Life & Work with Sara Torres

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Torres.

Hi Sara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In January 2022, I was thrilled to announce that I had gone full-time with my very own company: “Sara Torres Marketing & Design.” As well as being creative, horses are my passion and you’ll see their influence heavily in the designs that I create and in the updates I share. Which leads me to a little bit of a backstory… (*beep*beep* we’re backing up). I fell in love with horses a LONG time ago when I attended a friend’s birthday party and we began searching for a barn and riding instructor shortly after that. I became a competitive rider over the coming years participating in local and national-level breed shows. The only catch? I had to keep my school grades up in order to compete. The time spent between my competition classes and car rides home from shows often involved doing some type of studying, homework, or make-up assignment. When it came time to go to college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted my major to be, but I did know that I wanted to keep riding my horse in Georgia. I was accepted to Kennesaw State University and am proud to say that I was a HOPE Scholarship recipient for my entire undergraduate education. This was not an easy feat considering I had a full-time class schedule, was working part-time at a restaurant, and was practicing/competing with my horse when I could. All three of these components (school, work, horses) went hand-in-hand. If one slipped then it would cause something else to drop as well. Ultimately, I credit horses for instilling a dedicated work ethic in me. This work ethic has served me well through the years, especially in the workplace.

Prior to founding Sara Torres Marketing & Design, I spent the better part of the decade as the Marketing Director for an amazing, locally-owned fine jewelry company (D. Geller & Son). I was a fresh graduate from Kennesaw State University when they hired me as their Marketing Coordinator in 2012. The next several years were a whirlwind of in-depth and hands-on experience creating innovative campaigns, designing all sorts of creative assets (billboards, digital banners, in-house signage, magazine ads, etc.), and learning what it means to help market a small business in a competitive market. If their logo was on something then there was a big chance that it came from my laptop.

There is a lot of trust and responsibility to fulfill and exceed expectations when you’re part of a lean marketing team, so it was always rewarding to witness a customer conversion, sale, or experience come from a promotional campaign that I helped create. Being a Marketing Director was a fun, challenging, and extremely gratifying experience, but I craved more flexibility and wanted to pursue my passion with horse showing again. So, it became time to step out on my own and trust the magic of new beginnings.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oof- not at all. You know, there are going to be times where you feel stuck in a rut, totally uninspired, and overwhelmed. “Imposter Syndrome” also likes to rear its annoying head at times, so you have to remember that A) you’ve made it this far, and B) it’s going to be fine if you keep moving forward. “Just keep swimming,” right? There is one time in particular a few years where I was going through some pretty profound things on a personal level and it was full-on prep season for the holidays. So. Many. Deadlines. I was emotionally drained, stressed, and unsure about the future… it was the hardest time I’ve ever gone through. But, I was able to take the smallest step back for some perspective and remind myself that once I made it through those weeks then I would be able to make it through anything. You know what? I did! I’ve had to channel that same perseverance because there are ebbs and flows with projects when you own your own company. Having too much white space on the calendar is an intimidating place to be looking when you’re on your own, but I’ve learned to fill that time follow-ups, educational seminars, and Googling things like “how to set up taxes for my LLC.”

As one college professor insisted, “Adapt and overcome.”

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Whether a business needs someone for a short-term project, a long-term collaboration requiring extra attention to detail, or some assistance with a project that’s been on a to-do list for far too long; I love getting to help clients design their wildest dreams and turn their napkin notes into something worthy of the big screen! Not all of my clients have a clear idea or identity for their projects, so I am always thrilled to receive positive feedback from them and to hear that they love the final design. The majority of clients I’ve worked with have been referrals, which is the ultimate compliment! Some of my most recent projects include designing logos/graphics, creating social media content, and building promotional campaigns. I do have some exciting travel plans lined up, but you’ll have to follow me on social media to find out where I’m headed!

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
If you’re in any clubs or organizations then I would highly recommend offering your services to them and their members. This has been key for my business as I’ve been able to help design logos and shirts for the equestrian clubs that I’m involved in. These projects allowed provided something fun for the club members to enjoy and also helped me to grow my portfolio. When I was first starting out I’d spend some free time creating my own briefs/projects and showcasing those on my social media pages. I didn’t have a website yet and was creating things was mostly for fun. Facebook is also a great source for finding groups specific to your industry where you can contribute tips and ask questions among fellow members. It can feel a little strange to market yourself and services, but how will anyone know what you can do if you don’t? Chances are that you already know a few people who could benefit from your help. Even if they don’t have an immediate need then they are able to refer your services to someone they might know or check back in with you later.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.SaraTorresMarketing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saratorresmarketing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaraTorresMarketingDesign

Image Credits
Tags Photography Emily Thurner Photography