La-Tasha Pucoe / 27 / Director of PRuth Communications
When and why did you decide to start your own Public Relations company?
I started PRuth Communications in 2015 after completing my Public Relations qualification at Rosebank College. I used to have an online magazine called PRuth Magazine that was very successful and landed me my internship and later a job at a very well-known PR company. After gaining experience and not being happy with working for somebody else, I decided to start PRuth Communications and focus on my own dreams. I had no money saved up, I think I only had R500 in my bank account, a laptop my mother bought me for college and my smartphone. No office space. No team. No idea where to begin. I decided to start my own PR company because I believed in my ability to create brands. I am an Entrepreneur by nature, I lead and having a deep love for the art of Public Relations allowed me to be passionate about having late nights and hardly any social life.
What’s PRuth Communications’ mission?
Our mission is to eliminate the gap between up comers and recognition. Most PR companies don’t see the need to sign upcoming talent or brands unless they have a huge following already. I see that as laziness. Why not be the person or company that built something from scratch? Most of the time when you have an already established client, you don’t work as hard as somebody who is hustling from the ground up. That is why we analyze our clients and see potential to grow.
What sets PRuth Communications apart from other PR companies in South Africa?
- We always aim to Provide Legendary Customer Service to all clients hence why we have a very strong family culture at PRuth Communications. Clients are able to contact myself or the team at any time of the day or night.
- We Admit Mistakes and Fix Problems to Build Stronger Relationships. No PR company is perfect and to understand a client means that you have to go through some trials to understand the client’s way of working.
- We are honest about our services. Clients know exactly what they are going to get and when things don’t work out as planned, we communicate and figure out a way forward.
- Our ability to see potential in up comers.
How do you keep going despite the downfalls you come across?
It’s hard. Unless you are born into a very wealthy family that funds your business but for the rest of us hustling from nothing, it gets hard. I constantly remind myself why I began PRuth. When times are tough, I have a very supportive family and they are always there to remind me how far I have come. Downfalls will always be there and when I fall 100 times, I will simply get up 101 times.
PRuth turns 3 this year, any great names you have come to represent so far?
Yes, we turned 3 years on the 25th August 2017. All of my clients are great names. I don’t look at any of them and think one is better than the other. That’s the difference of being a part of #TeamPRuth, all clients are big names and are treated as such. Currently we service a variety of clients such as:
- DJ Sabby (Drivetime Host on YFM),
- Khutso Theledi (Lunchtime Host on YFM),
- Blayze (SAHHA Nominated Producer and Musician)
- Dejavu Clothing ( High-End Fashion Brand)
- O.Kay (Musician)
- Bakhothe Mzee (Musician)
- Cohl Oudetech (Musician)
- Angie Purple (Musician)
- Soweto Fashion Week (Social Media Management)
- Chef Starlin Feder (Chef from Dubai)
- And the list goes on…
You’re definitely an inspiration to young females, where do get the will to keep going?
Thank you. I have a few things that I always remind myself of and this keeps me going. Hopefully it will inspire other Entrepreneurs too:
- Be Patient. Success takes time. You have 24 hours in a day and that means you can achieve 24 things in a day.
- Play a bigger game than yourself. Don’t limit yourself by treating yourself like a start-up even though you might be.
- Only compare yourself to yourself. The only person you should become better than is yourself. No one else.
- Know that when things are at their worst, there will always be light at the end of that tunnel. The greatest inventions and success stories go through “a dip” before they achieve prosperity. The night is darkest just before the dawn.
What do you love the most about the PR industry?
PR is versatile. Whether you like to write, pitch, research or strategize – there are many roles within the field that you can throw yourself into.
What’s your plan going forward to maintain staying power in the industry?
Consistency is my plan. To keep doing what I have been doing. To ensure that every client is a reflection of PRuth.
Any closing words of wisdom?
Your Social Circles Will Make Or Break You. A poor choice of close influencers can make entrepreneurs quit early. To grow, you need positive people, those who know that you can and will succeed. If you can associate with people who will challenge you to think positively, think bigger and offer advice – you will be more likely to be a great success.
Follow La-Tasha @ PRuth Communincations!
Instagram: @pruth_communications
Twitter: @Pruth_Comm
Facebook: Pruth Communications
–Bridgette Makhela
bkoolmedia 