Brand Identity & Illustration Studio

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in branding and marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nathaniel Navratil, Owner of Foley, located in Fargo, ND, USA.

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

Foley focuses on brand design and illustration. We currently work with small to medium size businesses and organizations to help elevate their brands by creating or improving their visual identity. You don't have a choice but to look great these days.

Tell us about yourself

Having spent nearly my entire career in marketing and advertising, I can tell you that behind the scenes, there really isn't a special sauce to what we do. So after years of dealing with bad communication, tight deadlines, and poor pay for years, it finally hit me that I could just do this for myself. So that is what I set out to do.

I now communicate directly with my clients myself and set my own deadlines and budgets. Not to say there aren't many, MANY new things that I struggle with as a business owner, but the rewards are so much greater now.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

For me, it has been the growth and caliber of projects. I want to create and show projects that attract like-minded businesses that appreciate beautiful and thoughtful designs. So for me, it has felt like an assurance that I am on the right path.

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

Definitely time management. Juggling family, friends, health, and still trying to have some time for other passions has been beyond tricky to navigate. Scheduling nearly everything has helped, but I'm still working on this one.

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

Find mentors. I found that so many business owners have gone through some of the same struggles I am, even if they are in completely different industries.
Try not to get sucked into the comparison game. There are too many other things to worry about or think about anyway!
Be sure your branding is damn good! 😉

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.studiofoley.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio.foley/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaniel-navratil-6298374/

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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