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Éric Santerre

tök communications is a 360-degree communications agency that has been in business since 2016. We recently celebrated our seventh anniversary, marking seven successful years in the industry. Our multidisciplinary team works on various projects encompassing social media management, content creation, public/press relations, influencer marketing, digital advertising, and graphic design.

The mission of tök communications is simple: to offer services that are uniquely tailored to each client’s needs. Our team draws on its extensive experience in the communications field to identify our clients’ requirements and develop personalized and creative strategies that align with their objectives.

tök communications aims to serve as an extension of our clients, faithfully representing them to their target audience. Our team members are more than mere executors; they position themselves as true consultants in the realm of communications.

At tök communications, we adhere to strong values, which we strive to incorporate at every step of our work. Our four key values are rigour, proximity, results, and going above and beyond.

Our clients hail from various fields, but we cater to three market segments in particular. One-third of our clients are non-profit organizations, another third fall within the “lifestyle” sector – including fashion, cosmetics, food industry, restaurants, wines and spirits, etc. – and finally, we are proud to assist numerous companies with their corporate communications needs.

Tell us about yourself?

My background is quite unique. Before becoming an entrepreneur, I spent a considerable amount of time exploring what I truly wanted to do. Initially, I pursued a bachelor’s degree in sexology, a field that intrigued me greatly. After working in this area for several years, I decided to return to my first love: communication. Consequently, I went back to university to earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Afterward, I spent a few more years working as a journalist for various publications before deciding to join an agency.

It was after gaining valuable experience at different agencies that I decided to launch my own. My goal was to establish an agency that aligned with my values, providing me with the freedom to build something from scratch. I was fortunate to receive assistance from various government programs, which resulted in a DEP in business launch and an AEC in sales.

More recently, I completed my MBA, a significant achievement that fills me with immense pride.

If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

The biggest piece of advice I would give myself, as well as any other entrepreneur out there – something I’ve recently learned – is never to be afraid to put yourself in situations where you’re not necessarily comfortable. The best way to learn and improve as a business owner is to step out of your comfort zone and learn from your mistakes.

What problem does your business solve?

We assist organizations in structuring their communications. Through our services in social media, press/public relations, influencer marketing, and graphic design, we focus on three crucial aspects of communication: visibility, notoriety, and positioning. We aid these organizations in reaching out to their target audience and consumers.

What is the inspiration behind your business?

I believe what inspires our business is our desire to provide highly bespoke services and maintain a close relationship with our clients. Furthermore, our work with non-profit organizations significantly defines us, which I believe is an integral part of our identity. More than 35 per cent of our clients are non-profit organizations, which imbues our work with profound meaning and reflects who we are. While our communication work doesn’t ‘save lives,’ our collaboration with these organizations truly lends purpose to what we do and provides us the opportunity to make a difference in our society.

What is your magic sauce?

When I speak with a potential client for the first time, I often tell them that at tök communications, we prioritize the quality of our services. For us, it’s not about quantity, but truly about quality. Our multidisciplinary team of experts comes from various backgrounds, providing us with the opportunity to challenge our clients and create strategic work through a genuine creative process. We have also positioned ourselves as experts, meaning that we are not simply ‘yes men.’ We aim to foster open dialogue with our clients, embracing the challenge they present as well as challenging them in return. We are not merely executors but consultants as well; we are collaborators first and foremost.

What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?

Of course, we aim to continue our growth, which I believe is a common goal among all entrepreneurs. However, I also want to keep building a team that sticks together. We strive to keep challenging ourselves and earning the trust of our current clients as well as future ones. We aspire to expand, strengthen our position in our industry, and gain the recognition of our peers.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

The last three years were filled with challenges, with the pandemic playing a significant role. We had to modify our work approach and adapt to a new reality, but I sincerely believe that the greatest challenge we’re currently facing is the labour shortage. There’s been a complete shift in ‘power’ dynamics between employers and employees. I believe there used to be a certain balance between the two, but recently we’ve witnessed a total shift. Consequently, we have to change our human resources approach, our hiring processes, what we can offer to potential employees, and so on.

How can people get involved?

We eagerly welcome clients who are truly invested in a strategic approach to communications. We offer the opportunity to work with a results-driven team and grow alongside us, hand in hand. To join the tök family, write us an email at eric@tokcommunications.ca, visit our website at tokcommunications.ca, or call us at (514) 535-0326, extension 101.