Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Green and Bill Sholar.
Kim and Bill, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Back in 2003, our family business kicked off as IT website hosting provider and desktop support. I have a degree in graphic arts and after several long years in corporate America it was time to support the family business. During this time, a client or two needed referrals for logo design and design of some printed pieces. I mentioned I could do that and within a short period of time within Frisco the word got out. After a few years of converting the family business into something I could support which was “marketing” it was well received and flourishing. Around the time of 2004-2005, I was heavily networking in Frisco, Texas and a near/dear friend suggested I have coffee with a local competitor who was “well known and loved by many”. I quickly declined and kept on doing my thing. After getting hammered again with this (scorned by my friend) – I spoke with my hubby and decided to just go have coffee. After a few hours we discussed our strengths and weaknesses and common problems as small businesses often have, as we wrapped up our coffee (3 hours later) he asked if I would be interested in handling some website maintenance for his clients. I jumped in with both feet and said yes. Mind you – he threw me under the bus with his MOST high maintenance clients!!! What I didn’t know at the time was this was his way of testing me. After a year of testing the waters behind closed doors with outsourcing to each other’s strengths, our family members liked and trusted everyone (whew) we landed a few great projects and then decided to team up as one marketing company. The name we ended up with *leave it to the technical partner* was Frisco Websites. We’ve been partners ever since 2005/2006. We have officially converted into a virtual office working remote in two separate states now and still rocking it as Short Story Marketing.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Trying to be the graphic artist and also stay up on technical issues was a challenge, as the website world was changing faster than the technical aspects I had dealt with in the corporate world. Once the partnership started, I was able to depend on Bill as the technical partner, and I could focus on design. This allowed us to build websites with the combination of custom design and “do it yourself” editing that clients were demanding.
With the partnership in full swing; my family business decided to sell off all of our servers/etc and go with the trend of DIY / capabilities of editing your own website. Bill knew this side of the business very well and clients trusted his expertise in the technology area of small businesses. The partnership has survived a few “speed bumps”.
One stands out… When a new but seemingly fast-growing firm in town sought us out and wanted to bring us into their firm as partners, we were flattered, but found within 6-8 weeks that it was a mistake. We ended up bailing out, with a lot of work to pick up all the pieces. (We learned that if it sounds too good to be true – it is! And Google is your friend when it comes to researching and not taking everyone at face value.)
We’d love to hear more about your business.
If or when people ask us what we do, we say that we get them more clients, members, donors, and visitors. Oddly, people rarely ask for that. They ask for a new website, a logo, a direct mail campaign, etc., which are some of the primary tools we use to do our jobs. Net-Net we work with business owners to produce lead generating online and print marketing. Digital/online marketing is our primary focus but when the client needs them, then we also help with direct mail, ads in periodicals, or other printed pieces, and we help source promotional products if appropriate.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The long-term growth and ever-present entrepreneurial spirit of our area is inspiring, and has helped us be successful! I’m sure we share a dislike for traffic with others in the area!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shortstorymarketing.com
- Phone: 866-640-1234
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designgyrl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShortStoryMarketing/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SSMFWS
Image Credit:
SSM
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.
