Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Walker.
Annie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a kid, I always imagined being able to work from my bedroom. I didn’t know how but I knew that in order for me to be happy I needed to be creative, all the time. Now, its almost true except I work from a couch or table in an office in my home. A little over ten years ago, I started Annie Walker Designs in Miami, Florida, as a freelance graphic design business. I was going to college at Barry University and working at the Fontaine Bleau Miami Beach.
I wanted to pursue graphic design, but I knew I needed more experience before any company would hire me full time. My first gig was working with the International Director of Sales at Frontgate. You may recognize the brand from Skymall magazines on planes. From there it took off not just doing graphic design work but also managing photo shoots and helping to design products for various clients nationwide.
I started a full-time job at a high-end stationery studio, Allie Munroe which helped me immensely in understanding what I was good at and what came naturally design wise. My boss soon realized I was a multitasker and literally would do anything to get the job completed for a client. That commitment has helped me hold onto that relationship for over seven years, and she’s still one of my favorite people to work with.
Earlier this year I got married, and I took on the challenge of hand sewing my own wedding dress plus my bridesmaid’s dresses. The feeling I got when I finished inspired me to keep the clothing designs going while also maintaining my graphic design business. So, I started a second business a few months ago, The Cool Ppl, an activewear line for women and soon men. This has been something I have wanted to do for years, and finally, all the pieces came together to make it happen.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
What I learned from the beginning is go into business because you have a passion and want others to experience what you have to offer, don’t go in for the money. It took several years for me to get to the point that I didn’t need another form of income because those first years were very difficult but absolutely necessary.
I’ve also learned that I can’t control everything, i.e. expect shipping problems to occur, delays in manufacturing, never a consistent paycheck, or the worst, not coming up with a design right away. All of these challenges though have helped me understand what it takes to be a successful business owner.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Annie Walker Designs is a graphic design company focused on all things creative. I design invitations, posters and stationery weekly, and corporate branding materials daily. My specialty is working under tight deadlines and providing clients with an array of styles ranging from classic to modern, to very stylized and illustrative.
My latest project is rebranding a federal credit union that runs the marketing for over 1,400 credit unions nationwide. I pitched a brand transformation a few months ago, and the whole company went for it immediately. Everyone is very excited about the new look!
Right before that I combined two, 40-year-old corporate conferences into one, 4-day event and designed all the branding, marketing, and promotional items for the year. Besides graphic design, I created a custom clothing line, The Cool Ppl, where each collection has a theme based on nature and art. I have had two trunk shows, one in Chicago, Illinois and one in Frisco, Texas that were pretty successful.
The coolest part was when I got to see my work worn on someone else! People have always told me to start a clothing line, but I didn’t want to stop doing my graphic design, so now that I get to combine my two passions into a business, I am so excited for the future.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to your success?
My drive. I work all the time on so many different things. I love my sleep, so that is never is affected but when I am awake it’s hard for me to not be creating something new wherever I am. My husband is constantly telling people he’s surprised how much I can do and on no coffee or caffeine.
Contact Info:
- Website: anniewalkerdesigns.com and thecoolppl.com
- Email: info@anniewalkerdesigns.com
- Instagram: anniewalkerdesigns and the.cool.ppl
- Facebook: anniewalkerdesigns and the.cool.ppl
Image Credit:
Izzie Cervantes
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