Today we’d like to introduce you to Hassan del Campo.
Hassan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Whether by kismet or coincidence my development as a marketer has been unavoidable. Somewhere, there is an old adage that says one doesn’t choose their passion, but rather their passion chooses them. And as I fumbled my way through life, deciding and undeciding upon different careers and creative pursuits, I’ve learned to listen and, eventually, rely on my calling. It was as this transformative stage that I decided to make a concerted effort.
The nine-plus years I spent working with emerging entrepreneurs, developing & growing businesses that weren’t mine, gave me a profound education in entrepreneurship. I appreciated the opportunity to support business owners and manifest their ideas into viable businesses. I would often facilitate workshops and routinely met with clients one-on-one, to see how I could help them advance to the next stage in their business. Often, these sessions would include exercises that encouraged participants to visualize their business in the most literal form. As an instructor, a counselor, and mentor – I found my best work was realized when paired with visual representations. When I think of a business I think of colors first. And I believe my success supporting businesses is rooted in my ability to create things, for lack of better word, that resonates within and spark the entrepreneur’s own creativity.
As an undergrad at Loyola Marymount University, I was tasked by my Economics professor to plan a forum around the Freedom Riders, a movement birthed from the monumental civil rights era. The position forced me to navigate in and out of different roles; from graphic designer to website developer, copywriter to event planner. The success of the event gave me the confidence to accept other projects that followed. And soon I was developing a refined taste for marketing, advertising, and branding. My academic studies in Economics led me into the field of Behavioral Economics and Consumer Psychology, which exposed me to behaviorism – giving my foray into marketing profound context.
After a “failed” t-shirt line, a series of successful art pop-ups in laundromats, and another “failed” attempt as a coffee shop owner, I realized that I was developing my skill as a marketer. Unbeknownst to me, it was precisely my role as a marketer that was frequently requested and often demanded, by colleagues, clients, and business partners. My experience in experimentation gave me permission to stretch the boundaries of how I marketed businesses. I began to rely on my innate abilities as an artist and storyteller first, to provide purpose while my training in small business development provides context.
In this fashion, I like to think of myself as a curator, of sorts, that sketches proverbial storyboards for organizations, projects, and brands. While I consider myself a visual artist, marketing enables me to experiment with other mediums beyond the canvas, If art is the centerpiece, marketing is the conversation that happens when everyone leaves the room.
So, as I acquire more skills and until I’ve outgrown my title, I will remain growing in this space of marketing and curation.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My naivete of marketing, in general, caused a lot of hiccups along the way. The more I delved into marketing the less I knew. From email marketing, social media marketing, experiential marketing – it was almost overwhelming the breadth of information that I felt I needed to be successful in this field. Add to that, learning how to acquire clients, find consistency in my business, and concentrate on my strengths proved to be a challenge. Lastly, I started my agency as I was transitioning out of a ‘9 to 5’ position, which offered additional issues of time management and organization.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Social Mediums – what should we know?
Social Mediums is a marketing and branding agency that helps local, cause-based businesses and organizations find their “voice” in the noise of competing brands. We want to help our clients become not necessarily the loudest voice in the room, but the voice that everybody listens to. Because of a background in nonprofits and social enterprise, we prefer to work with businesses and organizations that support triple-bottom lines. Our clients give us free reign to add our signature ‘touch’ to their marketing campaigns, without compromising the intended branding of the business. Our particular specialization or niche would be working with food-based enterprises, such as corner store markets, cafes, and restaurants looking to refresh/strengthen their image, increase profits, and make a social impact – in a special way.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Interestingly and not surprisingly, our biggest supporters have come from former and existing clients – who several times have encouraged us to aim higher and dream bigger.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4060 South Figueroa Street
- Website: https://www.socialmediums.design
- Phone: 323-902-7263
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/social.mediums/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socialmediums.design/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/socialmediumsLA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/social-mediums-los-angeles
- Other: http://www.microbusinessmonday.com
Image Credit:
JD Starling
Chantal Anderson
Vegan Chica
ifreestock.com
Pixabay
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