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.

Sarah Beck

I think what sets Hayven apart from other home staging companies is that every stage is customized to the home. I always try to incorporate the unique aspects of the property that may be perceived by home buyers as negative and turn them into positive ones using creativity and design. For instance, one home I staged had a strange little closet within a closet in one of the bedrooms, which wasn’t seen as a positive to buyers. With a little paint and creativity, I was able to turn the little closet into an adorable “Reading Hideout” for kids. By staging the space with books toys etc. the little closet was transformed and had a purpose. Read more>>

Ava Pendl

As a wellness and mindfulness brand, there was a period of time where we played in the same sandbox as other companies in our space. We adopted the traditional brand colors, aesthetic, and even sounds that you’d associate with breathwork, meditation and yoga experiences and while the response was great, we knew that we were meant to be disrupters and open a new door for more of the world to be drawn into the power of these practices. We’ve broken the rules and the stereotypes of breathwork and meditation, bringing our brand to life from the colors we use to the music fueling our breathwork style and in doing so have created space for people outside of spiritual circles and the wellness industry to feel included in these practices that have the power to change lives. Read more>>

Jessica Myhr

I started off as an assistant in licensing and marketing repping authors of children’s picture books and quickly learned about creative branding. That hands on practical application working for a small creative start up is where the seed of passion for my unique take on image consulting took place. I was learning about the core of brand authenticity – how to maintain the integrity of a brand, in this case signature artwork and storytelling, when it was translated into stationery, apparel, even developmental toys. I worked with artists of children’s picture books (Ian Falconer and Eric Carle – to name a few) to manage and maintain their logos, color palettes and even fonts with various vendors. I also kept working with creative people on their own image – what colors look great on them, flattering cuts/styles and how to wear clothing that felt authentic to who they were as a person and what they wanted to communicate. It dawned on me – creative branding was personal branding – There must be a way for people to show up as their best authentic selves with the right tools. Read more>>

Hannah Hayes

At SVN Swim, we take pride in our distinctive approach to luxury women’s sustainable swimwear. We do several things differently than the industry standard, setting us apart as a brand that values sustainability, inclusivity, and ethical practices. Here’s what makes SVN Swim unique: 1. Sustainable Materials: Our commitment to the environment is unwavering. Unlike many swimwear brands that still rely on conventional fabrics, we prioritize the use of sustainable materials. Our swimwear is crafted from eco-friendly materials, reducing the environmental impact of our products and leading the way in sustainable fashion. Read more>>

Brandon Terrell

I love music and the process of making it. I also love all the new ways music is being presented. From the time I was a kid I can remember my mother playing music throughout the house and seeing how great it made people feel. So when it was time for me to decide on a career path – it was a no-brainer that it would involve music. I know that there is a divide in belief about the best way to make music within the industry, but my philosophy is there is a way for new methods of the music business to merge with the more traditional ways of developing sounds and artists. We can use analytics, but we can never fully abandon the gut instinct and nurturing of artistic talent that brought us many of the greats. Read more>>

Jennylina Duperon

As an owner of a Bridal Hair and Makeup Business in a very saturated market, one of the things that sets us apart is how small we are and how that is not a disadvantage. Industry standards typically require continued growth in a team in order to bring more profit and cover weddings on a larger scale. As a smaller team, we are able to be more relational with our clients and truly get to know them and they get to know us from booking all the way to their wedding date. This creates a great experience they remember and will be more likely to recommend us. We have heard from clients firsthand, who have hired other large hair and makeup teams and felt as if they were just a number. The artist who did their hair and makeup trial was not the same person who worked with them the day of their wedding. That can sometimes cause additional stress and anxiety for the bride and her bridal party. We love being available for the client throughout their experience and talking them through the looks and styles that they are considering. Read more>>

Danielle Bernard

When I started my business, my goals were to make handbags in unique designs, at affordable prices, while following a made-to-order process that will limit over production. I also just wanted to make items out of love. This has allowed me to connect with so many customers in such warm and heartfelt ways. When I started out in 2017, I had a goal of using leftover scrap pieces and minimizing waste as much as possible. I started sewing when I was twelve and spent my highschool years repurposing clothing. So I knew this had been an important value of mine and it was only fitting to incorporate it into my business. In 2019, I started taking hide scraps from other projects and weaving pieces together to craft into bags. My woven bags have become my best sellers. I also purchase dead stock hides and cut around imperfections then find ways of using the imperfect pieces by quilting patterns on them. I will repurpose leather garments into bags as well. I’m making one right now, the customer had a beloved leather jacket from her aunt that doesn’t fit and so we are making it into a quilted kiss lock bag. Read more>>

Nicole Dery

Yes! Allelo approaches Experience Design (XD) with an impact lens. Experience design defines what people go through when interacting with a company and its products or services. Anytime you buy something in a store or on an app, someone has designed how that experience works. Allelo’s approach is similar to standard design thinking in terms of the steps we take, but different in that it adds systematic measurement of a desired impact outcome to each of the steps in the design thinking process. Read more>>

Alan Abeyta

Corporate standard is production work for hotels, restaurant chains, art you would find at the big box stores. While yes we do do some production work it is usually at most 200 pcs for a small corporate job. Where we differ is the ability to think out side the box and come up with creative solutions to requests that the client has. For example: a mirror project where 5 mirrors are in series as in a Trapezoid, Parallelogram, Isosceles Trapezoid, Parallelogram and another Trapezoid. We would cut the mirrors and the frames the client need specifically for the project. Another example would be to custom tone a frame or mat with paint to have the shape and color better match the art. With out the unique custom touch why not just do corporate work? Not for me, thanks. Read more>>

Shanice Linton

Oh absolutely, at Visual Vybz Studios we make it our mission to go above and beyond with each of our clients and serve them as if it were our own business. As a niche content marketing agency that serves clients in the medical aesthetics industry, it is a challenge to separate each client and give them unique strategies that keep them competitive. As a result, we make a dedicated effort to differentiate our client’s strategies and content based on competitive offers, and unique brand personalities, and craft compelling video stories that help to set them apart. Read more>>