Today we’d like to introduce you to Britton Briley.
Hi Britton, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From an early age, I was always told I could do anything I put my mind to and took it to heart. My family wasn’t wealthy, and my parents did everything possible to let us enjoy life. We always had a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs, and clothes on our backs. We went on the typical family vacation once a year, but my parents worked for the other 11 months to give us a life to enjoy. We would move about every 2-3 years for a while. It was like a cycle: Born in Arkansas, moved to South Carolina, Moved to Romania (Yes, Europe), then back to Arkansas for my grandfather’s health, then back to South Carolina for a job opportunity for my father after our grandfather passed away.
Making friends was the hardest as you moved after 2-3 years so those friendships would dwindle, and you never got a complete sense of having a lifelong friend. So, when I came of age, I started working as soon as I could and became my friend (I know that sounds morbid, but it’s the truth), but the benefit would be I would get paid every two weeks. I enjoyed not only the feeling of being part of a company but, of course, at a young age making money to spend on things I wanted.
From working in an ice cream shop as my first job to sales at a gym, management of a supplement store, marketing in the South East for GNC, and finally becoming the CFO of a major brand in Santa Ana, CA. (UFC GYM) Ultimately climbing to a position that didn’t suit my ambitions anymore, and I wanted something that I could have & own.
It wasn’t a pretty path at 24 to start my own company. The constant stress of having to financially afford my mortgage on my home, supporting my wife and daughter, and growing the company; took time, money, sleepless night, and a work ethic that instilled a determination to get the job done no matter what, thus, starting Ghost Brands (formally known as Ghost Marketing) in 2018.
Growing Ghost Brands into what it is, is one of my proudest accomplishments. Taking something with no financial backing, no employees, and no clients into one of the most successful marketing companies in the Southeast shows that you can do anything you set your mind to with the right mindset.
Now a company representing Spinx, Swamp Rabbit Hockey, Greenville Triumph, HipBurger, Stokes & Company, PaySmart, Swamp Rabbit Moving, SVN Blackstream, and many more. We are a brand that is behind the scenes.
As a husband and father, I can set a path for a company that will help me spend more time with my wife and daughter in years to come. As the owner & founder, it means a ton to see the fruition of the countless days spent behind a computer learning about the newest trends, marketing tactics, code, and ways to help our clients grow. I’ve always told my wife, ” I would instead work like a dog for 5-10 years to enjoy the next 60-70 with you”. At the age of only 29 now, I want to empower other young entrepreneurs to follow their dreams but also be cautious because the path is not easy, not glamorous, and not for those looking for overnight success. It’s taken 3 years (36 Months – 1,095 Days, 26,280 Hours – 1,576,800 Minutes – 94,608,000 Seconds) to reach the point of growth and acknowledgment finally. So don’t expect to turn a profit or a market in anything less than 1.5 years.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a business is a challenging road. Some of the challenges include everything from typical financial to relationship challenges. What I mean by that is:
Financial Challenges: You are looking at establishing a brand, so you have to consider the associated costs from logo design, LLC (Establishment), trademark, business cards, services, programs, equipment & supplies, rent, employee payroll, website & information sites, salaries, overhead, etc.
Remember your financial responsibilities: Rent/Mortgage, Food, Gas, Car Payments, Insurance, Electricity, Water, Natural Gas, Trash, Repairs, etc. So, financial obstacle & challenge is always the first, as understanding your “base” and what you must live on monthly to pay bills on both fronts, not just your own.
Then come the relationship challenges: Your significant other needs to understand the hours, meetings, long days, and sacrifices you have to make to be successful. Sometimes that means working on weekends, pulling all-nighters, meeting with a client they disagree with, or hiring staff they disapprove of.
Having a relationship/marriage gets put on the back burner when you are an entrepreneur due to having to focus all your energy on the company’s growth. It strains the relationship unless your spouse understands the commitment and long-term goal you are going after. It’s why I decided to write my book (Entrepreneurship), which talks about the crappy side of entrepreneurship and how it isn’t for just anyone.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ghost Brands?
Ghost Brands is the complete solution for anything related to marketing/advertising. We are the company that companies hire to help with their overall branding, marketing, consulting, and everything else. We are a full-service digital marketing agency that is behind the scenes, in the dark, helping our clients shine brighter.
We are one of the last true “a la carte” marketing companies in the United States, which means that we can cater to small, medium, and large businesses looking for a solution. We can scale & grow by adding services onto our client’s plates as they need them.
We focus on the digital aspect from social media marketing, brand management, SEO/SEM, Website Design, Brand Identity/Strategy, Concept Development, Marketing Consulting, Photography, Videography, Graphic Design, Lead Generation, Email/SMS Marketing, Media Buying, Public Relations, Brand Awareness, and Community Relations.
We are everything a company could want or have under one roof. With so many key team members on staff at Ghost Brands, we can cater everything to our client’s needs and add or remove services based on their wants.
We are proud of being able to represent so many great brands unbeknownst to the general public. We are strictly B2B (Business To Business) and thrive off the WOM (Word of Mouth) traffic we receive. We are growing by leaps & bounds, and all without any advertisements. We let our clients do the talking, and as we already know, business owners know business owners. So once we get and service a client, we are most likely recommended to 3-4 of that client’s other business friends. Thus, Ghost Brands grows from behind the scenes just as our clients do.
What were you like growing up?
Writing my book (Entrepreneursh!t) was one of my favorite things. As a guy that always likes to see the cup half full (optimistic), writing a book about the ugliness of being an entrepreneur spoke to me. I remember walking through Barnes & Noble and looking at all the positive books that told you that “you can do it” but never told you the ugly side of it. The sleepless nights, panic attacks, the financial commitment, the hills and valleys you must go through, and so much more than what is on the surface or online. I think giving myself the challenge to write a book, show the crappy side of being a business owner, and allow myself to be vulnerable is something that isn’t perceived in this industry.
Ownership and leadership typically showcase strong, independent men & women that have blazed the trail; pioneered new ways, yet they never show you all that is beneath the surface of that company/brand. It allowed me to open up, showcase a side that people haven’t seen, and take strides in helping others build a business on the foundations of my mistakes and learnings, and trust me. I still have a ton to learn. I plan to write volumes two, three, and four soon because volume one is too focused on my struggles. In contrast, the next volumes will dive into others and their industries/businesses since each of our businesses and situations are different in their ways.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.ghostbrands.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostbrands/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theghostbrands
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ghostbrands
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGhostBrands
