Lessons from founding a PR firm, ten years on
After ten years of running her own agency, BenchPR’s Jocelyn Hunter looks back at the lessons she’s learned in building her independent practice.
Ten years ago this week, I set up my business BENCH PR. I’d recently finished working at a large PR agency in Melbourne, my fifth, and thought there was an opportunity to set up my own PR agency, providing counsel for both for global and local tech companies. It was 2008 of course, when the rest of the world was going through the GFC, but undeterred, I thought it’s now or never.
Jocelyn Hunter is the founder and managing director of BenchPR
I learnt quickly that you really do have to be an optimist to give up a regular salary and start a new business. Otherwise, you’d never do it. You certainly don’t need to know that 60 percent of small businesses fail within the first three years in Australia. And you can do all the reading you like about how best to run a business, but nothing prepares you for the real thing.
PR has a gender problem that appears greater than that in ad agencies. Why is this not addressed (apart from lip service)?
Hi Jocelyn,
Just wanted to say that I loved reading your post, congratulations on your success.
I especially liked what you’ve said about being an optimist, and the now or never part.
Cheers!
A great achievement Jocelyn, congrats on 10 years of running Bench PR! And thanks for all the referrals you’ve sent our way over the years. We’ve worked with some great clients as a result.
Ten more years?
Thanks for all of your support over the years too!
10 more years…let’s see 🙂