Archive for Marketing

Creative X Entertainment: Tiffany K. Guillen

Tiffany K. Guillen co-founded Creative X Entertainment.  This business is a marketing and production company that launched in 2021.  She has worked with Netflix, Shondaland, and even Starbucks. The Creative X Entertainment website shares their value proposition: “We are a full-service agency leveraging creative, media, trends, and technology to propel brands into the spotlight of culture.”  They are working to revolutionize the traditional marketing practices.  They work with startups, small businesses, enterprises, studios, and agencies.

Creative X Entertainment was so successful that Guillen was able to start CXE Studios, which highlights people from the Latinx community and under representative groups through showcasing and telling their stories.

Guillen graduated from Columbia University and gained a master’s degree at the University of Southern California.  She worked as a social media strategist, in Barnard College, in a talent agency, at Nickelodeon, and to then be self-employed in 2018.  This ultimately led her to co-found Creative X Entertainment.

Guillen’s path was anything but simple.  She went does so many different paths and avenues.  She prototyped and worked in a variety of places.  She gained experience that carried over to her business.  Her entrepreneurial path demonstrated how she continually adapted to find her niche and what she wanted to do.  Guillen continued to innovate, as she created CXE Studios.  This element did not only help to grow and benefit her business but also allowed her to find a passion point.  She connected to this and was able to create something that she wanted to grow, and others were also interested in.

Creative X Entertainment logo

Check out the Creative X Entertainment Website: https://www.creativexent.com/

Rafay Iqbal: Drip Studio

Rafay Iqbal founded Drip Studio in 2021.  Their goal is to completely provide a company’s brand, web, and story to make it cohesive to the target audience.  For the brand, Drip Studio focuses on the brand identity, collateral, strategy, and experience.  They also design and develop the company’s website and the digital touch points.  Drip Studio also does research for the company.  Additionally, as a retainer, they do campaign work, create advertisements, and have ongoing design support.  The one thing that really caught my eye is that they will do fundraising initiatives for the company.  For example, Drip Studio will prepare and design presentations, help the company’s story be crafted to then get funds from donors, and even create capital raise templates.  Since Drip Studio has started, they have helped to raise $750 million and support environment goals by helping to develop sustainable technology.  They take the ideas their clients have and make them tangible and achievable, all the while supporting environmental causes.

This innovation is so unique because they have found their niche: helping startups have funds and be able to grow.  Drip Studio is the boost that so many ideas and startups need to help them get their feet under them.  At the same time, they are also working with larger organizations, like Forbes, to help make their vision a full and complete brand.  I think it is so valuable how Drip Studio is not only connecting all the dots but making the connections smooth and flowing into one another.  It is continuous problem solving and solution finding.  Each company is different, and yet each solution is seamless.

Also, looking at their website is so interesting.  Drip Studio shares some of the companies they work with, their problems, and how they found a solution.  Their transparency here is incredible because it adds to their credibility by show casing their work and then draws in potential customers by demonstrating the tangibility of their work.  Their own branding is impeccable as it all flows together so smoothly and without any cracks.

Connor Blakley, Founder of YouthLogic

Connor Blakley is the perfect example of a Gen Z entrepreneur – he saw a problem and solved it. His company is YouthLogic, a marketing consultancy that he founded when he was just 15.

While Gen Z might not be the largest generation right now, they still have significant influence and economic impact. They influence $44 billion in just discretionary spending. Blakley realized at a very young age that he can leverage his knowledge about the younger generation to help companies with their marketing efforts. He got the idea for the business while watching his friends scroll through Twitter, noticing how quickly they skipped through content. This made him wonder how companies could change their approach to capture attention.

After doing more research, Connor made several observations that he used to help the way companies target a young audience. First, he claims that there is misconception that we only have 6-8 second attention spans. Rather, he says that our generation is better at detecting marketing on social media, and we skip it faster if it doesn’t bring us value. Second, he says that companies often put generations in a box instead of trying to actually understand them. They should work to create more relatable content. Finally, Connor observed that Gen Z clings to brands that take a radical stance. The younger generation appreciates authenticity and wants to support brands that agree strongly with what they believe in.

Connor started the business when he was 15 and ended up selling it when he was 19. Just recently, however, he reacquired the business and is running it full time. YouthLogic has become very successful, and has worked with brands such as PepsiCo, T-Mobile, Raising Cane’s, and Levi’s.

 

The Seiders: Breaking Through the Unbreakable Market

I will start this off with a disclaimer: it is unclear whether the Seiders brothers are “millennials,” but they have heavily impacted both the Millennial and Gen X generations. Ryan and Roy Seiders grew up in Texas, where they were avid enjoyers of the outdoors. Spending many weekends in the Texas heat catching fish, they knew there was a problem with their coolers. That is when the Seiders came up with the idea to revolutionize the cooler and drinkware market with their idea, Yeti.

The cooler and drinkware market has long been dominated by many different companies, and it is a very easy market to make your way into. However, it is a near impossible task to become the leader of that market, and stay there for over 10 years. The Seiders revolutionized the way drinkware can be personalized and classy, while still remaining completely functional. The Yeti brand has become a staple in the cooler and drinkware community, and has been regarded as the best coolers money can buy. Every year, Yeti creates something new and innovative that nobody thought would be useful or worth it, and it instantly sells out.

These brothers are so inspiring because they found a problem in their own lives, and created a solution that has helped hundreds of thousands of people. Tailgates, parties, fires, and gatherings have all been revolutionized by the Seiders brothers invention of Yeti.

Chris Bumstead: Bodybuilding Redefined

(LEFT SIDE – Arnold Schwarzenegger, RIGHT SIDE – Chris Bumstead)

Born in 1995, Chris Bumstead, better known as “CBum,” is a Canadian bodybuilder and social media influencer who has quickly become one of the most recognized figures in the fitness world. Best known for winning the Mr. Olympia Classic Physique title four consecutive times (2019–2023), Bumstead has solidified his position at the top of the bodybuilding elite. Starting his competitive journey at just 19, his natural talent and relentless dedication quickly set him apart, earning him comparisons to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Like Arnold, however, CBum’s influence extends far beyond the bodybuilding stage.

Fitness is a notoriously difficult industry to breakthrough. The competition is high with established and professional athletes with pre-existing followings. Specialized diets, supplements, training programs, and competition fees can create financial barriers for aspiring bodybuilders. Slow physical progress, hormonal fluctuations, and mental barriers can all hinder one’s success. Bumstead has overcome all this and more. Not only has he attained a physique to be desired by sedentary and active people alike, but he’s also successfully translated his fame into multiple entrepreneurial ventures. He launched Bum Energy, a sports and energy drink company, and co-founded Raw Nutrition, a supplement brand focused on high-quality performance and recovery products. His partnerships with popular brands like Gymshark, Vaughn’s Treats, and Revive MD reflect his hands-on approach, ensuring that the products he endorses align with his values of transparency and quality in fitness.

In addition to his business endeavors, CBum is also a massive force on social media. With nearly 5 million followers on TikTok and over 24 million on Instagram, he’s one of the most influential fitness personalities online. He connects with his audience by sharing workout routines, nutrition advice, and personal insights into his life. Bumstead has been open about his struggles with mental health and his battle with IgA nephropathy, an autoimmune disease, further endearing him to fans for his vulnerability and authenticity. Bumstead’s combination of physical achievements, business ventures, and online transparency has made him a fitness icon. By redefining what it means to be a bodybuilder in today’s world, Chris Bumstead has inspired millions to pursue fitness.

Age Is Just a Number

Ava Yuergens (@avayuergens) on Threads

Ava Yuergens

Young entrepreneur Ava Yuergens demonstrates that age is just a number. Ava and her soon to be fiancé acquired 900,000 dollars and residential real estate before she even graduated high school. She is currently 19 years old, married, and has started another business where she helps businesses and entrepreneurs grow and sell on social media. How did she become this successful? The answer is within her daily routine, discipline, and determination. Waking up early in the morning is no problem for her, so she wakes up at 2 am and starts her day. A day in the life of Ava Yuergens is the definition of productivity. You can watch her daily routine here. She works for an average of 15 hours a day and uses the nights to relax and do something fun with her fiancé. Her habits in high school were similar. Before school started, Ava would awake from her slumber at 4 am and read before school started! Ava has a thirst for knowledge, and she lets it consume her. When Ava was in high school, she would read books constantly. She would read about business, marketing, investing, and sales. At age 15 she started a real estate investing company with her boyfriend. The two of them got engaged when they were 16. Ava Yuergens is a fantastic example of where ambition can lead you. Ava’s Instagram profile is packed with business strategies, self-improvement hacks, and hundreds of ideas to help build your business. You can check out her Instagram profile here.  The best part is that Ava isn’t done. She wants to become more successful and read more books. Ava is a model for what young entrepreneurs could be. All you need is discipline, ambition, and determination to prove that anyone of any age can do anything.

Imran Tariq – Webmetrix

Imran Tariq is a young man hailing from the UK before beginning his successful career in the digital marketing space in the United States. Tariq saw that there was significant opportunity when it came to Google Ads and Search Engine Optimization, as many companies failed to use or understand either. With this realization, Tariq set out with a partner to create and scale a digital marketing company that specializes in multilingual marketing, helping clients to curate ads and content that allowed businesses to reach a broader demographic than English speaking people. With that, Webmetrix was born; Tariq has been able to create one of the largest and fastest growing marketing enterprises in the world, offering clients a suite of tech services that allow them to more effectively manage their online presence, helping to increase web traffic and dramatically grow brand awareness. Imran Tariq has achieved success to the point that he is hailed by Forbes as being a Top 20 Entrepreneur, and has even achieved the status of Wall Street Journal #1 Best Selling Author in his respective category. In creating his company, Tariq hopes to be able to fulfill his own dreams, by helping other entrepreneurs and those who aspire to become ones, to create the best companies they can.

Carl Pei – Nothing Out of Something

Carl Pei knows how to create hype and gain an audience quickly. He has founded two companies in his lifetime, OnePlus and Nothing. OnePlus is a smartphone company that began with phones labeled “flagship killers.” He was able to offer smartphones with great specifications at a lower cost than most in the sector. With this, the company gained a lot of hype and attention and quickly grew to the company it is today. Since then, the company has been bought out by Oppo and Carl Pei left the company in October 2020. He has now created another technology company called Nothing that aims to bring the seamless ecosystem that Apple offers at a lower cost while being more open-ended. The first product they released were wireless earbuds similar to Apple’s AirPods Pro, but for a fraction of the cost. I own both AirPods Pro and Nothing’s ear(1), and they offer more for the price compared to AirPods Pro. While they are not as good, what you get for the price is crazy! Recently, Nothing released an Android phone in Europe but not in the US, unfortunately.

Carl Pei has shown an entrepreneurial spirit in the businesses he has created and the innovation he has pushed. He is challenging mega-corporations like Samsung, Google, and Apple to innovate. He has inspired many to create and not be afraid to compete with some of the most powerful companies in the world! His creative mind is infectious and inspires so many people. Not only is he creating noise in the market, but his products have quality and he does things right the first time with a unique touch.

Blake Wynn- Marketing Genius

Blake Wynn is a sneaker reseller that has since founded a sports marketing agency called, Enclave & Key. Blake started off buying and selling sneakers and making content through YouTube and Instagram. He was very successful doing that but he always talked about his love for sports, football especially and he thought he could make something out of that passion. He made great connections by selling sneakers to big name athletes and his family ties to the Las Vegas strip, as his uncle was the CEO of Mirage Resorts and Wynn Resorts. He dropped out of college at the age of 19 to pursue his dream of being a sports agent. Blake moved to Los Angeles to be able to become a partner with the LA Chargers, helping with their players marketing. Being with the Chargers was the first step towards opening his own marketing agency. Right at the start of Enclave and Key, he had over 30 athletes ready to partner. He became a global brand ambassador for the LA Chargers as a result of this early success. Enclave and Key has grown to represent over 150 of the biggest names in sports. Since Blake was very young, he had an entrepreneurial mind and he was always looking for the next venture.

Stephanie Conway

Stephanie Conway made a career in brand marketing and events once she graduated from University of Los Angeles. Stephanie worked in public relations for awhile until she quit and started her own marketing virtual assistant business. Circumstances happen in everyone’s life that potentially change the trajectory of their life. Same goes for Stephanie. Stephanie moved back to the UK after a death in the family. She realized later that she thrived much more in the United States. She moved back to the states and continued to thrive. Stephanie had created an impressive resume while working on campaigns with the top influencers and celebrities of the world. Stephanie’s business allows her to life the exact lifestyle that she needs in order to continue to thrive and be successful. I find her lifestyle remarkably interesting. I think that her values of something as simple as the sunrise has made her travel the world more than I can fathom. Stephanie is truly inspiring because of her story as well as how enthusiastic she is about her work. Stephanie is a big advocate for people wanting to become entrepreneurs but who may be too afraid to do so, because of the competition within a space. Stephine believes that people can be innovative and succeed in what they are enthusiastic about. I wonder if Stephanie utilizes her travel to meet new people, network, and build relationships with people or if she purely travels for her enjoyment. I feel like her lifestyle puts her in such a unique position to meet all sorts of influencers and celebrities from around the world.