Meet AnneMarie Ellis | Brand & Website Designer

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

Hi AnneMarie, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
I’ve heard before and probably even believed in the beginning of my business journey that you must have all your plans and details ironed out before you start. That you need thousands saved up to hire out professionals from the get-go.

The truth is, you’ll never quite have a true grasp of yourself, your business, or your clients if you don’t spend time exploring and figuring things out on your own. I would say the first year or two of my business was me ironing out who I wanted to serve, what style felt natural to me in terms of design, and the path I wanted to take my business. I was not in the headspace or financial position to hire out help on things just yet, so I spent that time really taking a deep dive. Trying new things out, failing quite a bit.

I work with creative business owners, most of whom spent the beginnings of their business doing the same. They might have done their logo themselves, started out just on Instagram rather than a full website at first, created their own marketing plan before hiring any professionals. And I think that is SO valuable.

If you are in the startup phase of your business, my advice is to take the time and experiment with things yourself before you hire out any professional help. This will help you have a much clearer vision when working with designers, a marketing team, business coaches, etc.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I would consider my style as elegant, feminine, and timeless with a fine-art touch. I have a degree in studio art, so I have a background in painting, illustration, and design that brings a further level of expertise and refinement to my work.

While I focus on beautiful design, one of the most important parts of my process is setting a strong foundation with meaning and strategy. Pretty design is great, but it only gets you so far. I do my best to lead my clients in putting their audience and the goals for their business first over their personal preferences when making design decisions.

I absolutely love the privilege of working with other creatives every day to help them grow and develop their business. I’ve seen the growth and change that a strong brand identity can have on a business, so I’m passionate about helping entrepreneurs in this space!

I started my own design business in the fall of 2019 after working for another design agency for over 4 years. I desired to have ownership of a business from scratch to be able to grow and cultivate it the way I wanted.

There have been challenges in owning a design business. From slow months to juggling all the tasks myself, I have definitely learned more about myself, marketing, and finances more than I ever thought I would.

One of the best lessons I learned was to lean into making mistakes. None of us are perfect, so embracing mistakes and turning them into learning opportunities have made me a stronger business owner and person.

My biggest goal with Lovendear is to nurture and care for other businesses with design. Whether you’re a well-seasoned business expert, just starting out, or someone where in the middle. Every entrepreneur deserves beautiful design that makes a strong impact in their business. I strive to offer a variety of services to fit the need, no matter your stage of business.

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?
If my best friend were visiting the area for a long weekend, I would take them to a mix of different spots that I enjoy and frequent!

Friday night, I would take them to hear live music and enjoy a nice dinner at 101 steaks.

Saturday morning we could go on a hike at Kennesaw Mountain and have coffee and breakfast at Sessions Stand. Following that, I’d take them to walk around the marietta square and check out the local shops and stop for a beer or two at glover park. We’d end the day with dinner at Thaicoon to enjoy some delicious sushi!

Sunday, we’d go to brunch at another broken egg cafe and visit the High Museum and walk around the beltline.

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?
Without a doubt, God has given me every talent and ability I have. I would not be who I am without him, so to Him I owe everything. My husband Daniel and parents Steve and Tria are a close second. From the beginning of my business journey, the three of them have championed, loved, and supported me. I probably would not have my business today if not for them.

Website: https://lovendear.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovendear.design/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarieellis/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovendeardesign

Image Credits
Bio photo taken by Kristen Faye Photography