Real Charleston Women Series - Moxie Made Branding & Design Agency

 Why Hello Friend, 

The time has come! We are on the search for a few ladies whose goal in life is to lounge as comfortably as possible (stylishly, of course) & use her wide network to help other women find their inner comfort. Aside from participating in markets & pop-up shops in our communities, creating this brand ambassador program was another important step when working towards one of our goals: Lounge Together. 

To "Lounge Together" is to simply support one another through words, expressions, gestures, even random acts of kindness.

Our Lounge Ambassador has no minimum followers requirement, however, Dolly & I do have certain criteria one must meet in order to reap the complementary rewards. We have put together a loungetastic program for engaging women who aim to share our love for lounge via their own social media platforms. Click HERE for further details.

"Comfort to me means the ability to be 100% unapologetically yourself." 

Speaking of lounging together - Without further a due, I'd like you to meet the next small business owner in our Real Charleston Women Spotlight: Hayley Kruth

Tell us a little about your profession & why you do what you do: 
I started my own social media marketing side hustle back in 2019 as a way to bring in some extra income while I worked and earned my master's degree in Sport Media and Branding (and also got married that year while working a third job as well I was insane). I will never forget when filling out some random questionnaire (probably for school) being asked to answer what I would end up wanting to do for my career. I hesitantly wrote down I want to own my own business one day. Not sure if I fully believed it at the time, but the entrepreneurial spirit was definitely starting to knock at my door. By July 2020, I had quit all my jobs and decided to take the leap of full-time business owner. 
 
Why do I do what I do?
What I learned through starting my own little business was that I really enjoyed listening and helping others get started doing their own thing too - which was not so much marketing as it was storytelling and communicating AKA branding. This, alongside my master's, ultimately led me down the path of building brands for small businesses & side hustles, much like my own, under my business Moxie Made -  A branding agency who works with determined dreamers to turn an idea into a business through brand strategy & design.
 
When not at work, where can we mostly find you?
Thinking about work, ha! If I am not working, I try to get out and enjoy the beautiful live oak trees or beaches by taking a bike ride. If I am not doing that then I am laying on the couch with my goldendoodle, Stevie, and bearded dragon, Henry.  
 
Where is your favorite place to dine in Charleston?
Gale! Their use of all natural, fresh ingredients from food to cocktails makes every dining experience unique. 
 
If you could lounge anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I have to pick just one!? If you could just plop me in a natural hot spring in Iceland I'd be good, however I could also easily be content lounging in a field of llamas with my husband. 
 
What song best describes you?
We Are The Champions by Queen. If you can't tell by what I decided to name my business, "I've had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I've come through," to quote the song. The energy & inspiration you get from just listening to this song is also what I aspire to do & bring with my business.  
 
What does comfort mean to you?
Comfort to me means the ability to be 100% unapologetically yourself. Whether that is through your style, your personality, or your hair style - it is being comfortable bringing a little bit of you into the world. 
 
What might you say to someone who needs a little pick me up?
I suppose it would depend on the situation but I find myself telling those around me that all we can do is try our best- as long as we keep going, keep failing forward, we are living and that is everything.  
 
If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
Write a book. Just write it allllll down. 
 
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
In business, you should strive to always surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. You can't do it all!
 
What is one thing you cannot live without?
Chapstick! 
 
What makes you feel most empowered?
When I can use my skills & talents to help others succeed. Not even just my clients, but my family & friends as well. 
 
How do you recharge?
Being at home and hanging out with my animals.
 
What’s one thing you would change about yourself?
My tendency to measure my worth in productivity. I am what you call an Enneagram 3 which is The Achiever. The Achiever has a basic fear of being worthless while having the desire to always feel valuable & worthwhile. I seek affirmation from others which can often get me into trouble and lead to burn out. So if I could change anything it would be to recognize more easily that I am who I am not what I do and that is enough.

Hope you enjoyed meeting Hayley in this lounge sesh and remember pie is better shared and there's enough of it to go around.