So as you all know I love to support local and started a segment where we could share, learn and inspire! It is so important to support local and share your findings with others. During lock down, we are going to do a whole lot of these to highlight these businesses – many of which are taking HUGE strain during this time – and shed some awareness and love to all.
Today I am sharing Elvee Consultancy with you! They are a boutique consultancy that specializes in media relations, digital marketing, influencer marketing and events.
Often during tough times (like Covid, ie now!), companies stop paying for events, marketing and PR – this is totally the wrong strategy! So chat to Elvee Consultancy – they have specials running for small businesses and are ready to help and assist you. Please check out their website for more info!
And please follow their social media platforms – Instagram and Facebook – it would be greatly appreciated! Please support this lovely local business.The owner and bright mind behind this business is Lorinda Voges. Let’s see what she had to say about her business and her passion for media!
Tell us a little bit about your business.
Since a young age, I had a love for media and the fashion, beauty and hospitality industry; in fact, I was the head prefect of media and ran a school magazine at the age of 12.
Twenty years later, I ventured on my own and started 4Elements Media, a Public Relations, Influencer and Events Management Agency, which I founded and operated from 2011 until August 2019.
During my time as founder of 4Elements Media, I managed high profiled South African celebrities and influencers. I also worked on successful Public Relations strategies, launch & influencer campaigns as well as events for leading international fashion & beauty brands like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, DIESEL, Superdry, Banana Republic, Urban Decay Cosmetics, Kiehl’s, Vichy, Kerastase and many more.
In 2019 I opened up Elvee Consultancy a smaller scale consultancy firm that specializes in media relations, digital marketing, influencer marketing and events. Some of my clients include NeoStrata, Claire Hill, Heliocare, La Mouette, Private Chef Neill Anthony.
What are the top 3 learnings you have had to find out the hard way since starting your own business?
Stay true to yourself.
When we pay attention and listen to ourselves, the most magical things can begin to happen. Deep down, you know what you need to do; you know what the right thing to do is, so listen up. The more I stay aligned with myself, the more I stay in the flow and manifest what I want. Things happen more quickly.
Work hard, play hard.
The notion that those who don’t work all the time are not severe entrepreneurs is pure nonsense. Yes, entrepreneurship is difficult and you must put in long hours, more than many other people do. But during my time as a business owner, I have learned that no business or financial freedom is worth sacrificing family, social life, and fun over.
Learn to manage your time and grant yourself breaks and days off. Take time to socialize and spend time with family and friends. This can help clear your mind so you’ll make better decisions or arrive at realizations that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Ask for Help.
In the unknown and challenging world of startups, the journey is both exciting and painful. I have learned that I am certainly not capable of doing everything nor knowing everything. I had to learn how to employ the right people, ask for help and say no to something I am incapable of delivering, even if I want to.
Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I would love to expand the event side of my business and do more brand launches and private events, celebrating special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and even small scale weddings. I love growing small businesses within the beauty, fashion and lifestyle industry and give them creative direction. I am also working on some new business ventures, which I hope to launch soon. So keep a watchful eye on what we get up to at Elvee Consultancy!
What is your advice to individuals out there wanting to start their own businesses but are too scared?
Over the last few years, I have shared a few times that I think a lot of people romanticize about how cool it is to be an entrepreneur and think it’s the most straightforward job on the planet to run your own company.
Let me be honest here; it is not. It’s a daily challenge to save your company’s life, make sure you look after your employees, clients and your skin—every single day. You put almost the exact same blood & tears into your own business as you do in raising a child. I believe the steady growth I have had in both my businesses can be attributed to my core values; hard work, integrity, and honesty.
Tell us 2 things that are the BEST part about owning your own business and make it all worthwhile?
The freedom to create and be creative and work on brands I genuinely believe in. Owning my own business also gives me the ability to travel and explore the world and work remotely. I have a passion for travelling and inspiring people through my journeys and this reflects in my personal blog I often share about on social media.
How has lockdown affected you and your business?
Not must have changed in terms of working from home, as I have always prefered running my business from home than an office. Due to this, I felt I was genuinely disciplined getting up each morning and work sufficiently during lockdown, mostly during Level 5.
However, sadly, due to COVID-19, most of the smaller brands I have worked with stopped doing PR and brand awareness. Events and launches have been cancelled and most brands, even the big ones, cut down on the budget they had focusing on brand awareness. In general, our industry has suffered, from seeing magazines close down, to companies. It has been a truly tough year for most small businesses.
As South African self-starters and with a troubling economy, we are aware that it’s not always easy to ‘make a go of it’, especially in 2020. That is why I have decided to give back to local companies and small businesses by running a discounted rate on brand awareness services between October – December 2020.
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