There is a considerable market that exists for specialist event management and PR companies in Africa, and one young startup in South Africa, K2 PR and Events, is looking to make its mark too. Founder Kynaro Kinnear is following in her mother’s footsteps to take her original business dream and turn it into a reality.
LoA spoke to founder Kynaro Kinnear this month to find out more about this new startup in the events and PR industry in South Africa
What does your company do?
K2 PR and Events is a company that offers clients the chance to make their event functions a reality. For example, they might have a product they have created that needs launching to market; or perhaps they have a celebration to be organised and they need help in planning it; in these cases, K2 PR and Events is a company that can create an event around those ideas and needs. K2 works with different venues and is able to cater for any type of function. The company also has a PR department that takes care of any branding and marketing needs, and also works with NGOs in coordinating campaigns and many other ventures. At K2, there is a design department that can work with clients to design logos, invitations and advertising materials.
"Everything about this company is centred around helping people, whether it be to help plan a wedding or help an NGO with a campaign."
What inspired you to start your company?
I am 25 years old and have worked in many different sectors from retail to sports coaching. I started helping my mother in one of her businesses, and due to the fact that she had to go back to a full time job, her business started to suffer. As any daughter would feel, I did not want her dream to fall apart, so I took the knowledge I had learned over the years doing events with her and I created K2 PR And Events with two goals in mind - the first was to create a company that would become one of the most successful businesses in South Africa headed by a young female; and the second was to help keep my mother’s dream alive and help her business become a success. Many people have found my reasons for creating a business to be pointless, but there is nothing stronger then determination and desire to make you push through the toughest of times. I may be young, but my age just means I have fresh ideas and have time to learn what this world has to offer. That is my start up story - K2 PR And Events was started to help people, and today everything about this company is centred around helping people, whether it be to help plan a wedding or help an NGO with a campaign.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
My service doesn't just offer clients one aspect of PR and event management, it offers three integrated aspects, and as a result, clients do not need to go to 3 different companies to get their events coordinated - they can instead come to one company and know that all their needs will be taken care of. For example, if clients want to launch a new product into the marketplace, K2 PR and Events can design an advertising campaign, create an awareness campaign around a product to a key target audience, and launch that product through an event. All this done by one company, which saves clients the need to run around trying to communicate with three different sets of people and organisations, and instead they can communicate with just one person. Another reason why clients should use K2 is that they can hire just one part of the company - if they only wanted to work with the design team, then that is who they hire. The company is also budget conscious and will not over charge its clients.
"My journey so far has been an interesting one, there have been times when I've felt that I am in way over my head, but giving up is not something I do. I am still learning but I am confident in the service I can provide."
Tell us a little about your team
The K2 PR And Events team is made up of women - our graphic designer is a lady who relocated to South Africa from the U.K and has an amazing eye for design. The Founder of K2 PR and Events is a 25 year old woman with a passion for making people’s dreams a reality - our team works together with a determined attitude and is full of energy. We are fairly new and still building our team, and as the business expands, so will our team.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I don't directly come from an entrepreneurial background, but both my parents are very entrepreneurially-minded people, so I have always been surrounded by people with an interest in business, so, I like to say its in my blood. My journey so far has been an interesting one, there have been times when I've felt that I am in way over my head, but giving up is not something I do. I am still learning but I am confident in the service I can provide.
"I want my company to be known for its honesty and transparency and one that offers a service that goes beyond expectations. I would also like my company to be an example of success for women, and maybe an inspiration in the future."
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I want my company to be one of the leading PR and events companies in South Africa that is headed by a woman. I want my company to be known for its honesty and transparency and one that offers a service that goes beyond expectations. I would also like my company to be an example of success for women and maybe an inspiration in the future.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The best thing about being an entrepreneur is that I have the freedom to explore my ideas and offer other people the opportunity to be able to create memorable events and campaigns within their budgets. It is great to run a business because you learn about different aspects of the business world which you wouldn't be able to do if you were working for someone else, so the most satisfying thing about being an entrepreneur is the knowledge and experience you gain.
"There is nothing stronger than determination and desire to make you push through the toughest of times."
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
My advice to women wanting to start up a business is to ‘go for it’. Women are the strongest species in all ways - lionesses hunt, human females work, we look after the children, run a household and still have energy to go to a soccer match - if we can give birth to life, than we can do anything, no matter how difficult or challenging it may look. So take a breath and jump in because you will find a way to be successful.
Contact or follow K2 Public Relations And Events
WEBSITE | TWITTER | EMAIL kynaro@k2prevents.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
At LoA, we love those startups whose energy and will to succeed is so inspiring. Young South African entrepreneur, Kynaro Kinnear is on a mission to create a successful specialist PR and event management company and to fulfil her mother’s original dream of creating such a company and brand. Her energy and commitment should take her all the way. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa