Peppercomm rebrands to show it does more than PR

NEW YORK: Peppercomm has rebranded by adding another “m” to the firm's name, symbolizing its commitment to marketing and other non-PR services.  

It has also unveiled a new website, logo, and tagline. The independent agency's revised tagline – “Listen. Engage. Repeat.” – refers to how the firm's staff explores first-hand how consumers interact with a brand in the marketplace and figures out the best way to conduct outreach, whether through digital, PR, advertising, or marketing.

“We're literally putting ourselves in the shoes of the consumers,” said Steve Cody, Peppercomm co-founder and managing partner. “It brings the voice of the customers into the conference room.”

The firm contends that this makes it fundamentally different from many competitors, which it says dive immediately into conversations.

Over the last few years, the firm has made a series of strategic purchases, including interactive and creative shop H20 Associates, to serve clients through platforms that are discipline-agnostic.

“It's all about the pains in the marketplaces,” said Ed Moed, Peppercomm co-founder and managing partner, about acquiring non-PR entities in recent years.

The firm has also unveiled various personnel-training techniques to help clients relate to consumers, such as “comedy experience,” an interactive program that helps participants learn the connections between comedy and business. Participants learn about the various kinds of stand-up and then perform routines in front of their peers.

Clients' staffs use this experience to improve internal communications and culture, enhance executives' storytelling abilities, and boost morale.

The method was co-developed by comedian Clayton Fletcher. Response to the program was positive, with some clients saying it has produced better results than traditional media training, said Cody.