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CEO Katharine Lau Has The Right ‘Stuf’

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You wouldn’t necessarily know it if you saw it, but there are many underutilized spaces all across American cities. Natural entrepreneur Katharine Lau certainly noticed. 

I spent my entire career in commercial real estate. And over the years, I’ve become obsessed with underutilized real estate.

“It just seemed wasteful to me that someone built or bought this building and there’s all this space underneath that’s really not being utilized.”

Someone had to do something about these spaces. Why not Lau?

It wasn’t until I had this spring cleaning and I needed self-storage, and I was trying to rent a unit where I was like, ‘Wow, this sucks.” Like, ‘This is awful. It’s far away. It’s sketchy.’

“There’s all this real estate in my neighborhood around the corner, and people need better storage solutions that are easy to access and just a better experience overall.

So Lau co-founded Stuf, a next-generation self-storage company. Stuf partners with real estate companies and building owners to take these underutilized spaces and monetize them as tech-enabled storage spaces 

A Place To Keep Your ‘Stuf’

Have you seen some of “Big Storage?” Companies like Public Storage and U-Haul have large spaces. No one is saying that self-storage had to be cute, but it can certainly be more inviting and modern. 

Stuf makes self-storage ridiculously convenient. You download their app, book your space, drop your “stuf” off, and go about your business. 

We don’t have a single on-site employee. Everything is done through our laptops or our phones.

“Our customers, rather than needing a key, or needing a pin pad, or anything like that, one click on their phone and they’re in the space.

On the operational side, we have eyes in the space so we know what’s going on. We have sensors, security cameras, access control. 

“So, that even though we’re not there, we’re there. We secure items and make sure customers have a good experience.”

Movin’ and Groovin’

Not many people walk by a vacant lot and see its potential. It takes a certain mindset to look at nothing and see something. The “entrepreneurial spirit” has always existed in Lau’s world since childhood. 

I was always curious about [entreprenurship]. I joined large companies – stable, very bureaucratic companies coming out of college. That was a good experience, but it was just so slow-moving, and things didn’t really change day-to-day.

“That was pretty frustrating. It wasn’t until I joined a startup where I was like wow, wow. We can actually move and groove, and get creative, try new ideas.

“That really opened my eyes.

Lau had found her future and hit the ground running. You can hear her passion in how she describes the work.

I really like figuring out new things for the first time – finding the vendors, learning how to design it, learning what customers care about. I think that really puts me in a good position as the CEO and founder of a startup to be pioneering those new ideas.”

Of course, as with any new business, there were a couple of humps and bumps here and there. How you handle these challenges shows what kind of leader you are.

This is the first time that I’ve had to really engage consumers, understand their psychology, understand what they care about when they’re looking for self-storage.

“If we’re now selling to and serving consumers, how is the marketing different? How do we operate differently? How do we set up the legal structure of the business in a way that makes sense? So so many things to account for simply because we’re serving a new stakeholder.

While a CEO has to wear many hats for many situations, a great CEO knows their best strengths are relying on their team. 

Obviously you’re looking for skill sets, experiences that can really elevate your company, or make you go faster, do more.

“What I really look for when I’m meeting people or interviewing candidates is are they going the extra mile? Do they just answer the questions I ask or did they show not tell. Did they care enough to do a reverse reference check on the company? Is this a big decision for them that they care about? Because it goes both ways.

I want to say every team member or every person on our team has gone the extra mile or went the extra mile during the interview process, and so it means they’re going to do more than just their job.”

Stuf has been able to grow, not just under Lau’s leadership, but because of how her leadership has inspired better work from her team. 

There’s one person on our team who is always really, really creative with ideas. So if we’re faced with a delay or something like it’s going over budget, he has five different things, five different ideas. He gets so excited about that.

“I felt like his energy, I wanted to pull that out and bring that to the rest of the team so that they could approach the problem in a similar way.

Paying It Forward

Given that Lau is an Asian-American woman in a white male-dominated industry (and country), she’s under a specific kind of pressure. She doesn’t just have to succeed because it’s a life requirement, she also has to succeed for the sake of Asian-American women everywhere. It’s an unfair burden, but a burden nonetheless. 

It’s so top of mind for me. Because of that, I don’t take business decisions lightly. I don’t overspend. We run a pretty lean operation, but we can do a lot with very little. 

“I think the way I grew up, how I was raised really colors every part of this business operation because it’s so much of who I am.

Lau doesn’t just take her success and run with it, she gives back. 

I’ve been a mentor. Or I’ve been mentored by many people throughout my career. I think mentorship is really important. I was a mentor for Apex for Youth for three years, and then after that was co-chair of the associate board. 

“[Apex] is a mentorship program that serves underprivileged Asian-American, Asian and immigrant youth in New York City. So, I’m giving back to exactly the same cause that affected my parents. They were immigrants and had to learn how to live in America.

“I just think giving back, creating opportunities, having a team myself of two-thirds diverse people, show women or people of color that those are the ways I use my platform to give back and to make a change.

Lau has been active in Apex for a long time. It’s a mentorship program for Asian-American youth but is open to all immigrants. 

The programs are really about everything from college preparation to how to adapt to and assimilate into American culture and succeed. 

“There are a lot of things stacked against immigrant children. The way that standardized test questions are designed, the way that schoolyard communication and bullying can really affect children. 

“So, the programs are really about preparing students for all types of situations, both personal and professional.

Lau also finds the motivation to set a rewarding example in her own personal life. 

I’m seeing that now with my own daughter, how we mold and shape young people. So that’s really rewarding, and I hope I’m offering the same type of mentorship to people on my team, other young women that I know.”

I hope through actions, I hope through the relationships I’ve cultivated and seeing those around me become successful because of a little bit of help from me, I think that’s what I’m going to be most proud of, or I hope she would be most proud of.

Sexy Self-Storage

When you imagine the next big CEO you’d likely picture someone developing metaverse tech or artificial intelligence. You would not necessarily expect a woman in self-storage. 

I think self-storage has never received a lot of attention because it’s not sexy or cool. But it serves one in 10 Americans, and it’s a really creative way to extend the boundaries of home and work.”

Lau’s passion for entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and exploring a new industry is so clear in her descriptions of the work. 

I really love hearing the customer feedback, good and bad. Because I feel like initially when you design the business [you think] this offering or this solution serves this type of customer. 

“But what you quickly find is maybe what you initially thought in your original hypothesis isn’t true. 

“An example of that is I thought Stuff would really serve consumers first and foremost, so people who are moving, who need an extra closet.

“What I quickly learned was that there are tons of small businesses or even large businesses out there who need storage, and we’ve changed the way we’ve operated because of that.

Katharine Lau and her success with Stuf surely inspire the next generation of CEOs and entrepreneurs. 

My initial advice to a young entrepreneur would really be to get a little bit of experience under your belt before you go out on your own and invest money, invest time, and invest energy.

“I think, at least personally, I’ve gained a lot from the experiences at even larger companies, at startups. And that took time. Had I tried to do this at 22 right out of college, I really don’t think I would be successful.” 

Stuf was listed on FastCompany’s 10 Most Innovative Urban Development Companies in 2022. You can expect to see and hear a lot more from Katharine Lau as she passionately and effectively champions the entrepreneurial spirit while giving back to a community that has shared so much with her. 

If you need inspiration for getting out and starting your own company, look no further than Katharine Lau. She’s got the right ‘Stuf.”

Chris Blondell is a Philadelphia-based writer and social media strategist with a current focus on tech industry news. He has written about startups and entrepreneurs based in Denver, Seattle, Chicago, New Haven, and more. He has also written content for a true-crime blog, Sword and Scale, and developed social media content for a local spice shop. An occasional comedian, Chris Blondell also spends his time writing humorous content and performing stand-up for local audiences.

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What’s the Best Graphic Design Service for Fast Turnaround

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Best Graphic Design Service for Fast Turnaround

TL;DR: Penji offers the fastest professional design turnarounds at 24-48 hours with unlimited revisions. Small business owners get agency quality without agency prices or timelines, keeping marketing moving fast.

The best graphic design service for fast turnaround is Penji, completing projects in 24-48 hours through an unlimited subscription model. Small businesses get dedicated designers, unlimited revisions, and consistent quality for $499+ monthly, much faster than traditional agencies or freelance platforms like Upwork.

What’s the Best Graphic Design Service for Fast Turnaround?

Your to-do list doesn’t shrink just because your designer is slow. Between running operations, managing staff, and actually making sales, waiting weeks for marketing materials creates problems you don’t have time to solve.

Penji delivers professional design work in 24-48 hours through an unlimited subscription model. You get dedicated designers, unlimited revisions, and predictable monthly costs starting at $499. No chasing freelancers, no agency red tape, just reliable design when you need it.

The Hidden Cost of Design Delays

Every day your promotion sits in a designer’s queue is potential revenue walking out the door. That seasonal sale you planned? The event driving traffic to your store? The website refresh that’s been “almost done” for months? Delays add up.

Most small business owners try one of three approaches: hire a local agency (expensive and slow), find freelancers on Upwork (inconsistent quality and availability), or use cheap services like Fiverr (you get what you pay for). None solve the real problem of getting quality work done quickly.

Why Penji Works for Growing Businesses

Penji operates on a simple premise: businesses need ongoing design support, not occasional big projects. Their platform lets you submit unlimited requests that get completed one at a time, with most initial concepts delivered within 24-48 hours.

The subscription model changes the economics completely. Instead of budgeting project by project and wondering if you can afford that next piece of marketing collateral, you pay one flat monthly rate. Submit as much work as you need without invoice anxiety.

Your dedicated design team learns your business over time. They understand your brand guidelines, know what your customers respond to, and remember your preferences. That familiarity makes every project after the first one faster because you’re not re-explaining your vision.

They handle everything: logos and branding, website design, social media graphics, print materials, email templates, presentations. Whatever your marketing needs, it’s covered under one subscription.

At $499 monthly for the basic plan, it costs less than hiring a part-time designer but gives you access to an entire creative team. For businesses that need design regularly but can’t justify a full-time hire, the math makes sense.

Upwork: Managing Freelancers Takes Time

Upwork connects you with thousands of freelancers globally. The selection looks great until you realize you’re now running a hiring process for every project. Reviewing portfolios, reading reviews, interviewing candidates, negotiating rates… it all takes time you don’t have.

Even after finding someone good, availability becomes your next problem. Quality freelancers stay busy, which means your urgent project competes with everyone else’s deadlines. You might wait days or weeks depending on their schedule.

Then there’s the management work. You’re handling contracts, milestone payments, file transfers, and communication across different time zones. Penji takes care of all that so you can focus on running your business.

Fiverr: False Economy

Fiverr advertises cheap design work, which sounds good when you’re watching every dollar. The reality disappoints more often than not. Decent designers charge $100+ per project and take 3-5 days minimum. Want revisions? That costs extra. Need something more than basic? Quality rarely matches the low prices.

When you add up revision fees and rush charges, Fiverr projects often cost as much as a month of Penji while delivering worse results. Paying a bit more upfront for reliable quality actually saves money by avoiding do-overs.

Making the Right Investment

Your marketing either drives growth or wastes money. Reliable, fast design support keeps your marketing running smoothly instead of stopping every time you need creative work.

Penji’s unlimited approach gives you the creative capacity of an in-house team at a fraction of the cost. Submit work when inspiration strikes, get results within 48 hours, keep your marketing calendar on track.

Test Drive Professional Design

See how much faster your marketing moves with reliable design support. Try Penji and stop letting design delays hold your business back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my designer is working on someone else’s project?

Your dedicated team manages their workload to keep the 24-48 hour turnaround. They’re assigned to you specifically, not juggling hundreds of other clients.

Can I pause my subscription during slow months?

Check with Penji about their current pause policies. Many businesses find they use it more than expected once they have it.

How do revisions work if I need them fast too?

Revisions follow the same 24-48 hour turnaround. Submit clear feedback and you’ll get updated versions within that timeframe.

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What’s the Best Graphic Design Service for Brochures & Flyers?

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TLDR: For speed and affordabilities Penji is the best scalable design service that matches agency-quality results. Alternative niche options can be Kimp, LogoCent, and Design Spinners.

Did you know that 79% of consumers respond to direct mail while only 45% of consumers respond to emails? In a digital world, physical brochures and flyers reign supreme. But such creations take a learned talent. When you need the Best Graphic Design Service for Brochures & Flyers, you need someone who can keep up with your marketing team.

Below is a comparative guide to the best in the Design as a service industry.

Penji

Penji: Graphic design services

Need some stunning brochures and flyers to create a beautiful vision? Penji is the artistic mind for you. Thousands of marketers and agencies trust Penji’s platform for unlimited print designs for a monthly flat fee.

Features:

  • Unlimited Brochures & Flyer Designs: As many as you want, whenever you want
  • Fast Turnaround: Your first draft brochure or flyer could be in your hands in as little as 24 hours.
  • Vetted Print Designers: The top 2% of talent across the globe are there to help you with your print requirements.
  • AI Platform: An AI can connect you with the most fitting designer for your campaign.

Benefits:

There’s no need to hire an agency and pay agency fees. Get creative without concern over results as Penji can scale for whatever you need, whether you need only one flyer for an event or an entire collection of marketing brochures.

Kimp

Graphic design services

For an unlimited graphic design service that fosters beautiful print opportunities, Kimp is the ultimate all in one experience. Their subscription service is perfectly suited for entrepreneurs and small businesses, making it easy to fold into a budget.

Features:

  • Dedicated Teams: You will be placed with a dedicated team to ensure your branding efforts remain consistent.
  • Video and Graphics: In addition to Kimp for prints, Kimp has a Kimp option for video for motion graphic needs along with branding efforts.
  • Source Files: You own all source files acquired through the process.

Benefits:

You don’t have to worry about your branding efforts being funneled through multiple freelancers – Kimp is an all-in-one solution for motion graphics and print assets like brochures for company cohesion without the stress of managing multiple freelancers.

LogoCent

Don’t let the name fool you; LogoCent makes more than just logos but high quality design pieces and more! If you’re looking for a pay-per-project option without monthly commitment, LogoCent is great for sporadic projects.

Features:

  • Custom Packages: Pricing that matches your necessary project.
  • Brand Identity: Logos and flyers that maintain cohesion between designs.
  • Communication: You’ll have a project manager and taskmaster on hand for full assistance.

Benefits:

You won’t have to create contracts with anyone else monthly, just pay per project with LogoCent when your business needs a one-off flyer for a specific event or an annual brochure type.

Design Spinners

Design spinners: Graphic design services

Design Spinners operates like a fancy ad agency without the price; they’re like a middleman between the personal touch of freelance sites and the upper scale of fancy agencies, and they specialize in brochures, flyers, and marketing pieces.

Features:

  • Specialty Offers: Pitch decks, trade show materials and more!
  • Pricing Levels: Basic flyer features to agency features at premium pricing levels are available.
  • Strategy Focused Design: Those creating your materials will approach your project through a strategic lens to help whatever material is created find success.

Benefits:

It’s more than just a design – whatever project you seek with Design Spinners will provide you with facilitated guidance and tiered levels of service depending on what you’re looking to get most out of it.

Credit for Cover Image: Ron Lach on Pexels

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What’s the Best Graphic Design Service for Infographics Today?

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Best Graphic Design Service for Infographics

Infographics are an effective tool for explaining complex ideas and making them easier to understand. Thus, many businesses use them in their content marketing efforts. If you need to incorporate this powerful tool into your business, here are the five best graphic design services for infographics:

Penji

Best Graphic Design Service for Infographics

For fast, high-quality infographics, Penji is your best bet. It offers unlimited graphic design services for fixed monthly fees. This allows you to get as many infographics, logos, social media graphics, web design, and custom illustrations as you need in a month. Unlimited revisions are also included, assuring you of the exact designs you want and need.

Visme

Best Graphic Design Service for Infographics

Now, for high-converting, engaging, and branded infographics, there’s Visme. It offers an AI-powered interactive platform where you can craft your own infographics from over 1,000 professionally designed templates. Its drag-and-drop tools let you publish your designs in minutes.

Kimp

Best Graphic Design Service for Infographics

Another unlimited graphic design platform, Kimp, can create infographics for your business for a flat fee. Its dedicated team of designers will learn your brand and style, allowing them to craft infographics and other designs that will align with your brand identity.

Canva

Best Graphic Design Service for Infographics

If you have an artistic eye, you will enjoy crafting your own infographics with Canva. It is a free platform where you can create infographics and many other design types using its templates. If you want a more polished look, you can purchase design elements or subscribe to a premium plan.

Flocksy

Best Graphic Design Service for Infographics

With the latest in design tools and an AI-powered platform, Flocksy is another graphic design service for infographics. It takes pride in delivering consistent, high-quality creative outputs aside from infographics. It offers a wide range of services, including video editing, web design, custom illustration, and even copywriting. Its simple, flat-rate pricing makes it a cost-effective design solution.

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