Complementary  business  strengths,  an  aligned  desire  to  innovate  and  a  catalyzing  real  estate  opportunity  were  key  factors  that  pushed  boutique  public  relations  firms  Pereira  PR  and  Spark  PR  and  Publicity  Inc.  to  sit  down  in  March  and  discuss  a  merger.  

We   individually   realized  that  both  companies  were  getting   to  a  point  where   in  order   to  get   to   the  next  stage,  not  necessarily   in  terms  of  physical  growth  but   in  terms  of  what  we  wanted  to  accomplish   in  the  industry  –  working  together  would  be  an  incredible  thing,  said  Pereira  founder  Sara  Padidar,  née  Pereira.  

More   than  half  a  year   later,   that   conversation  has  culminated   in   the   formation  of  merged  PR  company  Talkshop  Media,  which  just  launched  publicly  with  a  staff  of  12.  

But  before  plunging   into  the  deal,  Padidar,  along  with  Spark  founders  Katie  Dunsworth-‐Reiach  and  Beth  Boyle,  hired  Vancouver  entrepreneur  and  consultant  Judy  Brooks  to  help  them  assess  the  whys  and  hows  of  a  merger.