Interview with: Rauch Designs

Who is Rauch Designs? Where are you located?
I am Tracy Rauch and Rauch-Designs is my Graphic Design Studio. I am located in Slidell, Louisiana (just outside of New Orleans). Thanks to email and internet I am able to do business with clients located anywhere. I design logos, brochures, postcards, websites, menus, t-shirts, ads, campaigns... pretty much anything a client needs.


How did you come up with your business name?
Short and sweet. My business is about me and what I do for my clients. I didn't feel the need to elaborate and come up with a fancy name with some meaning behind it. Most my clients just know me as Tracy and I like that.



When and why did you decide to start your own business?
I have been doing graphic design work since 1999 and began doing freelance graphic design work very early on in my career. I had since always held a full time job in marketing or graphics and occasionally took on freelance projects on the side when they were available as a way to make a little extra money. After having my 3rd child in May of 2007, I couldn't bear the thought of having to return to my 9 to 5 job and leave my babies. So I decided I had to pursue my dream of staying home with my kids and doing graphic design was the logical way for me to supplement my income. After a lot of planning, budgeting and a hard decision to leave my current full time job, I decided to take a big leap and become a work at home mom. I also have a small stationery business that helps provide additional income.


How did you get started?
I have always been artistic, loved drawing and took every art class I could in school. I started out wanting to be an architect or interior designer, however life took me down many winding roads that eventually brought me to the graphic design field. It has since become my career and it is not just work, it is a passion and a creative outlet. When the opportunity for me to stay home seemed possible, I knew I had to pursue it. I already had a few clients I could already depend on and also worked on bringing in new work.



What motivates you to keep your business going?
My family motivates me. The opportunity to be home with my kids is the greatest blessing. My clients also motivate me. It is a great feeling when a client tells me they love their design and that what I did was more than they ever expected. My goal is to have all my clients walk away having their expectations met and exceeded.


How do you advertise your business? What methods proved effective/successful?
Word of mouth and client referrals are my best forms of advertising. I also post my services on craigslist or even find people who need my services on the web and contact them. (www.craigslist.org) I network with local printers and send my business cards to local printers who could either use my services or refer me to their clients who may need my services. Having relationships with local printers also benefits my clients because I can help them with their projects from concept all the way through to printing and getting it in their hands.



How do you juggle family and work at home?
As all work at home moms can say, it is tough. I think working at home is harder than having a full time job outside the home because you are running your own business and always trying to bring in new clients and work on top of being a mom and wife. I try not to stress too much during the day, the kids come first and I do work when I can (like during naps or while their favorite tv show is on). I try to keep the kids on a schedule so I have an idea of when I'll be able to get work done here and there. But mostly I get a majority of my work done in the evenings after the kids go to bed. When I have a deadline I need to meet, I bring the kids to my mother-in law's house so I can get my work done and make sure I meet my client's needs on time.


What advice would you give to moms seeking to become a WAHM?
You have to make a plan and just go for it. After budgeting and really looking at things, (daycare expenses, lunch costs, commuting and gas expenses, etc.) sometimes it just makes sense to stay home. Find something you love to do, a hobby, a talent, and see if you can turn it into a way to make money. That way you are not only working and bringing in income, but you'll enjoy it and that is great motivation. Most importantly, (and the hardest for me to do)... Be sure to make time for yourself, even if it is a trip alone to the grocery or sneaking into a bubble bath after the kids are in bed.



Visit Rauch Designs at: www.rauch-designs.com