We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alison Lathrop. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alison below.
Alison , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?
When I was growing up in Hawaii, there were two places that felt bigger than life to me: Koko Marina Center and Royal Hawaiian Center.
Koko Marina Center had that peaceful, local charm—by the water, surrounded by families, small businesses, and a calm kind of energy. It felt like home. Royal Hawaiian Center, on the other hand, was right in the heart of Waikiki—where the world came to visit. It felt grand, exciting, and full of possibility.
I didn’t have the words for it then, but I knew even as a kid: These places were special.
Fast forward to 2017. I was starting my own marketing agency. It was small—just me and a big dream. And that dream was this:
One day, I want to work with Koko Marina Center and Royal Hawaiian Center.
Not because of their size. But because of what they meant to me. If I could help centers like that—places that shaped my own memories—I knew I’d be doing something that mattered.
But that dream felt far away.
At the time, I was just trying to survive. Pitching small businesses. Figuring things out. Taking whatever work came in. I kept learning. I kept showing up. And little by little, our work started speaking for itself.
Then one day, Koko Marina Center said yes.
It started with helping them on social media. Then came more trust. More strategy. Event support. Helping tenants get noticed. Over time, we became part of their story—and they became part of ours. That was six years ago. And we’re still working together today.
But I wasn’t prepared for what would happen next.
This year—2025—something happened that made me stop in my tracks.
Royal Hawaiian Center called.
Not to say hi. Not to ask for a pitch.
They wanted to work with us.
To help with their social media, drive more foot traffic, and bring fresh eyes to their center and tenants.
It felt surreal. Like a full circle I didn’t know would actually close. The center I once walked through as a kid, wide-eyed and dreaming… now calling us to help share their story.
It’s not a wild “overnight success” story. It’s not about going viral or getting a lucky break.
This is the kind of “crazy” story that takes years of quiet work. The kind that sneaks up on you when you’re just doing your best, over and over again.
Today, we’re honored to partner with both centers I once only dreamed of. We get to create content, drive real results, and help local businesses grow within them.
And every now and then, I catch myself.
Thinking about the kid who used to walk around those centers, wondering what life would look like.
And realizing… this is it.
Alison , 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?
I’m the founder of Astrategy Marketing, a Hawaii-based marketing agency that helps businesses grow through strategic content, digital storytelling, and community-focused campaigns. I started this agency back in 2017 after being laid off from an accounting job that, at the time, I thought would be my long-term career. Instead of jumping into another role, I decided to take a chance on myself and build something I wished existed—a marketing company that truly understands local businesses, their culture, and the value of long-term relationships over short-term hype.
We offer Done-For-You marketing services. Everything from social media management and content creation to branding, paid advertising, influencer campaigns, SEO, and website development. But what we really do is help businesses become seen—to communicate clearly, build loyalty, and reach the people who matter most.
A lot of agencies focus only on trends or tools. What sets us apart is that we focus on understanding the heart of the business first—its people, story, and potential—then we build strategy around that. Our clients range from family-owned businesses to large shopping centers, and we’re proud to say many of them have been with us for many years.
What I’m most proud of is how personal this work is for us. Two of our biggest partnerships today—Koko Marina Center and Royal Hawaiian Center—are places I grew up loving. To now support them through content and strategy is a full-circle moment I don’t take lightly.
For anyone considering working with us, here’s what I want you to know: we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all marketing. We believe your business deserves a tailored strategy that reflects who you are, where you are, and who you want to reach—with honesty, creativity, and long-term growth in mind.
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
One of my favorite marketing stories started with a restaurant (name hidden for privacy) who was on the edge of closing. Tucked away near a busy transit area, their location made it hard for people to find them. Despite having great food and loyal local customers, business had slowed down so much that the owner told me: “If something doesn’t change soon, I’m not sure we’ll make it through the year.”
He didn’t have a big marketing budget. There was no fancy website or email list. Just a really good product—and a lot of heart.
The odds weren’t in our favor. But we leaned into what we did have: an honest story, a product worth sharing, and a scrappy approach to social media. We brought in a local influencer, filmed a quick reel that felt real and native to the platform, and posted it with a simple, genuine message.
It blew up.
In 24 hours, it had over 185,000 views. Thousands of shares and comments. People started lining up. The owner messaged me and said it was the busiest they’d ever been—during their slowest season.
That moment reminded me why I started this agency in the first place.
Marketing doesn’t always need a massive budget. But it does need strategy, creativity, and the courage to take a risk when things are uncertain.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
It’s been less about flashy tactics and more about consistency, results, and relationships. From the start, I focused on doing good work for clients and actually caring about their outcomes—not just delivering content, but helping them grow. That built trust.
Word of mouth played a big role too. Happy clients referred others, and those referrals turned into long-term partnerships. I didn’t rush the process—I let the work speak for itself, and over time, that built a solid reputation.
Also, I made it a point to understand the local market deeply. Knowing the culture, the communities, and what resonates here matters. I didn’t try to copy-paste big agency strategies. I built things that felt authentic, and I think people could see that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://astrategymarketing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealisonlath
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonlathrop/
Image Credits
Astrategy Marketing