Episode 102 – 5 Branding Lessons I Learned Since Launching my Business

Welcome to episode 102 of the Brand Strategy Podcast. Today I’m sharing more behind-the-scenes of my own story as a creative entrepreneur. One of the biggest questions I so often get asked is: how did you get started and how did you get to where you are today? So in this episode, I want to walk you through how I built a high-end brand through humble beginnings and five branding lessons I learned along the way. WHO IS BONNIE BAKHTIARI? Hi friends, I’m Bonnie. I am a self-taught brand designer based in beautiful Waco, Texas. I have been a brand designer and strategist at b is for bonnie design for almost seven years now. I feel so honored to be able to work with hundreds of creatives over those past seven years to really build beautiful and intentional brands that reflect the heart of their life’s work. But more than what I do, I absolutely love who I get to share it with. And that is my husband, Armon, my college sweetheart and husband for eight years. And together, like I said we live in Waco in the sweetest little bungalow with our golden retriever, Boone. And our newest little addition to the family, Quinn, an 8-month-old Golden Retriever who is all legs, smiles, and whip smart. We are really passionate about chasing after life through an approach of loving others fiercely, giving grace freely and choosing to enjoy every single day. MY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS I started b is for bonnie design back in 2012 with little more than a big dream and whole lot of gumption. I was in a big transitional season of life, and it seems crazy to think that’s when I started this beautiful business. (2:45) I was graduating in May. Getting married in July. And as if that weren’t enough, I was moving halfway across the country for my husband who was stationed in California with the Air Force. At that time, I was struggling to figure out how I could help provide for our family. And how I could utilize my passions, skills and gifts to really bring something positive into our lives. But I hit publish on that very first etsy shop website anyways and b is for bonnie design was born. Something slowly started to click in my mind where I realized how beautiful-purposeful design when paired with strategic words, could really help tell a story in a really full and robust way. (4:35) My formal degree is in journalism. Which means I learned the basics of graphic designs when I was designing the front cover of newspapers. Catch the rest of my untraditional journey from journalism college student to wedding stationery designer to high-...