Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Cobb.
Hi sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my career in fashion, working as a stylist in London for over a decade. Back then, we did it all concepting, casting, producing, set building, and styling entire shoots on a shoestring budget. I cut my teeth at places like Dazed & Confused and Another Magazine, where creativity had to do a lot of the heavy lifting, because there certainly wasn’t any money flying around!
Eventually, I moved to New York and shifted more into art direction. Thanks to my scrappy London roots, I knew how to make magic with minimal resources, which proved to be a real asset in multi media shoot that were starting to require more results for the same budgets… After having kids, we realised winters in NYC were far too brutal, so we packed up and headed west to Los Angeles in 2018.
The celebrity fashion styling work in LA wasn’t quite for me, so I pivoted. My husband Ben Shrimpton who is an incredibly talented digital director and I decided to join forces and launched Shrimpton, our creative agency. We’ve built it into two parts: a digital studio, where we create branding, packaging design and design and develop beautiful websites and Shrimpton Studio, which is where my skill set comes into play. That’s where we help startups bring their brands to life through content, videos, photos, creative direction all the good stuff. Thanks to my background, I know how to pull off high end results without the need for a huge budget.
We also have a brand partnership side of the business, where we team up with startups and offer our services in exchange for equity. We now own small stakes in a bunch of brilliant businesses and hope to do even more of this. it’s exciting to build things from the ground up with people who are passionate.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working with my husband certainly has its challenges, there’s a unique dynamic when you share both the highs and lows of running a business. It can be brilliant or at times, a real struggle! When we’ve had a rough day at work, we really have to make an effort not to carry it home with us, especially when we still need to unwind and take the kids to the park. But when things go well or we land an exciting project, we can celebrate together, usually with a treat at Nobu, of course on a work expense!
Also I’ll admit, I’m not the best at self-promotion. I’m British, and it doesn’t come naturally to us to sing our own praises. After 15 years in the U.S., I’m still learning to be comfortable talking about my own work and sometimes, that’s a huge challenge. Also changing career paths when youre known for doing one thing comes with its challenges! people love to put you in a box. I’ve had friends ask me if I know a good web designer… !!! when I literally run an agency that’s built websites for Beyonce and Givenchy. very frustrating.
We’ve been impressed with Shrimpton Agency , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We work with a lot of Shopify startups, as well as rebrands for more established names. Most of our clients find us through word of mouth and tend to stick around so we must be doing something right.
We’re not a big, corporate agency. We’re small, creative, and hands on. We care about the work, pay close attention to the details, and genuinely like the people and brands we work with. A lot of our clients become friends and we go the extra mile because we really love them and what we do.
We also collaborate with other brilliant agencies and often work alongside talented design teams as their development partner.
We’re always busy, always curious, and aim to make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible. No fuss and absolutely no ego.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For anyone starting out in fashion, my advice would be to have a side hustle, especially given how difficult it is to make a decent living as a stylist these days. With everyone having access to Instagram, it’s easy to call yourself a stylist or art director, but turning that into a sustainable career is a whole different kettle of fish. To make money, you need to find ways to monetise and commercialise your talent.
The reality is, very few stylists today make a great living purely from styling, day rates have dropped significantly. When I started, they were far higher 4 times what they are now!! I’m grateful that I was able to take the skills I developed and turn them into a business. Now, I get to do something different every day, which is both fulfilling and financially rewarding. So, think of your side hustle as a way to diversify, learn, and evolve while still doing what you love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shrimpton.agency
- Instagram: sarahcobbm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.cobb.92/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cobb-shrimpton-85223a71/
