Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Andrus.
Hi Andrea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After over a decade of working in the marketing and public relations industry for large corporations, I decided I was ready to work for myself and for other small businesses. Most of my family owned mom and pop restaurants in Florida where I grew up, so I was around people with the entrepreneurial spirit all my life. Ultimately I knew that was what I wanted for my future. I founded Andrus Communications in 2015 so I would have the opportunity to help small to mid-size companies compete with the big guys.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh my goodness, if you are looking for a smooth road in your professional life, I do not recommend working for yourself! There is a graphic I always share with new entrepreneurs that looks like a rollercoaster ride, with many highs and many lows. It’s really the perfect visual.
Especially that first year of business, when I was really getting my footing on the operations side of the business, I experienced many struggles. I also realized pretty early on that I could not do everything myself, and that outsourcing some work such as accounting, although it cost money in the short-term, actually saved me money, – and headaches – in the long term.
I also learned that you have to weather the setbacks, stick with it, and ultimately I believe everyone can work for themselves if that is their goal.
As you know, we’re big fans of Andrus Communications. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Andrus Communications is a boutique marketing communications agency that helps clients discover their true voice and purpose to attract their ideal customers. We work predominantly with clients that have a focus on consumer facing businesses, including the food and beverage and health care industries.
What sets us apart from many other firms, is that we believe in working one-on-one with our clients. You will always have a very personal experience with Andrus Communications, it is one of the benefits to our boutique size. Another benefit is we are agile, we can make changes and improvements quickly, because we understand that your business can change quickly too.
Our number one concern is for you to always feel supported by our team and to reach as many of your sales and marketing goals as quickly as possible.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I always compare the marketing industry to the technology industry, because they really do go hand in hand. We can expect to see more social media sites continuing to pop up and we will need to stay on top of where consumers in each demographic are spending their time. Consumers want to consume more and more in a shorter period of time so we have to be able to deliver.
I also expect to see a rise in digital offerings, whether it be online shopping or offering more remote services. Due to the global pandemic, the past year and a half has taught us how important it is to be agile, so I think we will focus on digital technology improvements, and the way we operate will also continue to change.
Finally, as mobile and smartwatch use continues to increase at a much higher rate than computers, we will have to make sure that we are optimizing for the future. Maybe creating ads and videos that will play on your glasses or watch will be the next big thing?
Contact Info:
- Email: andrea@andruscommunications.com
- Website: https://www.andruscommunications.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andruscomm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrusComm/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/andruscomm
Image Credits
Paige Beitler
Amy Scott
