BJC Public Relations was acquired by Scottsdale/Los Angeles-based Santy, a rapidly growing full service marketing agency, in a strategic move that elevates Santy’s in-house PR expertise and ability to take creative campaigns to new experiential levels.
“I’ve been a fan of BJC for a long time, and we’ve collaborated on client work over the years. They’re smart, creative, know how to attract earned media,” said Santy Founder Dan Santy. “They’ll take what we’re doing in digital and social platforms and make it relevant and engaging in the real world. It’s giving Santy the experiential edge that we want to deliver in future campaigns for our clients.”
The popular confectionary snack Pocky may be the first client to benefit. Santy’s newly-tapped Chief Creative Officer Ken Spera is deep in planning an integrated campaign that includes outdoor advertising in the heart of NYC’s Time Square.
Arizona-based clients also will benefit from Santy’s expanded in-house capabilities. BJC has touched nearly every industry sector in the region since the firm was established in 1984. The agency is a strong proponent of the nonprofit community, encouraging staff members to serve on boards, and clients to create new philanthropic initiatives. One of the agency’s best known charitable endeavors may be its own – “Inspired Soles” – a fundraiser for Artlink that features stiletto shoes transformed into works of art by local artists.
“It’s an exciting time to be joining Santy,” said BJC President Sara Fleury. “Nothing about the BJC that was founded 30-plus years ago – other than the fact that we still write press releases – resembles what we do today. We’re a creative team, and now we have the in-house digital, social media and production capabilities to offer our clients. We can push the envelope in all of those areas.”
BJC’s account services professionals will migrate to Santy’s Scottsdale, Ariz.-based headquarters, which is bursting at the seams with more than 50 employees now on staff. In addition to their recent addition of Advertising Hall of Famer Spera, Santy acquired Los Angeles-based S+L PR, which has an established footprint in the fashion and action sports industry. Santy’s growing success illustrates the strong economic future in the digital marketing space, and the visionary approach of longtime advertising executive Dan Santy.
Santy uncovers undiscovered insights and executes strategic campaigns resulting in steady growth and an impressive roster that includes locally-known brands like China Mist Tea, Paradise Bakery and Peter Piper Pizza, as well as other nationally known brands such as Harvest Snaps, Chevy’s, Delta, PeiWei, Pocky and Bona Floor Care Solutions.
BJC serves B to B and B to C clients based in the southwest or with a significant presence in Arizona, providing services including media relations, strategic communications and community outreach, among others. Their market focus is in the building, real estate & development, mining, agriculture, healthcare, retail, non-profit, hospitality and utilities industries.
