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.

Gina Smith

Well, working in Hollywood can be challenging when it comes to integrity – it seems that morality and doing the right thing always tends to take a back seat to the all mighty dollar, which is sad. Read more>>

Kate Gibson

Simple, I’ve taken the ego out of hairdressing. I have been a hairdresser for over 20 years. I’ve performed basically any role you can imagine from begging strangers at grocery stores to be my bob haircut model, to overseeing rooms of 50+ students learning the skill set that has been my lifeblood for so many years. Read more>>

Joniece Benjamin

Joniece and her business, J’Renee Bejeweled has revolutionized its presence in the Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) industry by leveraging the power of unique branding and an innovative approach to sales through the Bling Bus. Read more>>

Jason Day

I agree in regard to the small business versus the corporate/industry standard. And that’s what I think makes small businesses so special. In our case, in particular, I think we differentiate ourselves on a number of levels from what you’d likely see at a corporate chain. Read more>>

Jordan Poirier Whelan

Over the years I have had my eyes open to the industry and the ways it works. In the fashion industry, we see fast fashion at a rise, where extremely cheap, toxic and harmful chemically filled products are put on the market, and advertised for 8x the value, made illegally in sweat shops around the globe, doing nothing but furthering global pollution at a scale faster than anything we have ever seen. Read more>>

Shelly Deters

I decided to try and change the industry standard by not allowing tips or gratuity on all of my services. I believe the nation on the whole definitely has “tipping fatigue”. Read more>>

Jason Chase

Interior architectecture and design is a profession that encompasses a veriety of disciplines ranging from building, remodeling, to decorating and furniture design. Most Designers Specialize in a specific field such as residential interiors or kitchen and bath remodels. Read more>>

Lani Veiga

I recently changed my slogan from Veiga Entertainment -The Platform of Entertainment to Veiga Entertainment The Innovative Fusion of Entertainment. Although I still am part of a team that provides platforms and opportunities for the artist, I am more focused on fusing music together. Read more>>

Rashmi Hudson

The luggage industry has stayed dormant in innovations for more than 50 years, since wheels were put on suitcases. And there isn’t a real solution for keeping clothes wrinkle free. You have to carry more luggage and bags than you have arms for in order to take everything you need. Read more>>

Paul Simmons

When we were first starting PA Productions, we were doing a lot of Wedding Videos. What I love about Wedding Videos is that it tells a beautiful story and the couple is always so happy to see the video and remember the day. Read more>>

Cathlene Miner

Our commitment to safety ensures that survivors have a secure environment to rebuild their lives, free from the threats they faced before. We go beyond providing handbags; we provide a path to health and well-being. These are equally important to us. Read more>>

Lucas Arias

In my approach to architecture, I bring a deep understanding of the rich tapestry of Los Angeles architecture, drawing inspiration from the city’s diverse cultural influences and architectural styles and connecting that with REAL properties. Read more>>

Regina Smith

Although I have a soul food restaurant, we don’t fry any food. I focus on healthier soul food options. We give our customers comfort they can taste while feeding their craving. Read more>>

Ysabel Garcia

At Estoy Aqui, I pride myself on diverging from the industry standard by focusing on culturally humble and holistic approaches to mental health and suicide prevention. Read more>>

Surla Kim

“I’ve been specializing in fine-line tattoos for seven years in Los Angeles. While there are now other fine-line artists, when I started, there were no female tattoo artists, so 80% of my clients are women. I always appreciate the opportunity to tattoo on their beautiful skin. Read more>>

Xandria

The BlackOUT Company is media by us, for us. Unfortunately, a lot of the queer movies have straight actors, the black movies have white directors, the people at the top making decisions are not the people they are pandering to. We focus mainly on centering the authentic stories of underrepresented people. Read more>>

Nicolette Peloquin Alicia Harrington

When you hear about professional dancer auditions you instantly think about dance, and that is what most prep companies focus on. However if you attend an audition or have been apart of an organization, you quickly realize that the dance component is just a small part of the audition/job. Read more>>

Amy Smith

I started using a natural food coloring which is not a very common thing but is becoming more common! I love being able to offer a sweet treat that can be loved by all without having to worry about consuming the harsh additives that are used to make synthetic dyes Read more>>

Lauren Bloom

The biggest thing that sets us apart is our commitment to sourcing all of our ingredients from Michigan farmers and growers. In a traditional brewery setting, brewers develop a recipe idea, and then go out to find a supplier. Often that supplier is far away, and the order is placed online. Read more>>

Kevin James Bond

So, at my production company, Vocal Motion Pictures, we create video and film content. You can find a lot of production studios that will point a camera at you and your business and press record and call it a day. Read more>>

Bishop Lloyd

Almost everything I do tends to deviate from industry standard. Typically it’s because of the lack of funding for my creative services or the lack of time for such services. Read more>>

Maya Cohen Rappaport

Industrial production processes imply the standardization and the uniformization of the products in order to reduce costs, champion efficiency, and create economies of scale. Read more>>

Amy Shack Egan

The wedding industry is super bridal centric, but there’s more than just a bride getting married – sometimes there’s two, sometimes there’s none! And not everyone who is a bride even likes that word. Read more>>

Crystal Thompson

I do almost everything differently. I usually start with looking for a new approach in most instances. It keeps things fresh, new and creative. Read more>>

Nancy Katherine Ginart

I am transparent and always guide my clients with the truth. Read more>>

Autumn White

First off I want to say that there are a lot of really great Realtors in the Boulder County area. What I keep hearing from my clients is that my approach to real estate is unique. Read more>>

Andy Hoffman

Numbers rule in the world of personal finance. However, what often takes a back seat, is the human factor. The majority of financial advice is centered around a dirty word: budgeting. Read more>>

Alicia Khmelev

One thing that I do differently with my photography is that I really try to connect with each and every single person that I meet. It not so much to be about having one niche that I stick with. Read more>>

Stacey McGeein Natasha Afana

We are a women-owned, tech-forward, boutique interior and architectural design firm serving Denver, Colorado and beyond. In our experience, there are two pronounced misconceptions about interior design that we consistently come across. Read more>>

Heather Monahan

I started my graphic design career within corporations in Los Angeles. It was good to start within a company and learn the ropes of working with clients and as a team player. Read more>>

Nikolai Given

My brand/store makes products as cheap as possible, We only receive about $0.05/ per product. We also do custom orders, so we bring your ideas to life. We are trying to give back in that aspect, instead of endless searching for a specific product and finding it just isn’t in your size. Read more>>

Brynn Puzey

I’m all about differentiating from the industry standard! I think it’s SUPER important for new business owners to understand the trends, expectations, and typical best practices from their industry and then make them their own. Read more>>

Camille Hudson

When I first opened Warehouse 635, my vision was clear: I wanted to create more than just an event venue. Ultimately, I wanted a business that would generate passive income. Read more>>

Hector Maradiaga

Yes, we are big on Data. Being in the holistic wellness, and fitness space there is a lot of confusion going on. Consumers are sold on miracle outcomes and practitioners, coaches and other professionals claim that they have the next best thing. Read more>>

Mike Juliano

I believe the thing that separates me from a large portion of the industry is that my clients get to feel like they’ve gained a teammate when we work together. If you hire me, you get me. Read more>>

Stone Wallace

I find that patience and having that intimacy with what you’re doing is important. A lot of times nowadays people and brands are in a rush to meet the demands of others. Read more>>

Justin Pate

What we do is actually create the standard for the industry. Since the wrap industry is new, one of our primary goals is to educate people on how to wrap like a professional. Read more>>

Jared Dillingham

We focus on creating easy-to-read and visually appealing travel blogs. They’re designed for normal people who have to navigate budgets for both vacation time and finances. Read more>>

Susan L. Lipson

I am a nonconformist entrepreneur who aims to enlighten and uplift those I serve as a creative mentor by challenging and also enhancing traditional methods of creative learning. Read more>>

Briana Parker

There are a few points of emphasis in our bookstore that diverge from the industry standard, and they all center around serving and reflecting our community. Read more>>

Erin Robbins

I pride myself as being a “boutique gardener” meaning I focus on a small niche of the landscaping world. I concentrate on seasonal flowers and plants for outdoor containers, window boxes and small garden beds. Read more>>

Tish Gance

I get thrown into the Marketing space a lot because my work heavily affects marketing, yet I am not a marketer. The usual pain point of my clients is their marketing (website underperforms, needing a marketing strategy, etc) yet the root problem is always related to developing a strong customer experience and brand differentiation in the marketplace. Read more>>

Jamie Bates

I am a portrait photographer. However my work is very different from your average portrait photographer. I specialize in fantasy portrait photography. I photograph my clients mainly in my studio, and using a type of “green screen” process, I am able to cut them out and seamlessly impose them into custom made fantasy backgrounds. Read more>>