We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Etana Holowinko. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Etana below.

Etana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

The accessibility to graphic design programs for everyone; on your phone, on your tablet, on your PC on the web. Graphic and Web design software is everywhere now and because of that everybody thinks they are or can be a graphic /web designer. Although they do not know or understand all of intricacies, technique, and education it takes to truly design and create proper graphics and properly working websites. But as a result, it takes away from the value of what we do and offer; why pay me my hourly rate for a project when they can download and app for five dollars. Many of these clients are willing accept a lower quality graphic or forgo function of a website to not have to pay a professional to do the job.

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

SocietyJazz is a Graphic and Web Design business specializing in bringing your unique message and identity to your brand graphics. There are a lot of people with similar businesses, services, or products, so being able to communicate what makes you stand above the rest is paramount.

I do this by going thru the Living Portfolio process and diving into the core concepts of SocietyJazz; people, their environments, and their passions. We believe that each person is uniquely different; therefore, their love and passion in life and how they bring it to the world is their own. That unique message can be delivered to your clients.

SocietyJazz is the brainchild of myself, Etana Holowinko. Its beginnings are of a humble nature starting off with a six-year-old girl and her dream. Now it is my personal motto to “spend my time not dreaming but creating.” SocietyJazz is the way I have chosen to represent myself and my work for a few reasons. 1. I am a part of society, just like you. At heart, I am a humanist, although I may not always agree with everyone. I always listen. Gaining new knowledge and incorporating it into who I am and what I do. 2. The word jazz creates that collaboration for me, I take this skill and incorporate it; instilling a very diverse range of design disciplines. All focused on YOU, the client, and finding your voice.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

After being in the field and working for others for several years I started taking on freelance clients in the evenings and weekends. After several years of this and a small but steady client base. I decided it was time to go full steam ahead and see if I had what it took to be in business full time on my own. For the first year and a half, I continued to service my base clients, while adding to my rooster, and working a side hustle (Lyft& Uber). This first year and a half taught me a lot including what services to offer, including going into private lessons/ tutoring for those who would prefer to do manage their own graphics or website but needed professional help to get started. By year two I was able to drop the side hustle and dedicated myself fully to my clients and students. Gratefully personal referrals from both my students and clients have continued to grow and evolve my business.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

That there is a set, set of steps and order to reach my goals.

All thru high school and college all my teachers, mentors, and books said the order of success is: A, B, C. But those steps, in that order in that way didn’t bring me success or help me reach my goal line. In fact for me they were a great guideline for where and when to jump off the page and follow my inside voice, that little tap or nudge on the shoulder said speak up now, take the risk here, and find your own way up the mountain top. Ended up being more of a connect the dots than an A,B,C but at the end of the day, all those dots connected at Z and took me across the finish line.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://livesocietyjazz.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livesocietyjazz
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/societyjazz-tempe-4?osq=graphic+design
• Other: https://takelessons.com/profile/etana-h?service=graphic-design

Image Credits
All Images belong to me.