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

Alright, Rockell thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

RJ Millennial Branding, LLC is a Branding Agency providing branding and marketing services to businesses globally! Owned and operated by millennials specializing in public perception. We help all business owners with creating brand awareness, increasing sales, as well as decreasing marketing expenses! The journey to get here was a long 7 years, a lot of ups and downs but I am so happy I started!

After graduating High School, I was branching out into different industries to get a feel for what I actually liked doing. I always wanted to be a business owner and help people along the way. I went to University of Maryland Eastern Shore for allied health first and then switched to Business. Worked at retail stores and as a caregiver for some time.

In 2012 I started my first business selling Mary Kay makeup and hosting beauty parties for about 3 years and I barely wore makeup myself.

In 2015 I started helping an artist with his business, overall management, marketing, and branding and was pretty good at it! I’ve always liked helping people and I later realized that I’m actually great at management too.
I had a lot of people reaching out to me and using my services! I had no storefront, no vendors, and no staff at the time, but I knew that I could actually turn this into a profitable business. I then used my passion in being a leader and helping hand along with my love for digital graphics and started helping other businesses and entrepreneurs.

I then decided to put all of my resources and knowledge online and create a serious business. I came up with a name, (RJ Management) filed for my business licensees through Maryland, created a logo, website, and business plan. I was helping mainly entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry. At this same time in my life I did not have a job, I was living off of what I made from my business. Life was really hard but I didn’t stop because I could see and feel the potential in the business I was growing.

Over the years I remained a small business trying to figure out how to scale my business by myself and was having the hardest time figuring out my next step.
Every year since 2015 the company’s profit was increasing but it still wasn’t enough for me to expand how I really wanted to. I needed a reset, took online courses, reached out for help and started over.

In 2020, I then rebranded my company to RJ Millennial Branding, helping all businesses with marketing and branding. No longer offering management and not limiting ourselves to just the entertainment industry.
Hired staff, hired a Business and Finance Coach, and changed our process completely with a new database. Figuring out how I wanted things took a lot of research, meetings, and time, but it was all worth it! I now have a great business to pass down to start my generational wealth!

Now wrapping up 2022, RJ Millennial Branding is expanding! We have started purchasing our own printing equipment to be able to increase profit, hire more staff, and offer better pricing to our clients! We have repeat clients that have been working with us since 2016, and we plan to always take pride in servicing our clients’ businesses. I am very grateful to have clients that can trust and depend on my company!

Rockell, 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 am the owner and project manager of RJ Millennial Branding. I oversee and assist branding agents with all jobs as well as managing the staff and vendors. All jobs are processed thoroughly by me and managed during production. I ensure quality and consistency. I am also a real estate investor, investing in the Baltimore area.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I have been operating for years without any help or funding. The company started in 2015, and I got my first small loan in 2020. The loan was so small it was really only taken out to start a business relationship.

Over the years, I made sure I always kept a 9-5 job that I knew I could still work my business with. I wanted to be able to answer my clients as well and still have energy to work my business so I stuck with office jobs.

I used a budget system to put money aside every month to invest into my business. This did make things harder of course and it took longer to expand the company. Without showing a lot of income, and still working on my credit, it was not easy for me to get a traditional loan.

I got a financial mentor over at Kingdom Vision Consulting and was told to use a CDFI ( Community Development Financial Institution).

It wasn’t until 2022, I received $20k!
So with proper planning we will use funds for expansion and continue to budget profit out for business expenses.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

If you have a B2B based business I highly recommend using Alignable and LinkedIn. The other social networks are nice at times but they are meant for being social with anyone.
Aligable and LinkedIn are meant for businesses minded people to be social and promote services/products.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rjmillennialbranding.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rjmillennialbranding/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RJMillennialBranding/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/54074303/admin/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjmillennial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8YYeHxQbz7tExW5qpGHPFQ

Image Credits
Jonothan Dashiell