25 reasons to keep innovating
We never write about ourselves in the Beaupre/Checkmate blog, but today we make an exception.Twenty five years ago today, Karen and I hung out our shingle. We started Beaupre in our first house in a former nursery with murals of Mickey Mouse and Raggedy A & A on the wall. Our view was a metal swing set from Sears on a one-third acre lot.
We had zero capital, no line of credit, one cheap pine desk, a rolodex and an IBM Selectric typewriter. We focused on technology from the start. Our first client was Integral Data Systems, a color dot matrix printer company later acquired by Dataproducts.
We’ve seen a bit of change.
On the competitive front, hundreds of competitors have come and gone, including great agencies like Newsome & Company; Miller Communications; Gray Strayton; Agnew, Carter, McCarthy; Drumbeater; Rourke & Co.; Nigberg PR; Copithorne & Bellows; Clarke & Co.; Fitzgerald & Co.; Ingalls, Quinn & Johnson PR; Creamer Dickson Basford PR; and Regis McKenna.
But survival isn’t an endgame. The passion to continually transform fuels ongoing success. I blogged about this when I paired Bruce Springsteen with technology innovation. We try to remember the ‘Bruce model' at Beaupre. You can never rest.
The transformation of PR is a current case in point. A grassroots online community has emerged and prospered, with customers and consumers talking to each other — and with companies — directly. This is redefining traditional models and practices for the better. It’s an energizing time to be in business.
Here are some highlights for the past 25 years:
- Our ‘endgame’ focus helped companies get acquired, go public, increase sales and build successful brands. That’s how clients measure our performance and how we like to be measured.
- The people who’ve been with us on our journey. They average nine+ years with our firm, and many have been with us a lot longer.
- Beaupre was acquired by Brodeur and Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) in 1999, two world class organizations that made us stronger. Nine years later, we’ve kept our brand, working model and culture, while forging lifelong friendships with smart, fun people like John Brodeur and Andy Coville.
- Still having a positive reputation means the most.
Many viewpoints have changed, and so have the views. Karen and I now look out on a salt-water panorama in Portsmouth, a terrific home to build a business. It’s a long way from the Sears swing set and Selectric. Thanks to all who make it possible.
acquired Parlano. All that social media and messaging traction
made a difference!
achieving this noteworthy milestone. Other firms may come
and go, but you guys are a highly credible, results-driven
constant. Hope you kept the Selectric as a memento!
for us over the years. That's what makes this ride so much fun.
I still have two Selectrics in the attic, maybe they'll
be worth big bucks someday - like $100 apiece.
Congrats on the 25 years. You've done some truly remarkable things. You've recognized the changes in our industry, but you kept one important thing constant...customer service. With that approach 50 will be right around the corner. :)
You truly made a difference for the Parlano team now scattered and/or working for Microsoft. Our success last year easily maps to Beaupre's involvement with the firm. Keep up the great work for all your clients!
Cheers
Having worked with you back in the Prime Computer days and at so many other companies over all these years, I have always considered you the best. I am also honored to consider you a friend. Best wishes on your next 25 years!
Ellen Rogers
Our little company that could, Ember Corporation, started working with Beaupre not long after the company was founded. Ember was small but scrappy, we needed to spread the word about this new world of "wireless embedded networks", we needed to look a little larger than life, and we needed to move quickly. Lucky for us, we found Beaupre.
Andy Beaupre and his team were able to not only keep pace with us, but were great at reframing our technical perspective into clear messages that our customers would not only understand, but want to buy.
And -- this counts for a lot -- working with Andy and his crew was, for want of a better word, invigorating. It was always fun.
Here's to your next 25 years of fun!
All the best,
- Rob Poor
I’ve worked with other PR firms and they really all pale in comparison to Beaupre. I truly feel that Beaupre is an extension of my own team. I have always felt they were in the
game just as much as I was and I could rely upon them at any time to be there for me to support my efforts. I have been impressed with everyone at Beaupre.
Each team member knew me, my company and what needed to get done in order to be successful. Most importantly, they didn’t just know what needed to get done, they got it done!
This is probably why you guys are celebrating 25 years and many of the previous companies I’ve worked haven’t been able to make the mark that you have!
Here’s wishing you many, many years of continued success!
Thank you Andy, Karen and the entire team at Beaupre. You have built a great company and you should all be proud. Thank you!
Congratulations just doesn't seem to be enough to acknowledge this accomplishment. It would be a significant achievement to start a company in this market and have it survive over 25 years but to do it with the class and professionalism of you and your team is truly an accomplishment. While I wasn't there for the start it has been a wonderful ride being associated with you over the last 21 years. Count me among the many who are proud to say they participated in your success.
25 years of success measured on many levels but most importantly-Customer Satisfaction! Thank you for your never-ending ingenuity, adaptability and professionalism.
Here is to the next 25 years !
of you and am so grateful for that. I knew the day I walked
through the doors at Beaupre that this firm was "Tougher than
the Rest" and that you were both "Born to Run". Here's to
25 more years of ROCK ON!