“My PR Perspective” is a series of blog posts where we ask our chapter members to give us their different perspectives of the PR profession.
Name: Kim Livengood, APR, CPRC
What is your job title?
I wear so many hats! I am the Chief Communications Officer and owner of The Eclipse Agency. I am the co-owner and operator of The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime and Hamlet’s Eatery.
In a few sentences, describe what you do.
Create brand awareness for my clients and my own businesses through media relations, storytelling and unique events.
How did you get to this point in your career?
I am a serial entrepreneur. After getting a degree from UF in Magazine Journalism I published Eclipse magazine for eight years. Then I opened a women’s clothing store (also for eight years). Next, my husband and I opened and operated a small boutique hotel in Downtown Sarasota. After successfully operating and selling all three businesses I decided that my next move would be to get a “real” job with a boss. I landed at Tervis and ended up as their Director of PR. It was there that I learned that in all the aspects of my work public relations was my favorite. Naturally, my next step was starting my own boutique PR agency.
Do you tell people you work in ‘PR?’ Why or why not?
I am so proud to be a public relations professional. I tell everyone. Our field is important. Without PR, companies would not thrive.
How would you describe an average public relations job?
Does that exist?
How is what you do different?
I am very lucky to be in a position where I can control who I want to work with and when. Since opening The Bazaar, that has become my focus, so I don’t really take on new clients. No day is ever the same. I am also lucky because the real boss (my mom) lets me have full creative control. I don’t have to run things up through management and the ideas that can be created to promote The Bazaar are endless. It’s exciting and never boring.
What do you wish more people inside your organization understood about what you do?
I wish people realized that advertising is NOT PR. That is marketing. The Bazaar does not have a marketing budget. We keep our rents really low. That is why I have to rely on being ultra-creative to get earned media coverage.
What do you wish more people outside your organization understood about what you do?
In general, people don’t understand public relations. And shame on us! We are so busy promoting our clients that we don’t take the time to “brand” our own profession. Plus, it is always easier to talk about others than yourself.
How has CWC-FPRA been a positive part of your professional development?
I am forever grateful to Lynn Holbeck Bates, APR, CPRC, for asking me to be on her board six years ago when she was President. The friendship and support through CWC are the real deal.
I thought I was too old to think about getting my APR and CPRC but the encouragement from fellow members inspired me. And now that I have those initials, it gives me the confidence to stand up for things I knew were right. I don’t second guess myself anymore. And if I don’t know the answer, I have a support system of super-smart professionals. Being surrounded by passionate, like-minded individuals is empowering. I encourage everyone to get more involved with our organization. You get what you put into it and I will continue to give my all.