We were lucky to catch up with Deon Stubbs recently and have shared our conversation below.
Deon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?
With Hyer Society, the most challenging aspect to profitability as a brand is the ability to create something so uniquely different in 60 seconds or less that can be represent an idea for everyone around the world. We are a creative production agency so that means we must [or try to] produce the most iconic, attention-grabbing visuals or material for a client that can attract the most people at a time but, we often have to compromise creativity because of time. In the world we live in today, everything moves incredibly fast. There is nothing that warrants a slower pace or anything that grants slower growth of the marketing and advertising industry, so we do find ourselves playing catch up at times. Now with that challenge, growth is inevitable. We have grown tremendously over the course of the last six months with speed, execution and placement but the new wave of AI technology is so highly innovative that we are constantly strategizing how to compete against technology. When Hyer developed the magazine, our only challenge was getting consumers to buy the product. The solution became to involve the people to indulge in themselves. Our formula of inclusivity worked like a charm; however, being in a almost completely dead genre of publication, producing the digital version helped carry us to break-even in 2021. I feel as though our challenge will forever be evident yet lucrative to our demographic because we do produce good quality content for the people in a way that cannot be replicated.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hyer Society emerged as a collective of individuals curating extensive marketing and advertising materials for clients worldwide. Our journey commenced in 2018 with the launch of Hyer Magazine, which subsequently evolved into a creative agency in 2022. This transition was driven by our desire to expand resources and broaden our demographic reach. To effectively connect with more consumers, we harnessed our skills and production capabilities, allowing us to excel. Hyer Society is essentially a community of creative minds and innovators, each possessing a unique skill set that can benefit anyone. We leverage our talents and expertise to generate visual art that can be monetized, commercialized, or multiplied.
Since its inception, Hyer Magazine has served as a cornerstone for our company’s four branches. We have achieved remarkable success, reaching individuals across 16 states, 2 countries, and the art industry at large. Our contributions include supporting talents in securing contracts with international agencies, facilitating bookings for artists, creating transformative visual art for businesses and small business owners, and establishing a platform for individuals to receive awards, scholarships, and grants for their future pursuits.
At Hyer Society, our primary vision revolves around connecting people with reliable and effective resources to generate income and scale their businesses in the virtual realm. We understand the critical role marketing and advertising play in business success. By fostering genuine relationships with our connections and providing valuable resources, we aim to foster both financial and internal growth. Our primary mission is to dispel misconceptions surrounding small black-owned businesses and demonstrate our consistent delivery of high-quality work. To do that, we have to do the groundwork and create the relationships ourselves that are contagious enough to affect everyone so that we become the staple of everyone’s conscious and subconscious mind.
Among the various accomplishments of Hyer, our most prominent and lucrative venture is the Hyer Merit Association Awards. This distinguished award show celebrates the achievements of small business owners, creatives, and influencers who exhibit exceptional corporate, creative, and artistic prowess. Each year, we host an average of 200 attendees, encompassing a diverse and vibrant audience.
A remarkable highlight of our 2021 award show was our commitment to giving back to the community. We provided grants and scholarships to local businesses and students, empowering them to thrive in their respective fields. Our ability to recognize and honor these individuals is indeed rewarding, but the true value lies in connecting them with the invaluable resources we have cultivated throughout the years. These connections enable them to access effective tools and support systems that contribute to their continued success.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What helped us build our reputation within the creative production agency market was a combination of factors that have contributed to our success. Firstly, it was our relentless pursuit of delivering exceptional creative work. We consistently strived to push boundaries, think outside the box, and produce innovative and captivating content for our clients. This commitment to creativity and quality became synonymous with our brand and played a significant role in establishing our reputation as a go-to agency for outstanding productions. Secondly, we focused on building strong and lasting relationships with our clients. We understood the importance of truly understanding their vision, goals, and objectives. By listening attentively, collaborating closely, and going above and beyond to meet their needs, we were able to earn their trust and loyalty. Our clients appreciated our dedication, reliability, and ability to consistently deliver exceptional results, which further solidified our reputation in the market. Furthermore, our adaptability and versatility played a crucial role in building our reputation. We recognized the ever-changing nature of the industry and embraced new technologies, trends, and techniques. This allowed us to stay ahead of the curve and offer our clients cutting-edge solutions that met their evolving demands. By constantly evolving and staying relevant, we positioned ourselves as a forward-thinking agency that could meet the diverse creative needs of our clients.
Additionally, our team’s expertise and passion played a significant role in building our reputation. We assembled a talented and diverse team of creative professionals who were not only skilled in their respective fields but also deeply passionate about their craft. Their dedication, expertise, and attention to detail consistently produced exceptional work that stood out in the market. Clients recognized the level of talent and commitment we brought to every project, enhancing our reputation as a top-tier creative production agency. Lastly, word-of-mouth referrals and positive testimonials from satisfied clients played a vital role in building our reputation. Our clients’ success stories and recommendations helped us gain credibility and attract new clients within the industry. These testimonials served as a testament to the quality of our work and the value we provided, further bolstering our reputation and attracting new opportunities. Overall, Hyer Society’s reputation within the creative production agency market was built on our commitment to creativity and quality, strong client relationships, adaptability, expertise, and positive word-of-mouth. These factors, combined with our unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional results, have helped us establish ourselves as a trusted and reputable creative agency within the industry.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My resilience is forged through the realization of how much time people around me squander by fixating on the wrong aspects of their lives. Whether it’s my friends, family members, clients, associates, or even a significant portion of the people in my hometown, their focus tends to revolve around shallow pursuits—being the best, achieving things first, accumulating the most possessions, and so on. Nowadays, I have honed my ability to remain undistracted to such a degree that the thought of falling short again seems incomprehensible.
The passing of my father when I was merely six years old, and the delayed revelation of the truth when I was in my mid-twenties, profoundly impacted me. My father held immense significance in my life, while my mother made it apparent that the world relied on my existence. Thus, I made a conscious decision to shape my life into an inspiration for others because that was what I needed—a driving idea to fuel my growth. I have never been the type of person to conform to the notion of “if you can’t beat them, join them.” Instead, I embody the philosophy of “if you can’t beat them, learn how to beat them,” constantly seeking alternative approaches and strategies. There is always a way forward; it simply requires relentless effort until success is achieved. In battles, I never adhere to the same plan or confront the same adversary in the same manner. I assimilate lessons from the first or second encounter, adapt, and return with a foolproof, revised plan.
Resilience has been cultivated through trial and error, bolstered by an unwavering determination and an indomitable willpower. Although the realm of business has been mentally taxing, it remains the most fulfilling and rewarding aspect of my existence. The impact it has on everyone involved has been profound, fueling my drive to persevere.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hyersociety.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/hyersociety
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hyersociety
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/deontestubbs
- Other: www.hyermagazine.com
Image Credits
Every Angle Photography Deon Stubbs