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Meet RJ and Jermaine Johns of Twenty and 3 in East Atlanta

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Today we’d like to introduce you to RJ and Jermaine Johns.

RJ and Jermaine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
We met at an art show in 2016, the day before New Year’s Eve. He was helping a friend with an art installation and I was there to explore the city I love and enjoy something new. After we locked eyes and conversation was sparked, ‘art and design’ was the main topic – naturally. We are both graphic designers and natural problem solvers. What for most would have been just a prelude to the next date, turned into a spontaneous business meeting. We discussed projects we could collaborate on, troubleshot a few current clients, and made plans to see each other again. A few months later we appeared on Business RadioX together for a podcast interview and realized just how well we worked together. Twenty and 3 was born.

Jermaine is the mastermind. Have a vision for a business? He listens, absorbs, and after a brief pause can download an entire plan of action including a unique business name, sales outlets and marketing strategies; it’s actually amazing to watch. Jermaine calls me the gold ‘mind’. I take his plan and make it happen. Websites, logos, photography, consulting… anything needed to get your brand off the ground in excellence. Twenty and 3 is now a full-service design agency. We work closely with entrepreneurs, bloggers, small businesses and large corporate clients – building and elevating brands.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been smooth sailing, pothole-ridden and slippery; sometimes all in the same day. Owning and operating a business is not for the faint of heart, or for those who throw in the towel easily. Managing clients, budgets, timelines all while balancing family and friends can be difficult. There is a certain commitment you feel when the business is ‘yours’. At times, it feels like another member of your family. No wonder we hear so many referring to companies as their “babies”.

The blessing is we are not alone in the fight. We rely on God’s guidance to complete each task and to also steer us away from projects that may be troublesome and/or time killers. Early on I dealt with the fear of loss, often saying ‘yes’ to projects that didn’t necessarily fit our vision in order to ensure money was coming in consistently. This caused undue stress and ironically, financial obstacles. Time doesn’t roll over to next month if it’s not utilized (or if it’s utilized incorrectly). This was a hard lesson to learn and in some cases, the repercussions took a great deal of time to bounce back from. The lessons: 1. Know your worth and 2. Balance is key.

Please tell us about Twenty and 3.
We are a one-stop-shop design agency: each website, photo, and the printed piece is thoughtfully conceptualized and designed by an expert team here in Atlanta. Our mission each day is to minimize the number of phone calls, emails, and meetings needed in order to get your business off the ground. Your time is valuable. We often hear that working with us is “easy”, therefore we build every project around this feedback. Need a website and photography? An E-commerce solution and print collateral? Twenty and 3 is known for the power of ‘and’.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Outsource! It’s quite arrogant to think you can do everything yourself. T.D. Jakes once said, “If you can get everything done on your own, your dream isn’t big enough.” There is nothing like sourcing the right team that believes in your vision and commits to making it happen.

Not having a team in place wasn’t an issue early on; however, once business picked up it was clear we needed help. If you ask a business owner they’ll tell you… it’s normal to be an accountant, designer, counselor, receptionist, PR specialist, and social media guru. But why? With all of the technology available, there are ways to make your life easier and remove tasks that take away from your creative genius. Don’t be afraid to relinquish some of the projects you know you can (and should) outsource to an expert that specializes in that particular field.

Pricing:

  • Business Consulting/Discovery Sessions start at $150 per hour and can be scheduled online.
  • We offer an all-inclusive Startup Package for emerging businesses; please contact us for pricing.

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Jada Nicole Photography

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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