Jeffrey English Hoboken entrepreneur is a successful graphic designer based in New Jersey. His firm provides the best in graphic design to a broad customer base in the New York City metro area and around the country. His brand is built on innovation, and he always keeps looking into the future for inspiration. His innovative work has led his firm to become sought-after in digital and print publishing applications.
Jeff English Hoboken businessman has a Graphic Design degree from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He was able to make many solid professional connections through student internships, enabling him to get his solo career off the ground much more quickly than others in his class. While he had some lean years at the start, he was able to become profitable in the first two years.
Taking care of his family is one of his most important motivations. He believes in encouraging his children to reach for their dreams, but he is in favor of career-focused education. In today’s challenging market, it is best to educate yourself for a job rather than figuring out your career after graduation. In his spare time, English enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and reading. He also puts a great premium on spending time with his children.
What was your best/favorite subject in school?
It may be surprising, but my best subject in high school was not art. It was in English. I didn’t have to work hard to get good grades in English. Art was more challenging, and that is why I found it to be a more satisfying career choice than going into teaching or writing.
What was your first job?
My first job was an internship during my junior year of college. I worked at a well-known New York City advertising firm. I found the job fascinating, and I developed a strong relationship with my boss while I was there. She later became my mentor, and she helped me get my first professional design job.
Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?
My first jobs prepared me to run a graphic design studio on my own. In order to be successful in business, you need not only technical skills but also negotiation, managing money, and managing personnel. When I hired my first employee, I knew that I was successful in the field of graphic design.
How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?
I credit my first job with showing me how to become successful in the industry. I was able to rely on my boss’s example to map out what I wanted to do with my career. I also believe that my first jobs let me know the importance of staying ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. If you are stuck in the past, you will not attract innovative clients and you might as well be designing coupons for a newspaper flyer.
Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.
The best day of work I’ve ever had is when I attracted my first big client. Finally, I would have the kind of client that enabled my business to become profitable. This was good timing, because I had exhausted a lot of my personal money by that point. I felt so proud of myself and happy that I had stayed with the idea of having my own studio rather than working for someone else.
What kind of business ideas excite you most?
Businesses with innovation are the ones that excite me the most. I am always looking for new trends and techniques. I believe that this attitude has kept my business profitable. When I come up with a new idea, I always test it to make sure that it will be profitable. Hiring young staff is another way that I keep my innovation strong.
Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?
I haven’t really had to use any unorthodox techniques. My business has grown largely through word-of-mouth. I am lucky that I haven’t had to spend too much time or money on promoting my business. I do advertise in trade publications and on relevant websites.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
I am the proudest of my work for a tabletop art book. I believe that my work made this book a success. I am also proud of my family. They are the backbone behind everything that I do. I try not to let work get in the way of spending time with them, but sometimes it is inevitable. I try to take them on exciting trips and vacations as a way of encouraging family bonding time.
What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?
I would like to tell myself that I would someday be successful and to stay on the path. I would have encouraged myself to leave my job at the big firm to go into business for myself. That was a nerve-wracking proposition, but I feel that it has paid off in the end.