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Central Oregon is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, and the team at Three Pines is fortunate to call this beautiful area our home and base of operations. Starting our creative agency has come with its fair share of surprises and challenges, but we believe in helping others—so let’s share our journey to inspire and guide those venturing into similar territory.
When the idea of Three Pines came to life, we made the deliberate (and difficult) decision to avoid loans and fund this new venture from our own pockets. While this caused some financial stress initially, it allowed us to avoid the burden of debt and focus on growth without worrying about paying back borrowed money. Looking back, this decision brought short-term worries but long-term freedom, putting us in a stronger position to scale and eventually establish a physical location when the time comes.
One of our first tasks was designing our branding from scratch. We created a brand guide—a detailed document that defines the foundational elements of your brand, including fonts, colors, logos, and more. For anyone starting a business, this step is critical. Your branding influences everything you create from day one, and having a cohesive reference document is invaluable as your team grows.
Another lesson we learned early on: centralizing your business accounts. Set up all your accounts using one dedicated email address to avoid access issues later. For instance, we ran into trouble with Meta Business Manager when trying to connect a client’s profile to two separate accounts—lesson learned. Simplify your processes wherever possible!
Our first handful of clients came through personal connections. These initial projects helped us build a portfolio and showcase what we could deliver to prospective clients. The trust we already had with these connections made it easier to prove our worth. When you’re just starting out, strangers have no reason to trust you—especially without a portfolio—so leaning on people who already believe in you is a great way to get started.
Beyond that, we hit the streets, reaching out to businesses in places we already frequented—cafes, gyms, shops, and other spots we were familiar with. While these businesses didn’t know us as well as our first clients, there was still a sense of familiarity that made them more likely to give us a chance.
We also created custom brand decks tailored to prospective clients and sent them via email. These personalized audits and plans often worked wonders, as they showed care and expertise. At the end of the day, people want to know you care about their business—it builds trust and sets you apart.
One of the perks of starting a company with three partners is pooling our collective knowledge of useful apps and tools. Here are some of our top picks:
• Google Workspace: We chose the Google suite for its free storage, cost-effective plans, and seamless file sharing via Google Drive. It’s straightforward, reliable, and perfect for startups.
• Slack: For internal communication, we opted for Slack. It’s budget-friendly, integrates with popular apps, and keeps team communication organized.
• ClickUp: For our CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool, we went with ClickUp. Its intuitive design, customizable features, built-in time tracking, and logical task management system made it the standout choice over competitors like Monday.com.
• Social Pilot: Social Pilot became our go-to for social media management. While platforms like Sprout Social are more well-known, Social Pilot offered similar tools at a more budget-friendly price, making it a clear winner for us.
• Adobe Creative Suite: When it comes to design tools, Adobe Creative Suite was a no-brainer. It’s the industry standard for a reason, offering everything we need to create high-quality visuals for our clients.
That’s a great question. Right now, our focus is on growing our business and offering video, photography, web design, social media, and branding services to businesses in Central Oregon. But in the long term, we envision creating a larger creative movement in the area.
Bend is home to breathtaking scenery and a community of humble, talented creatives—many of whom work remotely. Our goal is to give these individuals a space to connect, share ideas, and collaborate. When we open our physical location, it will not only serve as our office but also as a community hub and event space where we can give back to the area that has given us so much.
Starting a business is daunting, but we’re passionate about using our experience to help others succeed. Whether it’s through branding, design, or digital media, we aim to help businesses focus on growth while we handle the creative side. If you’d like to learn more about us, reach out at hello@threepinescollective.com or visit our website.
Wow—you’re the best! Follow us on social media at threepines.collective, and keep an eye out for the creative work we’re doing for local businesses.
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