The leadership of the North American Association of Independent Public Relations Agencies (NAIPRA) recently began to sense that the association's membership was growing
increasingly positive about the economy. They put out their feelers in the form of a survey asking members how their business was faring, whether they were noticing an upturn in
the economy, whether they were getting more new business calls and how business compared to a year ago. Although the survey data has yet to be tabulated, NAIPRA leaders were happy
to share with PR NEWS that in general, its membership is indeed cautiously optimistic, and members are viewing their relatively small size as an asset in today's environment.
Following are a few of the many responses they received:
- "We've recently beat out a few global firms based in NYC for long-term NY assignments. We see more client prospects interested in senior counseling vs. junior associates
from larger firms. Clients today want excellent service - period." - Mike Paul, MGP & Associates - "Business is better. Have had three solid inquiries this week, two last week, so I am encouraged. Repeat business, too. In response to demands from clients, we are focusing
resources on making them more competitive. Clients are more price sensitive, which is an advantage for Bonner Consultants and others like me because we run lean and deliver more
value per dollar invested." - Chris Bonner, Bonner Consultants - "It seems as if the worst may be behind us - I am seeing client stability, an increase in new business queries, though client budgets are now smaller. Clients seem less
interested in big branding and strategy assignments and more into publicity and other more quantifiable results - strategy as a means to a tactical end rather than as an end unto
itself. It looks like those agencies that kept their noses to the grindstone before and during the downturn are the ones who will survive it." - Lloyd Trufelman, Trylon
Communications
(Shelley Spector, NAIPRA, [email protected])