Two-thirds of PR agencies with a drop in revenue
Two-thirds of PR agencies reported a decline in revenue in 2013, according to the 2013 market statistics from the Swiss Association of PR Agencies (BPRA). Ten agencies reported an increase in revenue of up to 23 percent.
The 27 leading PR agencies in Switzerland that are members of the BPRA generated fee income of CHF 72.5 million in the 2013 financial year. Two thirds of PR agencies recorded a decline in turnover in 2013, as the 2013 market statistics of the Federation of PR Agencies in Switzerland (BPRA) show. However, ten agencies recorded an increase in turnover of between 1% and 23%. This corresponds to a decline in turnover of 4.4 percent in the industry. According to the press release, there were revenue winners and losers in all provider categories. The reasons for the turnover development of the individual agencies do not lie in overarching market trends, but in the addition and loss of individual larger mandates, personnel changes in the agencies or developments in specific client segments. In the annual market survey, BPRA agencies state that project business is increasing at the expense of basic mandates. As in previous years, social media and digital communication were identified as key drivers for the agencies' business.
There has been no change in the ranking of the largest agencies: The market continues to be led by Farner Consulting (+5.5 percent), followed by Burson-Marsteller (-26 percent). They are followed by YJOO Communications (+4.2 percent) and Furrer Hugi & Partner (+16.7 percent). New member Wirz Corporate follows in fifth place. According to the industry survey, the driving client sectors are healthcare, NGOs, foundations, associations and clubs, followed by banks, insurance companies, finance companies, the pharmaceutical industry and the energy sector. The most sought-after service categories are corporate communications, strategic consulting, marketing communications, online communications/digital PR and public affairs.
23 member agencies are CMS-certified, the remaining members are still in the (re-)certification process. With the international quality standard CMS II, the BPRA has its own mandatory certification for members, which defines ethical and qualitative standards. BPRA members therefore undertake to work in accordance with standards that must meet high economic, ethical and quality requirements.
