Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabrielle Pippenger. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gabrielle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I also have a huge passion for sustainability. This passion was the driving force for my last side side-gig in college: Good Stuff & Co., an online sustainable clothing and gift store. I started this company my junior year of college. I did the real thing too, got an LLC, created a process, and even got some interns at one point! It was such a fun creative outlet for me through college (and of course made me some money!). Post-college, I partnered with some awesome artisans around the globe and had their products for sale on my shop. Running Good Stuff was never a full-time gig but it was so much fun seeing it grow and knowing it was a great creative outlet for me. I decided to shut down Good Stuff when I realized I wasn’t pouring enough time into it to truly scale it. So, I closed the store down in the Winter of 2023 after many sweet years of a little business that turned into something I could have never dreamed of. But, I knew there were bigger and better things around the corner!

Since launching Elle Marketing in August of 2022, I’ve been blown away by my clients, the freedom that comes from running your own business, and choosing what is best for myself and my company. I have been so blessed to be thriving in my role as a creative and I truly haven’t looked back since I launched Elle.

April 1st of this year, I launched a new side-gig (are you seeing a theme yet?!) and so far I’m thrilled at its success. Moo Tallow Skincare is a holistic and natural skincare line that uses grass-fed tallow as the main ingredient in all of our moisturizer blends. I started this company basically by accident. I’m really into holistic skincare (and living in general). So I started making this moisturizer for myself, friends, and family just for fun last fall. I was getting some INSANE feedback. It was clearing up acne, healing eczema, and giving everyone an amazing moisturized glow. I was blown away that my friends and family loving the moisturizer so much. So then, of course, I starting thinking…should I make this into a business? And alas, here we are. I got to branding (one of my favorite things todo), building a website over the holidays, sourcing jars, creating a process for orders, and here we are! It’s been a learning curve since I’ve never worked in this industry, but I can truly say I am so thrilled to have this little business and I am already so encouraged about it’s future success.

I took a risk to be here today. BUT, I couldn’t be more grateful that I made that decision because it has led me to where I am today: running two businesses, living my life the way I want to, and being the happiest I have ever been!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Communication is KEY in client relationships. I am known for being a quick and effective communicator with my clients and colleagues. I really pride myself on trying to respond quickly and efficiently. If someone emails me, I try to reply within a few hours. If I haven’t, that usually means I am away from my desk and I reply as soon as I am back. My clients know they can trust me with meeting deadlines because I am always clearly communicating my timeline. In our digital age, it can be easy to get flooded with emails, direct messages, and let your communication fall to the wayside. I’ve found that I build trust with my clients so much faster when I am a clear communicator. Great communication is key for ANY business relationship!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Word of mouth! I have been astonished by how many of my clients have approached me simply by referrals. It truly shows that when you do good work, communicate well, and treat others with kindness, it goes a really long way! I always thought I would have to build this lead-gen funnel and constantly search for new leads to maintain a consistent revenue stream…that’s not the case.

Making an impression on your clients NOW matters. People are always searching for services and if you impress those who you have in front of you now, it WILL lead to leads in the future. Essentially, look at your plate now and realize that how you treat your clients will directly impact the leads you get down the road. I wake up each morning so grateful for the work set before me and I strive to do the very best work possible for my clients. Having this mindset is a game changer. When I am excited and grateful for my current client relationships, it bleeds into my potential for future referrals.

Contact Info:

• Website: ellemarketingconcepts.com and mootallow.com
• Instagram: @ellemarketingconcepts and @mootallow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellepippenger/

Image Credits
Moo Tallow Images: Amanda Trout (Blacc Velvet Photography) and Grant Tracy (Grant Tracy Creative)