Meet Jessica Winston | Brand Builder & Brand Strategist

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

Hi Jessica, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
A brand strategist isn’t someone who play around on photo shop all day! There is more behind branding than cursive fonts, cute colors and an airbrushed pictures with your arms folded!

Branding happens in 5 stages, and in them we craft your message, strategize your look, structure your sell and market your difference. Branding is bridging the gap between what you and the people you serve.

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?
I was introduced to branding, completely unaware. I was at new hire orientation at my first mall job, CLAIRE’S. I was equipped with my swoop bang and enough body glitter to be seen from space. When I arrived I was taken back to a room where a video was mid play. I thought new hire orientations supposed to be about my employee discount, but I was wrong!

While the video played I didn’t what all 10th grade girls do, searched for a reflection to check my hair. And then I hear the word strategize. I learned that CLARIE’S didn’t just sell jewelry they had a plan to target the modern teen offering them their generations fine pearls and diamonds (plastic and rhinestones) I learned about the family behind the famous brand and the people and pitches behind the profit. I learned nothing in good business is don’t by accident. This business had personal characteristics and specific goals. This company was a brand, and branded well!

I feel in love and leaned into what I knew would be a journey, a branding journey. Coupled with my love for marketing and strategy I started “advising” people everywhere. Years later, after opening and closing multiple businesses, I landed here. I took my name, J. Winston, and stepped into my mission. To build irresistible brands while creating lasting legacies that inspire, uplift, and redefine the landscape of branding. My difference is I’m not the branding professional that stats or stops with design, it’s much deeper than that. I didn’t get here by accident, although the journey had many stops and I’ve ran many businesses I’ve always been able to build a brand, and do so successfully.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A native of The Bull City, Durham NC, but living seconds away from Raleigh I have so many places to recommend.

Well we work for breakfast BUT we head to brunch at Another Broken Egg! Next we go over to The Loading Dock Raleigh to knock out some work and we take a break and head to a local food truck. Thats one thing about Raleigh, every corner has cuisine in the form of a food truck. The day ends at The Architect Bar & Social House, great drinks in a historic building. Perfection!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give my shoutout to my daughter. She’s new here! At 4 months old she has lit a fire inside of me that I’ve never known. Being a mother has stunted time but narrowed my focus in a way that had helped me in point my targets. I’m faster, more bold, quicker, more effective. I’m better, and that’s because she was born. Thank you precious daughter, Rye Winston.

Website: www.jwinston.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jwinston.co/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-winston-926254110

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/J.WinstonCo/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JWinston