Tatem Fowler PR: Kate Tatem & Karissa Fowler

Public Relations

Malibu, CA

www.tatemfowler.com
Instagram @tatemfowler

WHAT DO YOU DO?

“Public relations is all about brand building. ”

Kate: Public relations is all about brand building. We start with strategically developing a brand’s story. Then, we tell this story by increasing awareness of our clients across multiple platforms through collaborative work with media, stylists, designers, film and television studios and social influencers.

WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

Karissa: Kate and I first met while working at another PR agency. We knew we wanted to one day strike out on our own, so we worked hard to master our craft and build strong relationships with clients and media. When we started TFPR, we decided to place a lot of emphasis on what we feel is the biggest advantage of a boutique agency -- lots of dedicated, personal attention -- which helps us (and our clients!) stand out in the industry.

FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?

Kate: We are very passionate about writing. We feel that strong, clear, expressive verbiage is extremely important when presenting a brand to the public. We often see a lot of flashy phrasing with no real thought behind it, which can turn a great campaign into a dud. We’re also really creative and love coming up with exciting initiatives that still remain true to a brand’s heritage. It’s important to be both innovative and keep your core principles consistent.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?

We’re currently working with several clients in the beauty and lifestyle spaces on digital PR and influencer campaigns. Through creative storytelling, a focus on education, and proactive outreach, we’re able to help our clients meet their goals, whether they’re looking for overall growth, sales, retailer interest, or to secure a hit in their dream outlet. We’re also managing social media (primarily Instagram and Facebook) for several clients; helping to craft the look and voice for a brand and turning a social media feed into a vibrant, thriving community is so rewarding!

WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?

Our Malibu home base provides endless inspiration, as do our clients, many of which embrace natural ingredients and thoughtfully developed products. TFPR has specialized in lifestyle PR, with a niche in beauty and wellness, since our inception. Check out some of our past projects here for a more intimate look at the stories we’ve helped tell.

WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?

We provide social media management and content creation support for some clients, and I love when we get to completely rebrand a client’s social media presence! Even more than a website, social channels are a small brand’s calling card for editors, buyers, and consumers. We’ve worked with several companies on reimagining their Instagram feeds, and the process seriously checks all the boxes for me; there’s something magical about helping brands define their voices through color, imagery, and engaging copy.

WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?

Karissa: In a creative fast-paced industry, it can be hard to invest time in your own brand and business. With our clients as our #1 focus, setting aside time to build our business and update our own digital presence is a constant struggle.

IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HOUR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?

Administrative duties! Bookkeeping is something we tend to put off until it absolutely needs to get done. We also love teaming up with other creatives–maybe not for $20 an hour–but our business and our clients get so much value from our partnerships with experts in areas like graphic design, web development, video production, photography, and email marketing.

LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?

Kate: In my mid-20s, I was so focused on being successful in my career. I was moving up in the world but feeling completely aimless and uninspired as more creative pursuits were shelved. I would go back and tell myself that creativity is actually paramount to success! If you aren’t engaging your mind in different ways, life gets so boring. For me, bringing photography, crafting, cooking and DIY-projects back into my daily routine has made me a happier, more balanced person (and let’s face it, more interesting too!).

Karissa: I would have told myself not to worry— keep working hard, follow my passions, and take the opportunities that presented themselves without hesitation or fear. At the end of the day, if you start a business or creative pursuit and it doesn’t work out, you can always try something else or go back to a more traditional 9-5. Luckily, when Kate and I spent hours discussing the possibility of starting our own business, there was a large glass of wine involved. We were also perfectly in sync with what we wanted to create and how we would do it. I don't think we would have been quite so apt to say, "OK, let's do it!" otherwise. When a more traditional workplace is all you know, it can be scary to take that first big step.

IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?

We would love to learn more about SEO and digital advertising. We know how powerful PR and social media are as marketing and sales conversion tools. We also know that a well rounded marketing strategy is important, and you don’t fully know what will work for your business until you try it. Most of us need to prioritize our marketing strategies and budgets, and for us, that means search engine optimization and (non-social) digital ads have been put to the side. It’s an area we are looking to expand upon for our own business in the coming years!

WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

We're always looking to launch new brands and products to the public or reinvigorate an older company. We love helping clients strategically grow. We truly care about the brands and people with whom we work and treat our clients as if they were our own personal brands. As female entrepreneurs and small business owners ourselves, we’re especially passionate about working with women, small businesses, and fellow creatives.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL CLIENT?

Kate: We've collaborated with brands both small and large, and ultimately enjoy working with those that thoughtfully develop products with wellness -- for both people and the planet -- in mind. We also love creative businesses that have a strong aesthetic point of view and are willing to try a variety of different things to generate exposure.

WHAT IS YOUR RATE?

Generally, our packages start at $2,500 - $5,000 per month. However, as entrepreneurs ourselves, we understand that budgets vary and are flexible in creating more custom programs based on a client's goals and budget.

HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?

Kate: Send us an email! We'd love to hop on a call or meet for a soy latte to hear more about your PR or social media needs.

HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?

Kate: Explore nature. Read everything. Be mindful.

Kate Tatem & Karissa Fowler