Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Zack Deus, Founder of BLK MKT Studios, located in West Warwick, RI, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm the founder & managing partner of BLK MKT Studios - a multidisciplinary creative studio located in historic Phenix Square in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Inspired by the concept of the black market, a one-stop shop for anything one could imagine, we sought to replicate that essence in the form of a creative studio. BLK MKT Studios combines over twenty years of experience across a range of industries — branding, design, marketing, media, and manufacturing. With a primary focus on B2B relationships, BLK MKT Studios creates simplified business solutions by offering core creative services consolidated under one roof for the convenience of our clientele. We work with a range of local businesses, non-profits, schools/universities, and larger clients on the national level. Some of our favorite customers are the local Rhode Island "heritage" companies that have deep roots & have been in business for over 100 years. Their rich history, unique stories & strong ties to the local communities go unmatched, making them the most fun to work with!

Tell us about yourself

I originally came from a background in the visual arts - drawing, painting, pastels, etc. since I was in third grade. I took private lessons for about six years, interned under my art teacher in high school, and painted commissioned pieces. In high school, I also started getting into digital art and design & eventually pursued a degree in graphic design at a technical college from 2012-2014. Around the same time that I was going into college, I co-founded a streetwear brand called "SOSICO." with my friend, the late Matthew Colwell. While in college and running SOSICO with Matt, I also started doing freelance design work for a handful of clients I managed to connect with. Since 2012 to the present day, I've been doing those same things (while also dabbling in other ventures along the way), eventually leading me to founding BLK MKT Studios in late 2019.

BLK MKT Studios is a culmination of all of my experiences - good and bad, success stories and failures. It's the first thing that, in eight years of throwing shit at the wall, finally stuck. I happened to have the right people around me who all fell into place with the right name, the right concept & the right business model - all at the right time. My daily motivation now is the same as it's been since day one, the inexplainable excitement of starting, running, and growing a business. When you are able to make a living off of something that you love doing, work with your friends every day, and make your own decisions (for better or for worse), it combines the feeling of fulfillment with a thrill.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I don't think that there's any monetary goal or dream client that would constitute as my biggest accomplishment because that's all secondary to me. Just the fact that I'm able to do what I love every day & live off of it is my biggest accomplishment. The opportunities & freedoms that I'm able to afford are the most important to me. I can spend time with my family, go on vacations, have experiences, and do things without worrying about requesting time off or risking my job security. This obviously comes with its unique work trade-off, but it's in my own hands. Having ultimate control over how you spend your time is priceless and my biggest accomplishment.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Time management and balancing the (sometimes blurred line) between business & personal life. It's very easy to either be a workaholic or be complacent and lazy. You need to treat your business like a job and "clock in and out" to some degree in order to establish those boundaries.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Hire a good accountant & you'll (hopefully) never need to hire a lawyer.
  2. Build a "bulletproof" infrastructure with as much forward thinking as possible. Even over-engineer it a bit. When it comes time to scale your business, it will help support the growth by having back-end processes in place that are well thought out. Most new businesses that fail (or stumble) after experiencing rapid growth do so because of a lack of a strong infrastructure.
  3. Learn how to spend time working ON your business, not working IN your business. And if you're not sure what that means - start by figuring that out first.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://blkmktri.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blkmktri
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blkmktri/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blkmktri/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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