Local Life Jan / Feb / March 2018
BUFORD • CUMMING • FLOWERY BRANCH • GAINESVILLE • NORTH GEORGIA • SUWANEE
Magazine
Show the Love
FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES Women Business Owners in FLOWERY BRANCH
JIM & MARIAN HARRIS Heart and Soul Into Every Workout
Restaurants Health & Fitness Small Business Marketing Interior Design
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LETTER FROM THE
T
Publisher
Thanks for making 2017 a wonderful and productive year for our magazine. By now you know that Gainesville Magazine has become Local Life Magazine. This transition will help us incorporate more cities and towns in the north-metro Atlanta suburbs. We will remain part of the Local Life Publishing family as we continue to grow the brand throughout Georgia. The magazine will be published quarterly coming out on the 15th of January, April, July, and October. You will continue to see new directions with the evolution of the magazine. Keeping in trend with our positive and uplifting editorial we will add more information from different locations to include, Buford, Cumming, Gainesville and Suwanee townships. We would love to hear from you and are open to your contributions in the form of writing and advertising. If you have a business and you would like to get your company featured in a future edition, please contact us. Tell us what you like and what you would like to see in future issues of Local Life Magazine. We appreciate your patronage and look forward to a beautiful and prosperous 2018! Everyone at LLP and Local Life Magazine wishes you a Happy New Year! Remember to live, work, shop, eat, play, give and pray locally! Warm Regards,
Janet Arnwine Publisher
LOCAL LIFE Magazine JANET ARNWINE, Publisher janet@locallifepublishing.com • Managing Editor ANNA SHADBURN Multiple Contributors ANGIE GARCIA ANNA SHADBURN DENI WILLIAMS Photographers & Graphic Designers JULIE JOY LEANNE MASTEN LAUREN MARCUS ANNA SHADBURN WILLIAM THOMPSON
Angie Garcia
Anna Shadburn
Deni Williams
Administrative Assistant L. BOMAN Let us help you grow your business! To find out more contact Local Life Magazine! Janet@LocalLifePublishing.com Local Life Publishing, LLC 10719 Alpharetta Hwy. #1153, Roswell, GA 30076 locallifepublishing.com FOUNDER PRESIDENT Regina Barkley Chris Smith Local Life Magazine is published quarterly by Local Life Publishing, LLC. The opinions expressed by writers and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher or LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of LLC and its subsidiaries. Sharing articles on social media from our digital publication is permitted and encouraged. Copyright January 2018, All Rights Reserved.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Inside this Issue
PUBLISHER LETTER / ABOUT US
p6
SHOWING LOVE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES p10
Women business owners in Flowery Branch find encouragement in numbers.
JIM & MARIAN HARRIS p18
in Buford, Cumming, Gainesville and Suwanee
WHEN ROLES REVERSE p34
Some of us realize after the holidays that our parents are aging and may need our care.
Owners of successful fitness concepts in Gainesville and Cumming, they put their heart and soul into every individual and group program offered.
JENN HYMAN p37
CORTNEY ORME p26
SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING p41
A commercial interior design firm walks us through what it takes to run a successful small business. 8
EAT, SHOP, PLAY p30
Gainesville Boudoir Photographer shares her experience running a niche business in a local market. How do I know if it’s time to hire a Digital Marketing expert for my local business?
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FLOWERY BRANCH
Showing Love for Local Businesses
IMAGE COURTESY OF SOUTHERN GRACE
SNAPSHOT : Three Dynamic Women Business Owners in Flowery Branch
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FLOWERY BRANCH
BY ANNA SHADBURN
Holly & Pam Helton ABSTRUSE PASTRY COMPANY
Janet Upchurch SAMPLE PLEASURES Art, Antiques, Gifts
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Even though 2017 was a breakthrough year for women, one thing remains the same…we need the support of each other and our community. With the new year upon us, Local Life Magazine wanted to take this opportunity to spotlight several strong women business owners of Flowery Branch and bring to light their backgrounds, connection to the community, and overall love for all things local. These women came from different accomplishments and previous careers, but all found themselves investing in the small downtown district of Flowery Branch, GA. Now their businesses are rooted in the quaint charm of the small-town feel. When visitors stop by they can find unique antiques at Sample Pleasures, sweet allergen-free treats at Abstruse Pasty, and a floral, décor, and clothing boutique with all things southern at Southern Grace. This community, and these women, bind together to support one another and share in each other’s experiences, struggles, and triumphs. Overall they are here for their community to make the locals proud, and to show how their small town is ever evolving while keeping true to its simple roots. Make sure to stop by for a friendly conversation, some goodies on the go, or to find the new shop that has those items you instantly fall in love with and can’t live without. These women will be sure to welcome you in with loving arms and instantly make you feel at home.
Tracy Youngblood-McDaniel SOUTHERN GRACE Events, Floral, Design
Other women owned businesses in this community include Calliope Sweets, Liberty Candy, Carpe Diem Hair Salon, and more! All of these fierce women have a story to tell; and we were honored to be able to share the stories of these three this issue: Abstruse Pastry Company, Sample Pleasures and Southern Grace. (CONTINUED P12)
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FLOWERY BRANCH
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abstruse pastry company Abstruse Pastry Company Owners: Pam and Holly Helton 5516 Main Street Flowery Branch, GA 30542 (678) 828-9667 www.facebook.com/AbstrusePastryCompany www.instagram.com/abstrusepastrycompany
LET’S GET TO KNOW YOU
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for muffins. So, there is a lot of hurry up and wait (laughing). Everything is very time intensive.
LLM: Tell us about your company. Abstruse Pastry Company (APC): The first part of the name came from Holly’s maiden name: Abs. We then did a Google search and found Abstruse. The technical, but loose, definition means “unfathomable, hard to define, can’t grasp.” It describes us as well as our products, because we don’t go about things the easy way.
LLM: What inspired the concept for Abstruse? APC (Pam): We call ourselves a purveyor of real food, of whole food, and that goes for all of our ingredients. We get our butter from a small batch butter maker out of Atlanta, where they churn butter the old-fashioned way. Does it make a difference? Absolutely! So, we are committed to using real ingredients and the quality of the ingredients really shows.
LLM: What does your typical workday look like? APC (Pam): Everything we do is made using traditional methods. Not typical methods. Because we use whole grain, we grind the flour, mix everything up and then allow the grain time to sit and absorb the moisture. It takes different amounts of time for different products, like three days for cookies or three hours
APC (Holly): There’s also an influence from how I was raised. Growing up, my mother actually ground the wheat that she would use to make the weekly bread. We never had store bought bread. So, that was the culture and the atmosphere that I grew up with, and as I got older, I came to appreciate that more and more. Not only do I feel better when I eat like that,
FLOWERY BRANCH but the flavor and the food itself taste better. LLM: What are the everyday struggles (and/or triumphs) with your job? APC (Pam): It’s hard work, very stressful, and there are no guarantees. If you go to a regular job, there is a confidence in getting your paycheck, but for us, we can show up seven days a week and not get a paycheck that week, or that month. But the joy is in knowing that when we get up, we are doing something for ourselves, as a pursuit of passion. LLM: Has being a woman affected your professional experience? APC (Holly): I think it would be different if I were a female pastry chef trying to make it in the corporate world. I think that would be a totally different experience and that would be very challenging, from what I hear. But I think by being a small business owner, I have this happy nucleus that has sheltered me in a lot of ways, professionally. And it has also given me a lot of freedom to be myself, as a chef, and explore. LLM: Any notable experiences you’ve had on the job? APC (Pam): We had this one gentleman come in, who brought his whole family here, because he could eat here. He told us that he can’t even get allergen-free items like this in New York City. A lot of places that offer gluten-free or allergen-free products offer them as an afterthought, but for us, it’s what we’re all about. LLM: How has owning Abstruse helped you connect to the local community? APC (Pam): One of the great things that is unique to Flowery Branch, is that most of the business owners here are women. And not just business owners, but a lot of the women also own the property that their business resides on. Having successful property owners that are women and successful business owners that are women, right here locally, really gives us a network of support. It really is a women’s world here, so it’s amazing! LLM: Do you have goals/plans for the future? APC (Pam): We are in the process of getting our wholesale license from the Department of Agriculture, so we are going to be expanding into wholesale business. That way we can have our products at local grocery stores, restaurants, etc. We are also looking to boost our online presence and offer shipping. LLM: Do you have any career and/or life advice for other business women? APC (Pam): If you have the opportunity to do something that you love, the worst thing that can happen is that it’s not going to work out. We always talk about it, because if this doesn’t work out, it was great for while it lasted. It was great to take the chance.
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sample pleasures Art, Antiques, Gifts Sample Pleasures Art, Antiques & Gifts Owner: Janet Upchurch 5504 Main Street Flowery Branch, GA 30542 (770) 967-5585 www.samplepleasures.com/ www.facebook.com/Sample-Pleasures-Art-Antiques-Gifts
LET’S GET TO KNOW YOU
LLM: Tell us about your company. Sample Pleasures (SP): I started changing lifestyles from my previous career and purchased the building in 1989. There was no game plan, we just won the bid. We used to go to auctions and buy whole showrooms, hence the name Sample Pleasures. Now our business has evolved into antiques, local art, and eclectic things. I am not into normal and I am not normal. So, I feel as if it is a shop that is not “in a box” and never will be “in a box.” (CONTINUED P14)
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FLOWERY BRANCH
LLM: What does your typical workday look like? SP: Compared to my former life, very laid back. Downtown is a bit off the beaten path and we have to make our livelihoods on our reputations and on the unique things we carry. Which is one of the reasons I like to collect the eclectic and unusual, because that‘s what draws people here. LLM: What keeps you anchored to Flowery Branch? SP: The fact that when you come to work, you are not going to an atmosphere that is cookie cutter. Everyone that comes in is very warm and I love people. I really and truly love people! So that’s what keeps me doing this. I also get to enjoy lake life when the “kayak calls” (laughing). LLM: Has being a woman affected your professional experience? SP: No, because I was in automobile racing when there were no women in racing. There were just a handful of us in the country. I have worked in other all male environments, so being a female has never affected my business decisions. LLM: What are some of the everyday struggles (and/or triumphs) with your job? SP: The struggles are just keeping a small business afloat, because it is not easy, but the triumphs are making people happy. When you buy something different, or have an artist that people follow and fall in love with, that is what makes it worth it! LLM: Any notable experiences you’ve had on the job? SP: The downtown area had a TV pilot filmed here several years ago and I also get people from the film industry that come in and look for props. So, I have sold props for several movies, actually. LLM: How has owning Sample Pleasures helped you connect to the local community? SP: I feel that the local community and the downtown Flowery Branch area has really started working together and coming together as a unit. We have several strong women business owners here, which is wonderful! If you don’t have a sense of community, you do not need to be in business. LLM: Do you have any career and/or life advice for other business women? SP: Try not to fit into any box, because I never have and it has always had the effect of making my life better. It’s the people that do not fit into boxes that usually make life more interesting.
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southern grace Events, Florals, Design SOUTHERN GRACE Owner: Tracy Youngblood-McDaniel 5603 Main Street Flowery Branch, GA 30542 (470) 778-9112 www.southerngraceenterprises.com/ www.facebook.com/SouthernGraceEnterprises/ www.instagram.com/southerngraceent/
LET’S GET TO KNOW YOU LLM: Tell us about your company: (opened March 10th) Southern Grace (SG): We found the building, across from the restaurant Antebellum, and it had been empty for 6 years. A forgotten about 1925 house, that after months of renovations has turned into the event space, florals, and boutique that it is now, lively and with so many possibilities. I would say, it kind of took on a life of its own, but I feel like that is the best way to have a business.
LLM: What does your typical workday look like? SG: For me, it starts at home with family. Within the workday if I don’t have time for family, it’s really not worth it for me. Then I like to work in the quiet before we open, because as soon as the doors open the curve balls come. No day is the same. LLM: What keeps you anchored to Flowery Branch? SG: Honestly, it’s Southern Grace. Before we opened the shop we were going to move to Florida, because that is where some of my other businesses are located. I got a call that we won the bid for the building so once that happened we knew we did not want to leave. We feel like there is a lot that this town will evolve into and there are a lot of opportunities for many new businesses. LLM: Has owning a business influenced other aspects of your personal life? SG: For me, it is a sense of pride. I want my kids to know that I (CONTINUED P16)
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FLOWERY BRANCH own this business. They can set their goals however they want, but if they earn it and want to be a part of it, it can be passed down. I want Southern Grace to be here for the community, for my family, and I want them to feel confident that if they want to be a part of it, they can be! LLM: Do you feel a sense of purpose in your work? SG: Oh yeah! We hosted a Shop with a Cop community event in our space and I have had my family reunion there. There’s life in the walls now and we enjoy being an anchor in the community and having a purpose. I want everyone to experience what Southern Grace has to offer, see why it was built and the love that was poured into it.
LLM: Any notable experiences you’ve had on the job? SG: I have learned to take a step back and appreciate it all. When Main Street is having an event and people are flowing in, happy and enjoying the store, I watch them and think about how I touched that, and sweated over this, and those are the notable moments for me. If you don’t pause to really take it in, then what’s the point? So, I enjoy the pause. LLM: Goals for the future? SG: Tons! We would like to expand SG and maybe open a new location or a satellite florist in the local area. I am also trademarking “Farm to Floral,” which is the concept of teaching people and florists to use what you grow and source locally. Sourcing the smart way. I also started “Shop Local Flowery Branch,” which is a
LLM: Has being a woman affected your professional experience? SG: Yes, but I am sometimes offended when women say they did not get something because they are a woman. If you really work hard, there are a lot of things that women can do that men can’t touch. So, I think if you find your strength in that you are unstoppable. LLM: What are some of the everyday struggles (and/or triumphs) with your job? SG: Flowery Branch area has really started working together and coming together as a unit. We have several strong women business owners here, which is wonderful! If you don’t have a sense of community, you do not need to be in business. LLM: Do you have any career and/or life advice for other business women? SG: Try not to fit into any box, because I never have and it has always had the effect of making my life better. It’s the people that do not fit into boxes that usually make life more interesting. The burden and the beauty of it, is that you have people that rely on you. It used to be just my core family, but adding Southern Grace to it really expanded who’s relying on me. I take responsibility for all of them and I have made a commitment to them, because they are my team.
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good faith effort to bring the community together. LLM: Career and/or life advice for other business women? SG: Just stay with it. Know your strengths and know when you need to delegate. Never feel bad for putting your family first. Visit Flowery Branch and other small towns in the Buford, Cumming, Gainesville, and Suwanee areas. A.S.
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Jim and Marian Harris Owners, MAX Results Training
Jim and Marian Harris are invested in their clients’ overall health and well-being through training that comes from the heart and puts soul into everyday workouts. 18
HEALTH & FITNESS By Janet Arnwine and Anna Shadburn. Photos by Anna Shadburn
Accomplishing Dreams
Max
-Every Single Day
Max Results Training is something special.
al client. Clients inevitably become friends. The customized programs are rooted in the couple’s deep compassion for each person, and the success stories have become family stories. Jim’s face beams when he talks about some of the testimonies and stories of their clients.
Run by two of the most inspirational and caring people on this planet, Jim and Marian Harris are invested into their clients’ overall health and well-being through training that comes SUCCESS STORIES Jim Harris proudly described a few of their success stories. We from the heart and puts soul into everyday will let him tell you in his own words: workouts. Their workouts are customized to each client to get the blood pumping and the physique into its best shape ever, incorporating body, heart, soul and mind. These two trainers have a vision that is being adapted by their clients and peers across the board. All who come in contact with the Harris team are better for it. Jim will tell you that he is all about sharing the success stories and testimonies of his clients. Each one has their own unique story that sets their personal journey towards fitness health apart from the rest. The new year brings health and fitness to the forefront of every person’s mind. We wanted to learn more about the process every clilent goes through to reach individual, personal goals. It took sitting down with this busy powerhouse couple to get a window into their own vision. The fitness industry can be a tough business. Gyms, trainers and methodologies come and go. What makes Max Results Training (MRT) different? How is it changing or adding to the already crowded fitness landscape? Jim is straightforward and will let you know right away that he is not trying to reinvent the wheel. Rather, he and Marian are all about the individu-
LISA SIMS “Most training operations can tell you about success stories, but the ones you’ll hear from the Max Results family are truly life changing. Take Lisa Sims, for example, she was diagnosed with MS, told she’d lose her mobility and that weight loss for her was an unlikely dream. Lisa paired with Max Results, lost over 100 pounds, and ran over 2,150 miles in 2016.” DANA CHAPMAN “Dana Chapman also was diagnosed with MS fifteen years prior to arriving at our door. In just a few months, she was able to go through a mall, then an airport on her own again, without using a wheelchair - after being unable to do these things for 15 years.” KEN DUNCAN “Ken Duncan not only dropped 100 pounds, but he also got his depression under control. Through working our program, he found a completely new lifestyle.” VESTER LEWIS “After trying for years to recover from being involved in an accident and hit by a drunk driver, Vester Lewis was still suffering severe spinal trauma, along with a host of other injuries. Not (CONTINUED P20)
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HEALTH & FITNESS being able to walk without assistance for over 6 years, Vester came to Max Results. In just a couple of months, he was walking 1 ½ miles and wearing a 40-pound weighted vest without assistance.” DOW DAMERON “Dow Dameron needed to get fit but had suffered a bicep tendon detachment. He came to Max, and was able to drop over 40 pounds, doubling his strength. An added bonus, his commitment to the program helped improve the use, range and strength of his surgically repaired arm.” ZERLY KEMALOV “Zerly Kemalov’s doctor insisted she needed to make some rapid changes for her health and lifestyle. To help make these changes stick, she began the Pulse45 program. In two and a half months, she had lost pounds, dropped her A1C and cholesterol and doubled her thyroid output.”
ESTABLISHING A ROUTINE
Jim concludes, “I could share many, many other success stories which involve things like recovering from severe spinal trauma, regaining functionality after chemo and/or radiation protocols, improving mobility despite joint replacements and achieving maximum health despite a host of other ailments. Each case begins with its unique challenges; but in the end, the experience is life changing for the clients.”
Jim believes that challenges are the easy part. They deal with clients that have some of the most challenging circumstances. People come to them that have not been able to walk without assistance for a couple of years; and they help get them walking again. What Jim does is challenging but he lets us know the clients’ successes are his rewards.
When Jim and Marian were asked how and why they both got into the fitness industry, they looked at each other and smiled. Jim commented they were originally set on different
Marian added, “Clients come having tried many other options: physical therapies, diets, joining gyms. But clients discover the partnership they develop with the team at MAX includes emotional encouragement and ultimately changes their lifestyles.”
Click here for more success stories.
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paths. Marian had been a lifelong swimmer and NCAA Division 1 scholarship athlete at Clemson University. She came from a family of athletes. Her brother and brother-in-law had played college football, and her sister had played college basketball. I guess you could say athleticism was in the family genes. Jim does not like to focus on their backgrounds and would rather focus on their clients, because after all, that is their main purpose. He insists they simply share their clients’ journeys, let readers make connections in their own lives, and provide hope to those without hope. Then things can change for them, too. Getting into a regular fitness routine can be a challenge for some and making it part of your day can be hard to schedule. When asked about some of the tougher challenges that Jim and Marian had experienced running their own business they were thoughtful in their answers.
HEALTH & FITNESS
Jim jumps in to tell us about another client, a surgeon on 120 units of insulin a day. “This clients A1C was high, with accompanying high blood pressure, as well as other problems related to his condition. After working with us, his next physical showed he is able to reduce down to 10-20 units of insulin a day. His blood pressure, A1C, cholesterol and triglycerides are down. Walking through with a client winning at losing weight is always great validation of our program; but it’s when clients have truly life-changing results when we are reminded what we are doing every single day is really important.”
her enthusiasm for the future saying, “The Pulse 45 program is a different workout every day, entirely based upon who we know has signed up for the class. We can make each and every workout specifically geared towards certain needs.”
ACCOUNTABILITY = SUCCESS
A fitness routine is only as good as its core concept, isn’t it? We asked what Jim thinks makes a well-rounded fitness regimen? He explained the most important concept they try to instill in clients is ‘balance.’ He insists on a balance among resistance training, cardio training and nutrition.
EXPANSION / PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
He says, “The bottom line is when January rolls around, every gym in the country will be full of people, happens every year. Then by February, Valentine’s Day, 90% of them will be gone. They will be gone, because they did not have an accountability aspect built into their program or they did not necessarily know what to do as a part of a fitness regimen. Not knowing what to do when they get to the gym, so consequently what they are doing does not provide results. So, for that reason they get frustrated and understandably so and then they decide this is not for me.”
He added, “We do personalized training at our Gainesville location for certain clients and group training (Pulse 45) for those who prefer that approach.”
Marian believes a big part of their job is to sort out the weak links of mistaken information their clients have acquired elsewhere. She adds, “We were trainers when we met. When we decided to forge ahead and work with clients everyday, we wanted to be sure to provide instruction only on what works. We also educate about what will not work. We have formulat-
There are plans to continue to expand their business. When asked about this, Jim elaborated on his ideas for their program explaining, “We have a group training program, Pulse 45, which we offer here at our Gainesville location; and in September of last year, we added another Pulse 45 facility in Cumming. We recently purchased the BodyPlex in Oakwood, GA. Our mission is to help as many people as possible. By expansion, we are able to help and give hope to more and more people.”
Marian is excited about the future of the Pulse 45 program and the planned growth of Max Results Training. She shared
(CONTINUED P22)
Click here for more success stories.
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HEALTH & FITNESS training program, Pulse 45, as well. Our trainers learn the particulars of each individual client, health issues that come into the equation, knowing things that would not be advisable for them to do, and then develop adaptations and alternatives to make the program much more personal than other group training programs. We basically looked at other group training programs available and figured out their shortcomings. We built our program to take the best parts of everything that is out there and combined them into one program. We then added on things that are not available anywhere else, like the personal touch - customization. To be able to customize and individualize is the largest component of why we have seen the success that we have.” ed these ideals into our program, which is why it has worked so successfully.”
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY
Jim and Marian tells us they live by a very specific personal and professional philosophy that sprung from a Creole French word “lagniappe” (pronounced: lan - yap). Lagniappe means doing “a little something extra.” They strive with every service they provide to give a little something extra. The common denominator in everything they do is their desire for each client they meet to feel like they have a partner in their journey. Marian smiled in agreement, adding, “We really, truly care about each and every client. Another philosophy we live by: We don’t save other peoples’ lives. Instead we teach them how to save their own lives.” Marian plans to write her second book, a collection of success stories exuding inspiration for all types of people. It’s one thing to notice changes in others, but when we learn the backstories it really makes a bigger impact and inspires.
HOW TO MAINTAIN MOTIVATION OVER TIME
Maintaining motivation within any fitness routine is so important for long-term success that Jim and Marian makes it a big part of the process with their clients. Jim reminds everyone providing encouragement and direction ensures better results, so daily accountability is key. Jim went on to say, “Personal training is more intense than group training, of course; but we usually find what works for individuals can usually be applied to our group
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Marian tells me they also provide versatility when they sense their clients need this. They don’t always follow rules passed down from fitness gurus or the fitness industry. Another huge piece of the puzzle - is the community aspect. They build each other up and support one another. Jim and Marian truly create a “fitness family”. The two are given a boost of motivation when they receive texts, calls or emails from clients experiencing success. Jim said, “Having clients text you to tell you they improved greatly on their physicals, so their doctors want to send their patients to us in the way of referrals.” Or when a Board Member of the MS Society reaches out after seeing tremendous results uncommon to most of their patients, it feels pretty good. It doesn’t take much more than that to motivate us.” Jim and Marian are seeing the people they help everyday experience positive, life changing, improvements, which makes it very easy for them to get out of bed in the morning to get to work.
WORK WORTH WAKING UP FOR
Curious, we asked what they think they’d be doing if they weren’t doing this work. Jim and Marian both laughed, and Jim answers, “Seriously, we both get to do something that we love every single day. There is no alternative. There are so many people out there who, if they made key decisions now, could add 20+ years to their lives and be so productive. If we do not do what God has intended for us to do, and we believe we have been called to this work, then we are not living up to our end of the bargain of life.” Jim shares an interesting statistic, “70% of the American population is unhealthy and overweight.” He says they will continue
HEALTH & FITNESS to expand their business to help more people. They want to create awareness that the best prescription is to first ask for help because going it alone typically never works long-term. Jim believes the courageous people who make the decision to ask for help and get direction tend to see phenomenal results. He would like more people to become more involved in the process which increases accountability and chances of success. He recommends group programs in which an experienced person is directing the show. This works more efficiently than going it alone in a gym. Having good quality trainers usually develops bonds which keep new clients coming back regularly. Marian suggests we find and develop a type of “fitness family.” And Jim adds, “If I could say one thing to all those looking to improve their health and fitness, I would suggest they ask for help and get direction from someone they trust to get them going down the right path. Doing this will ensure excellent results from all their hard work.”
A COMMON MISTAKE
We can all make mistakes when we set a big goal and begin new fitness and nutrition programs. We were curious what Jim and Marian find to be the most common mistakes. Marian lets out a fun laugh as she states with a kind smile, “People think carbs are bad - they are not! People want the quick fix, they want the supplements, and drink mixes, etc. But they need to remember that you cannot out-diet bad training or out-train a bad diet. They go hand in hand. People also think that the scale is their measure for success. Just put that thing in the corner where it belongs (laughing). People psychologically want to see the scale go down, and it will; but we do not train people to lose weight. We train people to get healthy, and as a result they lose weight. It’s not a quick fix. It is an everyday thing.” Jim likes where Marian took us with her answer and adds, “A lot of people go in a gym and don’t know what to do so they emulate what they see others doing. Sometimes that could be right, but sometimes that could be very wrong. It’s hard to tell what will work and what won’t. Bottom line - our bodies need fuel. Our food consumption needs to be adding the vitamins,
protein, nutrients and minerals our bodies need to function at peak levels.”
PARTING SUGGESTIONS
In conclusion, we asked Jim and Marian what is one last thing they would like to share with our readers? Jim smiled his disarming last thought, “It doesn’t have to be about us. If you read this article and you’re not healthy, get someone - us or someone else to help you get on the right path. Don’t try it alone. You want to succeed, so put yourself in the hands of someone that will invest in you and be the partner in your journey.” Marian added, “And don’t forget. We don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
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Local Life Magazine
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“At Vivre Interiors, we work hard to create a collaborative and hands-on design experience for our clients.� Cortney Orme, Owner
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GAINESVILLE BY DENI WILLIAMS
Making a Difference Through
Interior Design
Interior
Interior design firm Vivre Interiors located in Gainesville, Georgia creates some of the most beautiful and interesting interior design in the North Georgia area. Cortney Orme was gracious enough to give us time and answer a Q&A about the business. Here is what she had to say: Local Life Magazine (LLM): How long have you been in business? How large is your staff?
Cortney Orme (CO): Vivre Interiors has officially been in business since 2012. We are a small firm consisting of three partners; two functions in more of an advisory capacity. I am the acting third partner and do all the design work with a collaborative effort from the other two partners when needed.
LLM: Describe your creative process.
CO: When I meet with a new client, I need to “see” the space in my mind. I envision rooms and finishes as we are talking which allows me to develop ideas that I can visualize; almost like seeing a 3D model come to life in my mind. Once I have some direction, I begin to look for inspiration until the actual physical results begin to take on a life of their own. There is a sort of “ah-ha” moment when you are looking for the right material or design detail that happens and you know that it is perfect for that space. I never settle for almost good enough. You have to find the “it” piece of the puzzle.
LLM: How do you get unstuck when you find yourself creatively blocked?
CO: Change of scenery. When the day-to-day tasks of running a commercial, interior design business begin to get wrapped up in the impending deadlines, things can get a bit overwhelming. It is easy to lose your creativity for a moment. When I find myself there, the best thing I can do is remove myself from the situation. Take a break, pray for wisdom and re-group. Never fails.
LLM: How much of the concept for each project comes from you exclusively?
CO: My concepts are never all mine, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Vivre Interiors works hard to create a collaborative and hands-on design experience for our clients. While I ultimately present the design concept, it cannot be done without putting a great deal of time in with the clients and Architects involved. The more I know about what the client wants, the more satisfied they will be with the finished product. We identify the problems, goals and dreams of the space and discuss the best solutions.
LLM: What are your goals personally and professionally? CO: Our company goal is always going to be to maximize the design potential for every new project while remaining in
(CONTINUED P28)
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GAINESVILLE
LLM: How do you handle adversity in your business or with a client?
CO: We go to great measures to keep everything running smoothly. Sometimes, however, you run into an issue and have to work through it. We evaluate the situation. Is there something we did or did not do that caused this problem? If it was us, apologize and make it right. For example, we had a client that desired a specialty sink fixture for their new restroom. Due to communication issues between the engineers, Designers and Architects, a standard sink was installed instead. Realizing that this was not their fault, I went straight to the client and gave my humble apology, explaining what had happened. I told her what the cost would be in both time and money and offered to pay to have them replaced. Naturally she was frustrated, but in the end, she graciously chose to leave them as they were. Granted, it helped that product reviews proved the specialty sinks to be impossible to keep clean. You take your wins where you can get them!
LLM: Organization is a big part of any business and design probably more than others, how do you keep order?
budget so that we can help our clients get the most out of their business. We hope to see Vivre grow exponentially so that we can continue with that goal. We also look forward to collaborating on more and more projects with local Architects. We value those relationships and realize the importance of a strong Architectural and Interior Design team on new projects. Personally, I hope to grow wiser as I raise two healthy happy children with my wonderful husband. I want to continue to see the true beauty in the everyday things and not take any of it for granted. I’ve been blessed beyond anything I could have ever imagined. If I can give back to the people around me in any way that I can, I will feel like I have met those personal goals.
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CO: I am a proud Type A personality. Organization makes everything in my world run more smoothly. If I had been called to teaching, it would have been because I love organizing things more so than my ability to teach children. We keep a very well-organized resource library and put things where they need to go as they come in. We also have an excellent team of product representatives that frequently visit our office to keep us up to date as well. There are often several projects going on at one time and we just have to utilize every bit of layout space, both horizontally and vertically, we have so that we can stay focused. Our system works for now. Eventually we will have to find more space.
LLM: What are the key questions you ask before you begin any design project? What is most important? CO: I always want to know what the client’s vision is for the space. Even if it’s out of budget, it’s good to get an idea of what they would ultimately love to see. Then of course, we need to know what kind of budget we’re dealing with. Part of my job is to be able to bring budget and vision together so that we don’t sacrifice either to the best of our ability.
LLM: Tell us about a time when you had to balance
GAINESVILLE
multiple competing projects?
CO: I am attempting to balance competing projects on a daily basis. I love the Commercial Interior Design business. I was called to this profession and I take it very seriously. It is one of my greatest passions. But I am also a wife and mom to two young children. It takes a lot of teamwork and planning to keep everything running smoothly, but we make it work. Sometimes one of my children may have to go with me to a job site. But that means they get to see me doing what I love to do and are being exposed to the profession and how buildings come together. On the other hand, I am very purposeful about the time I spend with my family. I keep my schedule flexible and time meetings accordingly and we just get things done.
LLM: What completed project has made you the proudest?
construction phase of design is probably the most fulfilling for me. Every time you step onto the construction site, there’s always something new that has been built that wasn’t there before. It’s such an amazing experience to watch your design come to life before your eyes. I never get tired of it.
CO: We do a lot of church work. I’ve been involved in designing small churches like our local Baptist church to much larger churches like Free Chapel in Georgia, South Carolina and California and Victory World Church in Atlanta. We get to work on Healthcare and Corporate design, as well as other types of projects, and each one is a project I’m generally proud of in the end, but designing churches is something that means a great deal to me personally. Being involved in the process of improving or building a church that will go out and further the kingdom by reaching people is such a blessing to me.
LLM: If you could do anything else, what would it be/why?
LLM: What rules, culture, or structure do you believe needs to exist to foster team collaboration?
CO: Everyone needs to be focused on the same end result – giving the client what they want and keeping it in budget. There must be a sense of respect for all parties involved in the project. Make the design process fun and inspiring. Stay on task. Communicate.
CO: I spend the majority of my down time with my family. When the weather is warmer, the kids and I spend a lot of time in the garden. My mind is always in some sort of creative process. As for words of wisdom, find your passion and pursue it. Life is short - we all get a very limited amount of time to make our mark and find peace and joy in our existence. Don’t waste it!
LLM: What types of work within your industry do you find the most fulfilling and why?
VIVREINTERIORS, Gainesville GA www.vivreinteriors.com
CO: There are so many different aspects of the Architecture and Interior Design industry that I love. But getting to be a part of the
CO: I can’t imagine doing anything else but if I had to pick it would probably be helping people get their small businesses off the ground. I love meeting with people who have all of these great business ideas and ambitions. Any time I can assist someone, I try and take the opportunity in any way that I can. It’s a big part of why I love being a designer.
LLM: How do you unwind from the stress of work? What words of wisdom would you like to pass along to the generations coming up?
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This is the time of year when many adults realize that their aging parents are not doing as well as they thought they were. 34
LEGAL ISSUES
By W.H. (Kim) Kimbrough, Jr., J.D. of Kimbrough Law www.KimbroughLaw.net
HAVE THE HOLIDAYS LEFT YOU
If
Concerned about Your Parents?
If you left your elderly parents' home worried after Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other winter holiday gatherings, you are not alone. This is the time of year when many adults realize that their aging parents are not doing as well as they thought they were.
do next? When people come to me with these concerns, I always advise against jumping to conclusions. There may be perfectly legitimate reasons for the changes you observed. If you have siblings who were on hand to observe your parents’ behavior, share your concerns with them. If your observations lineup, or if your siblings have noticed additional problems, you will have an ally as you decide what to do next.
Going home for the holidays is an annual rite loaded with meaning for adult children, particularly those who live out of town. This time-honored tradition, one of the few occasions when multiple generations gather under one roof, is often the first time that adult children may observe unmistakable signs of physical or cognitive decline in aging loved ones.
It may also be valuable to chat with your parents' neighbors, friends, and other members of their community like priests or rabbis, to see if they have noticed any decline. While at home, take a walk and introduce yourself to their neighbors, leaving your phone number and email address behind. Ask them to be comfortable contacting you if they become concerned.
You are looking for any obvious signs of change. For example, consider it a red flag if your typically wellgroomed mother has stains on her dress and disheveled hair, and she is not self-conscious about this. Watching your parent cross the room can be revealing. Are they as mobile? Are they struggling more to get out of a chair? It's important to watch closely.
At some point, you will want to talk to your parents about your concerns. When you do, brace yourself. Parents often respond in a fearful and confrontational way when approached by concerned children. It’s best to talk about their care needs in a way that enables them to identify the problem and come up with potential solutions. If the decline is physical, not cognitive, it is critical that your parents are the ones making the decision to seek help.
Indicators that all may not be well with Mom and Dad: 1. Piles of unopened mail 2. Unpaid bills or notices from creditors 3. Carpet stains from dropping things 4. An odor of urine in the house 5. Insufficient or decaying food in the pantry or refrigerator 6. New dents in the car 7. Home maintenance items left undone 8. Changes in personal hygiene habits 9. Changes in the ability to engage in conversation 10. Changes in mood or personality 11. Dramatic weight change 12. Put items in strange places, like eyeglasses in the refrigerator 13. Frequent confusion/memory loss 14. Decreased judgment regarding finances If you notice things that leave you concerned, what should you
While it can be painful to admit that the people you have always depended on now need your help, it’s far less stressful than reacting to the crisis that almost inevitably happens if you wait.
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advertiser index Abstruse Pastry Co., page 22
(678) 828-9667 • www.abstrusepastrycompany.com
Allison Parris, page 44 Bee’s Knees Boutique, page 33
(678) 316-4589 • www.facebook.com/beeskneesboutique
Eagle Ranch, page 17
(770) 967-8500 • www.eagleranch.org/runtheranch
Fairfield Inn & Suites, page 7
(678) 971-4670 • www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ahngv
Gardens of Gainesville, page 4
(770) 531-7800 • www.gardensofgainesville.com
James Short Tractors, page 43 www.northgeorgiatractor.com
Jim Hardman, Buick GMC, page 46
(770) 718-3154 • www.hardmancars.com
Joy Co. Designs, page 24
(706) 499-8094 • www.joycompanydesigns.com
Kimbrough Law, Inside Front Cover (706) 850-6910 • kimbroughlaw.net
MAX Results Training / Pulse 45, page 5
jim@maxresultstraining.com (404) 370-2982 • www.maxresultstraining.com
Midland Station Coffee Co., page 36 (678) 971-5330
Mirrored Images Photography Studio, page 9 www.mirroredimages.net
Lakeside News, page 36 www.lakesidenews.com
Northeast GA Medical Center, Back Cover (770) 282-8455 • www.heartngmc.org
NE Georgia Shopper, page 24 www.negeorgiashopper.com
Purchase Effect, page 36
118 Main Street, (770) 283-0655 www.purchaseeffect.com
PSI Bands, www.psibands.com • page 25 Rahab’s Rope • www.rahabsrope.com, page 42 Scott’s Downtown, page 3
(770) 536-1111 • www.scottsdowntown.com
Simon Malls, Inside Back Cover simon.com/mall
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Jenn Hyman - Owner Staci Gibbs - Lead Makeup Artist
GAINESVILLE BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO OWNER JENN HYMAN OFFERS INSIGHT INTO HER NICHE BUSINESS BY SHARING HER EXPERIENCES. BY ANGIE GARCIA
Mirrored Reflections
There
There is a sweet boudoir, professional photography studio located in the heart of Gainesville, GA. We were interested in what it takes to specialize in a field of photography that can have its own set of daily challenges.
Studio owner Jenn Hyman of Mirrored Images makes it look easy. She took time out of her busy schedule to talk candidly with Local Life Magazine about her business and what it takes to be successful. CONTINUED, P38
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Local Life Magazine (LLM): How long have you been in business? Why did you start a photography business? Jenn Hyman (Jenn): I have had my own photography business since 2008, I photographed weddings, families, newborns, maternity and boudoir. This year I decided to follow my heart and remove the other services and focus just on boudoir. I had the business in SC, FL and now Georgia. In 2008 I was drawn to photography because it was a creative and positive outlet much different from my full time job, which was a paramedic at that time. I was introduced to photography at a young age, my father owned a print lab and it was always something I was interested in. I am now an ER nurse, and photography continues to allow me to be creative and have a business that brings joy and emotional healing to others. LLM: What made you take your business in this specialized direction? Jenn: I'm obsessed with the experience that I provide women. My clients are of many different backgrounds and each on a totally different journey. Some are newly engaged or married and just starting their life. Others are celebrating an anniversary or a gift for their loved one. Most of my clients, however, come because they need to feel beautiful and to love who they are. All women deserve this experience, it's incredibly uplifting and empowering. I don't heavily edit any of my images, I bring out the beauty that already exists in our clients and we help them to see who they truly are. Women are in awe when they see their images, most don't believe it's them. It's very emotional for them and me, each client motivates me to continue this mission to help women. LLM: Please tell us about your creative process. Jenn: I have a questionnaire that each client fills out, to give me an idea of what they're looking for out of the session and how we can incorporate different items/props into the session to make it unique for them. We start with hair and makeup, a little wine, music and girl talk... then we get into the session and it just happens! The environment that I have worked hard to create makes it easy for women to allow themselves to embrace the experience and get the most of out it. Clients are posed from their fingertips to their toes, I give very precise instruction and they are never left wondering what to do. They leave feeling like supermodels!
Jenn Hyman - Owner
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LLM: How much of each project comes from you and how much comes from the subject? Jenn: I owe a lot to our lead makeup artist, Staci Gibbs. She's
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
incredible at knowing what look to give each lady. After Staci works her magic, the rest is on me. I have a direction I know I want to take every client ahead of time, but I always ask if there is anything specific they want to incorporate and any input they have. LLM: What are your plans and goals for your business? Jenn: We plan to expand next year, adding an additional 1400 square feet so that we can offer additional sets and looks! I love what I do, I want to provide this service to as many women as I can because I believe in it. I will likely continue to work as a RN because I do love that as well, but it's two different worlds. I only offer 6-8 sessions a month, so that I can have the time to invest in each client from start to finish. I edit the images myself, I order all the products myself. I think having other people involved in that makes it less personal because they haven't met the client. LLM: How do you handle difficult situations that arise within your business? Jenn: Problem solving and keeping my clients happy is #1. I have never had a situation that I could not work out. I never overbook or run short on time, I make sure I have the entire day to give our clients. This is not the type of session or experience you can rush.
their friends.
LLM: What have been the biggest obstacles? Jenn: My biggest obstacle is balancing two full times jobs and home life, but I have very supportive people in my life that believe in this as much as I do. Prior to having the studio, a LLM: How do you keep your business thriving? Jenn: Word of mouth is my top marketing source, I also have huge obstacle was location and wardrobe, but we now have a marketing gal that handles a lot of networking and collabo- this gorgeous space and 100's of lingerie items that are size rations with other vendors. This experience and the images we X-Small to 4XL. Our clients just need to show up, we do the produce bring clients back for repeat sessions and they tell all rest! (CONTINUED, P40)
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
LLM: Tell us about your best success story? Jenn: My most moving experience was a client who drove 2 hours from SC to shoot with us. She is a single mom, whose husband recently passed away from an overdose. Her story was incredibly emotional, as she sat and told me how she came to want a boudoir shoot, she cried (as did I). She wanted this session to mark her new life, new journey with her kids. She had been beat down by her former husband and had little to no self-love. She purchased every single picture from her session and her tears turned to happy tears. She was thankful for us showing her how amazing and beautiful she is, she was thankful for us helping her start this journey. LLM: How do you handle the stress of running your own business? Jenn: I love what I do, aside from the time needed to make it successful . . . there really is not any stress. Another reason I will continue to work as a RN is so that I don't HAVE to live off this business. I am able to take the time for myself and my family when needed. LLM: What would you do differently if you had a second opportunity to start all over? Jenn: I would have made the decision to do only boudoir from the get-go. I have always been the most passionate about this genre and was hesitant to remove the other services but now that I have, I know that it was the right decision! LLM: What improvements would you like to see to the industry? Jenn: It's very difficult to advertise, the images (although beautiful) get automatically marked on social media as inappropriate and I have to appeal it every time. I love how supportive boudoir photographers are of each other, it's much more of a networking community than other genres of photography. We have a mission and we help each other get there. LLM: Where do you see yourself and/or your business in
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10 years? Jenn: Traveling! I want to offer sessions in different locations, both near and far. I'd really like to network with other companies and be able to offer their services to my clients as part of their package. LLM: What 5 pearls of wisdom would you pass along to someone starting out in business? Jenn: It's all or nothing! If you aren't ready to dive in and commit 110%, it won't work. My hours are set, but I work well past those. Find a good community to network with and help each other grow. Be open to the knowledge and experience they have. Have a financial advisor plan your goals with you, so you know what targets to fit from the very beginning and go beyond those goals. Be passionate about what you do, it will show in everything you create and offer. If you ever feel like your business is burning you out, hire help or take a vacation. Remember that your family needs you too. Find time to invest in those you love, because you need their support. One more thing I would like to add, as a woman, a mother, a career and business driven individual, I know first-hand how difficult it is to balance life and make sure your own needs are met as well. This experience helps you to remember how incredible you truly are. My motivation comes from women who are searching for a transformation; not just the physical transformation but a total overhauling of how they view themselves. Women are beautiful, powerful, fearless, and strong. It's time for them to see themselves the way their loved ones see them. Jenn Hyman the owner of Mirrored Images operates her studio out of Gainesville, GA. Visit her website to schedule a consultation at www.mirroredimages.net
MARKETING
Does Your Business Need a
Digital Marketing Expert?
Okay
Okay, you own and operate a business. Your business relies heavily on your knowledge and that of experts along with industry techniques. If you are providing the wrong information about your company you will not grow your business. Digital Marketing can be part of the puzzle for growth and business success. Every company should have a website and the proper strategic blueprint in place. Without this your site will cease to exist and disappear from the Netscape. Buried under pages of search engine manusia never to be found, thus prohibiting your company growth! Most business owners do not have the knowledge or are they tech savvy to be able to maintain their site in top elevation on the web page searches. This is when a digital marketing expert or SMM (Social Media Marketing) company can come in handy. By hiring an expert,
you can then direct relevant traffic to your website converting those searches to revenue for your bottom line. Return On Investment (ROI) Every company is interested in their return on investment, digital marketing is no different. Set aside a certain percentage of your marketing budget exclusively for your company’s digital footprint. This can be 10-20% of your marketing budget to start with and if you see traction from this investment then you allocate more funds to this area of marketing. What is a PPC Campaign? (Pays Per Click) SEO is the future for advertising your business. Staying relevant with the changing media and marketing techniques is more important now, than ever before. The attention span is as short as the click or swipe of a finger on a smartphone website. Holding that viewer on your site and getting them to interact is the key. Pay-per-click campaigns can be instrumental in building your customer base fast and furious, they
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MARKETING
can also be quite expensive! When searching for that expert or digital firm to handle this type of marketing do your research first. Then ask the right questions and make sure that the company or individual you are considering hiring for this task knows what they are doing! This is imperative and will make or break your digital marketing right out of the gate. Know the Rules In the beginning of the SEO’s (search engine optimization) and the SERP’s (search engine results pages) it was easier to get your business and company at the top of the search pages. For one, there was less traffic and it was easier to get placement at the top of a search page, but with the explosive growth of the internet more layers of rules and regulations have been applied making it more difficult to get your company noticed. Penalties can be levied when a new Google algorithm update rolls out and if you are not aware of the SEO rule changes you could lose your place at the top of SERP’s. This can happen without any notice and it can be difficult to regain your position. Many companies are now paying in the form of advertising dollars to make sure their company is at the top of search pages. Hiring someone that can stay in the know about regulations can help you maintain your prime spot, never losing that precious real estate and location! Facebook & Other Social Media - Who are you targeting? The hardest part of social media is really one query - Who is paying attention?! We believe that we need to have a presence on social media, in fact, this very article has been recommending that but where and how should we do that? On the net there are certain social and business pages you need to have, the following are recommended, but get rid of the ones that do not work and reinforce what does. For your business you should consider the following: a business profile on Linkedin or a similar platform; a Facebook business page; one of the picture platforms (such as: Instagram, Snapchat, etc.), a Twitter page, and any additional pages that are related to your business or field. Having someone handle the social/ business media becomes a full time job, making the digital expert a much needed source. Remember to keep what works and toss out what does not!
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Marketing Takes Work & The Right Help You may be the expert in your business and know everything about it but when it comes to marketing, look to those professionals that are practiced in social media marketing. That digital expertise will come in handy, saving you hours of time spent on marketing when you should be caring for your clients. Hire the right person from the start and let them help you grow your business!
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