We recently connected with Dave Norris and have shared our conversation below.

Dave, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The mission behind StandOut Design has never just been about building websites or managing marketing campaigns. At its core, it’s about something far deeper—helping small businesses and startups find their footing, stand out in a crowded world, and believe in themselves before the rest of the world does. That’s the heart of who we are, and it comes from knowing firsthand just how tough the early days of entrepreneurship can be.

When I launched StandOut Design ten years ago, I didn’t start with funding, a client list, or even a proper office. I started with desperation, a mortgage, and the burning need to make something work after the door closed at my printing company job of 17 years—right as my wife was forced to leave hers due to a car accident.

We were a family with a four-year-old and zero income, just trying to stay afloat. I hustled however I could: crafting pallet wood into flags, power washing driveways, selling handmade goods at flea markets. But even in the struggle, the vision was forming—what if I could build a company that helped others like me get out of survival mode?

When I decided to make StandOut my full-time job, I was hit with a reality that changed everything. I woke up, coffee in hand, full of optimism. By 9 a.m., I had nothing to do. That’s when I learned the first rule of business ownership: no one is coming to save you. You either make it happen, or it doesn’t happen. So I hit the streets—literally. I walked door to door in the freezing cold with a stack of business cards and a heart full of hope. I didn’t land a single client that day. But I didn’t see it as failure—I saw it as planting seeds.

That resilience is where our mission was born. We believe in showing up, even when it’s hard. We believe in doing the work before anyone’s watching. And we believe that small businesses deserve big results—even when they’re just starting out and don’t yet know what’s possible.

Today, StandOut Design supports over 500 businesses across a wide range of industries. Many of our clients are just like I was in the beginning—scrappy, passionate, unsure of what comes next. We see them. We’ve been them. That’s why our mission is to help businesses Be Seen—and Better Yet, Be Remembered. Whether we’re designing a website, running ad campaigns, or building out a brand, we approach every project with the same fire that got us through those hard early years.

Helping startups isn’t a niche for us—it’s personal. When we meet a new client who’s just getting off the ground, we don’t just offer services. We offer belief. Because we know that sometimes, what makes the difference between quitting and pushing forward is just one person saying, “I believe in what you’re building.”

Looking back now, we’ve come a long way—from a basement office with free software to a 3,000-square-foot space and a talented, passionate team. But our mission hasn’t changed. We still hustle like it’s day one. We still embrace the underdog. And we still believe that the businesses with the most heart deserve to stand out the most.

Dave, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m the founder of StandOut Design, a full-service creative agency based in Canton, Ohio. We specialize in branding, website design, digital marketing, social media, Google Ads, print design, email campaigns, and listing management—but more than that, we specialize in helping small businesses show up in the world with confidence and clarity.

My journey into this industry wasn’t planned—it was born out of necessity. After spending 17 years working in print marketing, I suddenly found myself unemployed when the company I worked for shut down. At the same time, my wife had to leave her job following a serious car accident. We had no income, a young daughter, and bills that weren’t going to wait. I was forced to reinvent myself—and quickly.

I did whatever I could to provide for my family. I power washed decks, cleaned flowerbeds, and sold handmade wooden flags at flea markets. But deep down, I knew I had more to offer. I had experience in design, marketing, and business development. So I took a leap. In January 2015, I started StandOut Design from the basement of our home, with no budget, no team, and nothing but grit, hustle, and a vision.

I named the company StandOut because that’s what I wanted for every client—not just to exist, but to stand out and be remembered. Whether they’re a startup with a dream or an established business ready to grow, I want our work to help them rise above the noise and look like they belong—even before they believe it themselves.

What sets us apart is our relentless focus on service, speed, and substance. We’re not the cheapest agency in town and we don’t chase flashy awards. We focus on delivering real results for real businesses—fast. We understand small business owners because we are one. We move quickly, communicate clearly, and take pride in being a reliable partner, not just a vendor.

We work primarily with startups, trades, restaurants, nonprofits, and other small businesses—many of whom are working with limited budgets and wear a dozen hats. We make the process simple and supportive, meeting them where they are and giving them tools to grow without overwhelm. Whether it’s launching a new brand, fixing a broken website, or helping a business get found on Google, we’re solving real problems every day for clients who are trying to make a living doing what they love.

We’ve built over 150 custom websites, managed over 500 clients, and continue to grow not because we advertise ourselves, but because our clients refer us to others. That’s the greatest compliment we can get.

What I’m most proud of is how far we’ve come—not just in revenue or square footage, but in the lives we’ve impacted. From helping a local startup land their first customer to getting a long-time business unstuck after years of bad marketing, those wins matter. Our clients trust us with their brands, and we don’t take that lightly.

If there’s one thing I’d want new clients or followers to know about us, it’s this: we care just as much about your business as you do. We’re in the trenches with you, and we’ll work just as hard to help you succeed as we did to build our own. We’re not just a service provider—we’re your creative partner, your problem-solver, and your biggest cheerleader.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Well, calling her my cofounder doesn’t quite tell the full story—she’s not just my partner in business, she’s my partner in life. And truthfully, without her, there would be no StandOut Design.

Our first date was straight out of a rom-com… if you’re into antiques, Amish bakeries, and getting caught in a thunderstorm with wind gusts strong enough to knock the romance out of just about anyone. But somehow, she stuck with me—and I still don’t know why. That day, soaked and laughing, something clicked. It wasn’t flashy or dramatic. It was simple, honest, and real. And that’s how our relationship has always been—grounded in shared values, a love for the little things, and an ability to face whatever life throws at us with a sense of humor and grit.

Years later, when life hit us hard—when I lost my job of 17 years and she had to leave hers due to injuries from a car accident—we were forced into survival mode. With no income, a mortgage, and a 4-year-old daughter, everything felt like it was on the line. And while I was the one who decided to start a business, Lisa was the one who held our world together.

She didn’t just support me—she shouldered the weight. She took care of our home, raised our daughter, learned bookkeeping from scratch, handled taxes and payroll, and kept everything moving behind the scenes while I poured myself into building StandOut. She made sacrifices quietly, never asking for credit, but always giving her full effort to help us keep moving forward.

Even during our leanest years, she found ways to stretch every dollar—mastering the art of couponing, stockpiling, and making sure our family had what we needed without ever making it feel like we were missing out. She turned our house into a home, gave our kids a foundation of love and stability, and made sure I could keep chasing this dream without having to worry about what was happening behind the curtain.

Today, Lisa is still the backbone of StandOut. She manages our finances with total precision, runs payroll, handles taxes, and continues to keep everything organized while raising two amazing kids. She doesn’t ask to be in the spotlight—and she never has—but the truth is, she’s been the driving force behind our success.

So no, she may not have co-founded the company on paper. But she co-built it—every late night, every risk, every sacrifice. StandOut exists because she believed in me when there was no reason to. Because when everything fell apart, she looked at me and said, “We’ll figure it out.”

And we did.

Lisa is the definition of a true partner. I’m proud of what we’ve built together—but I’m even more proud that we built it side by side.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I didn’t start StandOut Design with a business loan, investors, or a safety net. There was no formal launch or financial cushion—just a decision that I was done relying on someone else to hand me a paycheck.

At the time, I had a very simple goal: provide for my family by doing what I was good at—designing. But even that came with challenges. I didn’t have much more than a basic computer, a kitchen-table workspace, and a whole lot of uncertainty. But I did have time, determination, and the kind of desperation that forces you to get creative.

So how did I fund my business? One job at a time. One small project, one client referral, one scraped-together opportunity. I used free tools, worked with what I had, and reinvested every dollar back into the business. The money I made didn’t go toward comfort—it went toward capability. Better software. A printer. A desk. The bare essentials to keep things moving forward.

I didn’t take a course on how to run a business or follow a blueprint. I learned by doing—figuring out pricing, proposals, and how to manage money on the fly. Mistakes were expensive, but they were also the best education I’ve ever had.

Over time, those small, scrappy jobs led to bigger clients, more consistency, and a clearer sense of direction. But the funding source never really changed—it was always just hustle. Doing good work. Keeping promises. Staying up late to get something just right. And repeating that process over and over again until we had built something real.

What I’ve learned is that starting a business doesn’t require a windfall—it requires will. You don’t need a perfect plan or a pile of cash. You need grit, adaptability, and the belief that if you keep showing up and doing the work, the results will follow.

That belief—and the daily grind to back it up—is how StandOut Design was built. And it’s still how we grow today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.helpmestandout.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HELPMESTANDOUT
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helpmestandout/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standout-design-llc-/