Up until 2016, I dreamt of having a blog to share my favorite outfits, recipes, and things to do. At the start of 2016, I made the dream a reality and launched poisedavenue.com — but it was nothing like it is today.
Fun fact: the image above is actually from my blogging days! I think my favorite part of blogging was dressing up and having photoshoots with my sister, who would take all of my blog photos.
Fast forward to 2019. Three years later, my blog was going strong, I was having fun doing it, but I never felt fulfilled through what I was sharing. But, it had been my 6th year working for my dad in graphic design and specialty printing and I had been designing blog logos, price sheets, and media kits for friends I met blogging… and I did love that! My dream of building a blog had turned into a dream of turning that blog into a business, and as a new college graduate I was eager to make entrepreneurship work and find my way in the design world.
Unfortunately, at the time, I was in a negative headspace due to an unsupportive long-term relationship. Because of it, although I was eager, I still had little confidence in my ability to start a design studio and felt as if what I was doing was a huge failure and mistake (obviously, wrong!!) and I began to feel so lost in where I wanted my life/career to go. I kept Poised Avenue running, but had little direction or motivation. I was so close to giving up and truthfully was made to feel embarrassed by continuing it at all.
At the end of 2019, I left the relationship and moved back home with my parents. It was the year of 2020 that I decided to switch gears from blogging to brand design after discovering Better: the brand designer podcast. I fell in love with the way brand design combined art and marketing — my two favorite things. It gave me so much clarity at the time and was truly a message from God at the most perfect time. I fell in love with brand design and learning everything I could about it.
Then, later in 2020, Poised Avenue really started to take off. I landed a white label job as a designer for a studio I really look up to (hey, Hello June Creative!) and got to hone in on my skills as a designer. I learned so much from Jen and she gave me the confidence I needed to take on my own clients. But I think the highlight of the year was being featured in Entrepreneur Magazine. It was on my bucket list and such an accomplishment and exciting moment!
In 2021, Poised Avenue continued to grow. I started doing even more work for Jen designing social media and podcast graphics for Discovery and TLC, I took on even more brand design projects as a contract designer for Sarah Olivia Marketing, and even hired my own junior designer to help me with a few tasks. Client inquiries started to pick up and I got the opportunity to perfect my own brand design/client process, too. I even more-than-doubled 2020’s revenue.
Now, as we start 2022 and celebrate Poised Avenue’s 2nd birthday (as a design studio) I feel so lucky to be where I am today. I am so grateful to continue working as a contract designer for Sarah Olivia Marketing and to also have so many of my own amazing clients. I’m thankful to all of the amazing designers I’ve had the chance to partner with, including my junior designer, Emily, and my dad, who has helped me with so many print jobs for clients. But most of all, I’m so grateful for my supportive husband because I don’t think I’d be where I am today without his support. I am thankful for his belief in me and my studio… and my ability to balance both as a new mom and wife.
Where I am today, as a business owner, designer, mom, and wife, is where I’ve always wanted to be. Two years ago, I had no idea that I’d be here today and I am so excited for what the next two years — and beyond — will hold. Cheers to Poised Avenue turning 2 today! 🍾
How many years have you been in business? Tell me below in the comments or share it with me in a DM on Instagram!