Meet Chas Metz of 727 Designs & The Element Media in Deer Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chas Metz.

Chas, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve had the spirit of entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. In fourth grade, I began to learn about money and business by buying bags of candy at the supermarket and reselling them individually at school to turn a profit. By middle school, I was mowing lawns, and by high school, I was running a little BMX shop out of my garage, among other questionable businesses we won’t mention.

I started early, but it wasn’t until college that I really began to take things seriously. I was getting bored with class and getting tired of being broke, so I jumped headfirst into the first opportunity I could find. That opportunity happened to be a network marketing company. I had quick success but it didn’t last long. Within two years, my income fell to almost nonexistent and the debt started to pile up.

I became so broke and so in smothered in debt that I was forced to move back in with my mom and reevaluate my life. I’m from a small town in Wisconsin with little opportunity and not much going on for entertainment, so I was eager to save some cash and move away.

I took a job at a friend’s tire shop and saved just enough to get myself to Phoenix and pay first months rent. I brought with me only what I could fit in my car, for the first few weeks I was sleeping on an air mattress and grocery shopping at the dollar store. Luckily I was able to find an awesome job as an ATV Tour Guide almost immediately after moving here and begin pulling my life back together. Fast forward three years and here I am, still working for that same company but now as the Marketing Coordinator, as well as running two small businesses of my own including 727 Designs LLC and The Element Media LLC.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Far from it. I don’t think any entrepreneur has a smooth road, and if they do it probably won’t last long. It’s all of the bumps in the road that force us to become the people we need to be in order to achieve the highest levels of success. If it came easy it wouldn’t be nearly as exciting and rewarding.

When you build your first business quickly and have immediate success like I did, the world has a way of smacking you back down where you belong and teaching you some difficult but much needed lessons. For most entrepreneurs, including myself, it takes a few failed businesses and several years of self-development before you get things right.

It’s been a rollercoaster ride to say the least. There have been times when things went right and I’ve had more money than I needed, and there have been other times when things have gone terribly wrong and I’ve been so broke I’ve had my power shut off.

The ups and downs are all part of the learning process. No one ever said it would be easy, they just said it would be worth it.

Please tell us about 727 Designs & The Element Media.
I started 727 Designs LLC three years ago. 727 offers a full apparel line as well as a full graphic design service. Our main focus is on the motocross industry, offering sponsorships to riders all across the country. We help our riders out with custom team apparel and graphics. We have also worked with local businesses doing things like logo design, custom apparel, and even fundraising. Our proudest moment thus far has been teaming up with the Aaron Hartwig Scholarship fund and raising thousands of dollars for suicide prevention and mental health awareness. www.727-designs.com

The Element Media LLC my newest business, was started only a few months ago. The focus of this business is on helping local small business stay up to speed on the newest digital marketing trends. These days marketing techniques change by the day and small business need all the help they can get in order to stay competitive against large corporations that have full-time digital marketing teams. We offer free tips and training through our social media pages and through live presentations. For those with a larger marketing budget we offer a full marketing service where we build and implement a custom marketing plan for your business. www.theelementmedia.com

I also still remain an employee at Arizona Outdoor Fun. Arizona Outdoor Fun is the leader in off-road tours in the valley, don’t take my word for it, check out our Trip Advisor reviews. I can’t thank this company enough, I was able to find a job here almost immediately after moving here from Wisconsin. I started as a guide and now work as the marketing coordinator. www.arizonaoutdoorfun.com

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Even as an adult I am still very passionate about motocross, snocross, cliff jumping and other extreme sports. My favorite childhood memories are days spent at the race tracks, skateparks and cliffs. Any day where I’m pushing myself to my limits and scaring myself a little is a great day.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chasmetz.com
• Email: chas@727-designs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasmetz/

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