Deviating from industry norms is one of the most common characteristics we’ve seen among highly successful brands and professionals and so we’ve asked some brilliant folks to give us real life examples of how they do things differently from the industry standard.

Katherine Gibb

Between personal experience and many horror stories from friends and family I know how stressful getting pictures of your kids can be. You’re investing in these memories and you want them to be amazing and capture all the amazing things you love about your tiny human exactly as they are now- and that usually translates to stressed out parents on shoot day- which means stressed out kids- which means mediocre photos. Read more>>

Kitt West

Lost Fairy Sweets offers completely unique desserts. We don’t have a set menu, instead we work with clients to create a flavor pallet completely their own. This allows every dessert to elevate and add to an event, rather than sit in the background. Read more>>

Kandace Parker-Earle

Author Richard Rohr once referred to networking as “Utilitarian Friendship.” I know networking is important; I’m not a dummy, but how I’ve experienced it and witnessed it over the years has left me feeling sad about the whole idea. I don’t believe in getting to know someone because I know I can use their skills. Since becoming a freelance artist and creative director, I’ve been intentional about how I hold my work relationships. Yes, you are so valuable to my team, but also –– is your daughter liking her new school? I know your dad has been sick for a while. Are you doing okay? Read more>>

Claire Vandervoort

Voort Studio is all about going against the status quo and redefining boundaries. Our name, ‘Voort’ means ‘Forward’ in Dutch, my mother tongue. Going forward, moving industries forward and stepping closer to your dreams is what Voort Studio is all about. Starting with how the business was founded: I pursued a career in tech that had nothing to do with fashion. I never studied it, nor did I have any connections in the fashion world. The traditional path of a fashion designer is to work in the industry for a number of years before creating a label of your own. That didn’t stop me from creating my dream business when I was ready! Read more>>

Giuseppe LoTempio

At Stepchild, we are motivated by curating the film community around us and want to be a resource for future & current Camera Operators, 1st AC’s and Cinematographers in San Diego county. We’ve taken the traditional setting of a true rental house experience but added a few things we wish we had when we began our own journey in film industry. Read more>>

Melanie Zaelich

Happy Place Interiors offers a different approach to interior design and home styling. Traditionally, Interior Designers are full service, meaning they “do it all” for a client. A design is created, the furniture and decor is selected and the design is implemented.. This approach works well for some people. Read more>>

Nick Engstrom

KCGameOn started 17 years ago as a community of friends who wanted to get together and play some games. We’d like to think we have continued to keep that same culture as we have scaled out to events with over 5000 attendees. We take a lot of pride in the consistently high level of quality we produce, starting with the local area network, logistics/planning, and tournaments we organize at our events. Read more>>

Leah Glasby

When selecting pieces of furniture to refinish I typically look for very old pieces with a lot of “character”! Meaning I like working with a pieces flaws and I sometimes showcase them in my reimagined design. I like my pieces to tell a story, to really get your imagination going. Where was this? Who owned this piece, etc. I love an Old World look. Read more>>

Maria Herrera

I spent the first decade of my career working with A-list artists and their managements. Unsurprisingly, I experienced the real racism, sexism – all of the -isms – that exist in every facet of the music industry. To add to the pain, I saw how the only agencies and support teams (booking agents, publicists, labels, you name it) that are accessible to independent artists were charging monthly minimums that cost more than double my rent. Read more>>

Nicole Bowdle

Yes, the way I market myself. I have a very strong opinion on Real Estate Agents and their marketing. I think you need to stop thinking about yourself as a real estate agent from 1982 and start thinking about yourself as a modern day marketer. This is 2022 and the internet is not going anywhere. Social Media is not going anywhere. Stop posting stock photos with your brokerage logo. It’s not creating any value for your audience. It doesn’t serve them in any way. Read more>>

Alex Dominguez

One of the things we do differently is the things we charge for. Many other companies in this industry charge their clients for almost everything, whether it be a simple question, a copy of their file, or just to read a document they don’t understand. In our office we value our clients and we can offer those services at no additional costs, we want our clients to feel comfortable when picking up the phone and calling us with any questions or concerns and our clients have expressed their satisfaction with our services because they feel that we are always there for them no matter what situation they’re experiencing. Read more>>

Christina Hand

At Cilverbow Botanicals we offer safe, nontoxic and eco friendly natural nail services that are different from industry standard in a number of ways. Firstly, the products used are free from harmful chemicals and toxins that can potentially damage nails or cause other health problems. Secondly, the methods used are gentle and effective, meaning that they do not require the use of harsh chemicals or abrasive materials. Read more>>

Yirett Clemente

For me, photography is not just an image, photography is capturing the essence of each person, that is why main objective is to provide an experience that goes above and beyond during the photoshoot. I like to have a conversation with each person so I can get to know their personality and carry out a image according to their essence and enhance what they want to express in a single image. My photography has no limits since I can take a basic image to something extraordinary. Read more>>

Kashawna Alexander

I take great pride in the effort and creativity I put not only into my pieces but my packaging as well. I learned very early on in my business is essential to give the customer a memorable experience when receiving products in the mail. The greatest way I could think to do that was to better my production times and packaging. Since people were already sold on the pieces, I utilized packaging to take it up a notch. Not only did it improve my sales/engagement, but it also allowed me to explore the world of marketing in a way I had never considered before. Read more>>

Bianca Rugimbana

Primarily based in Australia, while traveling back and forth to the USA, the role of “international publicist” has taken on a new meaning for myself and the company in the past 3 years. In fact, each day I hear “When do you sleep B?” As the business continues to grow with our clients being on different timezones to Australia, I’ve been forced to accommodate clientele “around the clock”. Read more>>

Katii McKinney

Most in this industry do not test out all of the products they carry or get to know the brand itself. We make sure every product we carry is tested so we can speak to its quality, how to use it, and explain how it works and could work for you. Normally products are carried because they are poplar brands. We seek out brands that are not as well known, some are start ups, but all are small black owned businesses. Read more>>

Kristin Bennett

Communities for Better Health (CFBH) takes a different approach to community health and community public health. The key pillars of our work include: innovation, collaboration, and sustainability. ● Collaboration– We recognize that communities are networks of individuals with common goals, and that each community has its own pulse and priorities. Read more>>

Trevor Szafranski

We are changing education with an environment and approach that is unlike any other. Parents walk in and their jaws hit the floor. They always have the same response, “The pictures do not do it justice.” Therefore, you can imagine the response from students when they see our “Google offices meets Chuck-E-Cheese” environment. But, it isn’t all about the facilities. It’s about the connection we make with students and the emphasis we put on their talents. Every student has incredible talents, but some students don’t see their talents on a report card. Read more>>