Expert to know: Johnny Jarbo (Q&A Interview)

Johnny Jarbo is the Managing Partner at Anchor (based in Royal Oak, Michigan), listed on 50Pros as a top 50 firm in Graphic & Logo Design, Web Design, and Branding.

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In this Q&A, Johnny shares his in-depth perspective, unique background, robust experiences, and insightful tips.

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How did you get into your industry?

My first foray into the design and consulting space came while I was still in college. I've had a passion for all things web and design related since I was a kid, so when the opportunity presented itself to get my foot in the door with a luxury interior design studio that needed assistance project managing their new website build out, I jumped at it.

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Little did I know that I would also get to know one of my mentors and largest referral partners through that project.

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Fast forward 5 years, Tessa, my now wife and I began freelancing and collaborating on client projects together. I continued to put my project management skills to use, while she oversaw all creative direction for our clients.

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2 years later, we founded Anchor, and the rest is history. After more than 5 years in business, we've worked with a wide variety of clients ranging from restaurant groups and franchises to museums, non-profits, and everything in between.

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We've also expanded our offerings to include a wide range of design and consulting services.

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What is the best piece of advice you've received in your career that pertains to your work, and how has it influenced your decisions?

The best piece of advice I've received actually came from a book "Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead And Win" by Jocko Willink.

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I learned that discipline creates freedom. Every aspect of life and business that you're not satisfied with are actually within your control.

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For example, if you need more time to accomplish your goals, wake up earlier. No excuses.

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What activities or hobbies outside of work do you enjoy that help you recharge and stay creative?

Daily exercise, skateboarding, long walks or hikes on natural trails, and yoga are some of my favorite activities outside of work that help me recharge.

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I also find inspiration in music from around the world and listening to at least 1 audiobook a week, with a good cup of coffee.

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When you first started, how did you get clients?

From our inception, we have only invested our energy in two ways of getting clients: networking and referrals.

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...and how do you get clients today?

5 years later, and we are still at $0 in total ad spend. Networking and referrals are all we've needed to consistently scale our business year after year.

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If a company was looking to hire your firm, or a firm like yours, what questions should they ask themselves as a team before approaching you?

1. Am I looking for a rebrand or new logo?

2. Do I need a new website created or assistance managing my current one, and is it ADA compliant?

3. Do I need an updated menu or packaging?

4. Does my digital presence need to be improved?

5. Am I struggling to scale my business?

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If you're reading this and you answered yes to any of those questions, reach out today.

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When a company is interested in hiring your firm, how should they approach you and how should they do business with you?

We've streamlined the process of reaching out to us by creating booking calendars for each of the services we provide. Visit our website and you're only a couple of clicks away from scheduling your consultation.

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How do you maintain strong relationships with clients to ensure long-term partnerships?

We maintain strong relationships with our clients by continuously creating value through our services and offering an optimal customer experience from their initial interaction with us.

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A lack of customer experience in the industry served as a motivator to create something better when we were in the process of founding Anchor.

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What role does networking play in growing your agency's business?

As I already mentioned, networking has been integral to our growth, and one of only two methods we've used to acquire new clients.

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What else would you like to publicly share about your firm or agency?

Although we go by Anchor, the DBC at the end of our URL (anchordbc.com) stands for design and business consulting.

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Aside from the branding, web design, and development services we're known for, our consulting services provide value long after our design services are completed. We regularly provide our clients with comprehensive digital and business consulting by creating a growth strategy and connecting them with the resources needed to get it implemented.