About Me

Hi. I’m a Brand Therapist, Copywriter, and Archetypologist. This is my story.

My drive and passion for success began at an early age. I could rock a lemonade stand like no one’s business. These entrepreneurial roots assisted me in spearheading a student organization on campus as a college freshman all the way on through to becoming a million dollar producer my first year in sales at age 23, a vice-president at a Fortune 500 finance company by 27. It gave me the confidence to turn in my briefcase for a diaper bag and stay home with my kids and build an entrepreneurial empire of my own.

Following a lifelong love of antiques and a knack for finding treasures in the most unlikely of places, I began a small vintage boutique called Adored Before. I learned to appreciate the value in creating beautiful art from yesteryear’s castoffs, turning trash into treasure (and cash) with my own two hands. My business was tremendously profitable from the very first year, in part due to my (low-cost and no-cost) marketing efforts and having unwittingly created something that resonated with my audience. Businesses don’t succeed by luck alone. Always inquisitive, I dug deep to see what I was doing that seemed to be working and where I was stuck. It all came back to branding. I shared my story authentically, developed a unique selling proposition, positioned my brand, and like magic, my right people magnetically came to me.

In the past couple of years, I began to venture outside the artisan world into creativity of another sort. I have always marveled at the power of words. I was the kid who had a dictionary stowed under my bed, as I and learned as many new words as I could before I drifted off to sleep at night. And I’ve loved to read from as far back as I can remember, and not just dictionaries. Even today, I read between one and five books a week. I just can’t help myself. There’s so much to devour in literature. So when all of the words, thoughts, and ideas I’d been collecting needed to be shared, the writing was a natural progression. I flexed my creative mind and ventured down a new and uncertain path. I began Designher Brands in late 2010, offering copywriting, consulting, encouragement and resources for women in small business. A perfect combination of left-brain structure and drive and right-brain creativity and spontaneity.

In order to dedicate myself solely to this new adventure, I had to say farewell to an old friend. I needed to let go of yesterday to see tomorrow. I sold the boutique everything in it right down to the last earring and faced a most uncertain future. Again, my first year proved profitable. Suddenly, there was a waitlist. Again, it all came down to authentic, persona-based branding. Finding a niche and working it from all angles.

As I worked with clients to help launch dozens of new businesses I began to notice a trend. They were all spending money on advertising, but not on branding. They put the cart before the horse. And as a result, they struggled. I felt the need to share some of the things I learned along my own journey about successful small business ownership. Everything I preached all came back to one thing: branding. But not just any branding; Personality-based branding drenched in authenticity, and rooted deep in Psychology. And so, here we are.

Melissa Bolton

Brand Therapist®

I believe...

The business of business doesn’t have to have to be cringe-worthy. Here in my realm, you’ll find no stuffy formatted, pre-planned rigidity or formalities. No ‘one-size-fits-all’ work. It’s professionalism with a friendly flair.

Welcome to a judgment-free environment.
I truly believe you get a more authentic presence when you can open up and be yourself throughout the process. You needn’t ever feel uncomfortable about not knowing something. We all start somewhere! Let’s have some fun with this. Chances are, you got into this to do what you love. So let’s dig in, tap into your sisu, and make it happen. I guarantee with the proper guidance, it’s much easier than you think.

Taking things personally.
Because you are the brand, our work together will be a fully collaborative effort. You and I will be in touch throughout the process to ensure it’s exactly what you want from start to finish.

Wondering if we’d work well together?

Click here to find out

How I spend my days

Here’s what you can find me doing on any given day.

Working on client projects 60%

Working on my own business 20%

Networking & Socializing 10%

On the phone 10%

Drinking Highlander Grog flavored coffee 95%

Speaking at women's conferences across the country

What Do You Get?

Here’s a list of just some of the things you’ll get from working with me.

Highly Skilled

My methodologies have been years in the making. I’ve delicately honed them to be as efficient as they are thorough. I’ve got an uncanny ability to hear and develop your brand voice from the information I gather from you.

Honesty

I’m relatable and empathetic, though unafraid to offer insights, ideas, and suggestions to enhance your experience. I want you to get the most out of our time together.

Perspective

Whenever I work with a business, I slip into a variety of roles to see the big-picture. Examining the brand from multiple viewpoints; that of the brand owner, the consumer, the marketplace, and even the competition.

Experience

From managing millions of dollars as a financial advisor to my own adventures as a serial entrepreneur both in service and product-based businesses, I’ve got over 25 years of successful business and marketing experience, both online and in the corporate world.

Invested in You

Behind each and every business is a person. That person is you. I work with you, the individual, to discover and build your perfect business for your perfect people. I take my work seriously and pride myself in building relationships.

Creativity

As both an artist and businessperson myself, I have a unique left-brain, right-brain perspective – complete with an effective brand of business savvy, grit, and unbounded creativity.

Authenticity

There are so many copycat businesses out there. I created my systems they’re not knockoffs of someone else’s. I know them inside and out. When you work with me you get genuine, authenticity every step of the way.

Value-Packed

When deciding on a creative collaborationist, you may find cheaper, but you always get what you pay for. An investment in yourself and your business is priceless, and the work we do together is destined to pay for itself many times over.

Easy to work with

I listen intently to your wants, needs, goals and proceed accordingly. I allow for flexibility throughout the creative process and will keep you on task without making you feel pressured or hurried.

Accountability

When we do business together, you deal with me and only me. I promise to get back to you in a timely fashion with thoughtful, thorough responses to your inquiries.

Knowledge

An avid researcher and voracious reader, my thirst for knowledge is insatiable. I employ all that I know both academically and experientially throughout our work together. And I am always working to figure out if there’s a better way.

Street Cred

Not that I encourage following the crowd, but lots of others have worked with me and have had lovely things to say. Contact me if you’d like to see samples of my work.

Take the free brand archetype quiz.

You’ll also get a free 19-page guide designed around your type to help you leverage it.

Take the quiz

Superpowers

Your brand is a gateway to your true work. You know you are here to do something – to create something or help others in some way. The question is, how can you set up your life and work so that you can do it? The answer lies in your brand. When you create a compelling brand you attract people who want the promise of your brand, which you deliver. -Dave Buck

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