We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachel Schwartz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachel below.

Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

I was mattress shopping—because apparently, even sleep needs an upgrade sometimes. The store owner was a local legend, known not just for selling top-notch beds but for being an all-around great human. While checking out, I hit him with some genuine compliments (because, well, he deserved them).

Being the kind of good guy he is, he asked what I did for a living. At the time, I was a stay-at-home mom who’d just started dipping my toes into marketing consulting. I shared my backstory—NYC marketing exec, big brands, billion-dollar campaigns, total burnout, and the whole “raising a family while managing a corporate empire” paradox. He was intrigued.

Then came the plot twist: he asked if I could help his business. I said yes, went home, put together a killer presentation (probably with a toddler climbing on me), and came back a few days later with ideas that got him excited. We officially kicked things off the next week.

He became my first success story (seriously, we crushed it), and since then, he’s sent so many referrals my way it’s like he’s my unofficial PR team. His business is still thriving, and yeah, the marketing’s pretty fantastic—if I do say so myself.

The whole thing? Total beshert. I mean, what are the odds I’d buy a mattress, in pajamas, on my way home to host a Girl Scout troop, and land my first client? Some things are just meant to be.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve been obsessed with advertising since the 5th grade. Seriously. I entered a local marketing contest for a tire company and poured my heart into what, in hindsight, was a pretty terrible ad. (Let’s just say, no awards were won that day.) But I still remember thinking, Wait, people get paid to come up with ideas like this for a living? And right then and there, I decided advertising was it for me.

I spent my high school and college years hustling—interning for free, working crazy hours, basically doing whatever it took to soak up as much experience as possible. By the time I graduated, my resume was already stacked, and it paid off. I landed roles at some of the top agencies in the world.

But here’s the thing—big jobs come with big stress. I was burning the candle at both ends until I had kids and realized I couldn’t juggle a high-pressure agency lifestyle with raising a family. So, I hit pause. I took five years off, raised my kids, and when I was ready to dive back in, I knew I wanted to do it differently.

I started my own marketing consulting business—leaning on my industry contacts and focusing on clients I could actually feel good about helping. No selling my soul. No fluff. Just solid marketing strategy for businesses that deserve it.

Now, I help businesses of all sizes (from mom-and-pops to global brands) because the principles of great marketing apply to everyone. Whether it’s B2B or B2C, I take the formal training from my agency days and deliver that big-league strategy—without the big-league price tag.

Think of us as your outsourced marketing department. Print? Digital? Guerrilla marketing? Yep, we do it all. But honestly, the secret sauce is my team. They’re each smarter, more creative, and way cooler than I ever was. If they were in that 5th-grade tire ad contest? Oh, they’d crush it.

Our job? Making sure businesses stand out in the clutter. We help our clients tell their stories, show how they solve problems, and most importantly—explain why they are the right choice. Honestly, our clients make it easy. They’re awesome. We just make sure everyone knows it.

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

What’s helped me build my reputation? Being a straight shooter, hands down. I’ve always told it like it is—whether it’s good, bad, or somewhere in between. Sure, it might work against me sometimes, but honesty has a way of cutting through the noise.

I’m upfront with clients about everything—where they stand in the market, what’s working (or not), and even when we need to step it up on our end. If we crush it, I’ll celebrate with them. If we drop the ball, I’ll own it, fix it, and make sure it doesn’t happen again. That kind of transparency earns trust. My clients know I won’t blow smoke or invent work just to pad the bill.

Here’s the thing: business is personal. I treat every client like a friend, which means telling them what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear. We all have that one friend who gives it to us straight—that’s me. I’ve simply carried that mindset into my business, and it’s been a game-changer. Clients know I have their back, even when the truth stings a little.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My advice? Put your team first. Above clients. Above yourself. Above the P&L. Without them, you’re nothing—full stop. When you show your team the respect they deserve, it pays off tenfold: better work, stronger work ethic, a positive attitude, and genuine team loyalty.

If they need to be defended? Defend them. No hesitation. Even if it costs the business. Losing a client stings, sure—but replacing a rockstar team member? That’s way harder. When you’ve got a team you’d go to battle with (and spend long days and late nights alongside), protecting them isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://zap.group/
• Instagram: @thezapgroupnj
• Facebook: theZAPgroup
• Linkedin: thezapgroup

Image Credits

Jessica Reiss Photography