We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chelsi Bartlett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chelsi below.

Chelsi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I like to claim I officially started my business in 2017, despite freelancing for years before this. However, I didn’t feel like a real business until 2019 when I rebranded into Laurel & Ives from my previous brand.

But before I ever rebranded to Laurel & Ives, I was a teacher. I co-taught high school English Literature and Behavior Disorder classes, and before that, I worked in a middle school. Originally, I wanted to be an art teacher—I even attended art school for a bit—but I ended up switching to English because I thought it would offer more job stability and a better paycheck. Spoiler: it didn’t. Like many teachers, I struggled to make ends meet. I needed extra income just to afford rent, so I started freelancing. I did photography, videography, t-shirt designs, logos—anything creative that came my way. I was entirely self-taught, with no formal education in marketing or design, but I was artistic and willing to learn.

This was all before social media really took off for businesses, but even then, I found myself designing flyers, posting promotional content, and doing events. I didn’t know it then, but I was already doing marketing work. It didn’t take long to realize I could make more money—and enjoy my life more—if I pursued creative work full-time. The turning point came when I was dog-sitting (re: broke teacher) for a woman who was opening a new clinic. She asked if I knew anyone interested in a receptionist role that also involved marketing, social media, and events. I told her I’d been thinking about leaving teaching and was interested. When she said the position would pay three times my current salary, include weekends off, and never involve taking work home, I knew it was the right time to take the leap.

I quit teaching mid-year—something that felt huge and risky at the time—and joined her team. That job gave me my first official marketing experience. The team supported me, helped me gain new skills, and even encouraged me to go back to school. It was an amazing learning environment until the clinic eventually closed due to a merger. After that, I bounced between a few marketing coordinator roles that weren’t the right fit. I didn’t enjoy the typical 9-to-5 dynamics—asking for time off, sitting in meetings, being constantly accessible. And honestly, I realized I didn’t want to work for other people.

By 2019, I decided to take my freelance business seriously. Up until then, my client base had leaned very edgy—punk bands, skate brands, tattoo shops, and alternative artists. That world felt natural to me (there’s a whole side to my personality that isn’t shown often, the side that made me get a Beetlejuice tattoo on my back), but I knew the more sustainable clients—the ones I’d want to grow with—were in industries like beauty, wellness, and boutique retail. That realization inspired me to rebrand my business, and Laurel & Ives was born at the start of 2020.

Then COVID happened—and oddly enough, it ended up being great for my business. Small businesses were booming, and people needed help with branding, websites, and social media. I was still working part-time for a local plant shop doing product photography and design, but most of my energy was going toward Laurel & Ives. By 2021, I had narrowed my services down to the two things I truly loved: brand design and social media management. And in 2022, I finally stepped away from my part-time job completely and went all-in on my business.

The growth was fast. Within six months of going full-time, I had hired two contractors and quadrupled my client roster. It was terrifying, but I immediately wished I had done it sooner. I spent so much time hopping from bad job to bad job, thinking something would click, when I should have been building what I really wanted from the start.

If I could go back and start this journey sooner, I think I might be a little further along—or maybe I would’ve burned out sooner. Who knows? I honestly believe everything had to happen the way it did to lead me here. But if I could rewrite the path, I’d skip college, skip the debt from two degrees, and skip the years of struggling just to land here faster. That’s something I actually encourage a lot of people to consider now.

There’s still a lot of fear around business ownership. People think it’s this big, unattainable thing, but the truth is, a lot of freelancers are already running businesses without realizing it. If you’re freelancing, you’re managing clients, handling marketing, running systems, doing analytics, setting your pricing—all of that is business ownership. It’s time to start seeing yourself as a founder, as a CEO. Once that mindset clicks, the trajectory changes.

That being said, business ownership isn’t always glamorous. I’ve had seasons where my client load dropped significantly—especially around the holidays, when my services (which are 100% a luxury) are the first to get cut. It’s humbling to go from nearly $15K months to not being sure how much income will come in. But then I remind myself: I used to live on $700 a month and still paid rent. I can handle a rough season. That mindset shift—knowing I’ve done more with less—grounds me when business feels unpredictable.

And here’s the honest truth: I don’t even have an LLC. I’m a sole proprietor. My team is made up of contractors I pay via 1099. If I ever need W-2 employees, I’ll likely shift to an S Corp. But I’ve learned all of that along the way, and I’m still learning every single day.

If you’re thinking about starting a business, my biggest advice is this: just start. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t even need most of it figured out. You just need to begin. You can’t go anywhere if you don’t start the engine. Take on small jobs, build strong client relationships, and let people spread your name. Word-of-mouth is everything—especially in service-based industries. People don’t often leave reviews for great service; they usually only leave them when something goes wrong. So lean into community, show up to networking events, and build genuine relationships. Just start. Everything else will fall into place as you go.

Today, I still use my teaching background every single day—whether I’m hosting workshops, coaching small business owners, or leading one-on-one sessions. I love teaching. I just don’t do it in a classroom anymore. I’m currently preparing for a full rebrand, launching in August 2025. Laurel & Ives Creative Marketing Agency will become The And Co. Studio: Digital Marketing Agency It’s not just a visual refresh—it’s a restructure. I’m bringing in a new team member who will take on their own services entirely. I’ll be offering more bundled packages, launching more workshops and courses, and pulling back from one-on-one work. My goal is to create a business that’s scalable, sustainable, and a little more hands-off.

And yes, I’d love to retire by 40. It probably won’t happen—but hey, a girl can dream!

Chelsi, 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 Chelsi, the founder of Laurel & Ives (soon to be rebranding into The And Co. Studio), a creative marketing agency that specializes in social media management and brand design for small businesses. I work with passionate entrepreneurs—often women-owned—to help them feel confident, aligned, and visible in the digital space without burning out or losing their voice (or themselves) along the way.

Before starting my business, I was a high school English teacher. But even then, I was moonlighting as a creative—doing photography, logos, and design work on the side to make ends meet. I originally wanted to be an art teacher, so creativity has always been part of my life. Eventually, I realized I was more fulfilled (and more financially stable) pursuing marketing and design full-time. That leap—from education into entrepreneurship—was the start of everything for me.

Laurel & Ives started as a freelance gig but officially rebranded in 2020. Now, it’s a full-fledged studio offering:
• Social media management (strategy, content creation, scheduling, and analytics)
• Brand identity design (logos, visual strategy, and collateral)
• Workshops and courses that teach small business owners how to confidently market themselves online

What sets my work apart is that I don’t just make things look good—I help businesses understand how and why something works. I combine design with strategy and always bring a teaching mindset to my work. I want my clients to feel like collaborators, not bystanders. I also teach my clients how to manage these things on their own. Working with small businesses means they have small budgets. So, I want to make sure they get the most out of their marketing budget. Getting the details they need to get going, but also the lasting education to keep it going.

I also deeply understand the mental load of running a business. A lot of my clients come to me feeling overwhelmed, behind, or burnt out from trying to “do it all.” I help relieve that pressure by creating sustainable systems, visuals, and content that actually connect—with zero gimmicks or generic fluff. I use my social media as a platform to connect with them by talking about my own struggles, mental roadblocks, and advice when it comes to topics like business ownership, social media, and mental health.

I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built and the transformation I get to witness in my clients. Whether it’s someone seeing their brand visually come to life for the first time or finally feeling confident enough to show up online, it’s always an honor to be part of that growth. I’ve also grown this business from a side hustle to a full-time job that now supports other creatives through contract work. That’s not something I take lightly, especially as someone who came from very little and didn’t always think this kind of life was even possible.

For anyone new to me or my brand, here’s what I want you to know: You don’t need to have it all figured out to start showing up for your business. I built Laurel & Ives by just saying “yes” before I felt fully ready—and I’ve learned everything along the way. My work is here to help you do the same: whether that’s refining your brand, elevating your online presence, or simply understanding how to market without losing your authenticity. Imposter syndrome never fully goes away, but you WILL get more and more confident every day.

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

My business would be nothing without word-of-mouth marketing. I can talk about “how good I am” all day long on my social media, but until someone else backs that up with their own testimonial, it’s just me talking.

A majority of my clientele has been a referral from other clients. I will sometimes get the “I came across your Instagram and loved your work,” or “I found you in a Google search,” but the best clients have come from my other clients!

Early on in my career, I also attended networking events. But instead of just handing out my card, I tried to connect with the other people there on a personal level—as humans. I’m a firm believer in the idea that people buy from people.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I use social media, specifically Instagram, to connect with my clients (and potential clients). Yes, I have a CRM for formal communications, but to congratulate a client on getting engaged? Social media. To see cute pictures of their dogs? Social media. To encourage them to keep going when they’re feeling unmotivated? Social media.

My business is so much more than a service to clients. We form bonds and friendships that last even if our services together come to an end. On my Instagram, you can find me in my Stories talking about my day, my coffee, my skincare, my dogs. But you can also see my work in action. I always tell people I don’t have a separate personal page for myself—”you get what you get!”

I pride myself in talking to ALL of my following like I am Facetiming that one person. Like I said before, people buy from people. Authenticity will sell from small business to small business far faster, better, and longer than anything else.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurelandives.com
• Instagram: @laurel.and.ives
• Other: In July, I will have started the rebrand process. Instgram will be @theandcostudio

  By August, website will be theandcostudio.com

Image Credits

Kasie Marie Creative