We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cynthia Hofmann a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cynthia , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
As a multi-faceted creator, my goal has always been to blend my passions for photography, writing, travel, stories, and marketing. After two years of freelancing, I took the leap and founded my own full-service creative marketing agency, Blooms Creative. Throughout my journey, one thing has remained constant: my love for people, the beauty of the world, and the desire to learn about new cultures.
When I am gone, I hope people will say that I dedicated my life to capturing stories that evoke emotions and make people feel deeply. I strongly believe that stories have the power to create connections and bring people closer together, regardless of their gender, ethnic background, or worldviews. I hope to build a legacy that centers around fostering mutual understanding through the sharing of stories, cultures, and ways of life in a world that is informed by war, in a world that often feels chaotic and disconnected.
I aspire to be remembered as someone who reminded people to be intentional in everything they do and be present in their day-to-day lives. I hope people will remember me as the woman who challenged stereotypes and narratives about certain ethnicities, cultures, and people. By showcasing the beauty of the world through my photography, my writing, and even through our client’s services, I hope to inspire others to embrace diversity and celebrate our shared humanity.
One of my greatest desires is to bring the joy of travel to those who may not have the resources to explore the world themselves. Through my creative endeavors, I seek to transport people to different corners of the globe, allowing them to experience the wonders and richness of other cultures. By doing so, I aim to bridge gaps and foster empathy among people from all walks of life.
Above all, I want to leave a legacy that transcends time. I hope that the stories I capture and share will continue to inspire future generations to be open-minded, understanding, and compassionate. My ultimate goal is to contribute to a world where peace and love prevail, where people strive to understand one another and embrace our shared humanity. One story at a time, I aim to make a lasting impact and create a legacy that fosters unity and harmony in this world.
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 am a multidisciplinary creative entrepreneur. I am the founder and CEO of Blooms Creative, a full-service creative marketing agency, and I am also a freelance travel photographer and writer.
My journey began at the young age of 21 when I decided to take a big leap of faith, leave my 9-5 job at a NGO as Marketing Manager and move to Ghana, a country that had captured my heart during my early travels. With no new job secured and little idea of how to move forward, I travelled to Ghana and quickly noticed the common struggle of many small businesses to connect on a deeper level with their target audience. With a background in marketing, a passion for storytelling and an eye for anything visual, it came with ease to me to uncover the solution to this problem: crafting compelling visual stories through thoughtful marketing.
I embarked on a mission to help small businesses elevate their online presence and forge meaningful connections with their customers. By developing comprehensive marketing strategies, identifying untapped target audiences, and creating engaging campaigns, I was able to provide effective solutions for these businesses.
As I witnessed the success of my marketing strategies, I realized that I had stumbled upon something truly impactful. This realization led me to take another leap of faith and establish Blooms Creative. I started collaborating with talented creatives and fellow marketing experts, in order to offer the full spectrum on marketing services, that could be executed at the highest quality possible. Today, Blooms Creative specializes in helping businesses within the travel and lifestyle industry discover their most authentic personality and help communicate it through captivating stories.
While helping businesses grow, my love for travel continued to bloom. I felt an overwhelming desire to continue explore new cultures, see breathtaking landscapes, and immerse myself in the wonders of the world. Alongside my camera, journal, and trusty pen, I began documenting my travels and sharing my unique encounters with others. I realized the privilege I had to travel and wanted to use it to its fullest potential, sharing my experiences with those who may not share the same opportunities.
Today, I actively pursue every opportunity to share the beauty and intricacies of the cultures I encounter during my travels. Through travel photography and writing, I aim to transport people to different corners of the globe and inspire a deeper appreciation for the diversity that exists in our world.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
When I embarked on this journey as a creative entrepreneur, I didn’t have a substantial amount of monetary capital to invest in my business or purchase expensive equipment. I believe that knowledge was my capital. I had acquired extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of marketing and photography, which I knew could be leveraged to bring value to clients.
Instead of relying on outside funding, I decided to use what I had at my disposal. Armed with my skills and passion, I began offering services – often for cheap- based on what I knew best. I utilized my marketing knowledge, my eye for anything visual, and my love for words to craft compelling strategies and create captivating brand stories for small businesses. By showcasing the value and impact of my services, I was able to attract clients and generate income.
In addition to my expertise, I also turned to the vast resources available online. I immersed myself in countless YouTube videos and online tutorials to further enhance my skills and expand my knowledge. These online resources became instrumental in my journey, allowing me to constantly improve and refine my craft.
Through dedication, hard work, and a strong belief in the value I could bring to my clients, I was able to generate the necessary monetary capital to invest in my business and acquire the equipment I needed. I prioritized reinvesting my earnings back into the growth of my business, allowing it to flourish organically.
I firmly believe that external funding is not always a prerequisite for starting a successful business. It’s about recognizing and utilizing the resources you have, whether it be your knowledge, skills, or the power of selling. By leveraging these assets and continuously learning and evolving, I was able to build the foundation of my business without relying on traditional funding methods.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
At Blooms Creative, we firmly believe in the power of communication, conversation, and connection. In order to build and represent the brands we are working with in the most authentic way, we need to know our clients first
First and foremost, we emphasize the importance of getting to know our clients on a personal level. This starts even before we officially begin working together. Whenever possible, we prefer to have our initial “getting to know each other” meeting in person. We are big fans of “walking meetings” where we can unplug from our phones and laptops. Walking meetings not only increase creativity but also help build a more natural and authentic relationship. Of course, a takeaway coffee (or tea) is always on us. However, since we operate internationally and understand the constraints of time and location, we are grateful for the convenience of Google Meetings, which allows us to continue our conversations virtually whenever we can’t meet up in person.
In our digital age, we also appreciate the value of old-school gestures. Once a new client signs on with us, we make it a point to send them a hand-written letter directly to their mailbox. We believe that these small acts of personalization reinforce their decision to work with us and contribute to fostering brand loyalty.
Throughout the engagement, we maintain regular communication with our clients, meeting with them at least every two weeks. These meetings serve multiple purposes. Firstly, they provide a platform for us to ensure that our clients are happy and satisfied with our services. Secondly, these meetings allow us to update our clients on the current happenings and progress of their projects. We believe in transparency and keeping our clients informed every step of the way. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blooms-creative.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynblooms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.hofmann.31
- Linkedin: https://ch.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-hofmann-7ba6b21aa
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cynblooms
Image Credits
Blooms Creative