Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniela Carrasquero.
Daniela, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in Venezuela. For political reasons my family and I were forced to move out of the country, so we decided to come to the United States, and we could not have made a better choice. Design and Photography have always been areas of interest for me, in particular Graphic Design which is where my true passion lies. Even though I’ve always done graphic design work in one way or another, in order to improve my skill level, and quite frankly, just were I was in my life, I went to Georgia State University to formally study Graphic Design. Right after graduation, I had the fortune to start working for a Marketing company which handled project and support work in the subject for large enterprises such as Macy’s and Wallgreens among others.
After about three years working full time as a graphic designer, I realized I had much more potential as a freelancer, so I took a big leap of faith and ventured into my own journey of trying to earn a living while doing what I love the most. Soon after I began the venture, I realized I was pregnant with a beautiful baby girl; her name is Barbara. In spite of the many challenges and times that a full-time mom requires, I’ve been able to sustain and growth my business in ways I never thought possible. I’ve been forced to go outside my comfort zone “running” the business and doing things that I might not be as passionate as designing, but I’m confident that the hard work will pay off, and I’ll be able to continue supporting my clients, and quite honestly, influencing the way the world looks at them, their business, and products.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
From a business perspective it has been tough. Although before I share details, I’m someone who truly and genuinely finds joy in every step of the journey, so I try to keep a pretty positive attitude. However, it has been tough. My passion and my skills are focused on designing and creating, but of course, very quickly I learned that in order to be alive as a business there were other areas as important or even more important than the products themselves; areas such as sales, accounting, billing (and getting paid), etc. even things like how to price my work was a struggle and a huge source of stress initially.
In addition, being a full-time mom reduces tremendously the amount of time I can dedicate to the business. My daughter is already two years old, I have another baby girl on the way, and my husband travels every week for work, so I get to be alone for the majority of the day/week. I can say comfortably thought that the early mornings and late nights are paying off, and I’m finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I’m more busy than ever, and things seem to be stabilizing in a very positive way. I couldn’t be more happy and excited for the future ahead.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Nela Design – what should we know?
My company does any type of graphic design work, including catalogs, magazines and packaging; however, the focus is on small business branding. Anything from logo creation, to color schemes, website design, and everything in between. Beyond a transaction, my main focus is to develop a long-lasting relationship with my clients and grow with them. I truly try to influence the way small business are perceived by people through the human eye.
Interestingly enough, for quite some time, I have seen exponential growth in the areas of event invitations, including weddings, birthdays, business events, etc. so it’s a business line in which I’m rapidly getting more excited and interested in growing.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My family is my greatest support, specially my husband who is always pushing me to do more and encouraging me to get out of my comfort zone.
Contact Info:
- Website: danielacarrasquero.com
- Phone: 6788962655
- Email: Daniela.Carrasquero1@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neladesign_/
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