Meet Erica Ortiz | Brand Strategist & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Ortiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I grew up in a household of entrepreneurs so I often did small design projects for their businesses like business cards, posters, thank you cards, etc. It was always something I enjoyed doing & at that point had no idea I could monitize it. I eventually went to college for business & marketing, so I learned the importance of having a solid brand foundation & what was needed to design strategically.

After getting married in 2017 to my amazing husband, John, I got pregnant with my daughter, Zaery & she truly lit a fire in me. Though I had an amazing, high-paying job, having her completely changed my mindset on working a 9-5. My maternity leave was up & I did not want to go back to work. I didn’t want anyone to dictate how often I would see my baby or miss any of her firsts, so I quit & knew this was the perfect time to start my business.

It took a year of trials & errors but on October 28th, 2019 with a 1-year-old on my hip & pregnant with my son, Ezra, I made it official. It was hectic, fun & life-changing, looking back at it, it was the best decision I have made for myself & my family! I get to stay home with my children & do what I love while helping women gain the freedom that I now have.

Long story short, it is never “the perfect time”, you have to make it the perfect time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Her Timeless Brand is known for creating timeless & modern digital designs. We focus on the longevity of our client’s brand therefore all of our projects start with a brand strategy where we identify the WHY before we design ANYTHING. What sets us apart is our personable approach to building client relationships, our modern design style & our detail-oriented project process.

It was not easy getting to where I am today. The hardest part of any business is identifying what truly sets you apart in your industry. For a few months at the start of my business, I found myself constantly comparing myself to others until I found my brand identity. I figured out my design style, my client approach & the process that would leave my clients impressed & coming back! All of this came from me creating my own brand strategy & that is when I decided to teach this to all my clients so they can have that light bulb moment that shifted my business. On top of this, I had to figure out a balance between being a business owner, being a mother & a wife which was no easy task.

The biggest lesson that I have learned is to stay consistent & keep showing up in your business. A lot of small businesses think that they will grow overnight with just posting on social media, but, a lot more goes into it. We have to be willing to do all that we can to position our brands to thrive because no one will go as hard on your business as YOU will! Develop a strong brand foundation by identifying your ideal client/customer, figure out your Unique Selling Proposition by doing a Competitor Research Analysis. establish your Brand Pillars & design a brand that reflects the vision of where you want your business to go!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First of all, ALL my friends are bosses so we would definitely have a content day full of good vibes, good visuals & good food. I am finishing up a content studio in Greer, SC so we would start there! The space is super modern & perfect to capture Pinterest worthy visuals. You will be able to find the studio on Peerspace & our Instagram page (@hertimelessgallery) in just a few weeks!

After we get all the reels, pictures & videos done we would go out to eat at my favorite Caribbean restaurant in Greenville, SC called Sofrito. We would enjoy their amazing music & even better Dominican food.

My friends & I love talking business! We always give each other advice & brain storm on our next business ventures so, that is very likely how we would end the night!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Alllllll the credit belongs to GOD & He alone! Any hardships I’ve been through like living without my mother for 15 years, coming to an unknown country & culture at the age of 8, struggling with depression, being broke with a newborn, everything I mean, EVERYTHING was to position me for what He had in store.

He allowed me to grow up watching my father start a business & thrive in a foreign country with a limited understanding of the language.

He allowed me to meet my husband who is nothing but supportive in anything I decide to do.

He allowed me to start a business with a 1 year old and pregnant & make 6 figures in my first year.

He allowed me to start a business that helps women build strong foundations for their brands.

He allowed me to go through things so that I can help others overcome them.

I’ve had struggles but that never outweighs the outpouring love & support from family & total strangers that become clients! I have been blessed to work with women that trust me & love what I can create for them. God deserves all the praise for this entire journey.

Website: hertimelessbrand.com

Instagram: instagram.com/hertimelessbrand

Facebook: facebook.com/hertimelessbrand