We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Ringer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

The (Literally) Wild Story Behind One of My Most Memorable Wine Launches

In the fall of 2023, I had the privilege of helping design a new wine brand and label for Archway Wine, a California Pinot Noir created exclusively for The Keg Steakhouse in Canada. When they invited me to their official launch party at the downtown Vancouver location in June 2024, it felt like the perfect milestone: my first product launch event and my first trip to Vancouver.

I arrived ready to celebrate and maybe sneak in a little sightseeing. The hotel had electric bikes available, so my husband and I decided to explore Stanley Park that morning. It was a perfect plan… until it wasn’t.

While cruising downhill, I squeezed the brake too hard, and in a split second I flipped over the handlebars and landed directly on my head. Thankfully, my helmet did its job, but my sunglasses did not: they sliced a deep cut into my eyebrow. A very dramatic ambulance ride later, I found myself in a Vancouver ER receiving eight stitches above my right eye just hours before the launch party I had traveled all this way to attend.

Most people would have called it a day. I was not most people.

Determined not to miss such a meaningful moment in my career, I went back to the hotel, stitches, bandages, and some impressively bad “accidental cycling adventure” helmet hair. I couldn’t wash it (doctor’s orders) so my sweet husband called the hair salon across the street. By some small miracle, they had an opening and managed to revive me just enough that I looked less like a bike-crash patient and more like someone attending a wine launch.

After a very cautious shower and some strategic makeup, I headed to the event.

And honestly? I’m so glad I did. Despite the chaos of the morning, the launch party was one of the most rewarding moments of my career. Seeing people enjoy a wine I had helped bring to life was surreal and deeply fulfilling. Even the ER doctor predicted I’d wake up the next day with significant swelling and bruising beneath my eye, but whether it was the wine, the great conversation, or just pure luck, I had almost no bruising at all.

Today, I carry a faint scar in my eyebrow—a tiny, permanent reminder of Archway Wine’s debut and the wildest launch-day story I’ll probably ever have.

I’m still working with the Archway team, now supporting their marketing as the brand continues to grow. Archway Pinot Noir is currently available in more than 100 grocery stores across Northern California, in select retailers on the East Coast, and at The Keg locations nationwide. They even introduced a new Chardonnay varietal this fall.

And every time I see those bottles on the shelf, I can’t help but smile. After all, not every designer can say their work left them with a souvenir scar.

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 graphic designer turned SEO and local visibility specialist who’s passionate about helping service-based businesses show up, stand out, and succeed—especially those run by people who, like me, are building something meaningful outside the traditional corporate mold.

I’ve been in the design world for over a decade, and for much of that time, I was building custom brand identities and websites one-on-one with clients. I loved the creative work, but I also saw firsthand how many businesses were struggling not with how they looked but with being found. Beautiful branding only goes so far if no one can discover you online. That curiosity led me deeper into the world of search engine optimization, and I spent two years learning directly from an SEO specialist while applying those principles to my own client projects.

That mix of strategic SEO and creative design became my sweet spot.

Today, I help established service-based businesses improve their online visibility through SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, and elevated branded collateral. My clients want to attract better leads, clarify their message, and grow sustainably, and my work is designed to make that happen.

Alongside my client work, I’m expanding into digital products including Showit website templates and branding kits, so business owners can launch quickly and beautifully without the cost of custom design. I love empowering entrepreneurs with tools they can use right away, especially those just starting out or shifting out of corporate jobs like I once did.

Additional background: My foundation in this field began long before my business ever existed. I studied graphic design and business at the University of San Francisco from 2005–2007, right around the time the first iPhone launched—a moment that completely transformed how people communicate visually. Even then, I could see how design was becoming more essential to everyday life, not just in traditional print but in digital experiences, branding, and the way businesses showed up online.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

One of the most effective strategies for growing my clientele has been focusing on the people and businesses right in my own community. As digital business owners, it’s tempting to think we need to work with clients from everywhere, but it’s easy to overlook how valuable local relationships can be. Most of my clients live and work in the same city, and that proximity has allowed me to build deeper, more personal partnerships. Meeting face-to-face, understanding the local market, and genuinely becoming part of their business story has led to long-term clients and steady referrals. In many ways, staying local has been the most powerful way to grow.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’ve been in business since 2012, and I think my reputation comes from a mix of expertise, consistency, and trust. Many clients have worked with me for 7+ years because they know I won’t ghost them like some past designers have. I combine creative design with strategic SEO to deliver results that matter, and I treat every client as a partner. Showing up reliably and helping their businesses grow over the long term has been key to building a strong reputation in my market.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jessicaringer.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyjessicaringer/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaringer/