Join Marketing Mentor, Ilise Benun, for a discussion with 2 creative solopreneurs about the nitty gritty of talking to clients about money.
Jeff Barlow of Seattle-based, Jelvetica, and Julia Reich of New York-based, Julia Reich Designs, will describe recent situations with prospects and clients where they had to:
- Find out whether a prospect could afford them, before agreeing to do a proposal.
- Get numbers from a prospect who insisted they didn't have a budget.
- Respond to the dreaded, "Your fee is too high."
Listen in to find out how they did it and what, exactly, they said. They'll both share their perspective on the process, from initial request to proposal to start of project (some they got, some they didn't) with both past clients and new clients.
Julia Reich Design is an award-winning small creative brand strategy and graphic design firm. In 2001, Julia Reich started as a New York City freelancer and in 2007 re-located to rural central New York and set up shop in a barn located on her property. She and her creative team help clients- primarily nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and progressive businesses- with branding, print design, package design, and website design, with a special passion in working in the food, wine, environmental and agriculture sectors. Clients currently include a Long Island winery; a heritage tourism site on the St. Lawrence River; a Brooklyn-based educational nonprofit; the New York Agricultural Land Trust; Planned Parenthood; and Slow Food USA.
Julia is Vice-President of Aurora Arts & Merchants Association; a Board member of Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty; a member of Leadership Cayuga 2009. She also conducts public speaking engagements on self-promotion strategies for 'solopreneurs' and small businesses; and tries to practice what she preaches via her website, blog ("The Citiot's Guide to Country Living"), email newsletter, and Twitter, and is an occasional food writer with recent articles in The Citizen and Edible Finger Lakes.
Jeff Barlow, Principal + Creative Director of Seattle-based, jelvetica, transplanted his family to Seattle in 1996 because he liked the design work that was being produced there. He spent a few years at TeamDesign/Methodologie, then spun out as a co-founder of the print/brand-based studio called GRIP. He is now the principal and creative director of his own studio, jelvetica.
Jeff specializes in idea generation and brand-building. His work and ideas have been featured in the HOW International Design Annual, and the HOW Self Promotion Annual. His Annual Report and non-profit work have also been honored by Creativity 27, Print magazine and other publications. His strategic and design experience includes work for Expedia, The National MS Society, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Washington Health Foundation, and Washington Mutual. He is currently the president of the Seattle chapter of AIGA and is responsible for leading the 700+ local members in the use of design as a professional craft, a strategic business tool, and a cultural force.