Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilene Adams.
Ilene, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After having graduated college with a degree in graphic design and printmaking, I moved to New York where I worked in the textile industry designing printed fabrics. Shortly after, I moved to Boston and worked for a chain of clothing stores located throughout the northeast. At 27, I decided to start my own advertising agency specializing in local retail stores.
Part of my business was working with radio stations and buying air time which led me to a shift in my business. I realized that the radio stations could benefit from my services in creating promotions in conjunction with the retail clients and this birthed Woman at Work, an international company creating promotions to boost listenership for radio stations. I was a bit of a pioneer because at the time it was pretty much a male-dominated industry and all of my employees were women. The company grew and after several years became a multimillion-dollar company.
I moved my company to the New York area but due to changes in the broadcast industry and deregulation, many things changed in radio and I redirected my marketing efforts back to small businesses. In 2004 I moved to West Palm Beach and at about this time, the internet was booming and web design was flourishing. With my design background, it was a natural match.
I am also an artist creating in photography, mixed media and installations (www.ileneadams.com) and am the co-director of Art Synergy and art non-profit (www.artsynergy.org) supporting artists in South Florida.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road. The economy and industry changes have sometimes made it difficult but the main thing I learned was to be adaptable and flexible and to continue to learn and keep up with trends and technology.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
The focus of my business, The Marketing Works of Palm Beach, is creating branding and marketing to improve the visibility of my clients. What sets me apart is that I have a background in graphic design, art, and marketing so that I can offer not only an aesthetic approach but a business approach as well. I am able to look at the whole picture and not just make a pretty logo or website, but one that has a marketing strategy behind it.
I like to think of my company as a boutique, where I offer personalized service to my customers whether they be holistic practitioners or real estate agents. Having studied yoga since high school, much of my business is focused on alternative medicine and holistic lifestyle. As a Wix Partner, I am able to create websites world-wide.
I also work with a lot of non-profits, offering discounts. Additionally, I am an artist creating in photography, mixed media and installations (www.ileneadams.com) and am the co-director of Art Synergy an art non-profit (www.artsynergy.org) supporting artists in South Florida.
I am most proud of the integrity of my work. I am honest and blunt. If a client requests something that I don’t think is professional or makes sense with their marketing goals I let them know, always trying to do what is best for their business rather than just doing what they think they need.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Miami and South Florida are great areas. Coming from the New York Metro I find it much more manageable plus the weather makes life so much easier! My recommendation to someone starting out is to network, network, network! Find your niche and become an expert in that field or area. There is so much growth here with people constantly moving in and new businesses popping up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themarketingworkspalmbeach.com
- Phone: 5613460172
- Email: ileneadams@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_marketing_works/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarketingWorksPB/
- Other: www.ileneadams.com
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