Exploring Life & Business with Cari Schmoock of Galvanized Creative

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cari Schmoock. 

Hi Cari, 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 have lived my entire life in White Lake, Michigan. I was born and raised in the home that my father grew up in, and I am now raising my family here, the third generation. It was here that I learned my creative side. My mother was extremely crafty. She encouraged and nurtured my artistic soul and my individualistic nature and style in viewing the world and my place in it. I lost her in 2006 when I was only twenty-four and still finding my future. If she were still with us, she would be a writer on my staff and proofing everything I wrote. 

During my mother’s illness, I was working on my degree in Art Education but decided to take a break and get my cosmetology license. I desperately needed to do something with my hands and utilize my creativity. I became a great stylist and colorist and worked in the field for 8 years. During this period, I married and created three beautiful boys. 

After my youngest was born, I got the itch to finish my bachelor’s degree, which I did in Graphic Design. My friend Brielle, who I have known since elementary school, was a web designer and hired me to do some graphic design for her company. From there, she referred me to a part-time contract job as a graphic designer with a forensic journalism website called “Who, What, Why.” After three years, I left as their Associate Art Director to pursue my own business, which was always my dream. During all this career change, we remodeled our farmhouse and took on homeschooling with our boys. In addition, my father also lives with us in the home he grew up in. 

After leaving my previous position, I immediately started taking on some freelance clients. One of my very first was a firm called Grennan Construction who had posted on Facebook looking for a graphic designer. Soon after getting that contract, they needed a new website. It was at that point I had to teach myself website design. With the help of a few friends who were website developers, I made the leap into web design and the new direction that I would now take my career and company. Grennan Construction is still one of my top clients! 

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?
It was pretty rocky through the pandemic, as it was for most, but we made it through. However, business was very slow as firms were trying to find their footing in a post-covid world. In the late summer of 2021, I decided to join the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce (HVCC). This was by far the best business decision that I have made up to this point. Within a few months, my business took off from all the referrals that were coming my way. 

At the beginning of this year, I became President of the Huron Valley Referral Networking Group under the HVCC. The group meets weekly, and we currently have 17 small businesses that are involved in our group alone. I also took up office space in downtown Milford and had a grand opening celebration sponsored by HVCC. For any small business, I highly recommend joining your local chamber of commerce, it will change your world! 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been working with small business owners for over 15 years. I specialize in helping companies gain traction in their local community and win new clients. I build and maintain custom websites that are optimized for search engines that bring fast results and build out Google Business Profiles to maintain a steady flow of leads that will continue to increase their revenue year after year. 

I know that it is crucial that business owners have time to focus on what they do best, their business. I bring the ideal customer(s) directly to my clients by making sure they can find my client when they want and need their services. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Up until the age of nine, my dad read to me every single night to put me to sleep. The special thing about this memory is that my dad is blind. He read children stories from a huge braille book he had ordered. I remember he would get up to leave thinking I had fallen asleep, but I hadn’t, and I would make him stay and continue reading. I love that memory, and I love my dad! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://galvanizedcreative.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galvanized.creative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Galvanizedcreative

Image Credits
Taylor Walker