We were recently featured in Shoutout Miami! Check out the interview below.
We had the good fortune of connecting with Samantha Shakes and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Samantha, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY by my amazing parents, Brenda & Patrick Shakes. I spent just about the first half of my life there before my parents moved our family to Florida. Growing up in New York was amazing. There’s so much culture to absorb, whether that’s from the various industries you’re surrounded by, the diverse groups of friends you make, and don’t forget the food.
Outside of the cultural impact, being surrounded by such hard-working people during some of the most influential years of my life definitely shaped my work ethic. New York is one of those places where you can bump into someone and your life can be changed forever. Every time I go back to visit or work, I can’t help but feel this wave of inspiration reminding me to keep the momentum.
Obviously, there are some things not to like about NY, just like any other city. However, there’s no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be where I am today without growing up there.
What should our readers know about your business?
STUDIO SVNTN is a full-service creative agency offering a wide range of branding, visual creative design and marketing services curated to help businesses succeed.
We partner with clients and brands from a wide spectrum of industries, ranging from real estate, entertainment, law, health and wellness, to hospitality. We help our clients develop ideas and execute strategies that will take their business to a higher level.
Our services include: brand design and strategy, photography, videography, digital and traditional marketing, social media management and content creation, podcast production, business consulting and much more!
What sets us apart, especially now as we move forward as S17, is that storytelling is at the core of our brand. Our team works together to create a compelling story for our clients’ audiences. We help them refine their message, so their target market understands who they are, what they do and why they should invest in their brands.
I am driven by the belief that no idea, dream, or goal is “too big” to achieve. We celebrate our usage of imaginative and artistic thinking, and fusing it with strategy. We are proud of our approach because we always seek to understand from both the consumer and the creative/consultant point of view. Perspective is everything in this industry, and through research and strategy, we are able to create brands and visual products that set them apart from their competitors.
This process hasn’t been the easiest. When I first started, I was truly a solopreneur and I was taking on fairly large projects while also working a 9-5. Time management has probably been the biggest obstacle, but I don’t mean that in the typical sense. I’ve never experienced any difficulties with getting projects completed on time. I would say managing the time aspect of my work-life balance took a bit of a toll on me at first. Things like how late I should stay up to work, how do I effectively give my all at work and to my business, etc. was a bit of a struggle for a while.
Recently, I decided to pursue STUDIO SVNTN full time. That in itself has been a rollercoaster of a process because the stakes are a little higher. However, I would not trade this experience for anything. Fortunately for me, I genuinely love the art of creating brands from the ground up, and I don’t view my company any differently. The lessons I have learned are genuinely priceless, so I will absolutely take the bad with the good any day!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Jacksonville, so there are plenty of options to ensure a memorable trip. For a good breakfast/brunch option, I would recommend Tulua Bistro or Jax Beach Brunch Haus.
For lunch or dinner: Carmine’s Pie House, III Forks, Royal Lakes Asian Fusion, Trasca & Co Eatery, Lola’s Burrito & Burger Joint, and Silkie’s Chicken & Champagne Bar are my top recommendations.
If you’re looking for fun activities, we have some cool “barcades” such as Leaderboard or Keg and Coin. We also have Autobahn Indoor Speedway if you love fast go karts, plenty of escape rooms, Topgolf, and iFly. However, if you just wanted to walk around or window-shop, I recommend Riverside/Five Points or the St Johns Town Center.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout? This is 100% dedicated to my parents, Brenda and Patrick Shakes. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them and their unconditional love and support.
Website: studiosvntn.com
Instagram: instagram.com/studiosvntn
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/studio-svntn
Facebook: Facebook.com/studiosvntn
Image Credits Chase J. Elliott, Samantha Shakes, Michael Everett Thomas