We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Abi Heidel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Abi below.
Hi Abi, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later
So, I was a freelance designer and social media manager from the time I was 16 and all through college. I continued to manage freelance projects while working full-time at an advertising agency. My clientele built up so much that I decided to walk away from the security of my agency gig. But, it wasn’t all peachy keen after that transition. My soon-to-be husband was deployed with the US Navy just as I left my agency job. I was firey, confident, and willing to take big risks. However, my usual driven self was met with the deepest sadness I’d experienced. What I thought would be the perfect season to pour my heart into my work, turned into a deeply lonely season with very little motivation to build my dream job. So, to answer your question – it’s tricky for me to say that I wish I started sooner because I believe there’s a season for everything. I learned a lot during the deployment. Now, he has safely returned and is my biggest cheerleader. He roots for me on days I’m doubting myself. Flourish Foundry wouldn’t be possible without him.
Abi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Of course! First of all, hi there! I’m Abi Gwen, a Salt Lake City-based brand and web designer for solopreneurs looking to feel confident in their online presence. I started Flourish Foundry in December of 2024. Like I said, I was once a freelancer. Now I have a small team of contractors to provide SEO, photography, social media management, email marketing, copywriting, paid ads… anything our clients might need to grow digitally.
I studied Advertising and Graphic Design at Florida Southern College. My degree landed me a sweet gig at an agency, but my goal has always been to be an entrepreneur. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to start. Now I get to be all the things I wanted to be – building the brand and website for my clients fulfills all my dream jobs.
I started this journey because I know firsthand how frustrating it can be taping a website together to make it look how I envisioned it. I’ve been disappointed by developers, coding, and steep learning curves. So, I created Flourish Foundry – a creative place with high-quality design, affordable for just getting started.
I believe that a beautiful, functional website is essential to building a thriving online business.
My clients are my favorite part of what I do. When someone works with Flourish Foundry, they can expect a crew of cheerleaders rooting for them and their business.
My clients are:
Visionary entrepreneurs
Those with big dreams and a passion for innovation
Leaders seeking to elevate their brand
Individuals who value efficiency and results
Independent solopreneurs
Go getters wanting to look professional
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Relationships are everything for me. Providing a snazzy client experience where they feel understood and encouraged is the backbone of my business. I had to learn pretty early on to limit what I consume and stick to one strategy. There are so many ways to grow your business. I’ve crafted 3 content funnels that I wanted to stick with for quarter one of 2025. So far, I’ve done exactly that and it has absolutely paid off. My advice would be to clarify your content funnel and stick with it. Don’t deviate from the initial strategy. Have patience. Things take time to build.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
I connect with my clients on Instagram and my email list. Some of my clients and I have an in-person relationship as well, but not many. Typically, my clients develop trust in me during our branding and web design project. Because I understand their story and their business, they want me to run their social media and digital marketing. This is why I’ve decided to grow a team. I only have so many hours in the day. While I’d be honored to be all things for all people, it’s just not possible.
Again, it’s all about asking the right questions, having compassion, listening, and being a cheerleader for their business. People need someone who believes in them. We all have our limits on our confidence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://flourishfoundrydesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourish.foundry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553094947505
Image Credits
Images by Courtney Clark