Meet Allison Harris of Dogwood Branding & Promotions

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Harris

Hi Allison, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started Dogwood Branding & Promotions right smack dab in the middle of covid. Seriously, who starts a company in the middle of a pandemic when people are not going out and about and most people are still working from home? But it was a calling on my heart that I had neglected for too long and the time had come to see if I could make a go of it.

Growing up I worked for my family’s small business. It’s where I learned everything about owning and running a business. My dad started his own school fundraising company when I was around 7. I grew up in it working every aspect of it until I eventually became Vice President, second only to my dad who was President.

I worked for my dad up through my college years, counting & processing orders, doing data entry, loading trucks, working in the warehouse, packing orders, and doing customer service to eventually recruiting new business. By the time I graduated from college I was ready! I had solid experience, so I started a sales position with BellSouth Mobility selling cell phones. At the time, I was the youngest outside sales rep they had ever hired. From there, I spent several years working in advertising as an account manager, then to real estate as director of corporate development, back to my dad’s company for a bit and then to being a stay-at-home mom.

After my youngest started kindergarten, I was ready to get back to working outside of the home. I reached out to several business owners and friends about possible part time work, and I got an invitation to help a local apparel company as a corporate sales rep. I jumped on it! Shortly after starting this position my husband and I were having a conversation, and it was at that time he encouraged me to start my own company expanding on what I was already doing in the branded apparel and promotional products industry. It was something that had been in the back of my mind for quite some time, but fear had kept me from letting it be anything other than a dream. I came up with every scenario of why starting a business would not work. After a few more months of dreaming and planning I finally got the courage to make my company a reality. In February 2021 Dogwood Branding & Promotions was born!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Anytime you start something new, even with past experience to guide you, there are new challenges and obstacles to overcome. I wouldn’t say it’s been a bumpy road, but rather a learning experience constantly changing and growing to help me and my company serve my customers well!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dogwood Branding & Promotions is a premier branding & promotional products company, specializing in custom products and branded apparel for corporate, private and non-profit clients. Here to help expand brand recognition while always offering superior service.

With over 20 years of experience in the sales, marketing and advertising industry Dogwood Branding & Promotions was born out of a desire to build relationships with customers and to overall do things better.

I help businesses and organizations with their branding and promotional needs. I can work with companies of any size, in any location, and appreciate the opportunity to do so.

When you work with Dogwood Branding & Promotions it gives us the opportunity to showcase our attention to detail, our follow up and our follow through. It’s what we are known for and it’s just what we do.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice for anyone thinking about starting something new or just starting out . . . . don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back. If it is an opportunity that has been on your heart, take a chance on it. I wasted too much time worrying about the ways that starting my own company might not work instead of finding the ways that it could. There hasn’t been one day that I have regretted being a small business owner!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dogwoodbp.com
• Instagram: @dogwood.bp