We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Briana Palmer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Briana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?
Ok so it’s 2020. I’m working in the industry and rubbing elbows with like real legends. movers and shakers. I ended up working for someone who was “interesting” we’ll say. He did, however, teach me a lot about myself. I realized that I wanted to be in the industry but I also needed to figure out. “How was Bri going to leave her mark?” From that, and the pandemic showing up unannounced The Brand Marketing Group was born, I took my professional and soft skills that I had been molding over the past few years and started working for myself.
By then I really began building my professional resume with certain opportunities like freelance writing for Lupe Fiasco’s label and Creative Directing shoots for “RollingOut Magazine”. Fast-forward another year my significant other and I decided to expand and go into business together. Now let’s be clear, he has truly become my rock and “go-to” for everything. He truly loves me inside out and I’m convinced I could tell him I wanted to sell cups with holes in the bottom and he would just slide me the tape and set up shop. He’s truly my Co-Pilot.
Long story short it has not been easy but I trusted myself, developed crazy faith and listened to the people the God sent to help me forge the journey. From there you literally just have to do it. Whatever “it” is. Now that comes with a lot of research, trial and error and planning but there’s really no other way for it to go from idea to execution.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
It’s honestly pretty straight forward. I’m originally from Memphis, TN and I moved to Atlanta for Spelman. I would say the start of all my endeavors began with my parents and Godparents or “village” as I like to call them. Basically from birth they have poured into me without hesitation. My parents have made huge sacrifices and truly been supportive of whatever my next move was. My God parents have always been supportive but also really have worked as a sounding board for when things got tough. They both also have never allowed me to sway too far from my love of music and I think it keeps me grounded.
I tell the story all the time but my freshman year at Spelman I ended up meeting Kenny Leon and he really leveled with me. He looked at me and goes, “Look if you know what you know and you’re good at it. It’ll work out”. Looking back on the moment, he was really the first person to push me to understand that if I didn’t believe in myself first. Then my resume, accomplishments and efforts would never matter. Almost like “faiths without works is dead”.
From there I called my mom to let her know I was changing my major and from then God really started to work in my life. I tripped into the entertainment industry and was truly blessed to be gifted loving and inspiring people to guide me like Kim Smith-Dockery and Professor Al Thrash. They both saw greatness in me and weren’t gate keepers. They put me on game and created a seat at the table where I could start to learn and find my rhythm, I joke about it but. Professor Thrash helped me get to the finish line of my degree. On the other hand, Mrs. Kim was an intricate part of my choice to go to Law School.
That’s kind of how the first few pieces came together until I started working in the industry.
Now, The Brand Marketing Group is a hub of marketing and production on a luxury scale. From the consultation all the way to wrapping a project, clients are treated like my most important friend and partner, because at that moment they are, and I could not do this without them. We handle everything such as: artist branding, photography, promotional videos, web design. social media management and a lot more. We even have a 360 LED Photo Booth that is such a hit. I also have to take a second and really give credit to my business partner Hawkins, he is the glue. He keeps us going and never takes no as an answer. He also holds not only the 360 Booth down, but the company as a whole no questions.
We are not your average get in and out company. We want the customer life span to be fruitful and long. For example, let’s say you want a website. I’m not just going to talk to you about “organizing a visually appealing site”. We are going to ask if you have a professional logo? No, we will get you one. Do you have professional press photos? No, we schedule a shoot where you just show up. The make-up artist, clothes and props will meet you there. Have you done all your filings so your site won’t get pulled down? No, let’s move you over to our consultant and they will handle that for you.
We are everything you need, one stop shop. And we won’t break your pockets to help you break into greatness.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
My brand. I’m big on it does not matter what you are selling because people are truly buying you. They are investing in you. I also believe that the attitude comes before the check. So our demeanor and energy is going to get you in the door. Our professionalism and delivery will keep you here.
Nothing else after that really matters. Things can go wrong, shoots can get delayed, engagement can be down, But, I consistently show up for my team, and my team consistency shows up for me. Clients see that, we deliver and the cycle continues. Just like that we have a lifetime client.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I love this question. Two years ago I was using my personal funds because I didn’t know any better. That’s not feasible but at the same time I was not ready to go to VC’s (Venture Capitalist) and really didn’t have the option of angel investors.
So it’s a couple factors. First, my business partner definitely stepped up and turned lemons into lemonade.
Second, I had to start with my person credit,
I was so over going to paid consultations for someone to wrap-up by asking for $2000 plus and 9 months (or more) to fix my credit. It was a huge no for me. So it honestly took me like 6 months to really collect the information I needed to properly work on my credit. At that point I went to my significant other and asked him to be a partner and invest. He did with no hesitant. I also made a wonderful nail tech turned true friend Shania that really put me on. She is one of those 100% up or down “I’m going to get to the bag” type of people and I respect her for it. I called her and she made me sit down with pencil and paper and take actual notes on everything she said.
90 days later my credit score is 100 points higher than it was. I’m virtually debt free, my business credit score is in the 90’s, and my business has upwards of 50,000 of available credit in the first 90 days of establishing credit. We are successfully leveraging our business credit. You’re not going to tell me that God doesn’t send people to help you out.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebrandmg.com
- Instagram: @thebrandmarketinggroup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-BRAND-360/100086266509028/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briana-palmer-61204b1a5
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwPMKd6lg_-o4Wt1ozy5ZYg
Image Credits
Photos By: Oran “Prime” Williams Graphics: The Brand 360