Today we’d like to introduce you to Octavia Gilmore.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was first introduced to graphic design at the young age of 14, and I knew then that one day I would start an agency. Originally from New Jersey, I come from a very creative family of artists. Interesting enough, no one in my family used their artistic talents to make a living. I decided in high school that I would pursue graphic design as a career, so I packed my bags and moved to the big city of Atlanta to attend the Savannah College of Art & Design. At the age of 23, only 2 years after graduating from SCAD with a BFA in graphic design, I decided to take the leap of faith and launch Creative Juice. As a woman, minority-owned design agency, it is important for me to continue to help blaze the trail and break through the norm in this creative space.
When I first launched my agency, I was freelancing and working full-time. I then quit my job and started the company with only a laptop, working out of my home office. Since then, Creative Juice has expanded over the past 4 years. I now manage a team of 7. I am not designing as much anymore, as I handle most of the sales, operations, and payroll (amongst other things) for the company. I think as a millennial run agency, Creative Juice brings something unique to the table. I plan to continue to use our unique qualities to continue to do good work and grow Creative Juice. As a boutique agency, we are very hands on with our clients. That is something I never want to grow out of.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One major hurdle for me is my age. Unfortunately, because I am so young, this is something that will not go away anytime soon! As a Millennial, it is often hard to change a client’s perception of Creative Juice, because of how society views Millennials. I’ve overcome this by continuing to provide great service to our clients and by ensuring we go above and beyond to prove ourselves. It is not always easy, but we believe that by following our core values; quality, communication, teamwork, accountability, and positivity, we can continue to change the perception of Millennials.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Creative Juice LLC story. Tell us more about the business.
Creative Juice is run by me, a Millennial, minority, female. I never went to business school, so a lot of what I know is self-taught. My team is also a group of diverse Millennials. That allows us to bring a fresh, unique, innovative perspective that our clients love! We are a creative agency who specializes in branding and web design. We really get to know our clients to ensure that we are going above and beyond their expectations.
What would you want other business owners to know about starting or running a business?
Running a business can be challenging at times! When things get tough, always remember, where you started, how you started and why. This helps keep me grounded. It is also important to have mentors in your corner who can help you when you need to navigate through a difficult situation or when you need another opinion. I would also say, do not hire based on skills alone, hire based on character. Skills can be taught.
Contact Info:
- Address: 75 Marietta Street, Suite 503
Atlanta GA 30303 - Website: itscreativejuice.com
- Phone: 4049468599
- Email: octavia@itscreativejuice.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/octaviajgilmore/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/octaviajgilmore
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