20 Years: Bedroom to Boardroom PR Success

HAMILTON, Today: In 2004, the same year Facebook launched and ‘Friends’ concluded, Heather Claycomb founded HMC in her Hamilton bedroom. Starting with a gifted laptop and a Nokia phone, she ventured into PR consulting.

Now, HMC stands as the only three-time winner of the PR Institute of NZ’s Agency of the Year Award for small to medium agencies. They’ve amassed numerous awards and have served over 80 clients, continuing to grow.

“Honestly, starting a business was the furthest thing from my mind in 2004. I had come out of a stressful role and thought I would do some writing while I looked around for a job I could love.

“I remember my very first project was editing a publication for emerging dairy start-up, Synlait. I simply used my networks from there to find writing, communications planning and media relations work. Twenty years have gone by in a flash,” she says.

In 2018, Claycomb transformed HMC into a social enterprise, donating all profits to her family charity, All Good Ventures. “When we tell people we donate all our profits to charity, the message is normally met with a furrowed brow of confusion as they wonder ‘did she really just say ALL profits?’. Yes, that’s right, one hundred percent!

“My husband Rod and I made this decision in 2018 and we haven’t regretted it. These past five years have been HMC’s most profitable yet, and we know that’s no coincidence. All Good Ventures uses HMC profits to help entrepreneurs around the world build businesses that lift vulnerable people out of deprivation.

“Donations have helped to build health centres in Uganda, lift artisans out of poverty in Kenya, give clothes-for-a year to foster children in New Zealand who go into care with literally nothing.”

“Donations have helped to build health centres in Uganda, lift artisans out of poverty in Kenya, give clothes-for-a year to foster children in New Zealand who go into care with literally nothing, retrain human trafficking survivors in the UK, build businesses that give disabled people employment in Australia and more.

“I love that our clients can partner with HMC to not only do great communications work, but they also partner with us to do good things in the world,” she says.

Claycomb credits a partnership approach as key to retaining clients. HMC strives to integrate deeply with client businesses, fostering long-term relationships.

She also takes pride in nurturing her staff, helping them grow within and beyond HMC. Over 20 years, she’s employed 21 people, watching them advance and succeed in various capacities.

Reflecting on memorable projects, Claycomb highlights impactful campaigns like Buddy Day and major client work such as Meridian’s Te Uku Wind Farm and the Smith Family’s home giveaway, which garnered HMC’s first PR award.

Looking ahead, Claycomb doesn’t see herself running a PR agency in 20 years but is excited about the evolving industry. She plans to continue embracing new technologies to keep HMC at the forefront of PR, while also expanding her governance roles, including her current position as Chair of the PR Institute of New Zealand.