Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in graphic and design but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Karyn Savory, owner of Sweet & Savory Designs, located in Denver, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sweet & Savory Designs is an embodiment of myself. I'm a brand connoisseur with an obsession for food. As a graphic designer, I help food & beverage companies create top-shelf visual brands that provide joy and nourishment to their community. This includes, but is not limited to restaurants, food trucks, consumer packaged goods, breweries, distilleries, and various other foodservice businesses.
Logo design and branding is my specialty. I find it invigorating to help create the visuals in which a business' personality and mission shine through. Your brand is the most powerful piece of your business. It is the lifeblood behind your product or service that allows it to live, grow and evolve. It is more than just a name and logo.
Simply put, your brand is your customers' experience with your company. You want your brand to work for you and get you the results you crave. Using my knowledge of the human experience, brand design psychology, and my passion for the industry, I collaborate with other passionate foodtrepreneurs to help bring their dream to life.
Tell us about yourself
Ever since I was little, I dreamed of being an artist. As I grew older and was introduced to the world of graphic design, I knew immediately that it was my true calling. Fast forward to nearly three years ago when a growing need for more flexibility to travel coupled with a strong desire to escape the daily 9 to 5 grind changed my life. Those feelings blossomed into a crazy idea that I never envisioned for myself… starting my own graphic design business focused on all that I love in life food, culture, and creativity.
The story behind Sweet & Savory Designs began when my grandma, Dorothy Sweet, met and fell in love with my grandfather, Leonard Savory. He was her chemistry professor while studying at DU. You could say they not only had “chemistry,” but the perfect flavor profile for a fulfilling life together. Their love story then became mine. I like to think my name and its origin explains my obsession for all things food and beverage. In celebration of my grandparents, my vision is to create memorable experiences and spread happiness to others through food, culture, and of course, design.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As an entrepreneur, I can imagine one of the biggest accomplishments is simply starting the business in the first place. Making it to the one-year mark was a huge success and quite the vote of encouragement as well. Both were very exciting! However, coming to honor my potential and trust in myself truly has to be the BEST part of becoming a business owner. Not only am I making a living doing what I love while serving & helping nourish my community, but each day I am growing into a better version of myself.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing, in my opinion, is the ever-present feeling of fear. Imposter syndrome is no joke. The sense of doubt and uncertainty consumes you and plants seeds of doubt in all that you do, BUT perseverance always pulls me through.
Marketing myself is something else I struggle with, but I've found ways to do so without feeling too "icky" or "salesy." I've learned that as long as I get out, connect with others, tell my story and be myself, the business invitations start to flow.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you're starting a business for the right reasons. Dig deep and figure out WHY you want to do so in the first place. Determining your personal values or source commitments is invaluable. Knowing these will be the cornerstone of your success, as well as what to turn to when things get hard.
- Do it YOUR way. It's your business, so only you can tell yourself how to run it. Listen to your gut and honor your energy. If hustle is what you truly want, then hustle away… but if not, I challenge you to find your own way. As my friends & colleagues remind me often, YOU are the number one resource in your business, so be sure to take care of it.
- Surround yourself with a supportive and inspiring group of other business owners alike. They say you are a product of those you spend the most time with, so find people who are striving for similar goals & lifestyles. They'll be there to help build your confidence, encourage you to trust yourself, and lift you up when you're down.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sweetsavorydesigns.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetsavorydesigns/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetandsavorydesigns/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-savory-551a6632/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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