Meet Trailblazer Nicole Meyerdierks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Meyerdierks.

Nicole, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
From 2016 until 2018, I had worked at an interior design company that eventually branched into technology, and because it was a small company I had to wear a lot of hats. One of the hats I put on was website designer. It was definitely a trial by fire education. I was using Squarespace and had to teach myself everything I needed to know in order to make small tweaks, and then eventually to build an entire website. I spent hours learning and understanding how to maneuver content, what SEO was, and then, how to build an Ecommerce store.

When I left that position in early 2018, I realized I didn’t want to go to work for someone else again. I took a few months to develop my business idea, test my business model, determine packages and pricing, build my own website, compile a portfolio to show to clients, and launch the business. September of 2018 was when Bear Branded officially went live! By the time 2018 had ended, sixteen websites had been built, and six logos had been designed! It took an amazing combination of strategy, luck, and determination.

I learn new things every day. I challenge myself with every project to step out of my comfort zone, to educate myself further, to experiment with new techniques and styles. Throughout my life, my age has always been a topic of conversation. I was 17 when I became an executive assistant, 18 when I began working to launch a technology startup, and 19 managing two million dollar businesses. Now, I’m proud to say that I’m a 20-year-old with her own company building websites and connecting with dozens of amazing clients worldwide.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing; but when one door closes, another door opens. Quitting a stable, successful job was a huge risk for me. But because I took that leap, I was able to be open to amazing opportunities and take advantage of them. It’s pretty nerve-wracking knowing that you have monthly bills coming up and no dependable income to pay them. There are two pieces of advice that I would give to women that were extremely helpful for me:

1. Have savings set aside. At any time in your life, for any situation you might be in, always have a savings fund with enough money to live and support yourself for 3-6 months. This is your emergency fund. If your car blows up, if you lose a job, if you have to suddenly move out of your living arrangements, this money will be what you need when you need it. I was able to use this fund to support myself for the months it took me to get my business up and running.

2. For younger women, in particular, use your voice. Ask for that promotion, say no to people trying to walk all over you, advocate for yourself and never take anything at face value. Have a little cynicism and trust yourself enough to know that only you know what’s best for you. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, so always trust your gut and never betray your morals. You’ve got this!

We’d love to hear more about Bear Branded.
My company is called Bear Branded, and I’m a Squarespace website designer! I chose Squarespace to specialize in because it has the best user interface for my clients. It is the most clean-cut and modern platform builder out there. I’ve used Wix, Weebly, and WordPress before, only to be massively confused and lost in the terrible layout of their backends. Squarespace has competitive rates, e-commerce functionality, and is easily modified with CSS. I’m also a Squarespace Circle member, which gives me access to some special features I get to share with clients. Besides the bears, Bear Branded is known for affordable websites and affordable e-commerce stores for small businesses. I work with entrepreneurs and companies who need to establish a quality online presence without breaking the bank. As a brand, I’m most proud of the uniqueness. I don’t think you’ll find another woman lugging a giant fluffy bear through public spaces for a marketing shoot! I think my clients see that creativity and that makes them want to speak with me and see what I’m about. I’m also proud that I was able to find a niche that let me incorporate creativity, flexibility, and honestly helping others. I love getting messages from my clients stating how their businesses are growing and how excited they are.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Yes, absolutely. I was raised by two entrepreneurs! Both of my parents own their own businesses, work for themselves, and make their own schedules. All throughout my childhood, I saw the benefits and the drawbacks of self-employment. My parents are both involved with real estate, and they were extremely transparent about how events in the market affected both of them. They taught me money management, communication skills, work ethic, and how to stand up for myself. I could write a novel on everything they taught me but I’ll keep it short and sweet! Suffice it to say, they are the ones who gave me the tools and knowledge to form this company and successfully run it. They are the ones who cheered me on and supported me when I came to them with this idea and wanted to make a very risky leap! I am and always will be very lucky and grateful to have them on my side and to have learned from them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bearbranded.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearbrandedsites/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearbrandedsites/

Image Credit:
Braedon Lash. Location credit to The Goods Donuts, Shorehouse Kitchen, The Succulent Cafe,  Sleeping Tiger Coffee

Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.