We were lucky to catch up with Britni Bateman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Britni thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Brainstorm Boutique was a dream I always had to combine my love of brainstorming and creative services for boutique business. I was working for a locally-owned women’s clothing boutique that started in a brick-and-mortar and I was able to help create an online presence. During the seven years I worked there, we grew in reputation and popularity in our local community and beyond. From photo and video shoots to social media strategy and email campaigns, I was in charge of all marketing aspects. It was so much fun to help the business owner’s dreams come true and serve the female population with clothing and products that gave them confidence.
Then the pandemic hit and we had to shift strategies. Our in-store location suddenly had to focus on the website and social media strategy. I found solutions to creating a digital personal shopping experience and so much more. During this time, I was working at home and being able to be so much more creative without distractions in the store.
I soon found myself thinking about all the other small, locally-owned businesses that didn’t have resources or a budget for an on-staff creative. I finally decided to launch my own creative studio called Brainstorm Boutique. I offer brainstorming intensives for creative strategies that are easy to implement, brand strategy and design, website strategy and design, and then soon added an innovative confidence coaching program for small business owners when my sister Kasie Lechelle joined me.
Kasie is a graduate of The Second City’s elite Conservatory program where she learned how to show up and perform with confidence on stage. During many brainstorming intensives, we’ve discovered that small business owners needed a structured program and a fun space to overcome anxiety related to showing up as their authentic selves. Kasie has helped individuals with a variety of professional backgrounds and “stages” that they may appear on in their everyday lives. This has helped propel them closer to their personal and career goals.
Our goal at Brainstorm Boutique is to help create confident brands by providing a standout visual identity, a website with cohesive messaging and design, an in-depth marketing playbook for their unique goals, and confidence coaching for showing up for their business. We offer a holistic approach to being an audacious business and business owner.
Britni, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a creative at heart. I grew up drawing, painting, making my own Barbie doll clothing and more. My rural high school didn’t have an art program, but that didn’t stop me from expressing myself creatively. Then I went to college and discovered graphic design as a way to combine my love for art and interest in marketing/advertising. I graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with my BFA and haven’t stopped creating since.
I offer branding and website strategy and design. We get to the heart of the business and brainstorm a visual identity as well as other aspects from customer service to tone of voice that keeps every part of your business on brand. With the brand identity established, we then implement a cohesive brand strategy and design that will take your ideal client or customer on a path to purchase or inquiry of services.
Kasie is outgoing, hilarious and insightful. She wanted to tell jokes, which led her to Second City in Chicago. She made it through the elite Conservatory program and soon found herself creating routines and exercises to help her fellow comedians overcome anxiety before going on stage.
When I was doing my first Facebook live to promote my Holiday Marketing Brainstorm Guide, I was so nervous and almost didn’t do it. I enlisted Kasie to help prepare me mentally and it was a huge success. I knew immediately that others needed this service. So I brought on Kasie as the Confidence Coach with her program that is tailored for each client’s individual needs. She’s had many success stories from helping podcast co-hosts to on-camera personalities to boutique business owners and so much more. It’s been amazing to watch these people thrive in their expertise and share their purpose with the world without hesitation.
As a result of Kasie joining, we also offer brainstorming intensives together. These intensives bring both of our unique experiences and perspectives to discover creative strategies custom for the business. We want to make sure our solutions are realistic for goals and their time. We know our clients can do anything, but time and budget doesn’t always allow them to do everything. And that’s okay. We believe in healthy mindsets and perspectives on marketing, especially social media.
Our last offering is social media management and engagement. We brainstorm effective social media strategies based on realistic goals. Then we implement those strategies through post creation, copywriting, and creating community while engaging in the comments and DMs. We are capable of taking on brand voice and make sure it sounds like the business owner is personally handling this part of their business.
As for work we are most proud of, we worked very closely with Urban Cowboy Line Dancing in Nashville to transform their website. The business owner, Kyle Erickson, is full of incredible ideas and has an exciting vision for the line dancing industry. We transformed his website to connect with potential clients while allowing for a seamless booking experience. Kasie also handles his social media presence and his Instagram account has grown exponentially from 1,200 followers in April to nearly 25,000 followers in September. His TikTok had more than 300,000 followers in April and has doubled to more than 600,000 in September. It continues to grow every day and brings him opportunities from headlining a Virgin Airlines corporate party to having clients book from around the world. His team is expanding and we are thrilled to be a part of his business growth story.
We have transformed Rendleman Orchards’ website to expand the 149-year-old family-owned and operated fruit orchard reach customers across the country. They are now expanding their wholesale products into retail locations across the region. It’s been amazing to watch their brand grow and see people from all over road trip to experience the farm market and Instagram-worthy flower fields in person.
We have so many success stories and love watching these small businesses all over the country grow during times when it can be difficult to stand out. It’s a joy for us and we look forward to working with so many more!
What do you find most rewarding about being creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is having a client who trusts our intuition and skill sets to bring their vision to life. We work very closely with our clients every step of the way to ensure their input is heard and valued. By the time we have launched their branding and website or graduate them from the confidence coaching program, we are very connected and invested into the success of their business. We spend every opportunity spreading the word about what they do, connecting people behind the scenes with opportunities that we know are perfect for them and cheering on every success no matter how big or small. It’s the best experience and we now have connections and business friends that will last a lifetime.
Can you tell us the story behind how’d you met your business partner?
Kasie and I go way back…all the way back to the day she was born. Kasie is my sister and is five years younger than me. We have been so close our entire lives. Kasie complements my shortcomings and we truly balance each other out.
We also have a lot of fun together. As a result, our clients have a lot of fun working with us. We want everyone to feel a part of the Boutique Fam and we bring our energy and love for each other to our clients.
I really couldn’t imagine working with anyone else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brainstormboutique.com/
- Instagram: @brainstormboutique
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brainstormboutique/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/83141245/admin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIWmZA6XNjh9PwyRhSlFHgg
Image Credits
Nina Wilson Photography and Alanna Milby Photography