Unveiling Bodega Brew: Highlights from Our First Agency Preview
When Laura Rubino founded Bodega PR in 2022, was to close the gap between compelling storytelling and meaningful brand-consumer connections by crafting narratives that resonate, build trust, and spark lasting engagement. Three years later, with a dedicated team of five industry experts, Bodega PR has grown into a one-stop boutique agency, offering brands a personalized experience that puts collaboration, connection, and meaningful consumer engagement at the forefront.
As Bodega PR continues to make its growing mark in the industry, we felt it was the perfect time to introduce ourselves through the clients, brands, and creative minds that make our work so meaningful. And what better way to do that than by curating the team’s ideal day, shopping with an iced coffee in hand while discovering (or rediscovering) your favourite brands?
What began as an idea inspired by the Bodega theme quickly became reality when the team brought Bodega Brew to life in September. In planning our first agency preview, we had one core mission: to create an interactive experience that went beyond simply showcasing products. We wanted creators and industry professionals to fully immerse themselves, meeting the team and the faces behind us and the brands we love, learning their stories straight from the heart of the brand, and engaging with like-minded brands across wellness, beauty, and food & beverage.
To bring the day to life, we partnered with Dark Horse Espresso Bar along with Halo Top, Lord’s Hot Sauce, Village Juicery, Casa Bianca, Designer Blooms, and Detour Coffee to create a Bodega-style market. Guests could grab a Dark Horse coffee and explore the aisles, discovering new products and experiencing favourites in a whole new way, all while engaging with the brands in an interactive and hands-on setting. Welcoming over 100 guests throughout the afternoon, Bodega Brew served as the ultimate afternoon pick-me-up, offering influencers and media a creative space that inspired connection, discovery, and innovation.
The Experience:
Village Juicery invited guests to take on their Fiery Ginger juice shot challenge, tackling flu season one shot at a time. The team also shared how the organic ingredients in their juices make the perfect companion for staying healthy during the colder months.
Halo Top kept the taste of summer alive well into September with their scoop sample cart, offering guests a low-sugar, high-protein (and delicious!) treat to enjoy as they shopped, perfect for satisfying those sweet-treat cravings while roaming the aisles of the Bodega.
Casa Bianca offered guests beautifully hand-drawn, personal pieces featuring iconic places around Toronto. From illustrations of first-date spots to favourite restaurants and unforgettable concert venues, guests delighted in discovering scenes that held special meaning to them. They also had the chance to watch her create a live illustration, bringing her artistic vision to life right before their eyes. An art museum and a shopping experience all in one? Yes, please!
Another one of our favourite bodega staples is a fresh bouquet of flowers, and through our collaboration with Designer Blooms, guests had the chance to pick one up for themselves. For over 25 years, the Designer Blooms team has been committed to creating premier floral experiences. Their arrangements make the perfect gift for loved ones, and at Bodega Brew, they were the perfect addition to each guest’s shopping basket.
The next Bodega Brew pop-up featured Detour Coffee, showcasing premium Ontario-sourced and roasted beans. Detour’s mission is all about offering an approachable way to learn about the craft. Bodega Brew created the perfect space for guests to taste, learn, and engage with the product because, at the end of the day, as Detour likes to say, coffee should be fun!
The Bodega Brew experience wasn’t complete without a stop at Lord’s Hot Sauce. Guests explored the full range of Lord’s classic flavours, sampling the heat and testing just how much spice they could handle. Needless to say, this Ontario-grown hot sauce brought both bold flavour and serious heat to the Bodega Brew stop!
The Impact:
Our biggest takeaway from this event? People are craving meaning and connection in the way they consume. One-on-one conversations with the faces behind each brand helped break down barriers and created a space where content creators could truly understand the products, and why they’re worth keeping on their radar.
As one of our guests, Sai Balaji, perfectly put it when explaining why influencer holiday preview events are such smart marketing moves: “If you think these events are all about free gifts, you’re missing the point entirely.” At the end of the day, these gatherings bring creators into one inspiring space where they can tap into their creativity and build genuine connections with the brands they’re excited to share, organically and authentically.
We also couldn’t forget our added shopping aisles, made possible by the generous product donations from Laura Mercier, Buxom, Love Ur Curls, Don Adriano, and Kitsch! Guests were able to browse the shelves and pick from a variety of amazing products across these brands, filling their carts and taking home new favourites to try for themselves.
The Results:
Total Social Impressions: 6.3+ million impressions
Total Brands: 12
Total Pieces of Content: 150+
Total number of coffees consumed: countless
This day would not have been possible without our incredible clients, the warm hospitality of the Dark Horse team, and the partners we welcomed into the Bodega PR family for the day, Casa Bianca, Detour Coffee, and Greenhouse Juice Co. We already have ideas brewing for 2026 and can’t wait to share more as we continue bringing this community together.
Photography: Kov Marketing
