Meet Scarlett Rosier (Under 30), Account Director/New Business Developer/Partner with Rhyme Meet Scarlett Rosier, Account Director/New Business Developer/Partner with Rhyme & Reason Design
(l to r) Karen Pearson Mckenzie, Scarlett Rosier, Erin Morris
Tell us about your business.
Rhyme & Reason Design is a boutique advertising and design firm specializing in developing dynamic communication online and off. From logo development to website designs and everything in between, R&R offers clients customized solutions for their marketing needs.
Our target audience is Female business owners and decision makers. As a woman-owned business, we have first-hand understanding of the business world from a female perspective. Our design aesthetic leans heavily to bright, clean and modern layouts that appeal greatly to women and are interactive enough to keep any viewer man or woman engaged.
As we have been lucky enough to start our own business, one of our core missions with the business is to provide custom designed work for the For-Profit world in order that we can provide the same to the Non-Profit world. Since opening our virtual doors, we’ve aided in the design and development of websites, Facebook Fan Pages and marketing materials for 5 non-profits at no cost to the organizations.
Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?
Being a business owner means that I don’t have to choose between having a career and having a life. With R&R, I am able to define both as they relate to my personal goals. I wasn’t planning on becoming a business owner in my twenties, I figured I would be wise beyond my years before I stepped out on my own. But, as they say, “Never say Never.” I became an entrepreneur because the opportunity arose and I couldn’t say no. I worked with one of my business partners at a small advertising firm in Atlanta, GA and then together we said good-bye to our cubicles, packed our bags and headed to China for a month of introspection. Now by no means am I promoting quitting your job and traveling to foreign lands to decide what you want to do in life, but I am suggesting that you not be afraid of the unknown. Because when I returned from my trip abroad, I had no job and was scrambling to come up with a plan. However, both my business partners are tremendously intelligent and talented women and I knew that together we had what it took to bloom in the business world.
What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?
The encouragement and support that I receive from friends, family and strangers is what influences my business behavior and decisions on a daily basis. Knowing that people other than the three of us believe in what we do makes the long hours, the struggles and even the tears completely worth it.
What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
There have been so many accomplishments that go into the biggest one of all, which is growing a business from the ground up. Through the experience, I’ve worked to find our first client, launch our first website and typed our first blog. From there, we’ve signed several national accounts, watched as our blog was featured on Word Press’ Freshly Pressed and each of us receiving accolades for jobs well-done from clients, peers and industry executives.
What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?
Love what you do. If you don’t, get out now.
What has been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?
Social media. Over the past two years, we have received about 30 percent of our new business from our social media efforts. As a design firm, we do have a leg up on most companies in the fact that we are able to customize everything from our Facebook Fan Page to our Twitter account.
With the help of customization, we are able to better distinguish ourselves in a very content heavy world. We are also careful to not over-promote ourselves and instead focus on providing content that is useful to our clients and our prospects.
What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?
You’re going to make mistakes. There I said it. It’s true, it will happen and when it does, don’t beat yourself up, just figure out how to fix it, move on and don’t make the same one again.
Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with other small business owners that have helped you run your business?
Smartbrief emails: SmartBrief.com ~ These emails are incredible. I receive several a day depending on the industry or information I sign up for. Each email includes the top articles of the day found for say, social media or entrepreneurship. The emails include excerpts and links to each article and it provides an easy way to stay up on the news without wasting time searching for articles.
The E Myth by Michael Gerber ~ The first business book I ever read and one that I plan to read over and over again. So many times, as human beings, nonetheless business owners, we get caught up in the minutia of it all and forget to take a look at the big picture and how to make the big picture run smoothly. In the E-Myth, you realize that being an entrepreneur is not easy and you can’t just focus on one area to be successful, you have to focus on creating a business that can run seamlessly with or without you at the helm.
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi ~ Never Eat Alone offers very simple, almost elementary advice on how important it is to build relationships. Most of it you probably already know, but when put in the business perspective, you realize how utterly important it is to cultivate relationships with everyone.
Small Business Development Centers ~ The Small Business Development Center in my community is amazing, At the Center, they offer paid and free courses to help grow your business from the ground up. Plus, there are advisors who are available for one-on-one advice, counseling and support. Not to mention, the Centers are the first to promote their own entrepreneurs and often allow them to speak and make presentations at seminars and classes.
What do you do for fun/relaxation?
I grew up riding horses and I don’t plan to ever give that up. Although I don’t get to enjoy the thrill of jumping or the steady stride of my horse as much as I used to, it is still my most treasured pastime. If you don’t find me on the back of a horse, you’ll most likely find me in sweating it out in the gym. Other than those two places, you may find my nose shoved in a Harry Potter book or laughing over dinner with a few close friends.
What is Number One Business Goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
Sign at least two more national accounts to our client roster and sorry, I know you only asked for one, but we’d love to open a brick-and-mortar shop. The virtual world is amazing and doing business via, cell phone, email, skype, text, social media and carrier pigeon works incredibly well and is ultimately the way of the future. However, nothing can replace the atmosphere of a creative studio with your shingle on the door.
You want to write a book on … oh gosh, I have so many books that I want to write, but for business, I’d like to write a book about business ownership as a twenty-something female. It would be targeted towards tweens and young adult women who don’t realize the opportunities that are available for them. It will discuss the difficulties of being discriminated against for age and looks, as well as the importance of believing in yourself and following your dreams, even if they go against the grain.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If you want to take the entrepreneurial leap, know that it isn’t the easy route, but it is the most rewarding. There are going to be days where with tears in your eyes you ask yourself, “What am I doing?” but, there are also going to be days where you are floating on air saying, “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else”. Also, find a support system and even someone or a group of peers who are in the same place as you. I have a very close friend who is also in her second year of business and it’s always nice to have another ear to bend, who is experiencing the entrepreneurial path as well.
In addition to your website, how else can our readers connect with you online?
http://www.facebook.com/rrdesign
http://www.RhymeAndReasonDesign.wordpress.com
