We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Garcia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie below.
Katie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?
I founded Gather Media Co. right before the pandemic and was terrified it would all come crashing down! However, prior to the launch of my business, I scheduled coffees and lunches with as many people as possible. Some were friends, some were acquaintances and some were people that others recommended I meet with. I told them about my business, asked for advice and gave them some free marketing tips if they needed them! My goal during these meet-ups was not to sell myself, but to bring awareness to Gather Media Co. These meet-ups helped me to establish the word of mouth referrals and to build my business to where it is today with multiple employees and a double-digit client roster!
Katie, 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?
Gather Media Co. is a boutique digital marketing firm! We work with clients across multiple industries and verticals. We also offer different services such as online reputation management, social media management, Google Ad buying, website building, copywriting and more. I worked in marketing, PR and communications for 10 years before I went out on my own. In addition, I worked at a very small agency where I was able to where many hats and learn how to run a business of my own. For that, I will be forever thankful for all those agency owners taught me!
Let’s talk M&A – we’d love to hear your about your experience with buying businesses
I had a friend who ran a marketing agency similar in size to mine and she was ready to let it go. Her path had taken her down a new journey she was excited to begin! She approached me about absorbing her agency and I instantly said let’s do some due diligence and see if we can make this work! She had the exact type of clients I wanted and was doing the work I was passionate about. After examining her contracts and striking a buyout deal, the clients transitioned to me! I kept her company name for a year to ensure a smooth transition.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I first started my business, I thought I would be sailing off into the sunset! The joke was on me! Two months after I started my business the world locked down due to the pandemic, we had to pull our 2-year-old out of daycare and I was pregnant! I had a full client roster and no employees at the time! My husband and I came up with a schedule where I worked nights and he worked days! I took calls during nap time and kept everything running! It wasn’t easy, but it was so worth it! I am so grateful for full-time childcare help and a normal schedule these days!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gathermedia.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gathermedia.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gathermedia.co
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gather-media-co/