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Meet Kate Weed of Tapas Marketing in Tempe

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Weed.

Kate, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I come from a long line of entrepreneurs! My great grandfather and his wife, Kate, whom I’m named after, owned a golf tavern in Musselburgh, Scotland. Their son, my grandad John, owned a health food grocery store in the 1940s – 1960’s before kale was trendy. His daughter, my mom, paved her own way as a young female truck driver. She married my dad who was what we now call a serial entrepreneur!

When I graduated from U of A, I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I had a double degree in Business Economics and Management Information Systems but no job and no idea where to start. And did I mention the economy was about to tank the year after I left school?

I like to say that I’m trained in mass media but my heart is with the one-on-one connections that digital marketing offers. I got in touch with a fellow wildcat who was the Program Director at a local TV station. He introduced me to who would be one of my incredible mentors, the producer of the morning show. I started by getting the host coffee and worked my way up to helping run teleprompters, cameras, support the production team and more. That “internship” led me to the radio which opened so many doors. I worked at a sports and news radio station; my jobs included event planning, digital media, on-air talent, producing, and so much more. It was fast-paced and an absolute blast! My on-air personality led to gigs with the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Rattlers, and Arizona Cardinals. But when social media and digital marketing really took off, I decided to take a chance on a Social Media Marketing position at a start-up tech company in Chandler.

Working at a start-up automotive tech company is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I combined my traditional media knowledge with on-the-fly education. I helped launched the world’s first 3D-printed car, open two new locations in Las Vegas and Washington DC, and got connected with tons of national media outlets.

Over the next several years, I worked with business owners, marketing agencies, freelancers, and in-house teams in many capacities. I found that there was a serious disconnect between marketing people and business owners. They speak completely different languages and had such a hard time getting on the same page. The discovery of this disconnect was how Tapas Marketing was created.

My dream for Tapas Marketing is to bridge the gap between business owners and a marketing mindset. I work with business owners as a guide and educator to train them in marketing that works for them.

Has it been a smooth road?
No way!! So many bumps, twists, turns, u-turns, stop signs, caution signs, and wrong turns! For example:
-The first time I tried to venture out on my own, I fell flat on my face. I had a great idea but knew nothing about how to value it or manage the projects.
-I’ve had a client not pay a large sum of money causing a huge amount of stress on the business.
-I started Tapas Marketing with a business partner but we recently parted ways. But we are still on great terms! I could not be more thankful for her and her support.
-I’ve missed time with friends and family while trying to balance work and personal life.

But at the end of it all, struggles are what make me resilient. And when you’re resilient, nothing can stop you.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
We are consultants that guide, educate, and improve the return on marketing investment for small to mid-sized businesses. We offer quarterly plans, content frameworks, and consistent accountability for business owners.

The one thing that sets us apart is education. Many times business owners plan to handle marketing themselves. And sometimes all they need is guidance from an expert to help them stay on track. Most marketers want to do the work, but we like ‘teaching our clients to fish’ by guiding them so they can be a business owner with a marketing mindset.

What I’m most proud of is our commitment to honesty. Marketers have gotten such a bad rap these days and much of it is our own fault. We overpromise and underdeliver. We say ‘yes’ when we really mean “well, I’m not sure”. But at Tapas, we encourage prospects to ask questions and shop around to find the right fit. Because we are consultants, we may encourage you to work with agencies or freelancers, or we may suggest you build an in-house team.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I love about Phoenix is the creativity and diversity. This city is thriving and growing with new development at every turn. It’s estimated that Phoenix will become the 4th largest city in the US by 2020. But I love that Phoenix has taken a sustainable approach by including community parks, neighborhood events, and a focus on nature. The Arizona landscape is so beautiful and I want to see it cherished by our city leaders.

The thing I like the least is a consequence of the economic development I love the traffic. It will be interesting to see how the Transportation division deals with this incredible influx of people.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Tara Nichole Chatterton – headshot, Rebecca Nguyen – branding photos, Colton Blackmore – conference photos

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