We’re the leading digital marketing company for the retail industry.
Our founder, social media expert and retail industry veteran, Crystal Vilkaitis, launched Crystal Media in 2012 because she identified a need in the marketplace to help retailers leverage the power of social media and marketing to grow their businesses.
Our team of experts has worked with thousands of companies to generate millions of dollars in additional revenue by deploying successful social media campaigns, providing consulting services and managing digital marketing on their behalf. We have also taught thousands of retailers how to implement social media that delivers powerful results.
We are passionate about working with local businesses that want to drive traffic and grow their profits using social media and digital marketing tools.
Crystal Media supports our clients through the following services:
Our Why
We love that we have a small part in helping communities across the country.
Local independent retailers are at the core of every community. Our clients are providing products and services, generating jobs, donating to local schools and charities, and creating events.
If we can help retailers reach more people and become more successful, not only are we able to change lives, but we also play a small role in their ability to positively impact the local community.
Our Core Values
Trust & Respect
Mutual trust and respect are at the foundation of every successful partnership. We seek relationships where our skills and integrity are valued. You have our commitment that we will always be transparent and treat you with respect.
Happy to Help
We genuinely believe in helping our clients. Our strength lies in our dedication to make a difference.
Innovation
In our ever-changing world, complacency is not an option. We are committed to staying abreast of the latest developments in social media, technology, and retail trends to ensure our clients succeed.
Impact
We are committed to delivering the most impactful results for our clients. We are also dedicated to having a positive impact on the communities that our clients serve.
#TeamCrystalMedia
We’re fueled by our love of social media, passion for retail and lots of caffeine.
Crystal Vilkaitis
CEO & Social Media Expert
Crystal powers her busy days with an 8-ounce medium strength, medium temperature coffee with a splash of oat milk and a scoop of collagen.
For more than 15 years, Crystal has been helping local businesses boost sales and drive more traffic through social media and marketing. In 2012, Crystal founded Crystal Media, a social media advertising and digital marketing agency. Crystal is passionate about alleviating local business owners’ frustrations and confusion about social media and online marketing. Her mission is to make social media and digital marketing both fun and profitable.
Crystal has spoken to retailers and local business owners on various social media and marketing topics around the globe, including, across the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Mexico. Crystal has also been featured as the leading retail social media expert in business and retail publications such as Fast Company, Where Woman Create Business, Retailer Now, Specialty Retail Report, Gift Shop Magazine, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Giftbeat, Southern Jewelry News, Smart Retailer, Residential Lighting, and Floral Management.
Crystal most recently launched Crystal Uncorked, a podcast that features inspiring guests, and interesting business conversations, over a glass of wine. She started Crystal Uncorked to share open and honest conversations about her journey, and to talk to other entrepreneurs about their experiences. On the podcast, she pulls back the curtain and talks about the highs and lows of being a business owner.
Crystal lived in sunny Southern California for the past 12 years, until she recently returned to Colorado at the end of 2021. Crystal loves karaoke, dancing, game nights, her puppies Barry and Florence, and red wine. When she’s not busy with social media, filming podcasts, or her hobbies, Crystal and her partner run the BWV Foundation (Bruiser Woods Vilkaitis Foundation), to help pet parents fund expenses related to a pet’s illness or death, and Crystal is on the board of Gift for Life, a non-profit for the gift industry that is dedicated to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters.
Pauline Blasetti
COO
Pauline powers her busy days with Seeking Health Optimal Electrolyte in the berry flavor every morning. She also enjoys drinking regular or decaf iced coffee with hazelnut Nutpods creamer, one scoop of Great Lakes Wellness plain collagen, and a small scoop of dashes of Navitas Organics cacao powder.
For nearly ten years, Pauline has worked in almost every role at Crystal Media, and has been instrumental to the company’s growth and evolution. With key attributes of mental acuity, organization skills, and orientation toward process and structure, this wine-and-pizza-loving leader is particularly passionate about aligning our clients’ needs with the right products and services to help them achieve growth, managing the team, and pivoting seamlessly in the ever-changing world of social.
Pauline’s proven track record of high-level strategic planning and management is supported by her years of background in day-to-day operations (everything from accounting to human resources), goal-focused sales, retail experience including store management and district expansion, financial analysis and streamlining procedures for efficiency, team development, and creating a customer-centric culture. Pauline truly roots for and champions the underdog. Partnered with her relatable style, it makes her the perfect fit for working with small businesses and independent retailers.
As Crystal Media’s COO, Pauline gets to exercise her leadership strengths for this flourishing company—that is, when she’s not out bike riding in her Oceanside, CA neighborhood, composting, hosting dinner parties, spending time with her boyfriend, you will find her volunteering at and supporting the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation.
Jessica Austin
Retail Social Media Strategist and Ads Buyer
Jess powers her busy days with a cup of coffee with oat milk, the larger the better, preferably from a local roaster. Her coffee cup features a picture of her dog Sawyer.
Jess brings more than ten years of experience in digital marketing, PR, branding and social media to her role as the FB and IG Ads Manager. With a knack for problem-solving and a passion for her clients' success, Jess builds ad campaigns that fit seamlessly with her retailers' marketing strategies. Nothing makes her happier than seeing traffic, sales and clients' smiles grow!
Born and raised in San Diego with a degree from UW in Seattle, she's a CA girl whose heart belongs in the mountains. She's an adventurous eater, self-proclaimed bibliophile, and globe trotter. When she’s not busy working on social media ads, you can find her looking for her next adventure, napping with her dog Sawyer, or rescuing animals from fires, floods and other disasters as part of San Diego Humane Society's Emergency Response Team.
Steph Bechard
Digital Strategist and Community Manager
Steph powers her busy days with at least two cups of coffee with a little too much hazelnut flavored almond coffee creamer.
Living in Vancouver, Canada, Steph works for Crystal Media as a designer, and social media specialist. With a background in design and digital marketing for small businesses, Steph uses her breadth of experience to find creative solutions and to generate powerful results for her clients. Steph started as a Crystal Media client and loved our company so much she decided to join the team.
Steph is dedicated to creating impactful social media ad campaigns and internal marketing collateral for Crystal Media during her work hours and after hours as well. One of her favorite past times is designing. She also loves exploring the city, having friends over for a home cooked meal, shopping at local businesses, trying out a new restaurant, and she is passionate about supporting and donating to environmental and conservation organizations committed to tackling the climate crisis.
Mike Bolter
Marketing Manager
Mike powers his busy days with two cups of regular coffee plus Coldstone creamer (although he’s enjoyed Earl Grey tea long before Captain Picard from Star Trek made it cool).
With 20+ years of marketing and IT management in the party supply business, Mike brings a wealth of double-digit YOY growth and experience to the CM team. His holistic approach to marketing has included proven email, SMS and multi-platform social media strategies. Mike’s focus on digital sales, efficiencies and metrics analysis is also a key contributor to the business health and customer connection. But don’t let that left brain fool you. Mike’s creative side is ever-present in campaign and content development and enjoys a good team brainstorm.
A self-proclaimed simple man with complex tastes, this father of three girls (and an at-home zoo of many furry and feathered friends) is a lover of multiple fandoms—always willing to Boldly Go hunting Horcruxes as long as The Force is with him. He’s happy to share his latest genre-bending read and loves to get lost in a forest of words. You can also catch Mike volunteering with his local Little League Challenger Baseball, which provides a fun and safe environment for children with special needs.
Madeline Goode
Retail Social Media Strategist and Ads Buyer
Madeline powers her busy days with Dunkin' Vanilla cold brew coffee (purchased in jugs from the grocery store) mixed with vanilla almond milk.
Fulfilling a lifelong dream to move to California and bringing only a few important elements, including her boyfriend and cat, Madeline drove across the country to join the Crystal Media team. Equipped with a University of Pittsburgh degree in Marketing and Supply Chain Management, a social media management background, and a flair for creativity, Madeline's longtime interest and skill set in the advertising world makes for a great fit with the Crystal Media team, our clients, and mission.
When she's not enjoying the SoCal weather and delicious local tacos, you'll find her cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers every football Sunday. She is also a proud supporter of Goodwill, an organization devoted to helping community members with the skills they need to return to the workforce.
Grecia Hernandez
Retail Social Media Strategist and Ads Buyer
Grecia powers her busy days with Starbucks' white mocha frap with an extra shot of espresso. Yes, she knows her mocha frap already comes with espresso, but she loves an extra shot, and no whip cream. Her dad treats her to one every Monday morning, and the rest of the week she manages to unsuccessfully recreate that recipe at home.
This bilingual, East L.A. native prides herself in building strong human, trustworthy connections with her clients, but lets her 8 years of varied brand and industry experience speak for itself through online profitability, audience engagement, and capturing leads. With the lime green Mac desktop her dad bought her at age 14, Grecia's start online eventually parlayed into a Cal State Fullerton Communications & Advertising degree. As the mommy of two, she’s also almost certified as a slime master.
When forever-fan Grecia’s not at Disneyland parks (or planning for her next visit to the Happiest Place on Earth), chat her up about bears, beets, and Battlestar Galactica to put a smile on her face! Grecia enjoys making philanthropy a mainstay in her life. She volunteers four days per month at two of her local libraries for storybook time, she also assists with immigration translations, and she and her family donate toys and clothes twice a year to refugee centers in Mexico. Additionally, she has a rule that for every gift her children receive, they must donate another one to charity.
Joseph Molnar
Retail Social Media Strategist and Ads Buyer
Joseph powers his busy days with iced espresso.
With nearly a decade of experience in the industry, Joseph joins the Crystal Media team with a wide variety of marketing experience. Although raised in a small town, Joseph has also embraced big-city living all over the country which allows this East Coast native to bring a wealth of background, relatability and knowledge to the team and his clients.
His passion to help independent retailers and small businesses grow and flourish is just a part of what makes Joseph a great fit for Ads Management. He's always happy to help serve clients with his special combination of strategy, creativity, and social media know-how. Joseph is a proud volunteer at his local church food pantry as well volunteering at other area events that help low income and struggling families.
Robin Rodig
Copy Editor
Robin powers her busy days with Dunkin' Donuts fully caffeinated K-cups with a heavy dose of sugar-free Coffee Mate creamer (French Vanilla or Hazelnut, please!).
With more than 20 years of corporate, retail-based operations experience, Robin has worn a multitude of professional hats—from marketing to management to merchandising. She made the decision to leave that world to follow her passion for travel, and the creation of her own travel blog, RobinGoesTo. Her articles and photographs have been featured in publications and websites including The Huffington Post, Havas PR, Solo Traveler, Little Passports, and local galleries and art shows. Robin joined the team to help Crystal Media leverage the power of words through connective marketing.
When she’s not seeking new, authentic experiences through planting herself abroad for a few months each year, Robin loves to smile by hanging with friends and family, enjoying a Padres game at the ballpark, watching Sunday football (psst, and anything in The Bachelor franchise), hunkering down on rainy/chilly days, and partaking in a good glass of wine. Robin also loves finding happy, new owners for recycled used household and personal goods as well as championing Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
Erick Sapalaran
Get Listed Manager
Erick powers his busy days with home-brewed cold turmeric ginger tea.
Currently living in the city of Bacoor, Erick is the hardest working team member native to the Philippines! His education in Business Administration from Polytechnic University of The Philippines and impressive management and supervisory roles in the customer service, e-commerce and International Project Management fields led him to a digital researcher position with Crystal Media. Erick’s penchant for learning, growing with the evolving needs of the company, and innate happy-to-help demeanor made him the perfect fit as our Get Listed Account Manager. Problem-solving, fixing things, and offering solutions for clients and co-workers is Erick’s jam!
Outside of work, you can catch this basketball/Lakers-loving fan absorbing the latest YouTube tech news, playing Hearthstone (an online card game), and enjoying every extra minute he can with his growing son. Erick supports ADRA Philippines, a relief agency that assists those affected by disasters and improves social development for vulnerable communities with families living in extreme poverty.