In 2004 Pokémon Organized Play (POP) sought support from Barokas PR for project-based work on select tournament events for its Trading Card Game division. Based on initial success with grassroots outreach, the relationship evolved to include targeted, year-round media relations for the entire Trading Card Game tournament season. Year after year, the results continued to exceed expectations and drive measurable return for POP. Building on momentum, Barokas PR introduced new elements to the campaign, further raising visibility for Pokémon products and events—ongoing efforts resulted in hundreds of local and regional stories each season.
POP later looked to Barokas PR to launch its unprecedented Trading Figure Game in the U.S., with a national media relations strategy to capture the attention of mainstream youth. Results of the launch included feature coverage of the new game in publications such as Action Figure Times, Games Quarterly, GameSpy, GamePro, KONO Magazine, KEWL Magazine, San Jose Mercury News and several large market broadcast TV news segments.
During the 10-month 2010-2011 Play! Pokémon Trading Card Game Season, Barokas’ grassroots outreach around local, regional and national tournaments led to the highest attendance totals in recent Trading Card Game history. Based on hundreds of interviews facilitated with local winners, tournament organizers and Pokémon spokespeople, Barokas efforts resulted in over 450 calendar listings, 114 event features and 100 player profiles in newspapers, news websites and local television stations across the nation. Culminating promotions for the 2011 Pokémon World Championship in San Diego, Barokas secured championship coverage placements representing over 21.5 million impressions. Barokas PR is proud to still be working with Pokémon Organized Play.