Cultivating Culver

10/16/2025

This or That: Local T-Shirt Edition 👕

The design side of things has been a little quieter lately, so instead of stressing about it, we decided to have some fun! We took that downtime to just create for the sake of creating and ended up sketching not one… but TWO t-shirt concepts for our friends at The Storehouse Coffee & Gifts .

Now it’s your turn — which one are you wearing?
THIS – Doodle-style lineup of Storehouse Must Haves
THAT – “Today’s Good Mood is Sponsored By…” (because… accurate)

Cast your vote in the comments: THIS or THAT?

And if you’re a small biz owner who wants to play around with merch too… my sketchbook is very warmed up 👀

10/15/2025

We love the Grayson County Chamber of Commerce and all the amazing people they have brought into our business life! 💙

10/15/2025

4 Common Social Media Bio Mistakes

Let’s talk bios, the first thing people see when they land on your IG or page. And trust me, it matters more than you think 👀

Here are 4 common bio mistakes small biz owners make (and how to fix them!):
1. No location listed | If you’re a local biz, TELL PEOPLE where you are. Don’t make them guess!
2. Using vague language | “Helping you shine” sounds cute, but what do you actually do? Be clear and direct.
3. No call to action | Tell people what to do next. Visit your site? DM to order? Link in bio? Be specific.
4. Not using your name or face | People want to connect with the person behind the brand. Add your name or a photo, it builds trust.

A good bio = a strong first impression.
A great bio = conversions.

Want me to peek at your bio and give you a mini audit? Drop a 📲 below and I’ll take a look!

10/14/2025

There’s still time to enter!

The holiday hustle is coming and we’re making sure one small business owner is READY for it.

From long nights to last-minute orders, this season demands caffeine, strategy, and a brand that stands out. So we’re gifting one lucky business owner a Holiday Prep Bundle built to keep you caffeinated, hydrated, branded, and social-media-ready.

The Winner Receives ($350 Value):
• $50 Amazon Gift Card
• $50 Storehouse Gift Card (can be switched other coffee shop if you’re not local)
• Custom Stainless Tumbler Engraved with your Logo
• 100 Custom Logo Stickers
• 5 Branded Social Media Graphic Templates (ready to plug and post)

Not local? No problem! Prizes can be mailed. Shipping costs will apply.

How to Enter:
1. FOLLOW Cultivating Culver
2. TAG your favorite small business in the comments
3. SHARE this post

BONUS ENTRY: Invite your friends to like this page for 5 extra entries. Screenshot and drop it in the comments.

Giftaway closes November 1, 2025. Winner will be announced shortly after. This giftaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated with Facebook or Instagram in any way.

Let’s survive and THRIVE through holiday season together.

10/14/2025

Important Dates Every Small Business Owner Should Know (Now → New Year’s)

If you’re planning your holiday marketing after the holiday hits… you’re already behind. 👀
Let’s make sure you’re ready before the chaos begins. Here are dates you should be planning content, promos, and posts around plus how many days away they are:

Halloween — October 31 → 17 days away
Perfect for: “Last-minute gift” promos, themed graphics, spooky memes.

Thanksgiving — November 28 → 44 days away
Perfect for: Gratitude posts, behind-the-scenes traditions, family/business values.

Black Friday — November 29 → 45 days away
Perfect for: Early-bird deals, gift bundles, pre-sales.

Small Business Saturday — November 30 → 46 days away
Perfect for: Your biggest spotlight moment! Remind people WHY buying from you matters.

Cyber Monday — December 2 → 48 days away
Perfect for: Digital-only promos, flash sales, “today only” urgency.

Christmas — December 25 → 72 days away
Perfect for: Final shipping reminders, heartfelt messaging, “last-call” gift offers.

New Year’s Eve — December 31→ 78 days away
Perfect for: Recaps, celebrations, “thank you for supporting us this year” posts — set the tone for 2026.

Moral of the story: These dates aren’t just holidays, they’re content opportunities.

Save this post. Pick 3 dates you know your audience cares about. Start planning now so you’re not scrambling later.

Which 3 dates are you going to focus on? COMMENT them below! I’ll cheer you on.

10/13/2025

The question I get most often:“How do you build relationships with larger clients and other small businesses the way you do?”

The answer? Get in front of them.

Not in a passive, “maybe they’ll notice me online someday” way. In a bold, professional, and memorable way.
- Ask them to coffee.
- Introduce yourself.
- Send that DM or email and say, “I love what you’re doing! I’d love to connect and collaborate.”

If you want to be in someone’s network, enter their network. I'll say it again. If you want to be in someone’s network, enter their network.

I’ve done this countless times… and some of my best clients and friendships have come from simple moments of bravery. Because here’s the truth: Networking is something you can’t buy or send someone else to do for you, but it’s worth more than gold.

Social media accounts can be hacked. You can accidentally delete your email list. Algorithms come and go.
But human connection? If you build it well and respectfully, it lasts.

So this season, don’t just post. Don’t just wait to be discovered. Introduce yourself. Show up. Shake the hand. Send the invitation.

Your next opportunity is probably one coffee away.

10/12/2025

Holiday sales don’t happen by accident, they happen thanks to branding and marketing.

If you’re a small business owner feeling the holiday rush coming but don’t know where to start… pause before you panic and start with these three easy wins:

1. Refresh Your Social Graphics | Swap out your regular posts for holiday-themed versions that still match your brand. (No random candy cane clip art, keep it you, just festive.) Think: cozy overlays, winter textures, snowy product shots.

2. Dress Up Your Logo | A subtle seasonal twist, like a scarf, snowflake, or color swap, instantly signals “We’re ready for holiday mode!” without needing to reinvent the wheel.

3. Pick a Color Story & Stick With It | Whether you go classic red + green, frosty neutrals, or jewel-toned glam; consistency is what makes people remember you. Choose your palette and apply it everywhere: posts, packaging, website, email signatures. You get extra points if you keep at least two colors from your original brand kit.

Start here. Keep it simple. Stay consistent.

Need help pulling it all together? I design holiday brand kits that make the season look effortless.

10/11/2025

The Sweet Spots: Use AI After Branding is Set

Here’s the sweet spot: Start with a strong brand foundation then let AI help you share it. Once your brand identity is set by a real designer (👋), AI becomes your powerful sidekick not your replacement.

Here’s how to make it work for you:

Generate captions in your brand tone | Tell ChatGPT your mission, values, and voice and it will remember and write like you. (Yes, really. You can train it to sound like YOU! So many skip this step.)

Create social graphics that look like you | Upload your logo, brand colors, and fonts into Canva or templates and boom, your graphics look custom, not cookie-cutter.

Write emails that stay on brand | Let AI handle the drafting. You handle the final touch and edit it. Your voice, your tone, your strategy…on repeat.

The key? Don’t skip the foundation. AI is a tool, not a vision. When you start with real, human-built branding, AI becomes a dream tool for staying consistent, showing up often, and creating with less stress.

A human builds it. AI helps you scale it.

Want help creating a brand that AI can actually support? Let’s build something real first then teach the robots how to follow your lead. 😉

10/10/2025

A Time Such As This, Magnet Co. officially launches their new website next week and you don’t want to miss it!!!

Big milestone today…my very first online order! Thank you so much to Paloma for the support and for helping me get my website up and running. ( Cultivating Culver )

The official launch is next week, and I’m beyond excited to share it with you all! 🥰🎉

10/10/2025

10/10/2025

Why You Shouldn’t’ Use AI Alone for your Logo

Let’s talk about that free AI-generated logo. Sure, it’s quick. Sure, it’s trendy. But here’s the thing: it’s not built to grow with your business. I’m tagged in so many posts looking for logo designers and all the friends in the comments are sharing AI generated GENERIC logos saying “save the money, just use ChatGPT”.

Here’s why relying on AI alone for your logo might actually cost you more in the long run....

No professional file types | You don’t get .AI or transparent PNG files, which you’ll need for:
• Embroidery
• Billboard printing
• Sending to vendors or printers
It’s awkward (and expensive) when you're finally leveling up your business and realize… you don’t have the files you need.

It’s not your story | AI doesn’t know why you chose your business name or that the butterfly in your logo is a tribute to your mom. It can’t understand the meaning behind the brand and it shows.

You can’t edit it later | What happens when you want to update the lawnmower in your landscaping logo?
AI re-generates the whole thing. It’s not a designer it can’t just make the one change you need. And that means reprinting everything from scratch.

No strategy, no variations, no brand guide. You won’t get:
• A horizontal + vertical version
• A black + white version
• A submark for small spaces
• A plan for how to use it consistently
This limits your flexibility, which limits your brand.

It might look just like someone else’s | AI pulls from what already exists. That makes trademarking hard and running into someone with the same logo even harder to explain.

Want a logo you’re proud to wear on a tee, print on a business card, or slap on your storefront? That’s where I come in. Branding is personal and it should be treated that way.

Thinking about rebranding or upgrading your AI logo? DM me or drop a 💬 below, I’d love to help you build something that actually grows with your business.

10/10/2025

Have 502 Engravings LLC put your logo on your wall!