Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Wollman.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jordan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been in the branding and advertising space since I was a kid—watching my dad, who owned a small agency, wrangle projects for all sorts of clients. I knew from day one that’s what I was built for, and I’ve been honing those skills ever since.
I forayed into many areas of business, including when I owned a record store and record label in Deep Ellum with some friends. And those ventures taught me a lot about how a brand can change the world.
I was a partner at Aria Agency (in Addison) for over a decade, where I and my business partners built a world-class small agency, which was eventually bought by a larger agency in San Antonio (The Atkins Group). After a year and a half there, I decided I needed to return to my roots: a small, hyper-focused agency with a lot of really interesting clients.
And that’s when I started Misfit Brands.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No road in business is smooth. And if it is, you’re probably not doing anything great.
I push my clients to be brave, to challenge the status quo, and to be better (not different). It’s a hard thing to do in business, but it’s invariably a better long-term strategy.
Starting from scratch in a highly competitive space, especially after advantage of having a big support staff for the previous 12+ years, was a daunting and scary idea. Which is why I jumped head first into it.
The struggles I’ve had are going to sounds silly, but it’s been the really small, mundane stuff. I needed a CPA, an accounting software, something to track my time in, etc. Shoot, I needed to keep track of receipts instead of firing them off and forgetting about it. So, going from a job where what I mostly had to focus on was big creative problems, to getting my hands dirty again in the business has been the hardest part.
Misfit Brands – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We’re a brand strategy and design consultancy who works with rule breakers, rebels, and misfits. We help them rise above by branding better.
At the core of Misfit Brands is this idea: I believe that there’s a misfit idea behind every company and our aim is to help shine a light on that idea. And we’re really good at getting to that idea and giving it life, letting it be what it truly is, and creating a package of voice and visuals that compellingly tell that story.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, I think, has to be defined across many areas: financial (obviously), social, family, health, health of the business, health of the team, etc. For me, the marker isn’t totally clear yet.
We’ve done some great work, made some great money, impacted some great companies, donated time and money to some great charities… and we’ve learned some hard lessons. Some of them a few times over. All of these are successes in my book.
After leaving The Atkins Group, I partnered with my Father and Wife in Misfit Brands. Having a family-run business gives me the time to be at home with the kids a lot more. Ultimately, that’s my biggest success.
Also, you know, a Ferrari wouldn’t hurt my feelings.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://misfitbrands.com
- Phone: (972) 638-9652
- Email: hello@misfitbrands.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misfitbrands/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misfitbrands
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/misfitbrands
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
