Teri Patrick, the visionary Founder and CEO of The Social Acre, has carved a formidable path in the business world. With her expertise as a brand strategist, marketing consultant, podcast host, and advocate for women-owned home and lifestyle brands, Teri has become a respected voice in the industry, known for her unique approach to building memorable brands.
Throughout her illustrious career, Teri has masterfully crafted numerous startup brands, curated extensive marketing portfolios, and played an integral role on the board of a female-led non-profit organization. These experiences have shaped her dynamic perspective on business growth and the art of creating brands that leave a lasting legacy.
What are some of the key differentiators that set The Social Acre apart from other real estate marketing companies?
At Social Acre, we understand that for a business to be successful, it needs more than just a great website or online presence – it needs an impactful story and identity that will capture the attention of potential customers and keep them engaged.
That’s why we developed The Memorable Brand Method™ – our signature for developing custom solutions tailored specifically for each client. The Memorable Brand Method™ uses our A.C.T.I.V.A.T.E framework, designed for home and lifestyle businesses to find their unique voice and activate their brand legacy through brand strategy, marketing and visibility.
Authenticity is Key: Our Holistic Approach to Brand Development
I believe that your brand should be an extension of yourself – from your values to your mission; from your products to services; from your vision to execution – all of these things come together to form a cohesive story that will resonate with customers. My goal is simple: I want to help home brands realize their vision so they can make an impact and stand out in their industry.
At The Social Acre, we don’t just create a brand. We help our clients discover and showcase their true selves. Our holistic approach means we consider all the pieces that make up a memorable brand: brand voice, message, marketplace position, client experience and visual identity. By taking a step back and examining the bigger picture, we can build unique, long-lasting brand legacy’s.
Can you tell us what are the things you have learned during the past few years in your business?
Growth doesn’t always mean more
Growth doesn’t always mean “more”… more money, more clients or more projects. Growth can also look like slowing down, re-evaluating and pulling back so you can then spring forward. It also looks like failing, learning and overcoming obstacles.
Growth is not a linear path, it’s filled with ups and downs. It means learning from your mistakes and taking risks knowing that failure can often be part of the outcome. It also means stepping out of your comfort zone to challenge yourself and nurture new skills or ideas. Growth allows us to become more than we have ever been – it gives us the opportunity to discover who we really are and what our purpose is in life. The most rewarding part of growth is being able to look back on your journey and celebrate all that you’ve achieved.
So embrace change, take risks, learn from mistakes, never give up and always keep growing! You’ll find satisfaction, success and ultimately happiness as a result.
Trust yourself first, then look for support
The best investment I have made in myself is taking the time to trust my gut. As entrepreneurs, we often think that the only way to grow is by getting advice from a mentor or coach. But if you don’t trust yourself first, it will be hard for someone else to guide you. Take the time to work through your own ideas before seeking external help.
Once you are ready, there are plenty of ways to get expert advice – from attending courses and seminars to working with a business mentor. So lean into your boundaries, trust yourself and invest in the right external support when it comes to achieving long-term growth.
By taking the time to challenge yourself and rethink conventional approaches towards growth, you can create opportunities for sustainable success.
Taking the time to find aligned partnerships
Not doing enough due diligence on the person I was looking to hire, created many disruptions down the road. Ask questions, read reviews, and assess whether or not the person you are looking to hire will offer the type of support you need is all part of this process. In doing so, you create a partnership that is aligned with your vision, goals and values – helping you achieve success in whatever venture you embark on. By taking the time for due diligence, it can save you from getting stuck in a situation that doesn’t serve your best interests. So don’t rush into decisions; instead, be wise and mindful in order to find a solution that works for everyone involved. A little bit of effort now can go a long way in ensuring a successful outcome.
You don’t need a service for everything you’re an expert in
As a multi-talented entrepreneur in the online space, it can be tempting to offer every service you’re capable of. It makes sense – after all, if all your skills and knowledge could generate more income, why not? While this may seem like the most logical choice, it’s important to recognize when too much is simply too much. You don’t want to become overwhelmed with work or overstuffed offers that will only cause chaos and undo your simplified business model.
Knowing when and how to say “no” can be just as important as knowing what types of services—and expertise—you should invest in. Not only will this help you maintain focus, it will also allow you to grow your business in a realistic and sustainable way.
What I hope you can take away from this is that you can be an expert at something and still not have a service for it. You can be a top notch service provider and still be unavailable for random requests. Leaning into your boundaries with clients and being clear about what it is you can and can not do, is the first step to creating a more aligned and efficient business.
There are a few key points to consider when deciding which services to offer:
1. What do you enjoy doing the most? Investing time into something that brings you joy is essential for both productivity and customer satisfaction.
2. Which areas can showcase your expertise? Offering services related to your core strengths will give clients more confidence
Don’t settle when things start to feel “easy”
I always believe in the power of curiosity and asking questions. It’s easy to take a back seat when you get into a steady flow and business is going well, but my advice is to never settle when things feel easy. Approaching your clients, community and business growth with utmost curiosity and a hunger to learn is the best way to avoid becoming stagnant.
When you approach your business with an open mind, you give yourself the opportunity to explore new ideas, innovate, and boost client engagement. Make sure you challenge yourself to try new strategies and assess what works best for you and your clients — it’s a never-ending process of growth! Additionally, seeking out feedback from colleagues, peers or industry experts can help give valuable insight into how to improve current processes. By staying curious, inquisitive and engaged in the industry, you’ll be able to provide exceptional services each time.
Connect With The Social Acre:
MARKETING + CONSULTING AGENCY
TSA Website – https://www.thesocialacre.com/
TSA Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thesocialacre/
All Links – https://www.thesocialacre.com/links
THE SOCIAL ACRE SHOW – PODCAST
TSA Show – https://www.instagram.com/thesocialacreshow/
Podcast Links – https://www.thesocialacre.com/podcastlinks
CONNECT WITH TERI PERSONALLY
Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/teripatrick/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/teripatrickk/
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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