Young Entrepreneur Leading The Future Of Business – Exclusive Interview With Kristen LaRose-Gaasrud

Kristen LaRose-Gaasrud, at just 21 years old and by herself, started a Luxury Digital Marketing business in early 2022. She achieved a certificate from Duke University in Advertising & Society and combined her creativity, experience, as well as leadership mentality and Sunday Studio Marketing was born. Now working for some of the leading businesses in her area, as well as National and International businesses. She is pivoting businesses towards success, and her skills have been labled electric and rare. Her mission: to share her knowledge and inspire others to chase after their dreams. Her work is truly an accomplishment for a young entrepreneur and she continues to make an imprint in the business industry.

Kristen LaRose-Gaasrud, Luxury Digital Marketing Director and Owner of Sunday Studio Marketing, LLC

Can you tell us about who you are and your story?

I was born in Ocean City, Maryland, with my early years spent in a beach house chasing wild rabbits behind my surf shop neighbor, an amusement park right outside my bedroom window, the smell of salt and boardwalk fries in the air, getting tossed by waves, and catching crabs at my grandpas. At the age of 5, I moved to Southbury, Connecticut. Despite the wild child I was, my childhood was not the easiest. I took a lot of hard losses and experiences at a young age, but I am proud of that young version of me for fighting through things that some adults have not even experienced. I believe that is what gave me my guts and whit. I do not think I would be who I am today without it.

Growing up, my mom always inspired me with the stories of her horse, Blue Boy, and her beautiful seascape paintings on driftwood hanging on our walls. I began riding horses at five years old, as well as painting and drawing. That sparked my two passions; animals and art. To this day, they remain the same.

I was always told that I was very confident as a kid. I would get up on stage and sing in front of strangers. I would do the most when it came to fashion and outfits. I said whatever came to my mind, and when I set my mind to something, I did it. I flourished in anything creative. I would capture images with my dad’s camera around our house. I took art classes at school and submitted my work to galleries. I created videos of my life and events. I think everything I did and still does, had to be creative and different, there is almost too much to list. Connecticut became a big part of me. I made lifelong friendships that I cherish close to my heart. I discovered a lot about myself and my creative mindset. I built a life there.

When I was 16, my brother passed and my mom and I moved back to Ocean City, Maryland. It felt like my world was shattering. I lost my spark. I felt lost. I had to meet a new version of myself and get to know her. After sometime nurturing this new reality, I discovered an even stronger and happier version of myself. I have made academic achievements, I started my own business at just 21 years old, and now I am working harder than I ever have for my future family.

Can you tell us your business name and more about it?

I own a luxury website design and digital marketing business called Sunday Studio Marketing, LLC. Some of the popular services I provide are Website Design, Social Media Management, Photography, Videography, Graphic Design, and Brand Strategy. I believe customer and market tastes are quickly changing, as are businesses. As business owners, we must adapt accordingly. My techniques follow an innovative approach.

To me, a brand refresh is a powerful tool for an internal team. I look at my skills as a way to fine-tune brands to understand them better. My skills allow a company to highlight its unique position in the marketplace, reinforce its value, and gain a new perspective on what lies ahead. Sunday Studio Marketing is energetic, luxurious, and inventive. It has taken the marketing world head-on and transitioned it into something extraordinary. The goal is to transfer ideas from my clients for their businesses and transform them into luxury branding and digital marketing. Sunday Studio is destroying the standard marketing norms project by project. It is giving clients a tool that no one else can have, not just a tool but an advantage. Each project taken on by Sunday Studio is treated as a sculpture. The rule of thumb is representation, visual appeal, and outcome. Each website and marketing task will have a story that showcases the client's identity. Then, it includes brand vanity. The vanity strategy follows a color scheme, visual theme and appeal, brand identity, and innovative trends. Lastly, outcome, digital marketing is not an expense it's an investment. Sunday Studio does not stop at creation but strives for outcome.

How was Sunday Studio Marketing founded?

I always knew I was suppose to do more. I was never the type to want to work a typical 9-5, let alone under someone else. Out of high school, I would create businesses right from my house. I would have the itch to create something visually pleasing and unique to the specific market. I would make a website, logos, color themes, branding, social media, the whole package and then let it go. Off the top of my head, some of the brands I made were a jewelry brand, an interior design brand, a dog blog, and probably many others. I never understood why I would spend hours creating these brands and launching them publically just to let them go. You would think the answer would have been obvious, but it was not yet. It became obvious after I spent about a year and a half obsessing over going to Veterinary School and trying to prove to everyone that I am intelligent. In grade school, I was not known to have the top grades and was even labeled a dumb blonde.

After I became a Vet Technician for a while and realized that I was fully capable of going down this route, but I began to feel unhappy. I felt like I was not making the right career choice and that something was missing. When I made the decision to leave the medicine field, I felt like I was betraying my love for animals by leaving. Yet, something inside me was telling me there was something else I was supposed to be doing. I spent time investing in my creative abilities by designing graphics for wildlife conservation organizations. One of the organizations I worked with was a chimpanzee organization based in South Africa. I created a large amount of graphic designs for their apparel shop.

One day, I made a website for a friend, resulting in people asking me to make their websites. People began telling me how rare my marketing and digital design talents were and how valuable they would be for businesses. I started to research major businesses in my area and found dated websites and marketing efforts. I realized that there was a need for innovative marketing and business branding in my area. That is when the answer finally became obvious; my niche was marketing and branding. That is how Sunday Studio Marketing was born. Sunday Studio was founded on the idea that a good brand should be felt, as well as seen. I obtained a certificate from Duke University in Advertising and Society and got the right to work.

What inspires your work?

Various fashion designer campaigns have inspired my work. As well as moody color schemes, elegant fonts, clean and minimal visuals, and the luxe exclusivity feeling. The saying "less is more" I believe is more powerful than people realize. One of the brands that inspire me is Aman Resorts. This company radiates luxury and innovative branding. They own 34 luxury resorts all across 20 countries. The way they tackle branding is ahead of our time. Not many hospitality businesses can create an individual identity for each of their hotels, most start to look the same, but, Aman Resorts has mastered this and is an inspiration in their marketing techniques, visually and strategically.

What are your current goals for your business?

This question is hard to answer because Sunday Studio has already exceeded so many of my expectations. I believe I am still in shock. It has been growing at a rapid speed and I couldn’t be prouder. Right now, I have a client list with well-known establishments Locally, Nationally, and Internationally. The goal I am working on right now is investing time and mentorship into my interns and being a voice for young entrepreneurs. I want to create a community of creatives that I can empower, mentor, and cheer for. I wish I had a support team like this when I was trying to figure out my future. I do believe I would have gotten here a lot sooner. Moving forward, my other goals are to continue perfecting my skills, building my clientele, and hiring more people to be part of the evolving digital career. It truly is an amazing industry to be a part of, especially during this time. The mission is to be the leading marketing business in my area because I truly love my clients and want them to succeed just as much as I want myself to succeed.

What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future?

I plan to always be part of Sunday Studio, it’s my passion. Everyone has a dream they are working towards and the biggest thing I am working for is my future family. I want more than anything to one day have children and give them a childhood of ease and happiness. That is why I am working so hard right now. I picture myself running my business from home and being with my kids on a farm with horses and other animals. Maybe even opening the first wildlife rehab facility in our area as well.

I have the itch to be a voice for others in achieving their dreams and to make a footprint in the business industry. I aspire to start a podcast and continue growing my credibility through publications and conferences. I hope to build a strong team under my business now and mentor them and teach them the specific skills I have. Then one day, expand Sunday Studio into a large marketing agency, offering more opportunities for my powerful and creative team members under Sunday Studio to continue expanding their clientele and making success through the business. That is the dream.

If you could tell your younger self anything as well as other young people finding their footprint in life, what would you say?

I would say you are going to make it. I would tell my younger self that she is powerful and she is intelligent, and that she is going to prove that to herself one day. You need to lose the mindset of negativity and doubt and replace it with, “I control my path.” Once you realize you are in control of your future, you will be a force that no one can break. Just remind yourself every day, “I am creating the life of my dreams, and everything I want, wants me more.” It may seem intimidating or scary now, but it will be worth it. You need to truly believe it for it to be possible. Also, stop comparing yourself to other people and stop worrying about what they think, life is too short to be playing those kinds of games. Say how you feel and do what you love. Most importantly, fight the stereotypes and become the CEO your parents want you to marry. The second you stop getting in your way and show up for yourself, it is crazy to see how you blossom.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!

Read more from Kristen!

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Photo credits:

• Sterrett Photography