Jeremy Empie began his journey in web design back in 1997 when he volunteered at a youth outreach center. The center’s director approached Jeremy and another volunteer, asking, “If I gave you four weeks of training, two hours a week, would you create the website?” This experience sparked Jeremyās passion for web design and planted the seed for his future business endeavors.
As a marketing specialist, Jeremy Empie Web Design provides a wide range of services, including website design, hosting, social media management, Google Business optimization, and ensuring everything stays on brand. Since the summer of 2024, Jeremy has expanded his offerings to include printing services, such as designing and printing brochures and business cards.
Jeremy’s web design business thrives thanks to his 26 years of experience, unwavering work ethic, and dedication to delivering results. These qualities have helped him navigate the surprises and challenges that come with running a business.
For Jeremy, one of the most surprising aspects of starting and running a business was all the behind-the-scenes work it required. He understands why many people give up on their entrepreneurial dreams, but his strong work ethic and his mindsetāpaired with his mantra, āComputers donāt get to tell me noāākept him moving forward. This determination helped him overcome unexpected challenges and focus on his biggest hurdle: building a consistent stream of clients.
Jeremyās hard work has been paying off especially in the last couple of years. The amount of printing orders that they have received in a single week has reached a new high and bigger clients have been coming to Jeremy for his work. One of his most impactful achievements is that, for the past four years, profits have doubled annually, a testament to his dedication and growth.
Jeremy is now one step closer to achieving his future plans for the business. These goals include relocating to a new office, hiring a small team, and upgrading to better printing equipment. All of this aligns with his ultimate mission: supporting Iowa businesses in any way he can.
Reflecting on his experience with the Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Jeremy expressed his deep gratitude for Kelly Prickett, the Regional Director of the Indian Hills SBDC. Kelly collaborated with Jeremy to implement various business and marketing strategies, which significantly boosted his web design business and client base. Jeremy was especially impressed by how Kelly presented plans in a way that felt manageable and not overwhelming. Summing up his experience, Jeremy shared, āI wish every business would use the SBDC.ā
Jeremyās Advise: āDonāt give up no matter how hard it is,ā āStick with it,ā and āGodās got your back.ā