Everyone has a story—this was the simple idea that Dr. Stephanie Kadel Taras dreamed of turning into a business. She knew she had the interviewing and writing skills to help families, businesses, and organizations capture and tell their histories. The only problem? She had no idea how to get started. Stephanie turned to Lisa Armstrong of Ajuga, Inc. for help planning, launching, and running TimePieces Personal Biographies.
Key Elements of Ajuga’s Approach
Since 2000, Ajuga has provided TimePieces with marketing planning, brand management, and creative services. Before Stephanie launched her business, Ajuga helped Stephanie analyze her market, think about the different kinds of customers she might serve, and craft the right message to pull them in.
“Lisa taught me a lot about how to market my business,” says Stephanie. “I had the idea to write people’s stories, but Lisa helped me think about the different kinds of stories and related services people might be looking for. With her help, I designed offerings for different kinds of customers, and then Lisa created branding materials—including our name and a web presence that helps connect people to the offerings that fit their needs best.”
In the 15+ years since, TimePieces Personal Biographies has evolved into one of the preeminent businesses in the field—and Ajuga has been there every step of the way. “Because Lisa has known my business for so long, she knows how my standing in the industry has changed, and she knows how to keep me looking my best to reflect that change,” says Stephanie. “She also has new ideas about my business and shares those with me from time to time.”
With this close, ongoing contact, Ajuga is able to translate detailed knowledge of the business into high-quality services, delivered efficiently and affordably. “For my latest site redesign, I didn’t even send her anything. We talked for maybe 20 minutes on the phone, and before I knew it she sent me a mockup of my new site,” says Stephanie. “It was a totally different concept, totally different look—and it was just what I was looking for. That’s the value of the long-term relationship I have with Ajuga.”
Ajuga provides full-featured services with a personal touch. “Lisa is more like a partner than a vendor,” says Stephanie. “She shares news and ideas that could be helpful, and I know she’ll be honest if she thinks I’m making a mistake. It’s like we’re having an ongoing conversation about my business.”
Ajuga doesn’t just help TimePieces with marketing and branding, we also design the very books and CDs that TimePieces produces for its clients. Because Ajuga knows Stephanie’s business—and clientele—so well, product-design services can be precisely customized for each project. “My clients’ budgets vary widely, so I need a designer who can approach each project flexibly,” says Stephanie. “These are people’s stories, and no matter what they can afford to spend, it needs to look special. Lisa always comes up with a way to make it work, no matter how big or small the customer.”
Stephanie describes Ajuga as a key part of her business’s evolution and successes.
“Every time I have a new idea or vision, Lisa is there with concrete suggestions for making it real,” says Stephanie.
When asked if other businesses should consider partnering with Ajuga for marketing research and analysis, brand management, and creative strategies, Stephanie doesn’t hesitate. “For other business owners, I’d ask, do you want your business to grow?” Stephanie says. “If you do, you should take your business seriously from the beginning, and Lisa will help you do that.”
“Ajuga is full service,” says Stephanie. “Lisa can do all the basic pieces, like a website, logo, or business name. But she can also give insight about what it means to sell in the current marketplace, how to take advantage of social media and not just waste your time with it, how to think about your customers—the full package.”
Stephanie continues: “Lisa is professional but also fun and funny—working with Lisa is never boring.”
Services Ajuga Provides
- Marketing research and analysis: We helped TimePieces analyze their market and suggested design offerings for her customers’ different price points and interests.
- Business formation: We provided insight into different business structures, suggestions for implementation of their overall business plan and suggestions for development and growth.
- Marketing & Branding: We provided a business name, logo, website and helped to plan product deisgn and implementation.