What Next Step Communications does

Next Step Communications Inc. is a privately held B2B public relations and marketing communications firm founded in 1996 by Greg Hannoosh and headquartered at 40 Goodwin Road, Kittery Point, Maine. The firm specializes exclusively in the plastics, tooling, and converting industries, providing PR campaigns, advertising, press release research and distribution, and cohesive marketing-message development to plastics processors, molders, manufacturers, and tooling and converting companies. Its client roster includes named enterprise accounts such as iD Additives, Wittmann USA, Silcotech, Globeius, BMI Injection Molding and Assembly, and American Molding Technologies, indicating engagement with mid-market industrial buyers rather than consumer brands.

The company's service offering centers on three products: a core PR and Advertising Services package, a Client PR Services module that handles end-to-end research, writing, and distribution of news to industry publications, and a MAPP-member add-on providing a complimentary PR assessment. Its value proposition is grounded in vertical specialization and editorial relationships with publications including Plastics Business, Medical Design & Development, Plastics News, Plastics Technology, and PT Online. The firm employs 1-10 people and operates without disclosed funding or institutional investment; technology infrastructure appears limited to a Squarespace-hosted website and standard email/newsletter tooling, with no proprietary platform or AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

Next Step makes money through professional-services engagements on a quote-based, custom pricing model. Two dedicated sales representatives (Mark Malloy and Geoff Giordano) drive a direct, sales-led B2B motion supported by an online contact form and referral-driven demand generation. Go-to-market relies on the founder/owner-managed structure, client testimonials, and a sponsorship partnership with MAPP (Molders of Parts and Products) that offers plastics processors a free PR assessment as a lead channel. There is no evidence of tiered SaaS pricing, productized offerings, recurring retainer disclosure, or outside capital — the business model is fundamentally a high-touch, project-based professional services practice anchored in a narrow industrial vertical.

Name

Next Step Communications

Legal name

Next Step Communications Inc.

Website

https://next-step.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Next Step Communications Inc. is a privately held B2B public relations and marketing communications firm, founded in 1996, that specializes in PR campaigns and advertising for plastics, tooling, and converting industry clients across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Advertising Agencies (54181)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Technology & B2B PR (BPAFADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Product & Brand PR (Consumer & B2B) (BPAFADAH)

Keywords

• B2B public relations
• Plastics industry marketing
• Trade media relations
• Marketing communications services
• Industrial advertising

Headquarters

HQ city

Kittery Point

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. B2B PR Services: Public relations campaigns and marketing communications services for B2B clients in the plastics, tooling and converting industries. Services include press release distribution, PR strategy development, and industry-specific media outreach to generate press coverage in trade publications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Next Step Communications Inc. is a B2B public relations and marketing communications firm that develops and executes PR campaigns, advertising, and marketing messaging for companies in the plastics, tooling, and converting industries. Core deliverables include research, writing, and distribution of press releases to industry-specific trade publications, plus strategic guidance on industry positioning and cohesive marketing messages.

Product overview

Next Step Communications Inc. is a B2B public relations and marketing communications firm that operates as a single-service offering centered on PR and advertising. The company's core service encompasses PR campaigns, advertising, and marketing communications with a specialized focus on the plastics, tooling and converting industries. The MAPP Offer provides a complementary PR assessment add-on for members of the MAPP network. Client PR Services represent the primary service offering, handling research, writing, and distribution of press releases to industry publications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PR and Advertising Services B2B public relations and marketing communications services including PR campaigns, advertising, and personalized company storytelling for companies in the plastics, tooling, and converting industries.
• Client PR Services Press coverage generation services for clients, including research, writing, and distribution of client news to industry trade publications in the plastics sector.
• MAPP Member PR Assessment Program Complimentary PR assessment program for MAPP members, including review of past PR initiatives, recommendations for highlighting industry expertise, identification of key publications for press releases, and best-practices guidance for press release submission.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MAPP (Molders of Parts and Products)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNext Step Communications is a proud sponsor of MAPP, offering members a complimentary PR assessment. This partnership includes review of past PR initiatives, recommendations for highlighting industry expertise, identification of key publications for press releases, and best practices guidance for press release submission. The offer is designed to help plastics processors strengthen their PR impact and improve brand visibility.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Gregory FCA: B2B public relations firm specializing in technology, industrial, and manufacturing sectors. Comparable to Next Step's longstanding vertical-specialist positioning.
• MARCH Communications: B2B public relations agency with industrial and technology clients — offers PR services comparable in scope (press, trade publications, integrated campaigns) to Next Step's model.
• AKHIA: B2B marketing communications agency with manufacturing and industrial clients, offering PR and integrated marketing services — directly comparable to Next Step's verticalized B2B PR offering.
• G&S Business Communications: B2B public relations and marketing communications firm with a long-standing focus on industrial and manufacturing clients. Highly comparable to Next Step's niche manufacturing-vertical PR model.
• The YGS Group: B2B marketing agency specializing in industrial and manufacturing clients, offering PR, content, and demand-generation services — a close functional analog to Next Step's specialized industrial niche.
• MASS Communications: B2B public relations firm serving industrial, technology, and manufacturing clients. Direct peer due to comparable client profile, vertical specialization, and PR-led service model.
• Industrial Strength Marketing: B2B marketing agency serving industrial and manufacturing clients with services spanning PR, content, and digital — directly comparable to Next Step's plastics-sector marketing communications offering.
• Walt & Company Communications: B2B public relations and marketing firm focused on technology, industrial, and manufacturing clients. Comparable to Next Step's trade-publication-led, industrial-vertical PR model.

Broad incumbents

• WE Communications: Large global communications agency with significant B2B and technology practice. Represents the broad incumbent competitive alternative to a boutique specialist like Next Step.
• Archetype: Global B2B-focused communications agency serving technology and industrial clients at scale. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same industrial and manufacturing PR budgets as Next Step.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nextstepcomms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/next-step-communications-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Next Step Communications