Meet Steph Downman, Founder of SD Marketing whose mission is to provide exceptional design services that leave clients free to focus on their core business. In this interview, Steph shares insights into her journey as an entrepreneur, her approach to balancing creativity with clients’ needs, a recent project that stood out, her favourite online tools and apps, entrepreneurial tricks, advice to those starting out, and the best investments she’s made.
Join us as we learn more about Steph and her business below.
Q. How do you balance creativity with the needs and vision of your clients?
Steph: Our client will always come first. Their success is our success in everything we offer. We start by having each client fill out a branding questionnaire, this gives us the general feel, look and idea of what is in their head. Once we come up with the initial concepts, we walk the client through each one and why and at the end of the day if they don’t vibe any, then we scrap the lot and start again.
Q. Can you walk us through a recent successful project you completed for a client and what made it stand out?
Steph: We have been working with Ms Wila Interiors since late December 2022. The Director Sarah Worth had recently purchased the business from a New Zealand company. But she was ready to re-brand and give the business her own personal touch. We are working with Sarah to complete a full premium design package.
This has included a new logo suite and brand kit, business cards, thank you cards, gift vouchers and now currently working on her new mailing boxes. Coupled with a full audit and refresh of her Social Media accounts, which we now manage permanently. Sarah trusted us with her business, and we have given her our undivided attention and love to her designs and print needs which shows in the finished product.
Q. What was your biggest startup challenge and how did you overcome it?
Steph: One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a business owner is confidence and imposter syndrome. I felt like my goals were huge and overwhelming at times, and I lacked personal confidence, which I still do to this day.
At the beginning I struggled with time management and scheduling, but now I have allowed myself to grow and be willing to delegate which in turn assists the business to grow. Over the last few years, I have learned to be kinder to myself and it is amazing what I have achieved so far at 25.
Q. What are your top 3 favourite online apps, tools or resources and what do you love about them?
Steph: Google Drive / The perfect place to keep all your files in an organised way to easily share with your team and clients.
Adobe Creative Suite / Illustrator, Lightroom, Photoshop, Indesign. All programs that help me run my business & create beautiful things for my clients.
Canva Pro / Our absolute go to program for creating all of our clients social media content, including custom made documents and presentations.
Q. What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule?
Steph: The biggest challenge I have faced is time management. I have learned a lot over the years and my online calendar is my best friend! It allows me to set meetings, block out certain time for projects and track my deadlines. Having a strict schedule allows me to view what is most important and assists me in delegating tasks to my team. Once the plan is put into motion, I can clearly see where my team needs assistance and how I can help them.
Q. In one sentence, what’s the best advice you’d give to someone just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey?
Steph: Failure is a part of the process and it is an opportunity to grow and learn within your career and business journey. Consistency is key, all good things take time and success definitely does not happen overnight. Always remember your end goal.
Q. What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made?
Steph: My first team member, Mimi. She has helped me immensely with the business and it has allowed me to delegate tasks, and focus my time on growing the business. We have huge plans for 2023 and Mimi was the absolute best decision I ever made to even allow me to think about growing the business.
Q. What’s one thing in your routine that you do consistently that has made a huge difference in your personal or business life?
Steph: We have recently transitioned to have a work phone that is now separate to our personal phone. This has made a huge difference for myself and the team to separate and juggle a work-life balance.
A newly developed plan has been working directly with our clients in their office on coaching or working remotely in a cafe, supporting locals. While we love working from home, we are all easily distracted and this flows through to work productivity. Our 2024 goal is to be in a brand new office space by the end of the year.
To keep up to date with Steph, connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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