What’s your view on asking friends and family to support your brand? We asked members of the community to open up and share their views on this controversial topic. Check out some highlights below.

Shun & Ralph

Learning the difference between business and relation. When starting to podcast we naturally pushed our friends and family to support, some did some didn’t, but we realized later after we made a few changes, a lot of our supporters are strangers. We created a fb group that grew from suggested members inviting new people and they started supporting the show and still continue to do so and not because of relation. Read more>>

Beck Visuals

In my opinion I don’t ask for support from anybody. I don’t expect support from anybody either, I’ve always felt like people support what they believe in. And I’ve always had a strong support system I’m very appreciative of that. Being an entrepreneur can be real rough trying to navigate but the support from others keeps me going Read more>>

Renee Malone

Hello, my name is Renee M. I am the owner and founder of Pampered Life Naturals. We are based out of South Central, Los Angeles. We are an all-natural, plant-based skincare company focusing on people with chronic skin conditions like eczema. Our goal is to make affordable skin care products so people won’t have to spend much money taking care of their skin. We started in 2015 after pausing my jewelry business because of a lack of available places to sell my jewelry. Read more>>

Jason Goodrich

Asking friends and family should seem like a no brainer – a simple task – but in reality is not that simple. You really have 2 different types of friends and family supporters. You have some that will support your business, attend your events, and truly support you. Read more>>

Felicia Loving

I have seen social media push the narrative that strangers will support your business before friends and family will, but that wasn’t the case for me. The first day I posted that I had self-defense items for sale, my first six customers were family but even if my family did not make a purchase from me I wouldn’t be bitter about it. Read more>>

Katie Beth Howard.

I started my portrait business back in 2014. Since then it has relied upon word of mouth. My family and friends heavily influence my business by sharing my work. Social media has become a lot more influential and a lot of my friends and family take active steps to share my best work online to increase my potential outreach. Read more>>

Kennay Powell.

I don’t agree with Asking Friends and Family to support your business. I’m a firm believer if they want to support you and your brand they will! I also believe that everything is not for everybody. If someone is not into Name Jewelry, I am not expecting them to buy name jewelry because I am selling it. Support is more than a purchase a referral, repost, share, comment, like and subscribe is also support. Read more>>

Janieka Ellington

When I started my first business in 2019, it was an uphill battle. My family never ran or operated a business. I briefly studied business in college but the reality of being in business was different then what I had theorized. Being a business owner was more than I had realized. Especially being a first time black business owner. I did what most first time business owners do. I received all of my business advice from family and friends. Read more>>

Janette Martin

Family and friends have always been supportive since the very beginning over 20 yeras ago. I have two grown sons who have continously stated that my product should be in the retail space. My plan for 2023 is to start the ground work to take my product to market. Read more>>