Client spotlight | Beach House
Meet the people building businesses with Lawyerly: their industries, their decisions, their successes and the valuable insights they’ve gained along the way.
Brittany Hohl + Brittany Savastano, Partners | Beach House PR
Brittany Hohl and Brittany Savastano met as junior employees at a boutique beauty agency in New York. Years later, they bought the company they now run together and three months into owning it, the pandemic wiped out nearly 90% of their business. Today, Beach House PR is nearly two decades old, and still going strong.
In this conversation, they talk about what it takes to stay relevant in an industry that never slows down, what they wish they’d understood before the acquisition, and what intentional growth looks like for Beach House in its next chapter.
Brittany Savastano + Brittany Hohl, Partners | Beach House PR
Beach House has been around for nearly two decades. In an industry that moves as fast as beauty, what does it take to still be relevant after 18 years?
Brittany H: I think the biggest thing is that we've never assumed we have all the answers. We stay curious. We pay attention to how beauty, media and culture are evolving, and we're constantly learning from our team, our clients and the industry around us. Our team is our greatest asset; they're deeply immersed in this world every day and always bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and emerging trends to the table. That curiosity has allowed us to evolve alongside the industry rather than chase it.
You two met as junior employees at a boutique beauty agency in New York. Most business partnerships don't survive the early years, let alone a global pandemic three months into owning the company together. What actually makes this work?
Brittany S: Respect, without question. We genuinely respect each other's strengths, expertise, and the different perspectives we each bring to the business. There's never been an ego in the room. We trust each other completely, we communicate constantly, and we don't make major decisions without talking them through together. It's a true partnership in every sense; 50/50, built on trust, honesty and a shared vision for where we want Beach House to go.
When you acquired Beach House, you took on an existing client roster, existing contracts, and existing obligations. What did you need to get your heads around on the legal and commercial side that you hadn't had to think about before?
Brittany H: Everything. We suddenly had to learn the legal, financial, and operational side of running a business while navigating one of the most uncertain periods our industry has ever experienced. Within three months of acquiring the agency, the pandemic hit, and we lost nearly 90% of our business. It was an incredibly difficult way to begin, but it forced us to become resilient very quickly. One of the biggest lessons we learned is that you don't have to know everything, you just have to know when to ask for help. We've built an incredible network of advisors and experts, and we're still learning every day.
“There’s never been an ego in the room. We trust each other completely, we communicate constantly, and we don’t make major decisions without talking them through together. ”
What's the question you didn't know to ask during the acquisition process that you'd ask immediately now?
Brittany S: We'd ask, "What keeps you up at night about this business?" Financials can be reviewed on paper, but that question often reveals the things that don't show up in a spreadsheet: client dependencies, operational inefficiencies, people challenges, or processes that need attention. Those are the things you only learn once you're sitting in the owner's seat.
What does the next chapter for Beach House look like?
Brittany H: We're in an exciting season of growth, but this time it's growth with intention. In the early years, like many businesses, we were focused on building and creating stability. Today, we're fortunate to be in a position where we can be incredibly thoughtful about the partnerships we take on. We look for brands that share our values, trust our expertise, and want to build something meaningful together.
Brittany S: For us, success isn't about becoming the biggest agency, it's about continuing to build an agency known for exceptional work, lasting relationships and a team that genuinely loves what they do.
