We’re energized by the momentum, grateful for our amazing clients and collaborators, and excited for what’s ahead.

Don’t miss a moment – follow us on Instagram to stay in the loop and catch a behind-the-scenes look at everything we’re working on!

As the year wraps up, our team takes time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past 12 months. This tradition has become a meaningful way to celebrate our successes and recognize the hard work and dedication of everyone on our team. Here are our 24 agency highlights of 2024:

– We welcomed a new team member – Lisa! Lisa is kin’s account coordinator and we’re so happy to have her. We will be celebrating her one-year anniversary in January!

– Worked with several new clients including Winexpert and VineCo, Pokerrito, Dr. Bea Mackay, REW, Jilly Box, Mackenzie Village, Tourism Nanaimo, Botanica Tulip Festival, Friday Harbour, Vancouver Urban Collective including Havana, Flamingo Room, Vancouver Urban Winery and Belgard Kitchen.

– In the spring  Tourism Nanaimo underwent an exciting rebrand led by Partners & Hawes that highlights the unique character of the vibrant Vancouver Island community. This project generated 259 brand mentions, 26 million impressions and $591k in public relations value. We’re excited to continue our work with them in 2025, so stay tuned for more to come!

 – We found comfort and inspiration in our new office space at WerkLab! While kin is a hybrid workplace, we love having a home base to work from, encouraging team members in the Lower Mainland to work in-office when they can to allow for collaboration and connection.
 
– Botanica Tulip Festival opened in Chilliwack for its first year. Throughout the project, we generated a total potential reach of 25.8m, 777 combined social media and media mentions and a public relations value (PRV) of over $510k.

– We welcomed Global Vintners Inc. to our roster of clients including their brands Winexpert and VineCo. Winexpert and VineCo offer the best grapes from the world’s top wine regions, carefully selecting only the highest quality grape juices and concentrates, ensuring the best flavour, aroma and varietal character of any winemaking experience.

– We worked with Pokerrito on several summer campaigns highlighting their seasonal offerings and store openings which resulted in coverage from Georgia Straight, Retail Insider, Food Service and Hospitality among others. We recently welcomed them as a full-time client supporting social media management and influencer marketing, take a look at our work.

– We executed a summer campaign with our client Friday Harbour. This campaign resulted in excellent coverage from Canadian Media outlets including ELLE, National Post, Vancouver Sun, Cottage Life, and Canadian Living Magazine and featured organic sharing from notable Canadian lifestyle influencers including @tessalindsaygarcia (128k), @carajourdan (333k), @mayakapouranis (38k), @kthillier (327k) and @jessicruickshank (180k).

– We supported our client Odihi with their second Bigger Ideas Conference, where leaders like @xoreni, @yourcareercontact, and @the_kreactivator shared their expertise. We saw firsthand how the Bigger Ideas Conference provided opportunities for women to elevate their ideas and connect with leaders who can empower, and support them, helping them succeed in life, career, or business. We were so honoured to sit on a panel with @easyconsultingstudio to chat about all things PR & digital marketing.

– Completed another year of Marketplace Event’s Home Shows, the Winnipeg Renovation Show, BC Home + Garden Show, Winnipeg Home + Garden Show and Vancouver Fall Home Show.

– We celebrated work anniversaries including Riley (4) and Marin (2).

– We worked with hundreds of content creators and influencers to successfully execute multiple campaigns and brand launches.

– We worked with Dr. Bea Mackay: author, Registered Psychologist, and thought leader. We’ve developed a comprehensive strategy for Dr. Bea which includes securing media coverage in both local and national outlets to highlight her expertise and enhance her profile as a thought leader through speaking engagements. 

– Looking to rent or own? Then you’ve probably heard of our client, REW! We partnered with them to promote their new season of RealTours with an experiential event and PR campaign to build excitement for the Season 2 launch. We saw coverage in Vancouver Sun, Business in Vancouver and VITA among others.

– We worked with our client Pumpkins After Dark for the third year. This Halloween extravaganza returned to Burnaby from October 3rd-31st. Our team helped build excitement for the returning event and invited media and influencers to a special Sneak-A-Peek Night before the official opening. We saw coverage in Vancouver’s Best Places, Burnaby Now, and Daily Hive Vancouver

– We partnered with The Jilly Box to celebrate their five-year anniversary, during which they opened subscription spots for their highly sought-after quarterly box. We saw coverage in Canadian Living, Vancouver Sun, and National Post!

– We welcomed Vancouver Urban Collective to our client roster along with their restaurants Havana, Flamingo Room, Vancouver Urban Winery and Belgard Kitchen. We’ve already secured great coverage for the restaurants highlighting seasonal menu offerings and drink specials from Elle Canada, Daily Hive, BC Business, and Vancouver Is Awesome among others.

– Our team loves exploring the world! Marin visited France and New York, Riley explored Iceland and France, Pam traveled to Italy and Spain, and Lisa enjoyed time in Barcelona and Mexico City this year.

– In May, we celebrated Mental Health Awareness Month by prioritizing wellness and mental health in the workplace. Each team member set a personal goal for the month to support their mental well-being. We engaged in open discussions about our current mental health practices and participated in a workshop led by Heather Murray, a Holistic Integrative Health & Wellness Coach. We also scheduled time during our workweek to get outside for walks and launched a May “Steps” Challenge to encourage outdoor activity. The month concluded with a Day of Mindfulness on May 31st, giving our team a day off to reflect and recharge.

– Famoso partnered with Kin to develop a strategic public relations plan aimed at increasing awareness and generating excitement for Famosofest, as well as the brand’s new partnership with Steamworks Brewing Co. As part of this campaign, we organized targeted influencer and media visits and facilitated media opportunities. These efforts led to extensive coverage in Retail Insider, Franchise Canada, Food Service & Hospitality, Surrey Now, and Daily Hive.

– Ricky’s has kept the same delicious flavours, but we’ve completely transformed our social media strategy for this longtime client. By shifting to a video-focused approach, @rickysfamilyrestaurants has experienced a significant boost in engagement, with followers connecting like never before. Take a look at the transformation and stay tuned for more tasty updates!

– We made an effort to attend several workshops, webinars, and conferences through Monday Girl, Sprout Social and Meltwater!

– We worked with multiple partners and local brands to execute events, photoshoots and campaigns including Partner & Hawes, The Rooted Table, Allison Kuhl, and Mediology Media among others.

– We had our annual retreat and holiday party on Mayne Island, celebrating a year of big wins where the team enjoyed 3 days of quality time and having fun.

As we say goodbye to summer and embrace fall, it’s the perfect time to reflect on a wonderful third quarter here at kin. We celebrated birthdays, welcomed new clients, reconnected with long-time clients, and achieved impressive media coverage and results.

Join us as we dive into the highlights of Q3, celebrating our achievements, the new connections we’ve made, and the exciting projects that lie ahead!

July

– After reaching the official halfway mark of 2024, we came together for a Team Vision Planning Day. During this inspiring session, we each set intentions for the next six months and aligned on our personal, professional, and kin’s goals

– Home Show Season is back in action! We presented a strategic plan to our long-term client Marketplace Events for the upcoming Vancouver Fall Home Show returning to the Vancouver Convention Centre – West on October 24th-27th. Get your tickets here!

– We combined work and play when visiting new client, Global Vintners Inc. for a wine bottling content shoot. Whether you’re hosting an event or simply looking to elevate your wine collection,  be sure to explore @winexpert and @vinecowine for exceptional options. Find a retail location near you for VineCo & Winexpert!

 – There’s one thing for certain: videos are here to stay. We conducted another video content shoot for our client Ricky’s Family Restaurant – stayed tuned for lots of delicious Chicken Tenders content coming your way! 
 
– Speaking of Ricky’s famous Chicken Tenders, we ran a giveaway on Ricky’s Instagram, where one lucky winner received a Chicken Tenders party for six

– Marin celebrated her birthday in Muskoka and enjoyed a month of working in cottage country 

– The rest of the team also took a break from the city, with Pam traveling to Barcelona, Riley attending the Calgary Stampede with friends, and Lisa enjoying a relaxing getaway in Osoyoos

– Have you spotted any familiar faces over at @TourismNanaimo? Our team has been busy conducting street interviews to help highlight Nanaimo as a must-see destination for BC residents and beyond 

– We partnered with Laura Ullock (@laura.ullock) to showcase an overnight trip to Nanaimo with @tourismnanaimo to learn more about the culinary scene there!

– Pam, Riley, and Lisa celebrated FDF Brandz at their annual summer party! We proudly work with multiple FDF brands including Ricky’s Family Restaurants, Famoso Pizzeria, Humpty’s, ABC Country Cranbrook

– Exciting news! Humpty’s has unveiled their new mascot, #BennyTheEgg.  Bring your family to your local Humpty’s for some egg-citing adventures, complete with adorable Benny stuffies!

August

– We partnered with Alicia Haque (@alicia_haque) for a weekend trip to Nanaimo with @tourismnanaimo to explore the town and the nature that surrounds it.

– We welcomed a new client, Dr. Bea Mackay: author, Registered Psychologist, and thought leader. We’ve developed a comprehensive strategy for Dr. Bea which includes securing media coverage in both local and national outlets to highlight her expertise and enhance her profile as a thought leader through speaking engagements. Be sure to check out BeaInBalance.com, Dr. Bea’s platform that provides accessible guidance through blogs, quizzes, counselling, and more!

– We had a few Superflux and {Cabana} influencer visits from local content creators like @saranielsen_21 and @vanessaortynsky

– Riley and Lisa got together to do a lifestyle videoshoot for Winexpert and VineCo.

– We wrapped up our successful project with Friday Harbour! We managed media relations, which led to their luxury beach products being featured in top fashion and lifestyle publications such as The Globe and Mail, National Post, Vancouver Sun, ELLE Canada, Canadian Living, and Montecristo. We also led influencer engagements and saw shares from key creators like @tessalindsaygarcia, @kthillier, @thismamaloveslife, @mayakapouranis, and @nic.maxam. Our efforts led to 101 total mentions, 27 million potential reach, and $1.5million total public relations value 

– Our team enjoyed the August long weekend! Riley went camping with friends in Squamish, Marin soaked up the sun in Muskoka, Pam travelled to Italy, and Lisa visited Seattle for a girl’s weekend

– We’ve wrapped up our project for Pokerrito’s Summer Feature Menu. We were very happy to see the results from Pokerrito influencers and media visits! We had over 20+ visits and organically partnered with 8 influencers for giveaways. We also saw multiple media mentions such as The Georgia Straight, and Retail Insider, amongst others

September

– We started a new project for Pokerrito’s new location in Morgan Crossing! We partnered on influencer visits, sponsored posts with @Dishedvancouver, and digital ads to drive awareness for the new location

– Riley and Lisa head over to Superflux to oversee a videoshoot focused around their Hot Dog Happy Hour

– We had a few Superflux and {Cabana} influencer visits from local content creators like @randomactsofpastel, @heatherr.mcmillan

– We celebrated Pam’s Birthday on September 10th – Happy Birthday Pam! 

– We conducted a photoshoot for a longtime client, Famoso Pizzeria, where our team worked alongside our collaborator, Allison Kuhl Photography, to capture video content for Famoso’s social media

– Looking to rent or own? Then you’ve probably heard of our new client, REW! We have partnered to promote their new season of RealTours with an experiential event and PR campaign to build excitement for the Season 2 launch

– Pam and Riley sat on a panel discussion at Odihi’s Bigger Idea Conference. They lead a panel discussion on “Engage, Influence, Inspire: Marketing & PR in the Digital Age”.

– We worked on a project with returning client MR MIKES® SteakhouseCasual to help spread the word about their new partnership with Toonies for Tummies, a Canadian organization that helps nourish hungry children through their student nutrition program as well as the return of MR MIKES Day on September 20th. We secured coverage in Tri-City News, Foodgressing, Foodservice and Hospitality, and more

– It’s officially spooky season! Get ready for Pumpkins After Dark: A Halloween extravaganza, returning to Burnaby from October 3rd-31st. Our team helped build excitement for the returning event and invited media and influencers to a special Sneak-A-Peek Night before the official opening. Grab your tickets now at @pumpkinsafterdarkburnaby!

– We worked with Jilly Box to celebrate their five-year anniversary which they opened subscription spots for their very popular quarterly subscription box. We saw coverage in Canadian Living, Vancouver Sun, and National Post!

– We welcomed Vancouver Urban Collective to our client roster along with their restaurants Havana, Flamingo Room, Vancouver Urban Winery and Belgard Kitchen

As we close out our Q3 recap, we reflect on a season filled with growth and collaboration. With exciting projects on the horizon, we look forward to what’s next. Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving, filled with love and gratitude!

To ensure you never miss and update and to become a part of our growing community, follow us along on Instagram and LinkedIn! 

Q2 has delivered some exciting campaigns, media coverage, and achievements, like welcoming new clients Friday Harbour, Tourism Nanaimo, Botanica Tulip Festival, Pokerrito and Global Vintners Inc., leading successful events for Tourism Nanaimo and Botanica Tulip Festival, and wrapping up one of the most successful Home Show seasons to date! We’re excited to share our journey and successes with you and highlight some hidden gems you might not have seen over the last 3 months.

Read below for a review and highlights reel of kin’s second quarter:

April

– Marin traveled to Winnipeg for the return of the Winnipeg Home + Garden Show, where we lead Media Relations, Social Media Management, and Influencer Engagement to help make the Show one of the best yet! Crowd favourite, Bryan Baeumler, was back as the headliner alongside celebrity organizer, Megan Golightly from @gosimplified, plus hundreds of home and garden experts all under one roof. We coordinated a total of 53 pieces of coverage resulting in a total potential reach of 24M, 789 total combined social media and media mentions and a public relations value (PRV) of $657k.

– We welcomed a new client, Friday Harbour, all about sustainable luxury that captures the essence of West Coast living. Handmade in BC, Friday Harbour offers a curated selection of towels and blankets, along with their unique Sand Removing Powder. Our team supported Strategic Planning, Media Relations and Influencer Engagement. Be sure to follow @fridayharbourco for exciting things to come!

– Botanica Tulip Festival opened in Chilliwack for its first year and we worked to create a strategic public relations plan to spread awareness, excitement and drive locals to the festival by generating earned media coverage in print, online and broadcast media along with encouraging increased social media engagement, and influencer sharing. Throughout the project, we generated a total potential reach of 25.8m, 777 combined social media and media mentions and a public relations value (PRV) of over $510k.We developed a full experiential event strategy including design + styling, vendor recommendations, venue sourcing, and guest list curation confirming 40  influencers and media to attend the garden party which took place at Botanica Tulip Festival from 4:30-7pm. We partnered with local businesses including The Rooted Table, Tamp & Muddle Co., Be Spoke Decor, Lenny Pallerstein, Duchess Cocktails and Lam’s Ear Floral.

– Lisa traveled to Mexico City and Barcelona in April/May!

– We kicked off our work with TourismNanaimo to spread positive awareness about their new campaign ‘Nanaimo Normal’ and position the charming community as a desirable destination this summer (and beyond).

– Ricky’s launched their spring feature menu – the Spring Lineup across all locations, where customers could indulge in seasonal favourites like the Strawberry Fields Salad, Prawn Fettuccine, and Cinnamon Apple Crepes. We conducted a content shoot, focusing on video content to help create buzz and excitement around these special dishes on social media.

Famoso Pizzeria revved up their Kids Menu with all new Supercars, which their tiny customers can enjoy with every meal. We helped celebrate and spread the word by hosting an Instagram giveaway, in which one lucky winner received a Kids Electric RideOn Car plus a Famoso gift card for their family to come enjoy a meal! This was Famoso’s most successful giveaway to date, generaring 43k impressions and 5k entries.

May

– We celebrated Mental Health Awareness Month in May, where we created extra space to focus on wellness and mental health in the workplace. These methods included: setting a goal for the month that will contribute to our mental well-being, integrating guided meditations into our Monday team meetings to kick-off each week, scheduling time in our calendars to get outside for a walk during our work week, celebrating with a May “Steps” Challenge to encourage time outside, and participating in a workshop with Holistic Integrative Health & Wellness Coach, Heather Murray. Our team also took May 31st off as a Day of Mindfulness.

– Our team participated in Semi-Annual Reviews, where each member takes the time to track their progress and achievements, establish performance objectives, and align on future goals. 

– We conducted a photoshoot for longtime client, Famoso Pizzeria, where our team worked alongside our collaborator, Allison Kuhl Photography, to capture video content for Famoso’s social media. 

– We welcomed Global Vintners Inc. to our roster of clients including their brands Winexpert and VineCo. Winexpert and VineCo  offer the best grapes from the world’s top wine regions, carefully selecting only the highest quality grape juices and concentrates, ensuring the best flavour, aroma and varietal character of any winemaking experience.

– Our team took a trip to Nanaimo to explore the city’s downtown core and experience everything it has to offer. If you haven’t heard, our client @TourismNanaimo recently unveiled a refreshed brand, aimed at offering a bold look at the Vancouver Island city. We also made sure to try a Nanaimo bar or two along the way. A few of our favourite spots include @ginasmexican, @whiterabbit.coffeeco, @vaultcafe, @rumoursvintagecollective, @nanaimoartgallery and @oldcityquarter.

– We helped Tourism Nanaimo launch their newest campaign resulting in 31 mentions and over 8.5m in reach with coverage secured in Victoria Now, Vancouver Is Awesome, Times Colonist, Chek News, Strategy Magazine and many more.

– We onboarded a new client: Pokerrito! In May, Pokerrito launched their new kids bowls. We worked together on an influencer campaign with local content creators to introduce these new bowls. We saw some great social media sharing from local influencers, including: @thismamaloveslife (41.6k), @angielowis (18.3k), @prescillasquad (18.9k), and @langleywithlittles (14.7k).

– Famoso ran a BIG giveaway in which one lucky winner received free takeout for an entire year!

– Ricky’s celebrated International Burger Day with a splash, giving away 10x $50 Ricky’s gift cards! All entrants had to do was share a photo of a Ricky’s Burger on social media, tag @RickysFamilyRestaurants and use the hashtag #BurgerDay. We promoted this with a strategic social media plan utilizing reels, digital ads, and influencer engagements, in addition to in-store promotional signage. 

June

– We saw some excellent social media shares as a result of influencer invites to Superflux {Cabana} including @bailey.marshall (20k), @hallerutledge (13k), @joreytessier (58k) and @paige.lancelot (3k).

– We coordinated, shot and edited a video shoot at Superflux {Cabana} highlighting the patio, stay tuned for the content to start going live!

– Coordinated a media/influencer event activation for Tourism Nanaimo which included developing a curated itinerary for top local spots to visit. We worked with @hulloferries,  @milkjamdonuts, @rumoursvintagecollective, @blackrabbit.kitchen and @whitesailsbrewing. Our guest list included @thatvancouvercouple, @omgheysam, @mysuitcasejourneys, @samanthasito, @wanderingintwo, @food_with_howie, @mchlld, @missvancityfoodie, @katherinefong, @baileymarshall, @jaccirai, and @sovereignandryantryin.

– Ricky’s wanted to make Dads feel special on Father’s Day, so we developed a special giveaway where one lucky father figure won a year of FREE Burgers! Follow Ricky’s along on Instagram @RickysFamilyRestaurants so you don’t miss out on their next big contest!

– On June 28th, Pokerrito launched their new Korean-inspired summer features: the Kick’n Chick’n Bowl and the I Sea Food bowl! We’re currently working on a media campaign and an influencer campaign to promote these new bowls. You can read more about it in Foodservice & Hospitality, Georgia Straight, and Franchise Canada. A few influencers that have come in to try the summer feature bowls includes @ambervscott, @heyitsjesschan, @katgao, @morokokoko, @athenasangulo, @food_with_howie, @glamouraspirit_, @athenasangulo, @modernmixvan, and @soniasid. 

– Humpty’s also joined in on the contest action to help promote their upcoming summer feature menu – the Wild West Summer. With their primary locations based in Alberta, we developed a giveaway in which a winner plus a friend received free tickets to the Calgary Stampede and a Humpty’s gift card to fuel up before the big event!

– We wrapped up our work with Friday Harbour in June. This Summer campaign has resulted in excellent coverage from Canadian Media outlets including ELLE, National Post, Vancouver Sun, Cottage Life, and Canadian Living Magazine and featured organic sharing from notable Canadian lifestyle influencers including @tessalindsaygarcia (128k), @carajourdan (333k), @mayakapouranis (38k), @kthillier (327k) and @jessicruickshank (180k). 

As we move into Q3 2024, we are committed to building on our achievements and implementing new strategies with our clients. We’ve taken the time to set groundwork for the months to come and we can’t wait to catch you up to speed in our next blog post as July is already making a great impression.

To ensure you never miss and update and to become a part of our growing community, follow us along on Instagram and LinkedIn!