Conversations with Julie Patterson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Patterson

Julie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The story of how my side hustle turned into my full time business isn’t necessarily a unique tale, but one that is a very real reality for many.

I’ve been a designer across many industries and disciplines for 15 years. While providing for myself and learning plenty along the way, the corporate world did not fulfill my creative soul. So I would take on branding projects for the nights and weekends to keep filling that cup and nurture what I was best at in my skill bucket. I always toyed with the idea of taking the full plunge, but never had the guts.

Then I had a baby. Maybe it’s a tale as old as time, but I feel so grateful that I took the jump. I needed time. I needed flexibility. I needed to be HAPPY and fulfilled. I love to work! But getting hung up on things that didn’t have meaning to me was making my light dim.

Now my stresses, my celebrations, my wins, my losses, my schedule are all my own. And I want this for everyone who wants this too.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. The first and biggest struggle, which I knew would be, was having the time. With few childcare options being a big reality for my family, we juggle a lot in a day. Further from that, it makes it very difficult to have a schedule. Trying to turn my brain on and focused on the right thing when the time pops up has been a big challenge, but I’m finding ways to make it work for me. I prioritize my client work, and then I try to organize my own efforts in such a way that makes marketing a little easier. (Precisely what defining your branding can do for you! 😉 )

Additionally, I am running a business for the first time, so that side of things has been a learning curve. I am surrounded by entrepreneurs so I am lucky to have a lot of resources. And ironically, I don’t hate spreadsheets. Give me the numbers!

There is also the balancing act of chasing your dream clients and still doing what you have to to make a little money. I feel for this reality with solo-preneur creatives. Instagram will have you thinking that you should hold out for what fits your ideal client, and a perfect life will follow. After all, we’re doing this because we love it, but we do have to make a living, and no one owes us anything because we’ve decided to do this. I consider both of these goals when taking on a client. A project that might not be your dream client will teach you SO MUCH about your own process, your offerings, and how other peoples minds work. You know you’ve got it when you can still deliver a great project after pulling teeth the whole way. We all want a breezy life, but challenges make us better.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a brand designer and founder of Anymore Creative.

I provide the creation of branding strategy, visual identity, and website services for entrepreneurs and small businesses to help them create a life they love. Striving to better serve small business and entrepreneurs and to be able to further help their various levels of need, my future plans include products pertaining to DIY and semi DIY offerings. Look out for those coming soon!

The problems I want to solve for my clients to save them time and confusion, and to give them the ground work to gain higher revenues, through defining their branding strategy. Distinctive branding will do this by enhancing recognition, fostering customer loyalty, and establishing perceived value. Being intentional with defining your brand will make you feel connected to it, which invites others to be connected too.Cultivating this differentiation and trust creates connection that encourages repeat customers and referrals, ultimately driving sales growth. It can also allow you to set premium pricing, increase marketing effectiveness, and make it easy to grow without faltering from the brand story your customers have built a relationship with.

What sets me apart and what I am most proud of is my promise and belief that what we are defining is the clients style and purpose, not mine. I see some trends of designers having their own style of branding that certain people come to them for. (ie: “Hire me for your next bohemian style brand!”) While what I see is beautiful to the eye, I struggle to be able to stand behind such an offering myself. To me, a main cornerstone of a brand strategy is that it is distinctive. Being able to identify that your brand is YOURS is a huge part of the purpose and value you are paying for. I don’t want to trick people into paying me for something that is merely pretty. Discovering this necessity and deciding I cannot stray from it helped me carve my path immensely. I’ve also been surrounded by entrepreneurs for over a decade and cannot NOT think of things from their perspective. It’s how I am wired. Whether it be a big or small budget, we can make smart choices.

So I strongly stick to my foundational branding strategies; to be intentional, distinctive and consistent. This is how I fulfill my mission to help entrepreneurs and small business live a life they love.

What are your plans for the future?
As I mentioned, and as time allows, I want to lean into how I can better serve my main audience of small business owners and entrepreneurs. I know in my bones how valuable defining your branding is, whether at the start of your journey or revisiting your branding when you feel more established. BUT I also know that times are tough, starting a business isn’t cheap, and we’re all choosing where to put our money very carefully. Along with my full service packages, I will be exploring a different arm of my business and how to serve different levels of need within this group. Need to do things on your own? I can help. Need a little bit of a hand but then you can take it from there? I can help. Stay tuned in 2025 for these offerings.

Pricing:

• Branding Visual Identity, starting at $2,500
• Branding Visual Identity & Strategy, starting at $5,000
• SquareSpace Website, starting at $2,500
• Custom website design for development, $Let’s chat
• Various design and direction needs, $Let’s chat

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anymorecreative.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anymore.creative