We were lucky to catch up with Grace Hollowell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Grace thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
My business partner Mia and I met at our last job and became fast friends. At the time we were hired, it was just a small (but growing) fashion startup, specializing in one-of-a-kind bohemian clothing, made in India. I was doing shipping, model photography, and customer service. Mia was taking product photos and helping manage social media. Over just 5 years, we helped grow this business from Etsy shop to multimillion dollar business. I eventually became COO and Mia became CBO. We were highly respected and entrusted to manage teams underneath us. This was truly our dream job for many years!
As the team expanded though, problems began to slowly arise. Mia and I soon learned not everyone had the same morals and values as the boss and core team. A couple of new hires saw an opportunity to make it to the top, and were determined to put themselves there by whatever means necessary. Unfortunately, corners started being cut, compromises were being made, and drama was being invented and spread. This began to eat away at company culture and everything we had worked so hard to help build. The heart behind the brand was in jeopardy, and we knew that was the beginning of the end.
At the end of 2023, I knew this chapter was finally coming to an end. It was time to walk away. This was a scary prospect. After all, I had been working there part-time since college and full-time since graduation. It was the only *real* job I had ever known, and I was scared to go out on my own. I was applying to other Nashville design jobs in the background, to no avail. I didn’t want to have to quit without a backup plan. But God had other plans. :) After one very intense and demoralizing meeting, I ended up putting in my notice. I was equal parts terrified and at peace!
I spent a couple months trying to figure out what was next for me… freelance work filled the gaps, and I was still applying to industry jobs. Mia left the company in December, and her wheels started turning… we had both knew we would love a situation in which we could still work together, we just didn’t know what that would look like.
I began getting approached by design clients who needed help with social media strategy and text marketing. That’s when it hit me… I knew a little about those things, but Mia was just the girl they needed. She’s specialized in those areas! Instead of passing her name along, why wouldn’t we try to join forces? I could handle all the visual needs (branding, graphics, email marketing, web design, etc) and she could handle the social media end (posting strategy, content creation, algorithm, funnels, etc.)
So we got our heads together in January of 2024 and spent just one month securing an LLC, building a website, instagram feed, and client process. We came up with the name Make New Marketing, because not only did we want to refresh and revive the online presence of small businesses, but this was truly a fresh start for us, too! We were being made new through this dream! Mia and I were aligned from day one on the “why” behind this business… putting people over profit. We both believe that authentically connecting with people will build a loyal community and in turn, grow your business. We had seen this at the last company. We had also seen how quickly a company can start to tank when profit becomes more valuable than the community.
A little over a year in, and we are still “making it!” This leap of faith has come with major growing pains and challenges, but Mia and I are tenacious. We are proud to say we now have an incredible group of consistent monthly clients! We are growing a membership program, have a website template for sale, and are always taking on one-off projects and campaigns. We work from home and are our own bosses. We are living out a dream that wouldn’t be possible if we hadn’t taken the risk of leaving our high-earning positions at the the last brand. How rewarding is that?
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?
I’m a 28-year-old creative and entrepreneur based in Nashville, TN. I’ve been doing photography and design since high school. I “side hustled” with creative freelance jobs through school, which ultimately set me on a graphic design path. I graduated from MTSU in 2019 with a BFA in Graphic Design and a focus in photography. At my last job, I not only sharpened my talents, but gained so much experience in running a small business, which is priceless.
Mia and I offer social media management services, as well as coaching and marketing education for creative small biz owners. We have a heart for creative small biz because that’s where we came from. We want to help brands elevate their online presence. In a world that is saturated with gimmicky, get-rich-quick marketing, we are determined to bring authenticity and true connection back to the industry. We believe when you show up authentically online, you will create genuine lasting connection with an audience. If you nurture these loyal brand supporters, your brand is guaranteed to grow. It’s as simple as that! No tricks, no manipulation. We help business owners amplify the heart behind their brand and attract the people that align with them.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Show up authentically online! Be yourself. Don’t focus too much on what’s trending or what others in your industry are doing. Our best advice (and something our clients often try and resist!) is showing your face on your socials. Just DO it. This is the quickest way to build trust and connect with your audience! We’ve seen time and time again that our clients will get higher engagement on videos or photos with their face in them than a perfectly curated carousel or faceless B-roll reel. Think about it… what kind of content do YOU most like to engage with? Odds are you’re more likely to engage with an off-the-cuff personal anecdote told by your fav influencer in their car in the parking lot more than a gorgeous edited product photo.
The second piece of advice is to be consistent. Set an attainable goal for yourself. Start posting 2 or 3 days a week! It doesn’t have to be much, it just has to be consistent. Showing up faithfully on your platform will not only help people get to know you quicker, but it will build trust AND help the algorithm work for you. Even if it feels cringe. Even if you feel like you don’t have great ideas. Doing the thing will build muscle and it will become easier over time! Like we always tell our clients. Working out 5 times a week will yield quicker results than working out 2 days a week, but both people are on a path to grow! Commit to posting and take it at your own pace.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Honestly? I’m going to sound like a broken record, but being REAL with people. Mia and I don’t make anyone sign a long-term contract. We are professional, but also personal. We allow our personalities to shine. We wear the heart behind our brand right on our sleeve. This helps us attract our dream clients. If you take a call with us and it’s clear you’re looking for a very impersonal arrangement where you’re main focus is doubling profitability by whatever means necessary, we are not going to be the best fit for you. We try our best to be real, raw, and authentic! We have formed lasting relationships with our clients who get this. And the ones who have completely trusted us and our approach are the ones who have more than doubled their followers and majorly increased profitability! :)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://makenewmarketing.com
- Instagram: makenewmarketing
- Facebook: Make New Marketing
