We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Barber a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

After attending FIDM (the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising), I knew that having my own business and being an Entrepreneur in this amazing industry was the right path for me. It has been a long journey to get to where I am today – I finished school back in 2009 when the market had crashed, so there weren’t a lot of job opportunities available for my classmates and I in our desired fields. After working about five years in the retail industry after college, I had a business owner ask if I would help him grow his brand/business. With my wide range of experience, I was able to help him navigate the wholesale and retail side of the business while also creating a cohesive and elevated collection. This is the project that started it all… it was my ah-ha moment! I was getting to wear all of the hats I loved so much (creativity, design, strategy, marketing) and help other fashion entrepreneurs at the same time (a dream come true). After learning the ebbs and flows of business and navigating the branding & digital marketing field, it feels as though I have finally found the right niche for our growth and path forward to continuing to help create and make an impact. This has always felt like my calling and even on the challenging days, I have never given up. I know this is what I am called to do. And as they say, choosing to be an Entrepreneur is never an easy journey. It’s filled with ups and downs, good days and challenging days, but the impact and rewards are so worth it!!! For me, I always wanted to help small business or businesses grow their brand, they are the backbone of our communities and I want to help support as many people as I possible can in my lifetime! I am a dime a dozen in the marketing field these days, but I take a more personalized approach, connecting with each client and diving into their needs and wants to ensure they get the most out of our time together.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

From the time I was a little girl, I saw my father run his own company (restoring and rebuilding muscle cars). I watched him work hard, connect with like minded car enthusiasts, and make a living doing something he was truly passionate about – Which was so inspiring to me! I hoped I would be able to find the same fulfillment in my career one day – I knew from an early age that fashion was something that spoke to my soul and it was the industry for me… I took every art and fashion class available through school and my Junior and Senior year took a Fashion Marketing class at our local community college to help learn even more about the amazing industry I had fallen in love with. From here I have journeyed through various chapters of life embracing my passion and letting it guide me to my destination of being an Entrepreneur in a truly remarkable industry that is always changing, evolving, and growing. At Barber Consulting, we help our clients reach their goals through strategic marketing campaigns that speak to the brands strengths. We use a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, threat) analysis that helps us build a strong strategy for implementation. One that will help each client see their ROI and build their community at the same time. I would say I am most proud of the brands and companies we work with, each of them are trailblazing a path in their own industry and creating a truly amazing impact on others – From empowering the youth to be more confident, to creating an impact in the sustainable fashion sector, our clients are truly amazing!!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think the most prominent example I can think of is navigating the business through the pandemic. Social media and digital marketing back then were considered wants and not needs for small businesses. So when it came down to it, we were one of the first services to be cut and taken in-house. This was a challenging place to be, but it allowed me to take a step back and really hone in on what I wanted Barber Consulting to become and create a path for getting there. We kept the a la carte option for building packages for clients (this is the most alluring part as they can add whatever they want for marketing support) but also raised our prices to fairly compensate our team for their experience and time invested (another component we felt helped us level up). We were no longer the “affordable” option that was exhausting and time consuming and we became a more “exclusive” option that creates a curated marketing strategy for each client, giving them our undivided attention and support. It was important for me to curate a strong client experience that feels elevated, unique, and luxurious. Something that feels over the top expensive but is within the range of affordability for most start-ups or brands who are willing to invest in their marketing presence!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

One of the strongest pieces of advice I received when I was in college was “it’s all about who you know”. This phrase means something completely different to me now than it did 18 years ago when I first heard it! Back then it meant having a large network was going to help me in my future somehow. Now, it means the right network of colleagues and peers that have a similar goal of working together, supporting one another, and accomplishing something together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barberconsulting.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barberconsulting/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barberconsultingllc/