After leaving corporate career, Youngstown entrepreneur bet on herself and won
Ashlyn Symone, a native of Youngstown’s East Side and a Youngstown State University alumna, has a story many can admire. After earning her marketing and communications degree with honors in 2018, her entrepreneurial desires led her down a path of self-reliance and determination. Equipped with a knack for strategic thinking and creative design, she left her job and took on all the risks of becoming her own boss.
Luckily for her clients, she succeeded.
Signatures By Symone, her design and branding business at 241 W. Federal St., Youngstown, develops print and digital visual design that captures a company’s identity. She assists companies in their marketing efforts to increase their client acquisition and engagement within their respective markets.
“I had one of those awakening experiences where I just knew I wasn’t where I would grow into my purpose and was caging my purpose. Soon after, I began making T-shirts randomly for fun. Before I knew it, I juggled taking orders and working a job, almost like it became a second job for me. I decided to take the leap of faith and pursue this full time. It was the best decision I’ve made this far!”
Like many CEOs of new companies, Symone juggles multiple roles and responsibilities. Her daily routine is a mixture of brand building, marketing, execution and researching — all while supporting the needs of her clients. Despite the ebbs and flows of running her company, she remains steady, leaning on the knowledge from her previous professional experiences.
“The beginning of my professional background was at Phantom Fireworks, where I served as the assistant director of internal operations. This is where I learned how to conduct myself at worthy tables, maintain contractors and employees from a superior level, negotiate and, most importantly, shift the energy in a room when I enter.”
Customer service
Though small in size, the brand delivers on its promise to ensure significant results and customer service that rivals its larger competitors.
“My business culture is inviting, strategic and optimistic. I have a well-versed relationship with any client I service, ensuring we get the most out of each project. I thrive on good customer service and relations. I even promote and refer the businesses I work with whenever possible.”
Embedded in the fabric of her enterprise from top to bottom is the goal to leave customers satisfied and guarantee a professional and safe environment where both parties can feel respected and heard.
“I want my customers to feel understood, in some cases educated and, most importantly, excited to put their products and strategies to use how they desired from the beginning of our time together,” she said.
Graphic design industry at a glance
Symone’s business couldn’t have come at a better time. The graphic design industry has emerged as a contender in the labor market with an upward trend of about 3 percent annually, with an average occupational increase of about $23,000 annually, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics. Additionally, reports indicate that the U.S. graphic design sector was worth 12.7 billion as of 2021 despite declining due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As consumers’ online shopping and engagement behaviors continue to increase in favor of convenience, companies aiming to remain competitive are opting to invest in their digital presence. More specifically, within the sector, digital graphic designers are seeing the continuum swing in their favor as the online graphic surge positions their unique skills at peak demands.
A place for diversity in the design space
According to Symone, the design industry is expanding opportunities for African Americans in niche areas like music and entertainment. However, it is still lagging in other places she hopes to explore to drive economic mobility.
“There are many areas where Black graphic artists dominate, like the music industry, but there is much more opportunity to increase exposure for our taste on many other platforms and in many different markets. It is even more essential to generate the network where our Black dollars are circulating among each other, as we take control of our economy amidst the many other things we are working to mend in our community and our country.”
A new phase of business
If you’re looking for what’s next from the brand, Symone says she has expansion plans on the horizon — from an e-book to creating a new printing division to support local businesses at every stage of development.
“The remaining two quarters of the year will be dedicated to expanding our in-house services as we begin our company’s wholesaling and print center division. We will bring in many currently outsourced materials, making us a vendor for our products and a hub for other business owners. Essentials such as bags, packaging, bulk printing and more that are not currently held internally will now be offered within the company.”
This story was originally published August 24, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
