January 2024 Newsletter – 2023 recap
It’s 2024 – mid-year will be here before you know it!
Reach out now if you want to launch prior to June 1.
If you have been putting off a project and anticipate launching it before 2024 is done, the time to get going is now. It may feel like we have 11 months ahead of us – and we do – but if your business is launching or growing this year, your precious time will be ticking away faster and faster.
With branding and website projects averaging 6-12 weeks – or more – we always encourage folks to plan way ahead to effectively launch a new project before Q1 ends.
We don’t bring this up to create anxiety – we simply want our clients to be aware of realistic timelines and schedules. If you’re flexible with launch times (we love to hear it!), then take your time and reach out when you’re ready to begin.
However, if you would like to create and launch something before mid-year, we would love to hear from you within the next month to ensure your project can get the ample attention it deserves to be done right.
January Community Event recap
With the New Year energy of January, I attended several economic forecast and research events around Richmond.
Are you a Small Business Owner looking for intentional networking and community?
I’m re-launching an in-person networking group at my coworking space, Gather Arts downtown. The focus will be on intentional networking and masterminding with other business owners. Interested?
2023 recap
As promised, I am sharing a look back at what the year had in store for Shapes & Colors.
My revenue story – was it up or down in 2023?
Our revenue at Shapes & Colors took a hit in 2023 compared to 2022. We had a huge slow-down in Q1 and never made up the difference through the rest of the year. Overall we were down 33.5%.
Updates on my team
Our team is steady with a part-time Junior Designer and part-time Project Coordinator, both of whom weathered the storm with us last year. We communicated early and often about our low volume of work. Fortunately, both employees were able to stick with us and we are working hard to fill our pipeline – and their hours – in 2024.
Partner shout outs
Our TOP referral partner this past year was Carly Bell with Bellrae Marketing. We joined Bellrae mid-year for a branding project for one of their clients. We continued to help the same client with future graphic design needs and joined in with several other clients by year-end.
Branding portfolio review
We evolved or launched brands in 2023 for 2 Brown Girls & Bourbon, No Job Too Small in RVA, Edwards Advisory, Hypermedia Marketing, Gabrielle Czaja, and Virginia Alliance for Peer Support.
Websites started, edited and launched
Started
Maggie Walker Community Land Trust
Melody Joy Short
Edited
Girls For A Change
Level
Hallmark Receiving
Gabrielle Czaja, PT
Environmental Resources Group
Salomon & Ludwin
Sunset Cottage
InUnison
The Roberts Insurance Group
Launched
No Job Too Small in RVA
What I stopped doing in 2023 and why
- Business coaching
I stopped business coaching to take some time to implement what I have learned over the past few years. I LOVE learning and will noodle on what to learn way longer than it takes. I decided in 2023 to try to act on my current resources instead of trying to learn just a bit more. - My business coach also shifted her service model, so I felt it was a good time to pause and just use the resources I’ve gained.
- I also left a retail job, a work partnership and certain networking groups that I felt weren’t aligned any longer. Instead I looked to go deeper in a few places that felt more true to my life and business goals.
What I started doing instead
- Using what I have
This quote from James Clear on Instagram stopped me in my tracks: “Do I need to spend more time searching for better information or do I need to spend more time acting on the information I already have?” It reinforced that for now, in this season, I have enough tools and resources. I just need to put in some reps toward the results I want. - Leaning on my existing community
I began meeting weekly with a business buddy and doing business conversations, evaluations and strategizing. We were happy to spend the time and we’ve both gotten a ton of moral, emotional and business support over the last few months. - Therapy
I restarted talking with a therapist in February and it has been an amazing journey. I have been working on things that have been bugging me from personal habits, behaviors, ways of communicating and thinking…I believe it has lead to several breakthroughs for me personally and in business.
My favorite reads of the year
Word of the year?
After a thorough evaluation of my 2023 in late November/early December, I landed on my word for this year – Shine.
How I’m approaching that in my life:
- show up as my best self, in work and life, as often as possible
- move my body in ways that help me feel like I’m shining
- put things in my body that help me shine – water, healthy food, fewer chemicals, less booze
- envision what helps me feel my best and cultivate that feeling often
If you made it this far, let’s connect.
Thanks for reading. If you’d like to chat about an upcoming project, please fill out this form on our website to get started. We always appreciate your referrals.
