We had the good fortune of connecting with Dana Hewling and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dana, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“Why be good when you can be remarkable?” – Dana Hewling Inspired by a college professor, we use this as our company tagline, and it fuels much of what I do each day. I learned very early on that there are a lot of brilliant, talented, and creative people in the world. Many of those talented people will go on to produce a lot of good work, and if I wanted to stand out, I had to do better than good, I had to be remarkable. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word “remarkable” as “worthy of being or likely to be noticed, especially as being uncommon or extraordinary.” As an advertiser working with clients, clients needed us to help them be noticed in a sea of “good” competition.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
In the past six years, we’ve helped over 150 clients in varying stages, sizes, and expertises get closer to being remarkable within their respective industries. We’ve worked with and educated clients on branding strategy, communications, design, digital marketing, and website development, among other subjects. We’ve helped our minority-owned clients (which make up the majority of our roster) become more competitive and build more reliable connections with their target audience. We’ve been building a small but reliable team of talented, dedicated, and passionate individuals, including copywriters, marketing professionals, account managers, and more. Things have been hard, and it is easy to focus on the negative. Despite this, I can look back at being able to provide careers and paid internships for people, make a difference in our client’s businesses, and impact our community. Throughout all of this, we’ve been breaking statistical trends, including longevity and revenue limits. African American/Black women-owned businesses earned an average revenue of $24,000 per firm vs. $142,900 among all women-owned businesses (The State of Women-Owned Businesses, 2019). I am quite proud of how far we have come. With almost half of all businesses (48.9% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics) failing within their first five years, I am incredibly proud to have celebrated b.iD’s sixth year in April 2020. As a ‘solopreneur,’ I’ve had to endure a lot and have dealt with many of the same struggles other small businesses have faced. They say the first three years are the hardest, but they don’t say that it doesn’t get easier after that. Each year is just as hard, but I guess it’s a different kind of hard. There is always a new hurdle to overcome (like the global pandemic no one saw coming), a new problem to solve, and a new target that seems unattainable. However, what does get easier is your ability to assess, adjust, and adapt, and with each new obstacle overcome, your confidence goes up (just a bit).

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I’m a homebody, so this is a tough question. But this is Houston, and there is a lot to see, do and love. I personally love the diversity and cultural richness of our city, so one of my top recommendations involves visiting Chinatown. The food is phenomenal. I’m obsessed with Tofu Village. I’ve never been disappointed with anything I’ve tried, and it’s the best place to visit with friends and family. While there, I recommend trying the shaved ice at Nu Cafe for a light but tasty dessert. And of course, there’s always bubble tea. You’re in Texas, and trying a Kolache Factory kolache is a must for visitors. They fall in love each time. Historic Third Ward, the Museum District, and Midtown have tons to keep you busy. For coffee, the options are endless, but one of my favorites is Kaffiene Koffee, which is across the street from Melodrama Boutique for a little shopping. I also recommend downloading the Houston Cultures app, which can help you find some hidden cultural gems, from restaurants, shopping, and more, across the Houston Metro area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Many deserve recognition for much of my successes. Firstly, I am beyond thankful for being blessed with two encouraging and supportive parents. They never put a ceiling on what I could accomplish. I am forever grateful for the mentorship of Merrill Crawford, especially in those early years, when I doubted my capabilities as an entrepreneur. To my team, I couldn’t help as many businesses and provide them the caliber of work without you. Lastly, thank you to my friends for helping me stay sane in this crazy world so that I can keep giving my best.

Website: https://www.bidcreative.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b.idllc/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-id-creative
Twitter: https://twitter.com/youneedDana
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativebybid