BRAND
STRATEGY
MANAGEMENT
EDUCATION
& ADVOCACY
FOR WOMEN
SPORTS. MUSIC. ENTERTAINMENT.
A Brand Strategy Firm Built for Women ☉ Sports, Music & Entertainment ∆
A Brand Strategy Firm Built for Women ☉ Sports, Music & Entertainment ∆
Paper Route is a pioneering mission-based brand and design strategy firm. We develop the talents, and passions of women off the court, field, stage, and screen to build personal brands and partnerships that increase revenue opportunities, increase agency, and expand the legacies of our clients.
On an individual level, we advocate on our client’s behalf to develop, protect and expand their brand equities, amplifying the power of their platforms to create lasting financial security, build community, and push the needle of cultural change.
On a group level, we partner with teams, labels, studios, and corporations on programs and campaigns that fulfill the mission to expand opportunity and visibility for women.
We are the newest member of our clients’ “Team.” We are brand strategists, brand managers, and brand creative directors who move at the speed of culture.
Areas of Expertise *
Areas of Expertise *
Brand
STRATEGY
At Paper Route, our clients are human beings who need room to grow and develop, unlike typical static product or service-oriented brands. Our practices are intentionally very different at Paper Route. We have applied our combined 35+ years of corporate and start-up brand strategy, along with earning Master’s Degrees in Branding, to develop cutting-edge methodologies for personal branding.
We take a holistic foundational development approach with our clients to get to know their motivations and spirit. Our active and personal audit research allows us to learn about their unique personalities, passions, interests, values, family, faith, and more. This is essential in strategic personal brand development to position and define authentic unique points of view, and their deliberate differentiation. Their remarkable story. A complete brand hierarchy, positioning, voice, and more can then be outlined.
Living guidelines are developed that are essential in partnership opportunities and other ventures to maintain brand integrity and voice.
Brand
Extensions
We leverage our clients’ brands and equities to enter new categories for entrepreneurial ventures. Whether it’s a new product or service venture, having a cohesive brand extension strategy, identity and activation plan is essential to the success of a new brand launch.
Partnerships
Brand partnerships can be brilliant sources to expand revenue opportunities. Having a defined brand position and guidelines allows potential partners to see the opportunity.
We assist our clients to locate those brand alignment opportunities that make strategic sense. To define the pitch and develop campaigns with partners that are authentically unique to your personal brand. Advocating on behalf of our clients and their brands throughout the process.
Education
Outreach and education are essential in helping women understand the full power of their brands from the start. This is especially important for young collegiate and high school players who have opportunities due to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness).
We provide resources and tools to these women to educate and develop their personal brands via workshops and speaking engagements. Our educational mission is to empower young athletes to be proactive and help define and future-proof their brands on their own terms, rather than unknowingly giving that power to corporate partnerships.
Production
We are creative makers and builders. We have full, award-winning production capabilities to bring those innovative seed ideas and strategies to life.
From rough conceptual renders to shipping final published work, we have you covered. A detailed list of capabilities are below.
What We Do *
What We Do *
Advertising
Art Direction
Animation
Brand Strategy
Brand Positioning
Brand Architecture
Brand Communication
Copywriting
Commercials
Competitive Espionage
Consumer Insight Mining
Content Creation
Cultural Scouting
Digital Branding
Data Research
Environmental & Interiors
Exhibitions
Experiential Design
Film & Video
Full-Service Production
Illustration
Installation
Interactive
Integrated Advertising
Naming & Nomenclature
Mural Design
Merchandise Design
Packaging Design
Photo Art Direction
Print / OOH
Product Innovation
Retail Design
Social Strategy
Social Content
Sound & Motion
Target Audience
Visual Identity
Voice & Language
Website Design
Meet the Team *
Meet the Team *
Kristen Branch
Founder * CEO
A fierce advocate for women’s equity and a perpetual student of social movement study, Kris has a Master’s in Branding from SVA under chairman Debbie Millman. A Massachusetts native and graduate of Syracuse University, Kris has 20+ years of experience creating strategic brand and consumer-centric solutions for global CPG and publishing companies, garnering awards and establishing herself as a trusted go-to partner to reimagine the status quo. Embracing a global holistic creative strategy for her work, Kris focuses on the “big picture” and making connections on how cross-functional systems can accelerate and enhance business and brand strategies for her partners. Partnerships include Disney, Amazon, Live Nation, Sundance, Newell Brands, Target, Walmart, Simon and Schuster, BBB, and more.
Kris is the founder of the award-winning brand and design firm, Group Hugg. She continues to assistant teach for the Masters in Branding program for Dr. Ilene Feinman Semiotics of Social Movement course and the thesis semester.
In 2018, while a Connecticut Sun mini season ticket holder, Kris was inspired by the passion, grit, and tenacity on the court. The seeding idea of applying her experience to support women in realizing the full potential of their brands, creating lasting cultural change, and increasing equity for women was a mission that Kris was motivated to follow. Maintaining the vision and trusting the process, five years later, Paper Route launched in 2023 in Los Angeles. Go Sparks!
Roxanne Benefiel
Co-Founder
Rox is a compassionate and creatively driven brand director and communications master with a spirited determination. As Co-Founder of Paper Route, her ultimate goal is to prioritize the humble over the huge and community over the corporate. Rox has 15+ years of experience working with non-profit and startup companies in design, brand strategy, and marketing. She holds a Master’s degree in Branding from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Among other things, she has served as an executive board member for The One Club for Creativity (previously the Art Directors Club), actively volunteers and assists in local social movements, and is a Graduate Teaching Assistant at SVA.
Rox is the co-founder of the award-winning brand & design firm, Group Hugg. She is also a professional Astrologer and Dancer.
Advisors & Mentors
Debbie Millman
Dr. Ilene Feinman
Elizabeth Talerman
Kenna Kay
Daily Gist
Carolina Rogoll Christophersen
Bret Sanford
Hector Castrillon
+
Collective
Emelil Walter
Davis Luceriaga
Maureen Martinez
Tom McCormick
Amelia Nash
Stephen Miller
Rosemarie Albanese
+
Meta Misson *
Meta Misson *
“Revolution is not a one-time event” -Audre Lorde
We need a holistic strategy, fueled with education, advocacy, and partnerships across industries to build the revolution of equity for wom=n. This strategy is our meta mission.
While our clients take care of business on the court, field, stage, and screen, we take care of managing their brands, much like family made sure the newspaper was always delivered on the paper route and the monies were collected. Day after day. The paper route was a family business.
Grounded people, creating groundbreaking work. We are Paper Route.