Interview with Sara Márquez Blanco: Building her own social media company

Can you describe the project that you are working on?

Sara: 'The Capstone Graduation project is the final project in the Creative Business study programme. It's a personal project where you create a thesis and, in my case, a business plan, and work on your portfolio. I began this project in February.'

‘I decided to start my own company for this project, a social media company called Etikal Media. My aim is to assist sustainable fashion brands in growing online by means of branding and strong online positioning through social media. Based on my experience, most brands lack a clear sense of identity. They have a variety of ideas but require a branding strategy, which is where I can assist. In addition to developing branding and content strategies, I can also help with the implementation and optimization.’

‘For the Capstone Graduation project, I am writing a thesis that examines, through content analysis, which factors lead consumers to engage with sustainable fashion brands, based on six brands, over a three-week period. Additionally, I am preparing a business plan and, of course, I am working on my portfolio as much as possible.’

How is building your own business going?

Sara: ‘I am working with a designer who produces sustainable wedding dresses. She is my first client. I reached out to her, to interview her as a potential client. I have received a lot of excellent feedback so far.’

‘I am working remotely from the North of Spain, where I also have great support from the local entrepreneurship community. There are many older, more experienced people involved, which is beneficial when it comes to setting prices for my services, for example. Moreover, I participate in weekly meetings with our BUas support group, consisting of other students and lecturers, to receive feedback.’

‘There are some challenges in starting my own business, such as the financial aspect. That is why I requested a business coach from BUas. I will be meeting with them shortly. At present, I am concentrating on my project, thesis, and my client, which leaves little time for my own marketing. That is another obstacle.’

What are your plans for the future?

Sara: ‘My goal is to continue expanding my own business. I am working on a financial plan. During the first year, I will focus on creating my portfolio and may need to obtain a part-time job to cover my expenses. During the second year, I aim to establish it as my primary source of income. Perhaps by collaborating with my friend, who graduated last year and already owns her own business. That could be a fruitful partnership. Ultimately, I would love to have a team of individuals working with me.’

‘I am very proud of the work I have accomplished so far and eager to see what the future holds.’

 

For those who would like to learn more about Sara's work, you can check out her website or her LinkedIn profile.