Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jamie Slough, Founder of J Collective, located in Reno, NV, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
J Collective provides branding and marketing services to include strategies, brand creation, and full marketing set-up and implementation. We love working with start-ups and rebranding clients to help them create incredible brands and then create marketing strategies to connect their brands to the people they serve. We work with companies as well as solopreneurs, and we have options to support every size of business and marketing budget.
Tell us about yourself
I fell in love with marketing and knew that was my calling from a very young age. It's just how my mind works! With over 15 years of marketing experience across industries, I finally stepped full-time into my own business in 2020, taking COVID as a sign it was time! I saw many small businesses and solopreneurs that relied on relationships and face-to-face strategies struggle to cross over to digital when the pandemic hit. I am a huge advocate and believer in relationship marketing and helped my clients create those networks and connections online.
From website set-up to email marketing, I'm passionate about helping good people create great brands! Seeing so many people dump money into marketing gimmicks that didn't work for them, I pride myself on the education side of it through speaking and training to help business owners have the knowledge to make the right decisions for their businesses.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Every time I have a client succeed in hitting their goals by working with us! That's what I love most and would say is my biggest accomplishment. Helping others create the businesses to support the lives they want to live
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Organization! As a small business owner myself, I'm constantly running a million miles an hour in different directions and wearing multiple hats. Building my team and implementing efficient systems has definitely been a challenge, but I'm improving every day :) It's all about having the right people in place!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just do it! Life is too short. When the pandemic hit, I was inspired by the number of women I got to help start the businesses they had always dreamed of but weren't considered "responsible" pre-COVID. They were the breadwinners and couldn't give up their security for a start-up. When the pandemic hit, they were also the women forced to stay home with their kids and had no other option.
- Build your village! Business start-ups and ownership are rollercoasters and can be lonely roads. Having a network of support and resources has been huge for my own business. At J Collective, we love being a part of our clients' villages, partnering with them on their branding and marketing needs.
- Slow down to set up systems. I didn't do this early on because I was so busy (which I'm thankful for), but trying to set up systems and get organized while still serving clients is a lot! Scaling is all about systems. Set them up early and adjust and improve as you go.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.wearejcollective.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearejcollective
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearejcollective/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearejcollective/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamieslough/
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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