Rooted in Brooklyn.
Built for Local Businesses.
Our Mission
At Root and Brand, community is at the heart of everything we do. Local small businesses are the backbone of strong, thriving communities. But today, community isn’t just physical—it lives online too.
We’re here to help bridge that gap, making sure your business is just as much a part of the digital neighborhood as it is the local one.
The biggest shift? How we communicate. We’ll help your business speak the language of your community, both online and offline, using the right digital tools to stay connected, visible, and growing.
Our Story
For many, the neighborhoods they grew up in across New York City have changed dramatically. Local bodegas and other small businesses have been replaced by big corporations with no real interest in building community or establishing roots. While the physical world looks different, our need to connect hasn’t changed—only the way we communicate has. That’s where Root and Brand comes in.
We’ve created simple, effective kits and packages, completely customizable to help keep local businesses thriving in the face of big competition. Together, we’ll use easy-to-learn communication tools to reconnect your business with the community that built it.
My Story
Hi, I’m Nicole. I have over six years of experience in marketing and communications, with impactful roles at organizations like the Women’s Community Justice Association (WCJA) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Now, as the Communications Manager at Heartbeat Opera, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful social media can be in building community to support the arts—that’s when I realized why it’s called social media! When I sell tickets online for innovative performances, I’m not just filling seats, but creating space for artists to do what they love, surrounded by people who share their passion.
I’m a proud first-generation Latina with a master’s degree in Corporate Communications from Baruch College, CUNY. My multicultural perspective and fluency in Spanish (and Spanglish) allow me to connect with many communities in meaningful ways.
The inspiration for Root and Brand came from my own family’s challenges. I watched my mother struggle to reach the very people she saw every day. Until she ultimately had to close her Brooklyn beauty salon after five deep-rooted years. That experience drives me to help small businesses not just survive, but thrive, by expanding their digital presence and forging real connections with their audiences.