Name:  Kelly Roberts

Job: Marketing Intern at Hue & Tone + graduating senior at UNCG

Major:  Communication Studies

Minor: English

Hobbies/activities/Interests:  I just finished my last season on UNCG’s dance team, and have been dancing since I was a little girl.  That has always and will always be a passion of mine.  I also love exercising, being outdoors, and vacationing with family and friends. 

What’s your dream job?
Although my idea of a “dream job” changes almost every week, I do know that I want to do something that will both challenge me and allow me to interact with others on a daily basis.

Why did you want to intern at Hue & Tone?
The fact that it is a new business really excited me, I wanted to be a part of the process of a new business starting up, growing and developing. I also knew that it would be a great opportunity to work with and learn!

What project in Hue & Tone’s portfolio stood out to you most?
The video project about Appalachian's response to 9/11 stood out the most to me. The video was put together so well, and I really liked the message that it sent out. Often times during tragedies, people think that small gestures don’t make a difference, but this video shows that they actually do.    

What are you most excited to learn/work on? 
I am really excited to do blogging for Hue & Tone. I also am excited to learn more about designing and structuring web pages for clients. 

PROJECT I JUST WRAPPED UP

This UU Chapter was looking for something that would incorporate imagery from the national Unitarian Universalist Association (the flame) with imagery that would represent the local branch (mountains). Rich colors and varied typography enhance this new logo.

WHAT I'M WORKING ON NOW

A one-page handout for Rise & Shine, an afterschool program committed to promoting racial justice and equality. We’re in the planning stages of creating this evergreen piece that will be used to promote Rise & Shine to potential volunteers and participants. 

A new website for Los Angeles based actress Jenny Austin. We’ve worked with Jenny in the past to develop her personal branding and a new resume – now we’re excited to collaborate on a new personal site to show off her talent.  

                      Hue & Tone's New Space

Anyone following my start-up journey on social media has probably noticed I’ve been posting almost non-stop about my new office – that’s because I’m insanely excited about it! After freelancing from home part-time for the past few years one of my biggest hesitations working for myself full-time was the prospect of having to work from home.

Now, everyone’s different. But for me, a brief stint of working from home (when I was in between jobs) left me scarred for life – I literally went a few days without human interaction, my outfits had devolved into mismatched athletic wear and I was working completely irregular hours.

If you’re as extroverted as me, renting office space or looking into a local co-working space is going to be a major factor in your ability to be successful. If you’re just starting out, the low commitment option of co-working may be a better fit – your own office often means committing to a 12-month lease for both the space and the Internet. 

I’ve tried co-working in the past and was ready to try out my own space, but after weeks of searching I was worried my own space would be completely out of my price range. While the sticker price looked completely doable at first, there are a few additional costs to take into consideration: 

1-  Business Internet: Pricing for Business Class Internet is considerably higher then residential service. For a creative business that typically deals with large files, we needed a slightly higher speed -- this started in the $140 range and was priced into the $200s for turbo speeds. 

2- Commercial Renter’s Insurance: Expect commercial renter’s insurance to cost significantly more than the $10/month policy for your apartment. Before signing a lease, ask the leasing company for a copy of the minimum insurance requirements (these will be different everywhere) and be sure to price out a few different policies. Depending on the company, you may be able to get a lower rate if you use the same company you already have a policy with.

Be prepared to answer questions about your equipment, how many clients will be visiting and your day-to-day business operations so you can receive an accurate quote.

“QUICK TIP: If your office is smaller, make sure to take careful measurements to make sure that the furniture you have will even work in the space. Having to crawl under your desk to get to the printer gets old… ”

3- Furnishing your office: Thrifting and shopping for furniture at Goodwill can take a considerable amount of time and luck. Before committing to a space, be sure to take stock of what you have or can borrow. If you have to start from scratch, thrifting, Ikea or Walmart are probably your best bet! Take into account the cost for a few basic decorations, window coverings, rugs and consider if you need a lockable filing cabinet for confidential billing information.

4- Office supplies: Working in your own space means you’ll need to purchase everything from sticky notes and pens to a new printer. These costs can add up to hundreds of dollars for even the thriftiest, most selective shoppers.

5- Common Areas: Find out whether your office building will be offering a break room or shared kitchen. Eating out every day is a major expense when you’re just starting out – so you may be looking at making the investment in a mini fridge, microwave, bottled water, dishes, plastic silverware, or a coffeemaker.

After weeks of crunching the numbers, I was able to find a cozy, 230-square-foot office to split with another start-up business. Halving the costs of everything with an officemate left me with a much less intimidating monthly cost. For me, having my own office space was a necessary investment in my happiness and the long-term success of business, but like everything else, it’s necessary to weigh the cost and make the best decision for you. 

Welcome to Hue & Tone! The new, relocated home of Hannah Pomphrey Graphic Design, with expanded capacity and a whole lot of new ideas. As I return to full-time design + creative, I wanted to share a bit of my freelancing story.

I fell into freelancing by accident…actually, I didn't even realize I was falling in.  When a friend’s parents asked me to create a logo for their new business, I jumped at the chance – I had just finished my first internship at a graphic design firm and was eager to have a project all to myself.

It wasn’t until my first “client” gave me a $100 “tip” that I realized I had just found my new side hustle. After a little bit of planning, I set out with my VistaPrint business cards in hand to find myself some new clients. I cold called and did pro-bono work for local non-profits until I found enough momentum to begin working almost solely on referrals.

Recently, I took a break from freelancing full-time to try out a 9-5 as a Marketing Specialist. I packed up my mismatched furniture and my massive shoe collection and relocated to Greensboro, NC with the intention of settling into my much more “normal” 9-5 job.

Turns out, this 9-5 thing isn’t for everyone. Even the parts of freelancing that I thought weren’t for me – the irregular income, quirky clients, and doing my own taxes -- were some of the things I missed the most. While some might call irregular paychecks and lulls in work terrifying, it now seems like some much needed work-life spice.

After only four months in my regular 9-5 job, I’m excited to establish my freshly rebranded business in my new hometown.

Follow along on Facebook and Twitter as I continue to chase my small business dream!