Today we’d like to introduce you to Dayna Gilchrist.
Dayna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in RI, went to college in NH and after a short time living in Boston, I was relocated across the country to Los Angeles. I am a little quirky, a little adventurous, extremely passionate, and here to leave my mark.
For me, work has always been an important part of my life. I enjoy working and I have always been passionate about whatever job I had, taking little bits and pieces with me. I started working at a coffee shop in my hometown when I was 14 years old and really never stopped. I thank my parents for giving me that foundation as a child. I saw them both work hard for us and they were always present in my life. I wanted that for my future.
I was fortunate to enjoy the nice things in life but I also learned the value of hard work and dedication. But you probably want to hear more about Hype?! My company, Hype was founded back in 2006 on a dream of mine. At the time, I was working for a marketing agency and we would outsource talent to represent brands at events. I am a problem solver and I felt there was a huge disconnect between the people building the marketing campaigns and those chosen to execute them. I wanted to create an agency that would easily connect the two parts.
Our mission was to build an agency that could see the “bigger picture”, and find the right people to represent brands like Coca-Cola, New Balance, Target, ABC, and so many more. We worked around the clock to figure out how to take this idea and make it a reality. And just like that, we were a real business! Launching in Los Angeles, we locked in our first client- the agency that I left. We were so fortunate to have the relationships that we did and right out of the gate we worked with brands like Paramount Pictures and USA Network. Of course, it wasn’t an easy road but hey, it can’t be easy.
Now, as the CEO and sole owner, I am so happy where the business is. We have the most incredible employees and clients and I love walking through that door every day. I found the importance of work/life balance to enjoy time with my family (my husband, Stu and two boys, Jackson & Cole) and getting in a good workout. Twelve years after founding the agency, I never stopped giving Hype everything I have, and Hype is now an industry leader. The Hype Agency is now one of the top execution and staffing partners in the experiential industry, working with some of the largest brands and agencies in the U.S. and worldwide. We were recently names 2017 Inc 5000 fastest-growing, privately held companies in America and named in the top 20 in NH!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
You know how the saying goes, “if it was easy, everyone would do it.” Well, it is so true. I remember one of our first clients (we won’t name names) was a well-known agency representing a VERY well known brand. We were hired to staff an exciting PR stunt for them and we knocked it out of the park!
We were thrilled with the outcome and the client was pleased…. this was just what we needed! Then came the time to pay… and we learned the hard way that collections and cash flow is one of the toughest parts of running a small company.
Long story, short. They eventually paid us but it put a huge strain on us and made us think about our infrastructure more. It was one of the first times I had to teach myself not to take things personally…it is after all business and we are now in the big leagues.
Being challenged and overcoming obstacles is something I am grateful for. We cannot take for granted that we have the ability to push ourselves outside what makes us comfortable.
I am grateful every day and wouldn’t change the path that took me here for anything in this world.
The Hype Agency – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My favorite part, I could talk about Hype all day all night! We are an event staffing and execution agency. Sounds like a mouthful, but basically we provide talent (we call them brand ambassadors) to our clients to promote their products and services in the market.
To break it down further… ever get a protein bar from someone at an event or signed up for a freebie at a sporting event? Those were probably Hype brand ambassadors! And you’re welcome. We bring our client’s ideas to life and we bring products and services directly to the consumer so you can taste it, touch it, feel it, and see it first hand.
As a company, corporate culture and core values are important to our organization as a whole. Even as a small business, we have created systems and processes internally to reward our employees, provide unique benefits, encourage each other, and win! We are a family and a close-knit group.
The number one thing that sets us apart from others in the industry is our passion. This is also what I am most proud of. As I look at Hype today, I see a team that is truly passionate about the agency, its clients and what we do. Our team is dedicated to making our clients’ programs a success each and every time.
Our agency has been awarded the BEST OF STAFFING award by Career Builder five times in a row. This is a direct result of the work our team does and how we have seen by the talent that works for us!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, for me, has always been in providing a great quality of life for my family, for those who work for me, and to my community. I want to leave a legacy for my children by showing them that you can have balance in all the important areas of their life.
Success is having the time and resources to pursue what you are passionate about. I strive to give those opportunities to those who work for me and I plan to continue to provide them to my children.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2 Dyer Ave. Salem NH 03079
- Website: thehypeagency.com
- Phone: 1-844-GET-HYPE
- Email: dayna@thehypeagency.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thehypeagency
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/HypeAgency
- Twitter: twitter.com/The_Hype_Agency
- Other: www.linkedin.com/company/the-hype-agency
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