Woman-powered PR is not all that bad
#badassladygang
An apt description for a business with 16 employees (and growing), all of whom are women.
"It isn't deliberate. We have offered positions to men; it's one of those things where all of our employees are women," said Nicole Junas Ravlin, President & CEO of Junapr.
Ravlin has worked in public relations for more than 25 years, advising an array of clients about their communications and marketing strategies. In 2019, Ravlin decided she wanted an agency of her own and created Junapr. The new agency's three core areas are media relations, crisis communications, and strategic communications planning.
"In 2019, I thought I'd have maybe two to three employees and perhaps five to 10 clients," said Ravlin. "I didn't think in less than four years Junapr would be the size that it is now. There is a very good chance Junapr will be twice the size it is now. Each year I need to hire more employees."
Junapr has only been in business for four years, and its already the largest public relations firm in the state. Shortly after this interview, Junapr's footprint in the state grew even larger when it acquired the event planning firm Standing O along with its employees and hired some additional team members. And yes, all are women.
"Events and public relations are often tied together in the marketing mix," said Ravlin. "Being able to offer event services to our existing clients as part of our services is a great benefit to them. And, Standing O's clients now have access to a PR team who can help strategize how to market their events in a new way."
It hasn't all been smooth sailing. Junapr started at the end of 2019, and a few months later, just as the firm was starting to take off, everything came to a halt when the pandemic began.
"It's daunting enough starting your own company, starting from scratch with no clients. I knew that I would grow with my experience and reputation, but like everyone else, I never imagined a worldwide pandemic would be my greatest roadblock. PR needs were not a top priority for most companies. I was down to about two weeks of funds, and then all of a sudden, the pendulum swung the other way, and the phone started ringing off the hook. We've been growing ever since," said Ravlin.
During that period, Junapr secured a Paycheck Protection Program loan and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan through the Small Business Administration to help the firm get through the pandemic. PPP was a forgivable loan to help small businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis, and EIDL provides funding relief to small businesses that have suffered a substantial economic injury in a declared disaster area.
As of 2023, Junapr has more than 30 clients, ranging in size from start-ups to international organizations. Junapr does little advertising, and most of its clients learn of the firm through word of mouth.
"One of our newest clients said a company they do business with couldn't stop gushing over Junapr and wanted to hire us immediately. Whoever heard of people praising a PR firm like that? It's a great feeling hearing people talk about your company like that," said Ravlin.
Junapr is also civic-minded. It is part of 1% for the Planet, a global movement inspiring businesses to support environmental solutions, contributing 1% of Junapr's revenue back to environmental causes. The firm has also donated more than $10,000 to Vermont Food Bank.
As this article was going to print, Ravlin reported that she hired Junapr's first male employee. "Our new teammate is excited to be part of the #BadAssLadyGang," said Ravlin. "We do not have plans to change the hashtag yet!"
Junapr has been awarded the 2023 Vermont Woman-Owned Business of the Year by the SBA.