Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Benda.
Hi Alex, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always had a passion for business ever since I was little. My first business was a lemonade stand that created my Pokémon card collection I still have today. Fast forward a few years in high school, I’m selling universal remote controls out of my locker so kids can turn the TVs on and off in their classrooms. Well, that ended up with me in the principal’s office. It also ended with enough money to buy a professional camera, and the rest is a slippery and fast story that eventually leads to owning a marketing company and a stationary store in Michigan.
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?
Our story wasn’t always simple and easy. In the beginning, we did have a lot of wild success when we started. We were the right people in the right place, and because of that, our business grew so fast we had to quit our jobs just to keep it running. What we didn’t realize was that all of our success wasn’t because of us — it was because we were the only people selling what we were selling. As we watched our business crumble bit by bit over the following years, it quickly became apparent that we needed to grow as business owners and as people in order to keep our livelihood afloat. Luckily, by bringing on the right people, having amazing friends and family, and having the support from the incredible Grand Rapids community, we found ourselves thriving just a few years later.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Oh Hello Companies?
Oh Hello Branding Group was created because we were tired of being overworked. My wife and I both realized that one person couldn’t build a website, take excellent photos, run social all day, and create plans for marketing in sales well. Yet, most businesses think they can hire one marketing person and never worry about their marketing again. So, we built a company that allows people to afford the expert help they need in each of those fields and more, without paying any more than a single marketing person.
Our company has grown since its initial concept to do the above, as well as implement CRMs and develop sales operations for companies. It became apparent in our very early stages that we were very successful at marketing for these businesses, but when their input doubled, they weren’t ready to grow and handle the new business.
We now help clients manage the entire lifecycle of their own customers, which increases the total ROI across multiple departments.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Stop trying to invent the wheel and steal the wheel. McDonald’s didn’t invent the burger. Heinz didn’t invent ketchup. They took the best parts of the people who did and then took the best part that was missing and then combined them.
Most people just need someone to execute their vision. So, I’d say, stop trying to invent something and just listen to what and do what a client is asking. Seems simple, but I promise you, most people only offer what they want to do, not what needs to be done.
Pricing:
- Full marketing support $50-90000 yearly
- Website $4-15000
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@ohhellobranding.com
- Website: https://ohhellobranding.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohhellobranding/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohhellobranding/
