Blake Stewart is the owner of Stewart Design, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Stewart Design is an award-winning graphic design and print firm specializing in logo design, brand identity and the design and production of high-quality marketing materials. Since 2006, Stewart Design has collaborated with more than twelve thousand businesses around the globe. Stewart Design provides its clients with the tools to effectively communicate with the world around them.
Stewart talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about his business and his advice to young entrepreneurs.
How did you get started in graphic design?
“I have always been artistic in my whole life. I was the kid who went through grade school with a sketchbook in my hand. When I was in
high school, I had more of an abstract style and my teacher told me I should look at graphic design when I went to college,” Stewart said.
high school, I had more of an abstract style and my teacher told me I should look at graphic design when I went to college,” Stewart said. What geographic market do you serve?
“We aren’t limited geographically with the work we do,” Stewart said. “We are based in Morgantown, West Virginia, and we have several clients in and around the Morgantown area, but the majority of our clients are out of state.”
“We’ve picked up work with clients and other businesses have seen the work we’ve done for them, and business has kind of branched out in their area for us. We work with clients in pretty much every state.”
What was your worst business moment so far?
“I have been fortunate to be in business for 13 years, and not have a really bad experience,” Stewart said. “But, if I had to name one, I have always relied on someone’s word and handshake and in the beginning, we’d work on some larger projects and sometimes the clients hadn’t paid us. I learned how to write out a contract and make sure that was taken care of before the project started.”
“Make sure you spend time putting things together.”
What is one piece of advice you would give an entrepreneur?
“I meet with people who are starting their business all of the time,” Stewart said. “The people that I meet who are doing it successfully are interested and passionate about what they’re doing, but they are also willing to learn. They are always striving to be better.”
“Never stop working,” Stewart advised.
PWV QUICK BITS
- RECOMMENDED BOOK: Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You by John Warrillow (Author), Bo Burlingham (Foreword)
- RECOMMENDED RESOURCE: Zoom
- PIECE OF ADVICE: “Never stop working,” advised Stewart.