In this episode of Agency Bites, I had the pleasure of sitting down with David Yasky and Jacqueline Laufer, the dynamic duo behind Driver Digital. Let me tell you, their story of building a thriving agency in the fashion and e-commerce space is nothing short of inspiring!

We dove deep into the secret sauce of their partnership, and it's all about knowing your strengths and playing to them. David and Jacqueline shared some golden nuggets on how they've defined their roles and fostered a culture that keeps their team excited to come to work every day. They've cracked the code on maintaining joy in the workplace! 

We also got into the nitty-gritty of building those long-lasting client relationships that are the lifeblood of any agency. And if you're looking to level up your leadership game, you won't want to miss their thoughts on effective leadership and the power of mentorship.

If you're ready for a dose of inspiration, practical wisdom, and maybe a laugh or two, tune in to this episode. Trust me, you won't regret it!

Key Takeaways

• Both David and Jacqueline ran their own agencies before partnering.

• Driver Digital specializes in fashion, beauty, and e-commerce.

• Defining roles in a partnership is crucial for efficiency.

• Fostering a positive culture is essential for team morale.

• Maintaining joy in the workplace enhances productivity.

• Building lasting relationships with clients leads to success.

• Effective leadership involves immediate feedback and open communication.

• Mentorship plays a vital role in personal and professional growth.

• Success is attributed to strong relationships and quality work.

• Saying no to projects that aren't a good fit is empowering.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Driver Digital

01:01 The Journey to Partnership

02:58 Niche Focus in Fashion and E-commerce

06:16 Defining Roles in the Agency

10:26 Fostering a Positive Agency Culture

15:41 Maintaining Joy in the Workplace

19:31 Building Lasting Client Relationships

22:01 Leadership Styles and Team Management

25:04 The Importance of Mentorship

29:03 Success Through Relationships

33:02 Rapid Fire Questions and Key Takeaways

David Yassky is a creative leader and brand developer with over eighteen years of dynamic experience combining the worlds of editorial, fashion, retail and ecommerce. His editorial roots, entrepreneurial acumen, and strong industry relationships make him a unique asset that artfully straddles the creative and business worlds. David began his career as a Fashion Editor at Women’s Wear Daily and W Magazine before going on to consult for a variety of iconic brands including Tory Burch, Anthropologie, and Gap. David was the co-founder and President of The Aisle New York, a progressive digital startup in the bridal ecommerce space, and later he served as Fashion and Editorial Director of the large American ecommerce site, IDEELI. He is the founder and creative director of Driver Creative & Driver Digital – helping transform iconic brands including Anne Klein, Bergdorf Goodman and Joseph Abboud.

Jacquelyn Laufer, is an E-Commerce, Digital Marketing, Solutions and Project Management consultant with over 14 years experience specializing in the luxury fashion, beauty and travel industries. Having launched Henri Bendel’s first ecommerce website, Bond No. 9’s second, built online experiences with Estee Lauder Companies, Coty, Edit New York and Blissworld, Jacquelyn is known for helping companies scale their business. Most notably, Jacquelyn founded e-commerce consulting and project management firm Rebuild Girl, which led the re-platforms for brands such as L’Objet, Anne Klein, Joseph Abboud, Creed Boutique, Hanky Panky and more. Jacquelyn enjoys building consensus, effectively motivating and helping teams hit their mark, defining digital solutions and integrations to help brands grow and most importantly hanging out with her husband and rescue dog.

Contact Jacquelyn and David:

https://driver-digital.com

https://instagram.com/driveragencies

https://www.linkedin.com/company/driver-digitalagency/

In Episode 083, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jody Sutter, owner of Sutter Company, about her journey in business development and our shared mission of supporting small marketing agencies with their sales and marketing efforts. Jody introduces her Build Win Scale System—a practical, step-by-step approach to help agencies identify their ideal clients, improve messaging, and strengthen their teams for business growth.

Throughout our conversation, Jody shares why it's crucial for agencies to focus on sales and marketing fundamentals, like pinpointing the right clients and solving their unique challenges. We also explore how to tackle seasonality in the agency world and the power of prioritizing one thing at a time for sustainable success. Don’t miss this insightful episode!

Key Takeaways

Focus on the basics of sales and marketing, such as identifying your ideal client and solving their problems.

Prioritize and focus on one thing at a time to make progress.

Use the dips in business to work on strategic projects and improve your agency.

Consider integrating AI tools to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

Reflect on the value you provide to your clients and turn it into a compelling message.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

06:32 The BuildWin Scale System

12:58 Challenges and Pitfalls in Agency Business Development

17:41 Managing Seasonality in the Agency Business

20:12 Prioritization and Focus

25:15 Integrating AI in Agency Operations

31:05 Turning Value into a Compelling Message

32:40 Closing Remarks

Jody is the owner of The Sutter Company, a business development coaching and advisory firm,

and the inventor of the BUILD WIN SCALE^TM system, a step-by-step process designed to help

leaders of small marketing agencies identify and activate their natural talents for sales and

marketing, leading to a sustainable approach to winning new business. 

www.thesuttercompany.com

In episode 082, I sit down with Chris Martinez, CEO and founder of Bloom Partners, who shares his journey from building a successful marketing agency to transitioning into management consulting. Chris dives into the importance of data-driven strategies and setting clear KPIs for each department, emphasizing how these metrics fuel growth. We discuss the impact of AI on the industry, and Chris encourages agency owners to embrace the new possibilities it brings. He also talks about the critical role of personal fulfillment in business success—how finding joy in all areas of life directly boosts both individual and company performance.

Key Takeaways

• Set clear KPIs for each department in your agency and track them using simple tools like Google Sheets.

• Embrace AI and leverage its capabilities to improve efficiency and productivity in your agency.

• Focus on personal fulfillment in physical health, mental health, relationships, and business to achieve overall success.

• The business is a reflection of you, so ensure that other areas of your life are in balance for optimal performance.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:08 Building a Marketing Agency and Transitioning to Management Consulting

05:54 Data-Driven Strategies and Clear KPIs

09:00 Embracing AI in the Agency Industry

12:56 The Importance of Personal Fulfillment in Business

Chris Martinez, CEO and Founder of BLOOMAgency.io, has turned his passion for helping underdogs into a thriving business, growing his company from zero to millions in revenue. Recognized with a 2021 Stevie Award for Minority-Owned Business of the Year, Chris also hosts the popular podcast Operation Agency Freedom. He is the author of four books, including the Amazon Bestseller It’s Not JUST A Website, and his latest release, Facts Not Feelings, offers insights on scaling a marketing agency with data-driven strategies.

Contact Chris:

https://bloompartners.io

https://www.instagram.com/bloompartners.io/

https://agencyfreedomlive.com/

In episode 081, I sit down with David C. Baker, a renowned consultant, author, and speaker in the advertising agency world. We explore David's journey from grad school to founding his consultancy, Punctuation, and later bringing his son into the business. David shares key traits that drive successful agencies—courage, discipline, strategic positioning, and effective team management. We discuss business resets, lead generation, and the science behind agency positioning, along with the advantages of running an agency with future acquisition in mind. Beyond business, David talks about his personal passions like motorcycling, woodworking, and photography. Tune in for valuable insights into managing and scaling a creative agency.

Key Takeaways

• Courage and discipline are key traits for agency leaders

• Positioning is crucial for agency success and requires testing and refinement

• Running an agency as if you're going to sell it can lead to better overall performance

• Woodworking, motorcycle racing, and photography are David's hobbies

• Stop things that no longer serve you and simplify your life

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:07 The Importance of Courage and Discipline in Agency Leadership

06:29 The Process of Positioning and Testing

11:17 Keys to Making an Agency Attractive for Sale

15:16 David's Hobbies: Woodworking, Motorcycle Racing, and Photography

18:20 Advice for Agency Owners: Stop and Simplify

David C. Baker is an author, speaker, and advisor to entrepreneurial creatives worldwide. He has written 6 books, advised 1,000+ firms, and keynoted conferences in 30+ countries. His work has been discussed in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Forbes, USA Today, BusinessWeek, CBS News, Newsweek, AdWeek, and Inc. Magazine. He lives in Nashville, TN. His two most recent books are at http://www.expertise.is and https://www.tradecraft.is His work has also been featured in the NY Times, where he was recently referred to as “the expert’s expert”. He co-hosts the most listened to podcast in the creative services field (2Bobs).

Contact David:

https://www.punctuation.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcb/

https://myobconference.com

With the launch of Season Two of Agency Bytes, I'm thrilled to introduce an extraordinary guest for this momentous occasion – Ilise Benun from Marketing Mentor. Ilise is not only a longtime friend but also someone I've admired for decades. In this episode, I had the privilege of delving into Ilise's invaluable insights on her "Simplest Marketing Plan" and how she guides creative professionals to success by helping them focus and identify their market. We discuss the importance of cultivating a deep, focused niche and Ilise lays out actionable steps to achieve this.

Ilise believes that building your business should be enjoyable and shares her observations on why many agency owners struggle with their marketing efforts due to being too close to their businesses. We dissect the difference between horizontal and vertical niches, exploring how the latter can significantly boost marketing endeavors. Ilise also emphasizes the significance of sub-niches and provides guidance on expanding into new niches.

Furthermore, Ilise outlines her comprehensive program focusing on marketing, money, and mindset, identifying these as key areas of weakness for most creatives. We also challenge the notion that referrals are always beneficial and discuss strategies to overcome complacency in business development.

Tune in to uncover some of the invaluable secrets Ilise has accumulated over her more than 30 years as a creative business coach. This episode is packed with actionable insights and wisdom you won't want to miss!

In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Robert Patin, an agency expert and coach from Creative Agency Success. Robert's expertise centers on benchmarks and the comprehensive analysis of agency performance, emphasizing measurable metrics. Together, we explore key metrics that every agency should be monitoring. We delve into the absence of essential systems that many "accidental" agency owners overlook at different stages of their business evolution.

Robert guides us through activities that can optimize agency operations, aiding in the focus on ideal clients and the reasons behind those choices. During our discussion on agency differentiation, Robert candidly points out that most agencies tend to sound alike, offering valuable insights on how to authentically stand out in a crowded market.