We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Porchea-Londone Spencer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Porchea-Londone below.

Hi Porchea-Londone , thanks for joining 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.

I started my business by accident. I was about a decade in with the fashion industry when I was let go from my visual merchandising position. (I was told by a new manager that I missed too many days but your girl had fibroids and no insurance so I was doing my best). I loved my job so I was devastated. I told myself I had 24 hours to be upset then it was time to boss up. The day following the firing, I hit the ground running applying for jobs, internships, etc you name it so I could get back in the game. I ended up landing a brand ambassadorship with a local fashion brand. I was always capturing moments and reminding the owner to share on social so she hired me to run the accounts. This was when social media was just starting to become popular for the average person. Businesses were occasionally on Facebook but rarely on Instagram so I had little to no insight on how to market on social media. Eventually I became the marketing coordinator and the owner began to refer me to other brands. As time went on, I did more marketing but still had a reputation in the fashion industry. For a long time, I thought I had to do one or the other until it dawned on me that both are equally important in branding. Thus Couture Branding Suite was born. It’s a beautiful marriage of my two loves that specializing in what we call D2P and P2D. Showcasing personality in your brand comes easier for some than others. Some are really great at creating a stellar digital presence but lose confidence with real life connections. Others have fantastic energy in person but don’t know how to translate it online. Humble brag, I can do both. The best part is I can teach you, too.

Digital to Personal or D2P is for the online success looking to make more personal and tangible connections or impressions. Everything from clothing selection to nailing the elevator pitch to having some form of a business card contributes to showcasing your best self IRL.

Personal to Digital or P2D is for the personable individual that doesn’t know how to convey their personality online. Echoing energy on social media and having a functional but aesthetically pleasing website are only two examples of establishing a digital presence. It can be challenging to say the least. We can blame the algorithm but the right strategy can override that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a brand strategist with a passion for helping personal and business brands reach their full potential in both the digital and physical spaces. I’m most proud of my ability to lead with integrity. A lot of people that do what I do overpromise and underdeliver. I can’t count how many people I know that have bought into courses and services that were less than helpful. I am always growing and learning. Prayer is a part of my business strategy so I’m not desperate so I don’t have to use manipulative tactics to be successful. I’m aware of what I can and cannot do. I’m not afraid to share resources or outsource outside of my expertise, I want everyone to be fed well. I hold my own, stay in my lane and literally run and mind my business.

Any advice for managing a team?

When I was on the marketing team at tgin, the founder and CEO (may she RIP) used to call us her team of tens. I took honor in that and kept it for myself as a business owner.

A good leader leads by example. I hire great people, tens if you will ,but I understand that I control the temperature. I’m encouraging but also give honest feedback. I keep them accountable but don’t micromanage. I treat each team member like an individual. I see them as people. What’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander. It’s important to me that I lead with kindness, consideration, clear expectations and of course, a little humor.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me is referrals. As Maya Angelou stated, people never forget how you made them feel. I give my clients my best and beyond. That encourages them to recommend me to others. I don’t just provide a service. Couture Branding Suite is a vibe and an experience!

Contact Info:

• Website: bit.ly/richhomieporchea11
• Instagram: @rich_homie_porchea

Image Credits
All black headshot – Carl Ankrum