Agency Cliquish - Comprehensive Analysis Report

Summary

Agency Cliquish is an influencer management agency founded in 2021, dedicated to redefining public relations within the creator economy. It specializes in meticulous brand management and career architecture, exclusively for Black digital talent. The agency’s core mission is to cultivate successful careers, move beyond transactional corporate commitments, and ensure Black talent receives robust support, strategic guidance, and equitable compensation. Agency Cliquish plays a pivotal role in advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) by fostering opportunities and advocating for accountability, significantly impacting the next generation of Black creators and business owners in the digital landscape.

1. Strategic Focus & Objectives

Core Objectives

Agency Cliquish aims to transform emerging Black creators into powerful, profitable, and sustainable brands. Its main business objectives include:

Crafting comprehensive career strategies for Black digital talent.

Securing meaningful and equitable partnerships with major brands.

Implementing effective content strategies to maximize the value and influence of its represented talent.

Advocating for fair compensation and equitable opportunities to close the influencer pay gap.

Specialization Areas

The agency’s key areas of expertise lie in talent development and management specifically for impactful Black digital voices. Its unique value proposition centers on a culturally-relevant, conscious, and advocacy-led approach, offering a deeply intentional management experience. This approach amplifies influence, expands reach, and creates tangible impact for its talent, ensuring their unique cultural contributions are recognized and valued.

Target Markets

Agency Cliquish primarily targets emerging and established Black digital talent across various content niches within the creator economy. It also serves major brands seeking authentic, impactful, and culturally relevant partnerships with diverse creators. The agency operates within the broader influencer industry, specifically focusing on the significant cultural and economic contributions of Black consumers and creators.

2. Product Pipeline

Key Products/Services

Agency Cliquish offers a suite of specialized services designed to empower Black digital talent and brands:

Talent Management & Development: Comprehensive career architecture, strategic guidance, and personalized development plans for creators.

Brand Partnership Curation: Identifying, negotiating, and securing meaningful, equitable, and culture-based influencer marketing partnerships with leading brands like Amazon, Nike, Adidas, Pantene, Lincoln, HP, Neutrogena, and Calm.

Content Strategy Implementation: Advising talent on content creation, distribution, and amplification to maximize engagement and impact.

Public Relations & Communications: Amplifying talent stories and securing features in prominent publications and platforms, enhancing their public profile and influence.

Advocacy for Equitable Compensation: Actively working to address and close the existing influencer pay gap for Black creators, ensuring fair market value for their services.

3. Leadership & Management

Executive Team

Taylar Barrington-Booker, Founder & CEO, Head of Influencer Talent and Partnerships

Taylar Barrington-Booker possesses over a decade of marketing expertise within the influencer industry, with previous roles at Edelman and as a Freelance Influencer Marketing Strategist. She holds a Bachelor's in Communications and an MBA, providing a strong foundation in both creative and business aspects of marketing. She launched Cliquish in 2018 as an educational hub for women creators and later established Agency Cliquish in 2021. Under her leadership, the agency has secured significant culture-based influencer marketing partnerships with numerous major brands.
LinkedIn Profile: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylarbarrington/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylarbarrington/)

Terrence Taylor, Director of Operations

As the Director of Operations, Terrence Taylor plays a crucial role in ensuring the efficient functioning of the agency's daily activities and strategic initiatives.
LinkedIn Profile: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrence-taylor-4b5b0857/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrence-taylor-4b5b0857/)

Arica Williams, Director of Talent, Senior PR & Communications

Arica Williams brings extensive experience in public relations, communications, social media, and influencer strategy from her tenure at companies such as Syneos Health, Real Chemistry, and Bella Public Relations, Inc. Her background also includes retail and fashion merchandising, where she managed social media accounts and implemented marketing strategies. Her expertise supports the agency's efforts in talent management and media outreach.
LinkedIn Profile: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aricawilliams/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aricawilliams/)

4. Talent and Growth Indicators

Agency Cliquish demonstrates a clear growth trajectory through its commitment to nurturing and expanding the pool of Black digital talent. The agency's focus on securing meaningful partnerships and elevating its creators' profiles indicates an active role in fostering the next generation of Black creators and business owners. Its strategic collaborations, such as HBCU partnerships and mentorship programs, are designed to cultivate new talent and expand its network, reflecting an ongoing expansion of influence and impact within the creator economy.

5. Social Media Presence and Engagement

Agency Cliquish effectively leverages its brand messaging to position itself as a champion for Black digital talent. The agency formally introduced itself and celebrated Juneteenth with a "Juneteenth Debut" campaign, resulting in a feature in Essence Magazine, which served to elevate its brand and amplify conversations around the Black creator economy. Through its strategic management, the agency has also successfully amplified its talent's stories, leading to features in publications like CFDA and Essence, and securing White House visits for its creators for Creator Summits. This demonstrates a strong digital footprint and commitment to thought leadership by elevating its talent to national recognition.

6. Recognition and Awards

Industry Recognition

Agency Cliquish has garnered significant recognition for its impactful work:

Black Girl Digital Awards: The agency secured four awards, including Best Fashion Partnership and Creator Disruptor of the Year.

Media Features: Its efforts have resulted in talent features in prominent publications such as CFDA and Essence.

Government Engagement: The agency's talent has achieved notable exposure, securing several visits to the White House for Creator Summits.

Brand Launch Success: The "Juneteenth Debut" campaign, serving as its formal introduction, was featured in Essence Magazine, raising its profile and affirming its cultural relevance.

7. Competitive Analysis

Major Competitors

Agency Cliquish operates within a dynamic and competitive landscape, facing competition from various types of influencer marketing and talent management entities:

Specialized Black-Owned Agencies:

Society 18: An influencer marketing agency focused on connecting brands with Black creators and delivering authentic, impactful campaigns.

Malc Agency: Another specialized agency that emphasizes representation and diversity in its marketing strategies for Black creators.

2 Black Girls: A similar agency dedicated to working with Black digital talent and facilitating brand partnerships.

These agencies distinguish themselves through their explicit focus on diversity and cultural relevance within the Black creator economy.

Broader Influencer Marketing Platforms:

Later: A larger influencer marketing and social media management platform that offers comprehensive services including creator discovery, campaign execution, and sophisticated analytics. Such platforms leverage data-driven approaches to connect brands with a wide range of creators across various niches, offering a more generalized but scalable solution compared to Agency Cliquish's specialized approach.

8. Market Analysis

Market Overview

The influencer industry is a rapidly expanding sector, with an approximate valuation of $250 billion and projections to nearly double to $500 billion by 2027. Black consumers are a powerful cultural and economic force, with their purchasing power projected to reach approximately $1.7 trillion by 2030. Black businesses and creators are at the forefront of cultural trends and consumer influence. Research indicates that Black creators often deliver higher media value and consistently demonstrate greater impact and influence compared to their non-Black counterparts, particularly excelling in categories such as lifestyle, gaming, and fashion. Despite this significant influence, a persistent influencer pay gap exists, where Black creators' remuneration can lag behind market norms by as much as 35%.

Growth Potential

The market offers substantial growth potential for agencies like Cliquish due to the overall expansion of the creator economy and the increasing demand from brands for authentic, diverse, and impactful creator partnerships. The projected growth in Black consumer purchasing power further underscores the importance of Black creators in marketing strategies.

Key Market Trends

Increased Demand for DEI: A growing emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in marketing and advertising drives demand for agencies that can authentically connect brands with diverse talent.

Cultural Relevance: Brands are increasingly seeking creators who resonate culturally with specific demographics, recognizing the significant influence of Black creators.

Advocacy for Equity: A rising awareness and demand for equitable compensation and fair treatment for creators, particularly for underrepresented groups.

Market Challenges and Opportunities

The primary challenge is the persistent influencer pay gap affecting Black creators. This presents a key opportunity for Agency Cliquish to position itself as a vital advocate ensuring equitable compensation. The booming creator economy, coupled with the strong cultural and economic impact of Black consumers and creators, provides significant opportunities for the agency to expand its influence, secure more high-value partnerships, and lead the charge in fostering an equitable creator landscape.

9. Strategic Partnerships

Agency Cliquish actively fosters strategic collaborations, underscoring its commitment to advancing DEI and talent development:

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Partnerships: These collaborations are designed to nurture and elevate the next generation of Black creators and business owners, providing structured pathways for talent development.

Mentorship Programs: The agency engages in mentorship initiatives to provide essential support and strategic guidance to emerging talent, aligning with its mission to cultivate careers and ensure long-term success. These partnerships are crucial for reinforcing the agency's culturally-relevant and advocacy-led approach within the creator economy.

10. Operational Insights

Agency Cliquish occupies a distinct and strong market position by exclusively focusing on Black digital talent. Its competitive advantage lies in its culturally-relevant, conscious, and advocacy-led management approach, which ensures equitable compensation and meaningful career growth