We recently connected with Hannah Ashton and have shared our conversation below.

Hannah, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

The name Dream Daily can be looked at in two ways. One is obvious, to dream every day. Especially on a tough day, it can be hard to find inspiration. However, I wanted my brand to highlight how a little daydreaming can lift your spirits and help you see the light at the end of the tunnel. The second reason I loved the name Dream Daily is because it’s important to dream and visualize the life you want, but it takes daily action to actually achieve those dreams. We believe you need imagination and routine to get where you want to go in life, and our products are designed to help you manage both!

Hannah, 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 created my first YouTube channel at age 10 and so I’ve been a digital content creator for the past 13 years! While in high school, I became known for creating videos about productivity, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle. I would share how to create a morning routine, excel in school, and make time for self-care in a busy schedule. I loved seeing how my time management techniques were helping my community tackle their to-do lists and feel their best! So, I had the idea to put the techniques from my content into a physical product for my audience. I called this initial product The Dream Achieve Workbook. It’s a 6-month undated planner and goal-setting workbook. Yet through product testing and launch, it became apparent that Gen Z students beyond my audience were looking for a product to help organize their multi-faceted lives and matched their aesthetics. Therefore, what was a single product for my followers became a whole stationery company with a mission to create stunning and effective products to help young women discover & achieve their biggest dreams. We now sell a student and post-grad version of the Workbook, daily journals, stickers, and digital versions of the products. Besides the content of our planners and journals being unique, our chic design and cool girl aesthetic bring a fresh look to the colorful stationery industry. I started Dream Daily during my freshman year of college and just graduated in May 2022. It was definitely a challenge to balance college, content creation, and running an e-commerce business all at once. However, I’m excited to now be putting my full attention into the brand and I can’t wait to see how we will continue to grow.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

As mentioned, I started building my social media audience at a young age. However, the advice I would give to my younger self is the same advice I would give now. Which is, to adapt and share value. The social media landscape changes constantly. New platforms emerge, others die, new features appear, and it can get VERY ovwherelming. Yet, it’s important to stay on top of it. Three years ago I was hesitant to start a TikTok, but I knew it was the place I needed to be as a small business owner. So, I adapted and began posting as often as I could. Then, in 2021 I had a video go viral that sold out all my inventory in a weekend… seriously! I then adapted by using IG Reels, IG Shopping, and always try to hop on new features on the platforms I use. I also create helpful, inspiring, or meaningful content instead of only pushing my product/selling. When you provide valuable content, you’ll see a rise in followers, engagement, and then ultimately sales as your potential customers begin to trust your brand. Social media is also an amazing way to get direct feedback and ideas from your customers. I always try to let them in on the inside scoop with Story Polls, behind-the-scenes content, etc. When your followers feel seen and valued, they will get excited about what your brand is doing and that’s how true brand loyalty is built.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I want to mention a book you probably have not heard of before. It’s only a year old but I’m already on my second reading because its lessons are so incredible. It’s titled the Emotional Entrepreneur by Scout Sobel. The author is a podcaster turned agency founder who has a compelling story of how entrepreneurship helps manage her Bipolar disorder. She speaks about how entrepreneurship can be so mentally tough and if you are a fellow business owner, I’m sure you’ve experienced moments where running your business takes a toll on your mental health. I had never read a business book that talked about the emotional challenges that occur when launching, scaling, hiring, taking risks, etc. It offers amazing stories of other female entrepreneurs and writing prompts to help you overcome your challenges. I would highly recommend it to anyone at any stage of business because entrepreneurship is truly an emotional rollercoaster.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shopdreamdaily.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misshannahashton/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahashtonrodriguez/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFwZutfqUGmN1Yc1YcROWkQ

Image Credits
Jessica Steddom