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creative entrepreneur mary adkins at graphixstation
picture by Michael Vonal
 Graphix Station uses the analogy that they are like the only phone booth on a deserted dirt road. Explanation? In most cases, businesses that succeed do so with a planned image, brand and ideas that will support their core business. They know better to hire a reputable expert in the graphics industry. It costs money to look good. And often, small startups fall short on the design element of their business. Trying to do the task on their own, or hiring fly by night designers, their campaigns fail and they end up on the lower list of the ruling business class in Loudoun. There is hope. Mary Adkins is the ruler of this domain. She creates unique designs, creative marketing packages and she does it while she manages her family all in the comfort of her office to the left of her home’s entry. Here is her secret to success and advice to entrepreneurs out there looking for ideas. Her advice is indeed your phone booth on the deserted dirt road.
Why graphic design? Graphic design basically chose me. My first job was designing apparel for a screen-printing and embroidery company. I’ve had no special training, but I had talent and everything evolved from there.
What are your favorite designs? There are so many clients I’ve had the fortune of working with: Go Bananas (www.gobananastoys.com),Fun Dog Fed, Scotto’s Rigatoni Grill, Carryout Coach to name a few. A project that I’m most proud of wasn’t for a client. A few days after 9/11 my husband and I started a neighborhood drive to raise money for the Red Cross. I came up with a “USA, Never Forget” design for t-shirts and sweatshirts. Within a few weeks, we sold over 1100 tees/ sweatshirts and raised $10,200.00!
What is your best advice for someone who aspires to be a successful entrepreneur? Have faith in yourself. Anything is possible, if you truly put your mind to it. If I, a woman with no degree and four children, can create a successful business well…. anyone can do it!
How about to someone starting in the design business? From a ‘Branding’ perspective: Don’t let the image you are trying to reflect be the last thing on your list. Start your business with a professional image, a true impression of who you are as a company. While you shouldn’t be paying thousands and thousands of dollars, you also should not expect to get something for nothing. Market yourself! Just because ‘Build it and they will come’ worked for Field of Dreams, doesn’t mean it will for you.
What do you tell a new client? Do it yourself ‘Quick fixes’ that lead to multiple identity changes just don’t work. If you don’t invest in yourself, how can you expect others to invest in you or your product? I see it way too many times, clients will slap a logo design (probably created in MSWord) onto a business card that is printed from their personal printer with the perforated edges, and brochures printed in ten different formats, with ten different fonts, on ten different colors of paper stock… JUST STOP! Back away from the clip art! Have your Logo and Branding identity created professionally. Market it and be remembered!
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MODBIZ 
