Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Schwartz.
Hi Lauren, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started working as a designer back in 2005, designing websites for a small tech company. When I graduated college, my dream was to work in the Action Sports Industry. After about a year, I finally landed my dream job of working at one of the bigger action sports industry brands, Active Rideshop, where I was designing for the women’s section of their website and their apparel graphics. I took a couple years working in the apparel industry, where I was able to work and design with top brands such as Revolve clothing, BCBG, Fox Racing. After being in the industry for about 6 years, I decided that apparel wasn’t for me, and I missed the digital space. So, I left working there and started working for some companies running their social media and marketing categories. I had worked for several companies designing landing pages, email marketing, and social media, that I had opted to wanting to work at an agency where I would get even more experience. I was able to get a job as a designer working for a local Orange County Agency, Commonthread Collective. From there, I worked my way from designer to manager to creative strategist. I learned right then and there that digital marketing and paid ads was my passion. After working for a couple different agencies, I decided to pursue my passion of working for myself. So, in 2019, I left the agency I was working with and branched out on my own to start my own creative agency, The Loft 325. It has now been 4 years of running my creative agency and working for myself.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The last 4 years have not been smooth to say the least. There have been several bumps along the way. When you first go into business for yourself, I think the one thing you think is freedom! You can make your own hours and be more available. Which isn’t the case. When I first started out on my own, I was working like crazy. Not only was I doing all of the design work, but I was marketing, sales, design, operations, content creator. You name it and I was doing it. The first year was pretty crazy trying to get myself into a system that made sense. As I’ve grown, though, I’ve been able to hire people move out of the day-to-day, and step into the leadership role and owner role.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I own and operate a Creative Agency called The Loft 325. We specialize in performance and creatives for Meta, TikTok, Google, YouTube, Pinterest, and Amazon. Over the past 4 years, I can say the thing I am most proud of is the work my team and I have been able to create. We’ve worked with brands all over the world and it has been amazing to be able to help these brands grow. Our team is small, so no matter what, you are always speaking with the same people. We don’t pass you around an organization.
What matters most to you?
Family is my main motivator in terms of what matters most in my life. If we are talking about my work, then client success truly is what drives me. It sounds cliche, but that truly matters to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: theloft325.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/theloft325
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-schwartz
- Twitter: https://x.com/loft325
