Today we’d like to introduce you to Josie Raczynski.
Hi Josie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2016, I graduated from UW-Madison with degrees in journalism-strategic communications and Spanish. I dreamed about being a graphic designer, but I didn’t have the experience to get a well-paying entry-level job in that field. So I put that dream on hold and took a communications role at a global nonprofit in Baltimore.
Just two weeks after starting this job, I began freelancing to get more design experience. I designed a website for a Minnesota interior designer, and they eventually took me on a few hours a week to help with marketing efforts. Meanwhile, at my nonprofit job, I really worked hard to learn as much as I could about marketing and design —I took over their social media and email marketing efforts, read books, and took courses as often as I could on top of my workload.
In 2018, I moved back to Minnesota and freelanced from there on out. I started Lucky Bee Creative Studio at the beginning of 2019 to establish that I wasn’t just a “freelancer” and wanted to build a professional, creative business. I did apply to a few office jobs, but the thought of commuting to a windowless office again really gave me the ick! I highly recommend listening to your intuition in instances like this.
Over the last few years, I’ve established Lucky Bee as a go-to design and marketing studio. We’ve worked with some pretty cool clients—vegan food bloggers, award-winning interior designers, incredible local photographers—and now manage Pinterest accounts, create branding for local businesses, and even design things from coffee table books to outdoor signage.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No. Establishing Lucky Bee was definitely challenging. Over the first year, I often worked 60-70 hour weeks and really did a good job burning myself out, haha. I’m still recovering from it! I eventually hired a business coach and invested in education to develop time-saving onboarding practices, get better at what I do, and develop general processes. If I didn’t do that, there’s a good chance that I would’ve quit.
You also don’t really know it until you’re in the thick of it, but being a business owner is a lot of pressure. If you mess up, it’s your fault. If your intern messes up, it’s your fault. And when you’re a perfectionist like me, this can all feel really overwhelming. So the pressure has been a struggle, but over the years I’ve learned to set boundaries both with clients and with work itself so that I can get back to treating it like a job, not an all-consuming thing in my life.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in Pinterest management, branding design and website design.
All of our work is designed to be as timeless as possible. We believe that if you’re investing in marketing and design services, they should have a long-term high-value. That’s why we ignore branding design trends and build brands that will look amazing five years from now.
That’s also why we work with Pinterest exclusively out of all the social media platforms. It’s everlasting, meaning, posts on there don’t have a 48-hour life span like Instagram posts do. They last years—we’ve seen pins get millions of views two years after posting them. So even if you work with us for only six months, your business can still see benefits from working with us years later.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Pinterest: Simple Pin Media podcast
Branding & Website Design: High Moon Studio courses (not just for design, but setting up your agency)
Books: Made to Stick (marketing copy), Palette Perfect (color palettes), Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (imposter syndrome)
If you’re just starting out in marketing, The Goal Digger Podcast is helpful. We also have a subscription to Skillshare.
Business coach for creatives: Val Marlene Creative
Contact Info:
- Email: josie@luckybeemarketing.com
- Website: luckybeemarketing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckybeecreative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luckybeemarketing
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/luckybeecreative/_created/
Image Credits
Studio KH
Chelsea Photography
