Brandyn Armstrong started making waves in his hometown of Lansing in 2009 when his graphic design company,
B Unique, expanded into a new location on South MLK Street.
Less than two years later, the company has continued its evolution. In late 2010, Armstrong, 34, joined forces with Mark King of
MKE Worldwide to create
Eight Ten Digital.
"We’re basically a one-step shop now," says Armstrong. "You can talk to Mark about your marketing and communications needs, and you can talk to me about getting a logo."
The move was not only a demonstration of B Unique’s growth, but of Armstrong’s desire to expand his customer base.
"
Downtown Lansing is a big difference from my MLK location," he says. "I’m able to reach out into the corporate world as well as the hip hop community where I started."
The results thus far have been exactly what Armstrong was hoping to see. The $3,000 he invested into the new location at 810 E Michigan Ave turned the formerly vacant barbershop into a highly visible storefront in the heart of Lansing — and the investment has been paid off already.
"Business has definitely been picking up," he says. "I’d say I’ve had a 100 percent increase in business."
In addition to the new location and partnership with MKE Worldwide, Armstrong credits his unique 24-hour turnaround policy as the secret to his success.
"Once I have a deposit you can have a proof in 24 hours," says Armstrong. "That’s pretty much been the business plan since I started working out of my house five years ago."
If the last five years is any indication, it seems the plan is working.
Source: Brandyn Armstrong, Eight Ten Digital
Writer: Natalie Burg, Interim News Editor
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