Throughout 2010, a great number of local businesses were showcased on this blog. I'd like to thank each and every entrepreneur who participated in sharing his or her story of both their
ambitions and anxieties. I hope you were able to glean some wisdom and new approaches to similar challenges facing your own businesses.
Two things surprised me while interviewing these professionals. One was the genuine willingness of each to be open about their concerns, and the other was the thread of similarities found among their stories. TRANSPARENCY will continue to present new and seasoned entrepreneurs in 2011 as long as the high interest and enthusiasm remains the same as that of 2010.
Thanks to all,
Jan Long
Janlong Communications
janice@janlongcommunications.com
BRIEF 2010 RECAP OF ENTREPRENEUR COMMENTS
Reasons for Starting Their Businesses
Many had personal reasons, while others experienced professional circumstances that caused them to venture out on their own. Freedom from the corporate culture was popular, the ability to operate a business from any location was unique, the opportunity to provide a resource for those in need surfaced, and the unexpected and uncontrollable career shift was the reoccurring reason among many for becoming their own boss.
Sampling of Unique Business Challenges
Starting over always presents a challenge as it did among some entrepreneurs. Starting a business just as the economy crashed presented major challenges to several. Knowing how and when to close the sale is something many entrepreneurs struggled with as did finding new ways to increase their number of clients. Getting prospects to realize how they will benefit from the entrepreneur's services, and finding new ways for potential clients to build the entrepreneur's products/services into their budgets challenged a few.
Some Shared Advice
Besides continually researching and constantly re-evaluating your markets, some entrepreneurs recommended working with professionals to outline your goals; don't be surprised if your business takes more time and money than you originally anticipate; find and build a business that you love doing; don't over-analyze everything - just do it; pay no attention to critics; and, just keep focused and you will surely succeed.
If you are interested in having your business showcased, please contact janice@janlongcommunications.com.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Financial advisor finds more freedom, less stress away from Wall Street
Showcasing early entrepreneurs has a twofold purpose. One is to offer an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. The second is to provide a forum through which they can guide other aspiring business owners around avoidable obstacles and toward a path of attainable goals. Sharing insights begins with hearing their stories firsthand beginning with a conversation with
Frank Griseta, financial advisor
The Griseta group
847-923-1707
fgriseta@focusfinancial.com
http://www.focusfinancial.com/
MY MOTIVATION
I realized early on that the trend among Wall Street financial institutions was to focus more on revenue than on what was best for the customer. This wasn’t my approach. I wanted to do something that was more efficient and a lot more beneficial for the client. I wanted to perform this way within the firms that I had worked, but wasn’t allowed to. Meanwhile, I continued providing my clients with a very great value at a very reasonable price. As a result, when I moved my practice to my new firm, most of my clients came with me. I was told by a very successful person that if you want to work for a company that doesn’t exist, go out and create it. And that is exactly what I did.
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
The Griseta Group focuses on comprehensive financial planning for its clients. Outside of just investments linked to the stock market which, of course, is a very important part of a financial plan, I like to look at the overall financial picture and try to help clients have financial success not only in one area, but in all areas of their lives. I feel that once someone is well-rounded from a financial standpoint that it alleviates a lot of stress from their life.
MY UNIQUENESS
Because the margins are tight among the competition, most of them look at the amount of assets coming in and invest them simply to generate the greatest amount of revenue. To me, it’s more about getting a person from point A to point B. I feel that the way I invest money and the fee that I charge creates a lot of transparency. My approach allows the client to see the activity within their portfolios to the point where it’s clear that I am not just trying to generate revenue. Even before I create a relationship with a client, I explain to them how I will be moving their assets and how I be compensated, so that they have a complete understanding of the process as well as of each transaction.
MY IDEAL CLIENT
Usually, I look for clients with at least $250,000 to $500,000 or more in investible assets. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that people under those amounts are not entitled to financial planning, we well. For people who fall into this category, I have established programs that are just as transparent as those that I offer my other clients.
MARKETING METHODS
I’m a pretty avid networker. I attend a great number of events on a regular basis, but do so strategically. I try to target those in their 40s to 60s who most likely are in the asset bracket on which I’m focused. I also recently rejoined the Greater O’Hare Association and Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce which I think will be a good fit for me.
SHARED ADVICE
What surprised me the most about starting my business and being away from Wall Street was the amount of freedom that I have in being able to take care of my clients. If you are less stressed you can perform at your best. Moving away from the corporate rat race is allowing me to do that. The one thing that I would have done differently would be to have more help in the beginning. Moving a book of business requires a lot of paperwork of which I did 95 percent by myself. I’d tell prospective entrepreneurs that entrepreneurship is very rewarding. Make sure you do your homework, make certain you are prepared, and have the proper funding necessary to serve your clients. Make use of an advisor or mentor to help you distinguish between the emotional decisions and the business decisions. In the end, just never give up.
Editor's question: How many of you entrepreneurs have also built the business that you've always wanted to work for?
Frank Griseta, financial advisor
The Griseta group
847-923-1707
fgriseta@focusfinancial.com
http://www.focusfinancial.com/
MY MOTIVATION
I realized early on that the trend among Wall Street financial institutions was to focus more on revenue than on what was best for the customer. This wasn’t my approach. I wanted to do something that was more efficient and a lot more beneficial for the client. I wanted to perform this way within the firms that I had worked, but wasn’t allowed to. Meanwhile, I continued providing my clients with a very great value at a very reasonable price. As a result, when I moved my practice to my new firm, most of my clients came with me. I was told by a very successful person that if you want to work for a company that doesn’t exist, go out and create it. And that is exactly what I did.
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
The Griseta Group focuses on comprehensive financial planning for its clients. Outside of just investments linked to the stock market which, of course, is a very important part of a financial plan, I like to look at the overall financial picture and try to help clients have financial success not only in one area, but in all areas of their lives. I feel that once someone is well-rounded from a financial standpoint that it alleviates a lot of stress from their life.
MY UNIQUENESS
Because the margins are tight among the competition, most of them look at the amount of assets coming in and invest them simply to generate the greatest amount of revenue. To me, it’s more about getting a person from point A to point B. I feel that the way I invest money and the fee that I charge creates a lot of transparency. My approach allows the client to see the activity within their portfolios to the point where it’s clear that I am not just trying to generate revenue. Even before I create a relationship with a client, I explain to them how I will be moving their assets and how I be compensated, so that they have a complete understanding of the process as well as of each transaction.
MY IDEAL CLIENT
Usually, I look for clients with at least $250,000 to $500,000 or more in investible assets. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that people under those amounts are not entitled to financial planning, we well. For people who fall into this category, I have established programs that are just as transparent as those that I offer my other clients.
MARKETING METHODS
I’m a pretty avid networker. I attend a great number of events on a regular basis, but do so strategically. I try to target those in their 40s to 60s who most likely are in the asset bracket on which I’m focused. I also recently rejoined the Greater O’Hare Association and Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce which I think will be a good fit for me.
SHARED ADVICE
What surprised me the most about starting my business and being away from Wall Street was the amount of freedom that I have in being able to take care of my clients. If you are less stressed you can perform at your best. Moving away from the corporate rat race is allowing me to do that. The one thing that I would have done differently would be to have more help in the beginning. Moving a book of business requires a lot of paperwork of which I did 95 percent by myself. I’d tell prospective entrepreneurs that entrepreneurship is very rewarding. Make sure you do your homework, make certain you are prepared, and have the proper funding necessary to serve your clients. Make use of an advisor or mentor to help you distinguish between the emotional decisions and the business decisions. In the end, just never give up.
Editor's question: How many of you entrepreneurs have also built the business that you've always wanted to work for?
Monday, December 13, 2010
Professional segues from commercial interior design into commercial real estate sales
Showcasing early entrepreneurs has a twofold purpose. One is to offer an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. The second is to provide a forum through which they can guide other aspiring business owners around avoidable obstacles and toward a path of attainable goals. Sharing insights begins with hearing their stories firsthand beginning with a conversation with
Patricia Keegan, senior vice president
Vertical Brokerage, Inc.
O: 312-362-0360
M: 847-612-0504
F: 847-550-0679
keegan@vbire.com
www.verticalbrokerage.com
MY MOTIVATION
There were several circumstances that motivated my becoming a commercial real estate broker with Vertical Brokerage. First, I had more than 20 years in the corporate world of land acquisitions, corporate building, recruiting tenants, negotiating their leases, getting their space designed, etc. So, I had that behind me. Secondly, after I left the corporate world four years ago, I started an interior decorating business. I became certified as an interior decorator and also had earned certification as a commercial interior decorating specialist. Then, more recently, a friend offered me the opportunity to join her brokerage firm as senior vice president of commercial real estate. So, I decided to jump at that. But, in order to do so I first had to go to school to obtain a real estate brokerage license which I did and, subsequently, joined Vertical Brokerage.
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
Vertical Brokerage is a small commercial real estate brokerage firm that works with the small business person who wants a small office or retail space. Our focus is on anything under 20,000 sq-ft. which the large firms traditionally don’t care to handle. As far as our marketing efforts, we use traditional online brokerage sites to list our properties, do a lot of networking, and make use of a onsite signage at our listed properties.
OUR UNIQUENESS
Along with our niche of serving the small business owner, Vertical Brokerage specializes in helping both owners and tenants find the right match. While we do help clients find land or buildings for investment purposes, our expertise goes beyond just helping them find properties, we also help them evaluate the perspective space, show them how they can use it efficiently and effectively, and help them build the business image they want to convey through interior design recommendations.
IDEAL CLIENT
Our ideal clients are building owners who are seeking tenants, business owners who are seeking office or retail space and investors who are looking for commercial properties to add to their investment portfolios. Our area of focus is from Naperville to Vernon Hills along the Schaumburg corridor.
SHARED ADVICE
If I would have done anything differently, it would have been to start this career sooner. I just feel that this is such a perfect fit for me. I love the idea of helping clients find the right space and match tenants with landlords looking for the perfect tenant. Tenants, on the other hand, are looking for the perfect space that is functional and a landlord who is reasonable. So, making those match ups is what this job is all about. The best advice I can offer new entrepreneurs is to choose a business that you love, because, if you love what you’re doing everything else will fall into place.
Editor's question: How many of you have changed career paths within the last year?
Patricia Keegan, senior vice president
Vertical Brokerage, Inc.
O: 312-362-0360
M: 847-612-0504
F: 847-550-0679
keegan@vbire.com
www.verticalbrokerage.com
MY MOTIVATION
There were several circumstances that motivated my becoming a commercial real estate broker with Vertical Brokerage. First, I had more than 20 years in the corporate world of land acquisitions, corporate building, recruiting tenants, negotiating their leases, getting their space designed, etc. So, I had that behind me. Secondly, after I left the corporate world four years ago, I started an interior decorating business. I became certified as an interior decorator and also had earned certification as a commercial interior decorating specialist. Then, more recently, a friend offered me the opportunity to join her brokerage firm as senior vice president of commercial real estate. So, I decided to jump at that. But, in order to do so I first had to go to school to obtain a real estate brokerage license which I did and, subsequently, joined Vertical Brokerage.
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
Vertical Brokerage is a small commercial real estate brokerage firm that works with the small business person who wants a small office or retail space. Our focus is on anything under 20,000 sq-ft. which the large firms traditionally don’t care to handle. As far as our marketing efforts, we use traditional online brokerage sites to list our properties, do a lot of networking, and make use of a onsite signage at our listed properties.
OUR UNIQUENESS
Along with our niche of serving the small business owner, Vertical Brokerage specializes in helping both owners and tenants find the right match. While we do help clients find land or buildings for investment purposes, our expertise goes beyond just helping them find properties, we also help them evaluate the perspective space, show them how they can use it efficiently and effectively, and help them build the business image they want to convey through interior design recommendations.
IDEAL CLIENT
Our ideal clients are building owners who are seeking tenants, business owners who are seeking office or retail space and investors who are looking for commercial properties to add to their investment portfolios. Our area of focus is from Naperville to Vernon Hills along the Schaumburg corridor.
SHARED ADVICE
If I would have done anything differently, it would have been to start this career sooner. I just feel that this is such a perfect fit for me. I love the idea of helping clients find the right space and match tenants with landlords looking for the perfect tenant. Tenants, on the other hand, are looking for the perfect space that is functional and a landlord who is reasonable. So, making those match ups is what this job is all about. The best advice I can offer new entrepreneurs is to choose a business that you love, because, if you love what you’re doing everything else will fall into place.
Editor's question: How many of you have changed career paths within the last year?
Monday, December 6, 2010
Relocating at start of recession causes event planner to rebuild
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Melissa Bingham, president
Bingham Marketing & Events
mcbingham@binghammarketingevents.com
www.binghammarketingevents.com
847-716-0673
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Bingham Marketing & Events offers full-service event and meeting planning for businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals. I also work with many smaller businesses on their marketing needs which includes developing and implementing their marketing plans.
MY UNIQUENESS
Unlike most event planners, I bring the marketing experience to everything that I do. I really look at everything from a marketing prospective. Every event, every promotion, and every social event is all about marketing no matter how obvious or subtle. I always start out with asking what is the client’s goal, what are we trying to achieve?
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
My Ideal client is someone who wants to make a mark or establish a presence and enhance their brand. They know they want to make a great impression and difference in their business, but don’t exactly know how.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My family relocated here two and a half years ago, so my initial challenge was to re-establish myself in the Chicagoland marketplace. I’ve had my company since 1997 in both Indianapolis and Detroit, and when we moved here in the summer of 2008, I had a grand plan of what I was going to do and how I was going to market the business. Then the market turned. Consequently, the Detroit business that I thought was going to continue was cancelled. At that point, I had to step back and re-evaluate not only how I was going to establish whole new client and vendor bases, but also how I was going to do that on no marketing budget.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
Because the Chicagoland market is so diverse, I made the decision to initially focus in a microcosm and then slowly expand my base outward. I began networking like crazy. I looked at what organizations I wanted to join, what types of events I needed to attend, what kinds of things could I volunteer for to get myself known. I have been fortunate that most of my business over the years has come by way of referrals. I have been working harder than I ever have to gain new clients. As a result, 2010 has developed into a good year. Now, my plan is to move out of this microcosm and widen the scope of my business by attending more diverse events and making more connections.
Editor's question: What case studies of entrepreneurs successfully starting or rebuilding a business during a down economy can you share?
Melissa Bingham, president
Bingham Marketing & Events
mcbingham@binghammarketingevents.com
www.binghammarketingevents.com
847-716-0673
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Bingham Marketing & Events offers full-service event and meeting planning for businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals. I also work with many smaller businesses on their marketing needs which includes developing and implementing their marketing plans.
MY UNIQUENESS
Unlike most event planners, I bring the marketing experience to everything that I do. I really look at everything from a marketing prospective. Every event, every promotion, and every social event is all about marketing no matter how obvious or subtle. I always start out with asking what is the client’s goal, what are we trying to achieve?
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
My Ideal client is someone who wants to make a mark or establish a presence and enhance their brand. They know they want to make a great impression and difference in their business, but don’t exactly know how.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My family relocated here two and a half years ago, so my initial challenge was to re-establish myself in the Chicagoland marketplace. I’ve had my company since 1997 in both Indianapolis and Detroit, and when we moved here in the summer of 2008, I had a grand plan of what I was going to do and how I was going to market the business. Then the market turned. Consequently, the Detroit business that I thought was going to continue was cancelled. At that point, I had to step back and re-evaluate not only how I was going to establish whole new client and vendor bases, but also how I was going to do that on no marketing budget.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
Because the Chicagoland market is so diverse, I made the decision to initially focus in a microcosm and then slowly expand my base outward. I began networking like crazy. I looked at what organizations I wanted to join, what types of events I needed to attend, what kinds of things could I volunteer for to get myself known. I have been fortunate that most of my business over the years has come by way of referrals. I have been working harder than I ever have to gain new clients. As a result, 2010 has developed into a good year. Now, my plan is to move out of this microcosm and widen the scope of my business by attending more diverse events and making more connections.
Editor's question: What case studies of entrepreneurs successfully starting or rebuilding a business during a down economy can you share?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Entrepreneur takes life-long learning out of the classroom and into social venues
Showcasing early entrepreneurs has a twofold purpose. One is to offer an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. The second is to provide a forum through which they can guide other aspiring business owners around avoidable obstacles and toward a path of attainable goals. Sharing insights begins with hearing their stories firsthand beginning with a conversation with
Julianna Greer, founder and host
Nouveau
info@nouveau-dupage.com
www.nouveau-dupage.com
phone: 630-984-5365
cell: 630-306-6767
blog: http://nouveau-dupage.com/blog.htm
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Nouveau offers interactive life-enrichment programs that are mostly classes and workshops along with some fun events. Our popular topics include memory improvement, stress management, dream interpretation, how to sell on eBay™ which is a direct result of the economy because people are trying to get rid of their unnecessary items, live more simply and make money at the same time. Another presentation that goes over well is entitled “Welcome to the New Normal.” While I have a degree in gerontology and present several of the programs myself, Nouveau encompasses a reserve of professionals that delivers the wide-ranging topics listed on our program of events.
WHY I STARTED THE BUSINESS
Nouveau began out of a desire to develop a business that we could build and run from anywhere. My husband and I talked about the type of business that we’d want to be involved in after retirement. Meanwhile, I could see the days of my current career were numbered, so when I did lose my job, Nouveau began sooner than later.
OUR UNIQUENESS
What makes Nouveau unlike anything else is that we focus on humanities, psychology and personal growth. Community colleges tend to focus on computer training, foreign languages and, in some cases, culinary arts all in an academic environment. What we do is host our events in a more social setting with the right ambiance where refreshments are available. We specifically avoid holding our classes in classrooms or boardrooms for this purpose. Looking toward next year, I envision event planning services that would include content-based marketing and fund-raising events for retail businesses and non-profits.
OUR IDEAL CLIENT
We’ve found that people most interested in life-long learning tend to be adults over 35 with at least some college education. I’m reaching these people through a number of groups on LinkedIn™ and my Facebook™ page. I’m also making use of press releases to announce our various events. At the same time, I’m offering some free programs to develop name recognition. I conduct a regularly-scheduled email blast to my mailing list along with targeted direct mail campaigns. Plus, I will be starting my own MeetUp™ group. We’ve found that the most effective way to broadcast our programs is by the venue itself posting them on its own event calendar. I’m looking to partner with various restaurants or businesses who would find our life-enriching programs complementary to what they offer their customers.
SHARED ADVICE
What surprised me the most about starting my business was the amount of time and the many channels I’d have to go through to get it up and running. What I might have done differently would be to contact more social networking groups in advance to learn that they were not necessarily going to support my concept or promote my business as some so-called experts had assured me would be the case. What I am doing is connecting with some advisory groups to gain help in refining my direction. From my own experience, I would tell new entrepreneurs that starting your business most likely will take more time and money than you originally expected, but with perseverance and the help of the right advisers there is no reason you can’t succeed.
Editor's question: What other venues do you feel would be ideal for life-enrichment programs?
Julianna Greer, founder and host
Nouveau
info@nouveau-dupage.com
www.nouveau-dupage.com
phone: 630-984-5365
cell: 630-306-6767
blog: http://nouveau-dupage.com/blog.htm
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Nouveau offers interactive life-enrichment programs that are mostly classes and workshops along with some fun events. Our popular topics include memory improvement, stress management, dream interpretation, how to sell on eBay™ which is a direct result of the economy because people are trying to get rid of their unnecessary items, live more simply and make money at the same time. Another presentation that goes over well is entitled “Welcome to the New Normal.” While I have a degree in gerontology and present several of the programs myself, Nouveau encompasses a reserve of professionals that delivers the wide-ranging topics listed on our program of events.
WHY I STARTED THE BUSINESS
Nouveau began out of a desire to develop a business that we could build and run from anywhere. My husband and I talked about the type of business that we’d want to be involved in after retirement. Meanwhile, I could see the days of my current career were numbered, so when I did lose my job, Nouveau began sooner than later.
OUR UNIQUENESS
What makes Nouveau unlike anything else is that we focus on humanities, psychology and personal growth. Community colleges tend to focus on computer training, foreign languages and, in some cases, culinary arts all in an academic environment. What we do is host our events in a more social setting with the right ambiance where refreshments are available. We specifically avoid holding our classes in classrooms or boardrooms for this purpose. Looking toward next year, I envision event planning services that would include content-based marketing and fund-raising events for retail businesses and non-profits.
OUR IDEAL CLIENT
We’ve found that people most interested in life-long learning tend to be adults over 35 with at least some college education. I’m reaching these people through a number of groups on LinkedIn™ and my Facebook™ page. I’m also making use of press releases to announce our various events. At the same time, I’m offering some free programs to develop name recognition. I conduct a regularly-scheduled email blast to my mailing list along with targeted direct mail campaigns. Plus, I will be starting my own MeetUp™ group. We’ve found that the most effective way to broadcast our programs is by the venue itself posting them on its own event calendar. I’m looking to partner with various restaurants or businesses who would find our life-enriching programs complementary to what they offer their customers.
SHARED ADVICE
What surprised me the most about starting my business was the amount of time and the many channels I’d have to go through to get it up and running. What I might have done differently would be to contact more social networking groups in advance to learn that they were not necessarily going to support my concept or promote my business as some so-called experts had assured me would be the case. What I am doing is connecting with some advisory groups to gain help in refining my direction. From my own experience, I would tell new entrepreneurs that starting your business most likely will take more time and money than you originally expected, but with perseverance and the help of the right advisers there is no reason you can’t succeed.
Editor's question: What other venues do you feel would be ideal for life-enrichment programs?
Monday, November 22, 2010
Reducing transition stress becomes basis for entrepreneur's new business
Showcasing early entrepreneurs has a twofold purpose. One is to offer an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. The second is to provide a forum through which they can guide other aspiring business owners around avoidable obstacles and toward a path of attainable goals. Sharing insights begins with hearing their stories firsthand beginning with a conversation with
Michael Harrawood, owner
Just Call Mike Home Helpers
michaelharrawood@comcast.net
708-289-4763
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Just Call Mike provides services either for seniors who are downsizing and moving into another home (i.e. condo, assisted living, etc.), or busy professionals who are in the midst of relocating. We help get their homes ready for resale. We'll go in and clean the carpets, patch and paint, clean the windows, pack up belongings and do whatever it takes to make the house move-in ready. This also includes cleaning the basement and/or the garage. Beyond this, we also offer seasonal services such as putting up and taking down exterior holiday lighting and décor as well as general home maintenance and organizing. If all someone needs is a single room painted, some heavy items moved, or their gutters cleaned and are looking for a trustworthy and reliable source, Just Call Mike.
WHY I STARTED
I'd been in the building industry for more than 20 years and saw business steadily decline over recent years to the point where I needed to make a career-changing decision. During my time in building I had seen people taken advantage of because they too often relied on people who weren't trustworthy. I want to be their safe, ethical, reliable resource who understands how stressful moving can be for anyone - seniors in particular who are moving from what they always knew as home into a completely new place. Our tagline is "taking the stress out of transition."
MY UNIQUENESS
Unlike similar companies that offer move-out services, I provide more detailed services that others usually don't cover such as window and carpet cleaning, touch-up painting, and minor repairs. But, what sets us apart the most is that we personally focus on the well-being of all those involved. Again, it's taking the stress and anxiety out of these life-changing events.
CLIENT PROFILE
Our perfect clients are seniors themselves or family members who are responsible for relocating and selling their seniors’ homes. We also work with professionals who are also relocating and need similar help preparing their homes for resale. We strive to get each the best value for their homes by de-cluttering, repairing and refreshing each and every room. This could also include landscape clean-up and on-going maintenance until the vacant property is sold. Secondary client/partners for us would be realtors, stagers, estate lawyers, financial professionals/institutions, senior living community professionals and corporate relocation specialists.
SHARED ADVICE
Because I have a tendency to over-analyze everything, I found that starting my business was easier than I had first thought. If you have the experience, are good at what you do and have a real passion for something, just go ahead and do it. Get involved in a lot of networking and align yourself with mentors who are as passionate about helping you as you are about your business. Pay no attention to your critics and stay close to those who champion your ideals and goals.
Editor's question: How many entrepreneurs connected with one or more mentors at the beginning of starting your businesses and in what ways did that help?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Social networking referral turns into website solution for graphic designer
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Jennifer Strezo
Principal Brand Designer
Red Seal Design
Jennifer@redsealdesign.com
http://linkedin.com/in/jenniferstrezo
www.redsealdesign.com
773-456-2732
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Red Seal Design is a full-service graphic design company specializing in creating signature brands for small businesses. A signature brand is a company’s image or identity that appears on all of its sales and marketing materials. It includes the look of your logo, your brochures, your letterhead, business cards, website, PowerPoint™ presentations, direct mail, newsletters and the like. A signature brand gives companies a more professional look over something that they’ve tried to create themselves or have taken off the Internet. A signature brand will help to set a company apart from its competition and be immediately recognized and long remembered.
MY UNIQUENESS
We develop customer solutions for your communications materials based on the personality of your company. Red Seal Design doesn’t create a great-looking design without first learning what the image is that the company wants to portray. I begin with a series of basic questions regarding the client’s goals and target audience, but then move into more aesthetic questions pertaining to the client’s likes and dislikes, what adjectives would best describe the compeny, its core values and culture. In this way, my team can create a custom signature brand that truly reflects what the company is all about.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
A perfect client for us would be your small business that has been operating for at least three years and in the beginning may have created their own brand identity or used some form of online template, but now is ready to move up to the next level of brand identity. With so many businesses struggling, today, many come to realize that they need to stand out from their competitors. That’s when they come to us for that professionally-designed custom signature brand.
UNIQUE CHALLENGE
Like most small businesses when they’re just starting out, I had limited funding. While I was able to design my own signature brand for all of my marketing materials, I still needed to hire someone to develop my website which I knew would cost thousands of dollars. The challenge was figuring out how to secure a great custom website design at minimal cost. At first, I attempted to create one on my own, but it was taking up too much of my time and was not getting me to where I needed to be. Meanwhile, I was losing potential business with no website to which I could direct prospective clients. So, after several months of frustration, I decided to seek the help of a professional web developer.
RESOLUTION
I turned to all of my contacts including those on LinkedIn™ and asked for some referrals. It so happened that a friend from college gave me the name of someone who was able to create economical custom websites by using free WordPress™ and Joomla!™ templates. Among the features that make these templates so attractive is that they allow the website owner to make his or her own website edits avoiding additional costs of having to call back the web developer to make them. This sounded perfect. As a result, I was able to design all of my web pages in Photoshop™ and my web developer found a suitable free template into which he could import all of my custom designs. So, after spending months trying to accomplish this on my own, my new found web developer was able to produce a new customized website for me in a couple of days for a fraction of the cost of HTML development. Meanwhile, he and I have created a partnership that now offers our clients economical custom website designs that focus on signature brands.
Editor's question: Who has struggled with developing their own brand identity? Who believes a fresh new signature brand will help better your position among your competitors - and how?
Jennifer Strezo
Principal Brand Designer
Red Seal Design
Jennifer@redsealdesign.com
http://linkedin.com/in/jenniferstrezo
www.redsealdesign.com
773-456-2732
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Red Seal Design is a full-service graphic design company specializing in creating signature brands for small businesses. A signature brand is a company’s image or identity that appears on all of its sales and marketing materials. It includes the look of your logo, your brochures, your letterhead, business cards, website, PowerPoint™ presentations, direct mail, newsletters and the like. A signature brand gives companies a more professional look over something that they’ve tried to create themselves or have taken off the Internet. A signature brand will help to set a company apart from its competition and be immediately recognized and long remembered.
MY UNIQUENESS
We develop customer solutions for your communications materials based on the personality of your company. Red Seal Design doesn’t create a great-looking design without first learning what the image is that the company wants to portray. I begin with a series of basic questions regarding the client’s goals and target audience, but then move into more aesthetic questions pertaining to the client’s likes and dislikes, what adjectives would best describe the compeny, its core values and culture. In this way, my team can create a custom signature brand that truly reflects what the company is all about.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
A perfect client for us would be your small business that has been operating for at least three years and in the beginning may have created their own brand identity or used some form of online template, but now is ready to move up to the next level of brand identity. With so many businesses struggling, today, many come to realize that they need to stand out from their competitors. That’s when they come to us for that professionally-designed custom signature brand.
UNIQUE CHALLENGE
Like most small businesses when they’re just starting out, I had limited funding. While I was able to design my own signature brand for all of my marketing materials, I still needed to hire someone to develop my website which I knew would cost thousands of dollars. The challenge was figuring out how to secure a great custom website design at minimal cost. At first, I attempted to create one on my own, but it was taking up too much of my time and was not getting me to where I needed to be. Meanwhile, I was losing potential business with no website to which I could direct prospective clients. So, after several months of frustration, I decided to seek the help of a professional web developer.
RESOLUTION
I turned to all of my contacts including those on LinkedIn™ and asked for some referrals. It so happened that a friend from college gave me the name of someone who was able to create economical custom websites by using free WordPress™ and Joomla!™ templates. Among the features that make these templates so attractive is that they allow the website owner to make his or her own website edits avoiding additional costs of having to call back the web developer to make them. This sounded perfect. As a result, I was able to design all of my web pages in Photoshop™ and my web developer found a suitable free template into which he could import all of my custom designs. So, after spending months trying to accomplish this on my own, my new found web developer was able to produce a new customized website for me in a couple of days for a fraction of the cost of HTML development. Meanwhile, he and I have created a partnership that now offers our clients economical custom website designs that focus on signature brands.
Editor's question: Who has struggled with developing their own brand identity? Who believes a fresh new signature brand will help better your position among your competitors - and how?
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