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.
Olushola Omomo
When I first started my business, my largest supporters were my friends and family. I would ask them to be my models whom I could carry out different styles and visions on. Thankfully, they always gave an estatic yes! This helped me slowly build my portfolio, skills, and eventually reach more clients who saw my work. Read more>>
John Mahr
In my opinion there is nothing more rewarding than parenting. Money can come and go but the values and ethics you instill in your children is something that’s generational. I grew up working with my father as early as I can remember. I was raised if you wanted to succeed you had to work hard and nothing is given to you. Read more>>
Franchette Dyer
My husband gave me $1,000 dollars to start my business and I have not ever had to ask him for money since, when it comes to my business. I was very proud of that, not because he would not help me but because I had to think strategically and be smart with all of my moves when it came to my small business. Read more>>
Rachel Cardenas
So since our last interview, I have been relatively busy doing whatever the Lord has for me. I started to network more and hosted an event in Dallas, Texas. I met a slew of people and even made some business connections in the media and movie industry. Read more>>
Jordan Molina
Friends and family are key to a successful business. They already cheer you on in life, so they should extend their support to your business. Word of mouth is one of the best referral methods to grow your business. All your friends and family have to do is speak highly of you and your business to others they come in contact with or simply share your posts on social media. Read more>>
Sunni Hepburn
Asking for help is so hard for me. I had to learn in the last few years to ask for help and support, during the first year of Covid i had to rely on my social network of friends and family to keep my business alive. The amount of support and business was shocking and appreciated. Read more>>
Miriam Duenas
I wasn’t prepared to open a business so when we opened Cute to the Bone I saw myself with no money to survive, much less to cover the expenses of a business that was just starting. I had to ask my family and close friends for help and they responded to my request not only helping me with money but also with words of encouragement and faith that everything would be fine. Read more>>
Sema’j Davis
You honestly shouldn’t have to ask your real friends nor family for support . If they wanted to they just would. But in the case that you do have to ask , don’t expect anything and definitely don’t expect yourself out of them because you , your friends , & your family are 3 different people ! Just support you if support comes from anywhere else be grateful but at the end of the day , support yourself . Read more>>
Pseudo Black
This is a touchy subject for most artist in my field. But to be honest, I’m your come up the people that will support you the most don’t know you from paint on the wall. Read more>>
Meghan Kelleher
It’s funny – my friends and family knew I’d start a business before I did. I can see now how many breadcrumbs there were leading up to me founding my company, but I kept ignoring them. It was months later I realized why: my friends and family were all-in on me and what I could build. Me? I wasn’t ready to bet on myself. Read more>>