Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Ashton.
Hi Ashley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My story starts differently than other entrepreneurs. My mother-in-law began our company in 1991 out of Longwood, Fla. Back then, it was rare to have a woman own and run her own business, and she had minimal sales experience, but a will and determination like no one had ever seen. She went door-knocking, did cold calling, and began to grow our advertising publication to what it is today.
Our company is called Everybody’s Business, and we are the longest-tenured direct mail advertising publication in all of Central Florida – we have 13 books in the Orlando area and now one here in Jacksonville. I began my career in the corporate world. I was the executive communications consultant to the CEO of a multi-billion dollar healthcare company in Florida. The job was gratifying and challenging but gave me little time to focus on my personal life and growing my family, ultimately leading me to leave after nearly a decade. I pivoted into small business and advertising (I majored in Communications with a track in Advertising, so this was partially out of my wheelhouse), hoping to grow our family business even more.
With a 30-year business behind me, my husband and I picked up and relocated back to Jacksonville, where I was born and raised. I maintained my role in managing Marketing and Operations for our Central Florida arm. Still, I was excited to expand the business outside of the constraints of Orlando. We opened another publication here, still under the same name, targeted to the ever-growing St. Johns and Nocatee parts of town. The book here is still gaining traction, but I am confident it will succeed and be a fierce competitor in the city. We are a small business geared toward helping other small businesses grow, and that is something I am so proud of.
You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Not! You know how the saying goes: It’s always open along the extra mile. Competition these days is outrageous. We are competing here in Jax against companies like Goliath and are more like David now. My goal is to grow so that our publication becomes Goliath vs. Goliath, and I know we will get there. The main challenge is that acquiring new customers in the B2B world differs from what it used to be. As I mentioned, my mother-in-law could go door-to-door in the 90s and sell advertising to small businesses. Today, most people don’t want to talk to you, or their doors are locked; very few answer the phone, and if they do, you’re speaking to a receptionist who is reluctant to give you the contact information of the person you need to talk to. So now, we have had to pivot and think outside the box to grow our brand and customer base. Social media and networking have played a huge role, but we still have much work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with what you do?
We run a small, family-owned direct mail advertising publication for small businesses and community organizations. We have 13 publications in the Orlando area and one in Jacksonville (St. Johns/Nocatee). Our books look and feel entirely different than the other publications in town. Our books are hyper-local and have a very “homey” feel through our layout and design. Because we specialize in helping small businesses, we tailor our business practices to fit that – no contracts, no hidden fees, simple processes, etc. We are here to help them grow, not nickel and dime them every step of the way. We are a household name in Central Florida with 32 years behind us, which is our goal here in Jacksonville. We don’t have formal sales associates, so much of the work in growing is done in-house. We run a very tight operation with very few employees, but it’s nice because you’re in touch with your teams’ personal lives – I prefer it that way.
I am most proud that we have been able to continue the legacy of a family business. My mother-in-law, who started our company, passed away just a few years ago. She was the glue that held our family together. We weren’t sure what would happen after she passed, but I am so proud that our company continues to grow and that we all care to help it succeed. A failure is never an option for me, so I keep going.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I have learned is that you will only please someone or have an answer for some things, and that’s okay. We are all human and do our best to survive and help others along the way, and that’s what matters most.
Pricing:
- Full page ad: $627
- Half page ad: $395
- Third page ad: $320
- Quarter page ad: $245
- 3″ ad: $152 — Business card ad: $116
Contact Info:
- Website: www.advertisingjacksonville.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/everybodysbusinessetc
- Facebook: facebook.com/everybodysbusinessetc
