Connect on Facebook

Connect on LinkedIn

Karen Amster-Young

A seasoned public relations and marketing professional, Karen Amster-Young has two decades of marketing, public relations and writing experience. In 1992 Karen founded Amster-Young Public Relations, Inc. (AYPR), an award-winning, full-service marketing and public relations agency. The agency represented clients from numerous industries, including fashion, food and hospitality, business-to-business, and home and design. In 2002, Ms. Amster-Young sold the firm after having built the agency to $2M in billings. Highlights of the agency’s work include the award-winning successful launch of FIJI Water and ITO EN Teas®. The firm also represented Federated Merchandising Group (Charter Club and all private label brands) and handled numerous projects and events for the American Cancer Society, the Hong Kong Tourist Association, prominent antique shows, restaurants and others. AYPR worked extensively in the consumer design and home arena, representing industry associations such as the Wallpaper Council and the National Tabletop & Giftware Association. These groups included brands such as Waverly, Lenox, and Schumacher to name a few. Amster-Young Public Relations won numerous industry awards for events, creativity, media relations and more. Karen was named one of the top “Forty PR Stars under Forty” by PR Week magazine and has been featured in numerous trade magazines.

Amster-Young was the first agency of record for FIJI Water and handled all aspects of the company’s launch, including but not limited to: strategic events, charitable partnerships, media relations, marketing, all press relations and writing, celebrity outreach, trade shows and more. Amster-Young, together with its advertising agency partner, Ryan Drossman & Partners, developed the now ubiquitous “silver-slipper” which facilitated FIJI’s entry into better restaurants and hotels. The agency also handled all guerrilla marketing activities for FIJI, assembling and managing FIJI “Swat” teams who would hit the ground in key markets, stage events and distribute samples to consumers. Acting as the primary liaison for FIJI, the agency secured all details of FIJI’s involvement in the Avon Run/Walk for Women, The American Cancer Society’s Annual Dogs Walk and numerous other events. Ms. Amster-Young won numerous awards for her work on behalf of FIJI Water.

For ITO EN Teas (North America) Inc., Ms. Amster-Young handled many aspects of the U.S. launch of ITO EN’s Teas’ Tea®, including the opening of the Ito En flagship store and restaurant on Madison Avenue. This was a significant launch since Teas’ Tea was the first bottled tea of its kind to be introduced in North America. All media relations, strategic planning, charitable partnerships, introductory press events and outreach to retailers and others were handled by Amster-Young.

Ms. Amster-Young’s career began at Citibank, N.A. as a communications executive after completing the firm’s internship program – one of the most prestigious in the county. A few years later she joined Ketchum Public Relations in New York, one of the nation’s top ten public relations firms. There she represented corporate clients including Philips Lighting, Aetna Life & Casualty and GTE Telephone.

Since 2003, Karen has been representing select clients as an independent consultant. She is often called upon by companies looking for strategic counsel on product launches, particularly in the consumer food category and home/design. Last year her work on behalf of a top designer garnered significant press for his participation in the 2007 Hampton Designer Showhouse – one of the most esteemed design show houses in the country. Ms. Amster-Young is also a freelance journalist; her articles and columns have been published in numerous magazines, predominantly in the Hamptons.

An avid entrepreneur, Ms. Amster-Young is always passionately seeking exciting business opportunities – both personally and as a consultant. She lives with her husband and seven-year old daughter in Manhattan.