Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Meghan Conyers, co-partner of The Branded Agency, located in Squamish, BC, Canada.

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

The Branded Agency is Vancouver's best full-service branding and marketing agency. We have created a new agency model. One that is built for independent businesses of all sizes and offers services these businesses need to grow and scale. Our clients range from mom-and-pop businesses and D2C startups all the way up to Fortune 500 companies like PepsiCo.

Tell us about yourself

As an entrepreneur myself, I have experienced what it is like to lack the time, expertise, and capital needed to grow my business. I bootstrapped my last business into an international brand sold in over 500 of the best retailers in the world. In doing so, I learned what the pain points were for fast-growing but still relatively small businesses faced. The services that branding and marketing agencies offered were needed—but they never delivered on their promises, had insanely long lead times, and had ridiculous pricing. We're changing that with The Branded Agency. We have developed frameworks and processes that have proven to dramatically help independent businesses in a way that legacy agencies couldn't dream of! The Branded Agency was essentially built to help me when I was just getting started, and we believe all entrepreneurs deserve the chance to thrive and that professional support shouldn't be reserved for the select few. This motivates me every day, knowing that I am making a tangible difference for entrepreneurs.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner isn't landing the biggest deal or having a record-breaking month—it's creating a brand and businesses that people can depend on for their livelihood and creating a great place to work. There is also something special about being able to stand on your own two feet and support not just your own family but those of your employees.

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

The hardest part of being a business owner is finding a work/life balance. Owning your own business means that you can't just clock out for the day. You are always thinking of your business in the back of your mind. Whether it's about operations, sales, or if that logo is just right! It's hard to turn off.

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

  1. Flesh out your "WHY." This will inform every single thing that you do in the future, from your brand design to company culture and product. Every single thing radiates out from here.
  2. Build a strong brand based on your "WHY." Think about it this way: You can buy a white t-shirt at Walmart for $4 or a white Gucci shirt for $1000. Sure, the material may be marginally softer from Gucci, but what are you really paying for? THE BRAND. The brand is everything. Product is second.
  3. Get creative. Build a community. You probably can't outspend your biggest completion in PPC ads. So build a community that refers to you. This takes time and effort but can be done a lot cheaper than paying for ads.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.brandedagency.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebrandedagency/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrandedagency/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-branded-vancouver/

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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