We recently connected with Bailey Driver and have shared our conversation below.

Bailey, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

I’m a firm believer that first impressions are EVERYTHING. They stick with you whether that impression was good, bad, or ugly. And we have the power to define our ‘brand’ by aligning our intentions with powerful visual identity… so that’s where I come in!

‘Branding’ looks different for every service I offer – for branding creation its about helping business owners (who are often times making a shift in their business, or starting from scratch) show up confidently with a brand identity that speaks to their target audience. For my wedding stationery couples, it’s about telling their love story through intentionally designed paper goods.

I’m also a sucker for a good alliteration, so ‘Branded by Bee’ just felt right. Bailey is my actual name, but family and friends have always called me ‘Bee’.

Bailey, 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?

For as long as I can remember, design and creativity have always played a large role in my life. Growing up I used to sit at our kitchen table elbows deep in “Bailey’s Craft Box” which my sweet mother always kept stocked with Hobby Lobby’s finest. In middle school, I took every art elective available to me and then some. In high school I spent every waking moment in our journalism room, leading our school newspaper as the Editor in Chief. Even in college, what I thought I really wanted to do still wound me up in the creative/design industry. I spent my freshmen year in K-State’s Interior Design program before finally finding my way back to the very thing that set my heart on fire all along: bringing stories to life through impactful design and writing.

Fast forward to now, Branded by Bee is 2 years old and so much has changed since the moment I finally mustered up the courage to share my passions with the world. But even before Branded by Bee, I’ll never forget the “aha” moment I had after whipping out a digital illustration for my closest 6 friend’s Christmas present. We had all just graduated and at the time seemed to share the same struggles post-grad life brought. We got the sweetest graduation photos taken as a group before all going our separate ways, so I thought illustrating one of those photos would be more meaningful than any other gift I could’ve bought.

From there, word got out that these illustrations made pretty great gifts… and now here I am! So, in short, what originally started as an Instagram account strictly showcasing digital illustrations has turned into a full creative studio offering wedding stationery and small business branding.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Right now I’ve been focusing on the quality or quantity mindset and in turn have been able to build some really meaningful client relationships. I love working with small business owners who have a vision and just need the help and sound board to help bring it to life. Their business is part of their everyday livelihood and it’s truly an honor to be trusted to play a part in their story.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Word of mouth has been huge for me, especially when it comes to wedding stationery. When a past client refers me to friends or family it means so, so much. I’ve always been someone that loves the intentionality behind a handwritten note, so taking the time to thank that client with a little note goes a long way. At the end of the day people just want to know they’re valued and seen, so this small act of gratitude is a no brainer for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: brandedxbee.com
• Instagram: @brandedxbee
• Other: Email: brandedxbee@gmail.com