Meet Allie Yazel of Powder Day Creative in Vail

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Yazel.

Allie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Some of my earliest memories as a “business owner” started at the ramshackle lemonade stand my sister and I would frequently set up on our street corner. We decided in order to attract more business there should be 1) a homemade product (no powdered alternatives) 2) art and 3) theatrics. I was in charge of the sidewalk chalk murals and she would do cart-wheels- sometimes for hours.

Twenty years later, I find myself back at the intersection of business and art. After studying photojournalism and advertising at Columbia College Chicago, I took an entry-level job at an experiential advertising agency. I was immediately drawn to the allure of the Chicago advertising scene. It was Mad Men meets Coachella; tickets to exclusive events around the city, a 4 pm beer cart that would scoot around the open-concept office, graffiti on the walls, concrete floors, and more importantly big, flashy brands to slap onto my resume.

I was captivated, but my bank account was not. I found a second job as a bartender, as many of us millennials have to do. Between long days and longer nights, I started to fall out of love with working for big brands and even more out of love with city life.

I moved to Vail, Colorado in June 2018 and flipped my life upside down. I traded skyscrapers for mountains and rooftop soirees for moonlit nights around the campfire. For the first time in a long time, I could finally b r e a t h. With my newfound mountain lungs, I started to get back to my craft- content creation, event planning, and photography. I rediscovered the reason I chose art school over a traditional college experience and why I spent so many hours in the darkroom during high school.

I founded Powder Day Creative in September 2019. Powder Day Creative helps small businesses, solo-preneurs, and local brands show up and sell on social media. Many of our clients are Vail Valley-based, but we also extend to a Denver audience. We hope to give business owners more powder days by taking over their content creation and management of social channels.

I find so much more joy, working with smaller brands – the people in my community that I see at the grocery store, the dreamers, the do-ers, the mountain-loving business owners. If there is one thing I’ve learned in the last five years it’s this: your passion will always find its’ way back into your life. Your passion will follow you wherever you choose to go. It is your responsibility to hone it into something practical and… magical.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
To be 100% transparent, the biggest challenge I’ve faced with Powder Day Creative is pricing. I am extremely empathetic and have had a hard time turning down small businesses with a low budget. I want to help everyone regardless of their price range- ha!

I will be launching the (POW)erful Content Club in Spring 2020 as a way to help individuals and businesses learn the basics of content creation + management without breaking the bank. It will be a much lower, monthly subscription-based group. I believe this is my solution to feeling bad about turning away customers who can’t meet my minimum.

Please tell us about Powder Day Creative. What should we know?
Powder Day Creative has evolved into a boutique social media agency. We focus on curated, purposeful content creation + social media management for small-medium size brands. At PDC, we believe social media should be used as a tool to sell, not just promote.

What sets us apart is our approach with monthly packages that combine the following:

 1. Beginning of the month strategy sesh.

 2. Mini photoshoot for new content.

 3. End of the month analytics meeting.

A lot of Social Media Managers (SMMs) manage, but do not create. PDC can do both!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I’d like to give credit to my early on mentors – Michelle Kidd. Michelle was my photography + art teacher in High School and really pushed me to follow my heart, not my head. Michelle was the real reason I chose art school for college. Kathy Steele – my Aunt*, but also an incredible Digital Marketer, Leader, Entrepreneur, Female Biz Owner of Red Caffeine Marketing + Technology out of Lombard, IL. I had my first internship at 18 at her company.

*All the women in my family are incredible mentors and have helped me grow professionally. My mom, Judy Yazel, Aunt, Karen Potter, and Grandma, Mary Ellen Patton really made an impact.

Thanks to the clients that I signed early on in PDC (& trusted me!):

– Kelly Newman, 714 Home

– Robb Caster, Manos Soap Co.

– Gabriela Mata Photography

– Kelly Karli Weddings + Events

– Brandt Olsen, Loaded Joe’s

Thank you all – your support means so much.

Pricing:

• Social Media Management Packages start at $1050/month

Contact Info:

• Website: powderdaycreative.com
• Phone: 8159000016
• Email: powderdaycreative@gmail.com

Image Credit:
All of the photos belong to Powder Day Creative LLC, but promote my clients 🙂

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.