In this episode of Creatives Grab Coffee, Steve Smith from Savvy Productions (Salt Lake City, Utah) shares his inspiring journey of building a successful and innovative video production company. Steve reveals the creative risks he took, from crafting elaborate props and unique sets to constructing his own dedicated production facility. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong client relationships, leveraging awards for client retention, and adapting to industry shifts with a positive, forward-thinking mindset. Discover valuable insights on navigating business growth, overcoming creative and financial hurdles, and why continuous experimentation is vital for staying ahead in the evolving video production landscape.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Episode Introduction and Guest Welcome

02:28 - Guest Bio: Steve Smith from Savvy Productions

03:04 - Steve’s early career and industry transition experiences

06:30 - Finding a unique niche in prop and set building

08:00 - Challenges and successes with creating specialized props

12:57 - Understanding Salt Lake City’s video production market

15:21 - Balancing client projects and collaborating with ad agencies

16:27 - How Savvy Productions budgets and quotes for creative props and sets

18:51 - Navigating budget uncertainty in custom creative projects

21:51 - Leaving a job of 13 years to start his own business

25:31 - Overcoming fears and discomfort in entrepreneurship

28:35 - Transitioning smoothly from employee to business owner

34:34 - Why business owners need to remain hands-on

36:37 - Maintaining positive team culture and motivation

40:01 - Building a custom studio space from scratch

45:20 - Navigating the financial aspects of building a production studio

47:49 - Lead generation strategies: SEO, referrals, and repeat clients

51:02 - Exploring the value of Google Ads for video production

56:07 - Effectiveness of social media vs. SEO for video production companies

58:43 - The importance of industry awards for client retention

01:02:32 - How awards can differentiate your production business

01:08:23 - Steve’s future vision and adapting to AI in production

01:18:45 - Closing Thoughts and Conclusion

SPONSORS:

Canada Film Equipment: www.CanadaFilmEquipment.com

Audio Process: www.Audioprocess.ca

🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vHd8BdbkMQITFZmDJ0bo9

🍏 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/creatives-grab-coffee/id1530864140 🎞️

Produced by LAPSE PRODUCTIONS – https://www.lapseproductions.com

To learn more about the show, visit: https://www.creativesgrabcoffee.com/