Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorie Pickle.
Hi Dorie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started CreativePickle just over 20 years ago. I got started in the DotCom boom here in Austin in the late nineties, which was a really crazy time – tons of IPOs, this huge rush to the dot com marketplace. It was my first job out of college, and I was a project manager. It was my job to organize files and communicate with clients at FurnitureShow.com, a business to business online marketplace. The principals in the business secured funding, but the deal was called off before the contract was signed when the NASDAQ crashed in April of 2000, a time many in Austin remember. People were getting laid off right and left. I was asked to stay and we created a general web services consulting firm called 1215 Media. Soon after, we merged with the Ellott Group and created a new company together called nFusion Group, which combined our web services with the EG’s more traditional ad services. I mentored under our inspiring art director as a graphic designer and learned all about graphic design through hands-on client work. But, I wanted more autonomy, and I knew that I wanted to have my own shop one day. I started CreativePickle in the summer of 2001, and it has grown slowly and organically since then.
My husband joined in 2007, just after our first son was born, as our web developer. And, in the years to follow, we added another two designers and project manager to help divide my role because I was overwhelmed with running the administrative side of things by myself. This allowed us to expand our services and continue to grow.
I have learned something new every day we have been in business – each and every day has its challenges and is a learning opportunity. Some of it is so fun (client meetings, creative direction), some of it against my will (insurance / HR / taxes). Running a business definitely has so many different variables to it, and I am so grateful to everyone on my team and to our clients who have helped make this business succeed over the years.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Knowing when and how to grow has always been a challenge for me. The need for help and adding more people seems obvious when you are busy, but taking on more payroll is scary for any business owner, so growth has been challenging at times. We have had a few false starts with new employees, which is always frustrating on both sides. But, finding the right fit is always wonderful when it happens.
Working with my spouse sometimes has its challenges, but we have very different roles and we really respect each others’ roles. We know that communicating is key, so we talk through problems when they arise. And, we have a “no work” after hours rule. We also carve out solo time for each other too. So, that has helped. We are going on 25 years, so it must be working!
Covid was a difficult time for us initially because many people paused their marketing budgets. However, over the past year, we have seen how the use of zoom and more businesses being willing and able to work remotely has resulted in us having more of a national and international reach. This has really opened up the possibilities and we are excited about this next stage.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have always been a bit creative, but it really wasn’t until I found the original version of Photoshop in the nineties that I felt like I finally had a way to express myself creatively. I have always enjoyed using it to make really fun personal birthday cards for family and friends, and of course, using the Adobe suite for logo design and other types of graphic design. But, since I have been doing that professionally for so long, I also have other artistic outlets that are just for me-not for my clients.
For about three years now, I have been working with animal skulls. I know it sounds strange (and sometimes it is a very strange hobby in fact), but I love the whole concept of turning something that is ugly and dead into something of beauty and intrigue. Here is some of that work: https://www.instagram.com/tookullforskull/ (much of it is not photographed yet)
I also enjoy playing and writing music on the flute and piano, and I am also a writer. I am working on several books, but I do have one that will be released in 2022. (dawnthebook.com).
These artistic endeavors help keep me grounded and give me a place to process my emotions. I find this type of creative pursuit has become essential to my ability to process grief, stress, and joy.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I am a risk taker, there is no doubt. There is no way I could have founded and run a business all of these years without being able to live with some risk involved. My husband is more risk-averse. He says that I am the gas and he is the brakes, which I guess works out well in the end since both are pretty necessary for the car to get where it is trying to go.
I have a lot of faith that if you sit down and work hard from 9-5 each day, you can accomplish quite a bit. Of course, there are some things we cannot control, but if you take just what is right in front of you each day, and you learn from it, piece by piece, it all adds up.
I believe that without risks, we would be nowhere as a species. I would not have the business or the life that I have without being willing to take the leap.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@creativepickle.com
- Website: www.creativepickle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativepickleatx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreativePickle/
Image Credits:
Kelly West https://kellywestphoto.com/
