Diverse Companies is proud to announce its acquisition of KidStuff Public Relations, a venerable 30-year-old PR firm specializing in traditional, digital and social media awareness building for the toy and gift industries. Founder Lisa Orman remains at the helm, ensuring continuity and dedication to clients. Under the new alliance, she will continue to lead the firm as the President of the newly formed company, KidStuff Public Relations LLC.
The LLC will be a Dallas-based entity and the 5-year-old Diverse Insights division will join the media operations in the new LLC. Orman will lead the combined teams including Diverse Insights, a team of five in Dallas who have been creating content and providing social media services to a variety of toy & gift clients.
Wes Hardin, founder and CEO of Diverse Companies, is the third generation of Hardins to run the business his grandfather started in 1959, so he understands the importance of a succession plan and ensuring that the legacy built over decades continues after the founder retires. Orman founded her firm in 1994 and is elated that there is now a plan for KidStuff PR to continue to service the specialty play industry.
“My dad and I have known Lisa for a long time and we admire and respect the business she has built and the reputation she has,” Hardin said. “The leadership and mentoring she brings to Diverse Insights will be invaluable and facilitate growth in the division, and our resources will provide the support for KidStuff PR to grow and offer complementary services to its existing menu of services. I am honored to be associated with Lisa and her expertise.”
Hardin added that with KidStuff PR being part of the Diverse Companies family, Diverse Marketing sales agency clients will benefit from the PR agency’s expertise and Orman will offer regular education sessions and webinars about PR and media trends to Diverse Marketing clients. Orman will continue to run KidStuff PR and the new LLC from her LA-area office. As KidStuff PR joins forces with Diverse Companies, clients can expect an expanded array of services and resources, further enhancing the ability to serve their needs. With increased focus in the LA market during September Toy Preview month and at Diverse Marketing’s new LA Showroom, Orman’s on-site presence in the market area will be invaluable to clients.
The combined teams will form a symbiotic relationship, merging each other’s best practices and sharing tools to strengthen and enhance both sets of services for clients. The new partnership will provide a full menu of coordinated, best-in-class marketing services for clients who want a one-stop shop.
“I’m grateful to Wes that he sees and appreciates our value, and I agree wholeheartedly that our combined expertise and commitment to the industry embodies ‘Together we are better,’ the company motto that he lives every day,” Orman said. “His commitment to investing in my team and the complementary resources of our marketing teams means added stability for my agency and ensures future growth. We are a small team and there are only so many hours in a day to service our clients and I am delighted that the expansion will alleviate those pressure points and enhance what we can offer our clients.”
Key members of KidStuff PR are stepping into new roles within the expanded organization, ensuring continuity and expertise across all levels of service. KidStuff PR Creative Director Matt Sweeny is promoted to Vice President of the new division and will add client management and business development. Next year will be his 10th anniversary with KidStuff PR and currently handles the agency’s social media platforms to promote clients and their products, the agency website which it treats as a news portal, leads influencer relations with Orman and manages client content libraries, a critical tool for the agency in media work that must be in perfect working order.
Marsha Peltz, who has worked with KidStuff PR for 26 of its 30 years as Senior Associate, will continue to be the agency’s main press release and copy writer, an absolutely critical role for the agency’s continued success. She is promoted to Associate Vice President.
KidStuff PR clients will certainly appreciate that three time zones and geographic locations are covered with Orman in California, Sweeny in Wisconsin and Peltz in the Washington, DC area.
“I’m blessed to have a team I trust and admire, and thankful for their continued commitment to our business and clients,” Orman said. “We are thrilled to be expanding our team with the Diverse Insights crew and we are looking forward to having both fun and success together!”
Operations remain unchanged, with KidStuff PR's team intact and operations continuing seamlessly. No alterations to the established business model means that clients can expect the same excellent service they've come to rely on Orman relishes creating and executing strategies customized to each client’s needs and being deeply involved as a consultant with them. She is eager for Sweeny to play an expanded role in these functions. With the transition she will have even more time to devote to client relationships and brainstorming creative solutions to achieve client goals for building awareness.
“From the moment I conceived of this acquisition, I knew it would be amazing for both companies,” Hardin said. “I can’t wait to see what we do together.”
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