Agency Anniversary Series With Talk Shop Media

A number of agencies across the country celebrated milestones in 2021, we caught up with Katie Stevens, Managing Partner at Talk Shop Media as part of our Agency Anniversary series.   

When you started Talk Shop, did you think you’d be here 10 years later?

We knew we were creating something built to last when we opened up shop 10 years ago. Rather than simply keep pace with the evolving industry, we saw a gap in the market and swept in to fill it, first in Vancouver and then expanding east to Toronto. But, beyond this, and more importantly, our priority was to build a great business marked by a progress workplace driven by respect and care for its people. It’s been our unabashed priority and has helped us prevail.

What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started your agency?

There is joy in evolution. Every change, whether within or outside of our control, has felt scary in the moment, but time and time again we’ve proven we emerge stronger on the other end and gain new perspective along the way. Change is inevitable and your best bet is to embrace it and find the opportunity.

What’s been most surprising about the journey so far?

There’s no mold when it comes to running an agency. Our business has accelerated for 10 years but none of us originated from an agency background. This has helped us be scrappy and unafraid to prove people wrong, or approach things from a different perspective. Whether expanding from Vancouver to Toronto when everyone said we needed to do it pursue it in reverse – we’ve continue to do things differently which has paid off in spades for our business.

If you could go back in time, what’s one piece of advice you would give yourself 10 years ago?

Treat your team like owners and empower them early and often. We’ve experienced the most significant periods of growth when we’ve provided more autonomy and opportunity to our team.

If there’s one thing you could improve, what would it be?

We never want to stop learning and taking bold steps. Whether investing in startups, growing into new markets, or creating new service lines. We are just getting started.

In looking back, have you seen many changes in the industry over those years?

The PR and communications industry has been ripe with change over the past 10 years. More recently, we’ve witness the need to serve as full-scale content producers to fill the current media gaps, the continued rise of video and demand for integrated service offering as a greater number of brands turn to one service provider to meet their needs.

Marketplace Listing – Back in October 2021 we announced the agency’s 10th anniversary, you can learn more about the agency by visiting the Talk Shop Media for past campaign coverage, additional interviews and news about the agency.

Is your agency celebrating an anniversary this year? Let us know.