Meet the co-founders of VAMP
Ruby Aryiku (Head of PR), Rumbi Mupindu (Head of Influencers) and Christina Okorocha (Head of Strategy)
We are a team of three Black founders who started the business when we were 23 years old after graduating from Coventry University together.
What inspired you to launch your business and what is the end goal?
The company was founded after VAMP saw a massive gap in the market for an authentic Black female voice in the entertainment and influencer industries. It was quickly realised that both industries could greatly benefit from a company dedicated to informing and educating brands whilst simultaneously supporting and providing opportunities for black content creators and creators of colour.
Our end goal is to see authentic representation in marketing across all industries and to not find ourselves being amazed when we see Black women fronting campaigns!
Keeping an eye on the numbers in any business is important. How do you ensure that you’re always up to date?
It is essential to review your accounts weekly. This includes invoices, account balances, future projects fee projections and any other finance related things. It can be scary to check your balance regularly, watching direct debits fly out, paying suppliers, tax etc. but doing this regularly will support a healthy cash flow. To keep up to date, do research! Your accountant (if you have one) is there to support your financial needs too but you should always do your own research so you can understand what is going on. Not everyone is good with numbers, however, a basic understanding of tax, pensions and cash flow forecasting will go a long way.
Do you have a morning routine or ritual to get your day started on the right foot?
Our routines differ as a team but are a mixture of prayer and meditation, workouts and getting the little one ready for school whilst checking emails and our Influencers socials.
If you could be in a room with 4 entrepreneurs, who would they be and why?
We’d have to say, Jay Z because he is the definition of a hustler and his journey to wealth is something that inspires me. He understands the culture and the importance of investing in it and that is something we want to be able to do here in the UK.
Oprah because we have been in a room with her before for work in our early days and her presence was amazing. We would love to have this opportunity in a less formal setting.
As the founder of the world’s largest advertising and PR group, Martin Sorrell has to be on the list. After building such a huge media empire, I’d like to pick his brain about it.
Last but not least...Cardi B. We love her confidence and realness. She went from a stripper to one of the biggest rappers in the world by being herself. In both professions, she exuded confidence and I believe that helped her get to where she is now.
Any new product launches we should know about?
This week we launched our Digital Talent Agency which is a unique offering for brands interested in diversifying their customer base to take advantage of. This new part of the business encompasses both our Exclusive Talent with our VAMP Influencer Network.
The VAMP Influencer Network is a collective of diverse content creators we have built relationships with over the past four years, alongside upcoming influencers who we see with lots of potential and for whom we are trying to improve visibility in the industry. We are now proud to open up the network to new creators interested in building their brand, growing their audience and working with their favourite brands
Our approach to management, both exclusive and nonexclusive, is centered around good relationships, growth and understanding. Through the genuine relationships we've built, brands have access to some of the biggest and most talented black content creators in the UK.
What’s the single most crucial decision that you made, that contributed to your business?
We found our niche 5 months after launching and that was to focus on Black women and women of colour and ensure they had a voice and support in the entertainment, beauty and lifestyle industries. We could have gone down various different avenues with events and Influencer Marketing but decided to focus on what we were most passionate about and what we believed needed the most assistance.
How did you fund the launch of your business and what creative strategies did you use to execute a minimal cash flow?
When we initially launched we didn’t have the funds to do anything big. We used our limited funds to execute our service well and build a reputation. As we work with Influencers, you could argue we did have marketing support (when they shout us out and tag us). We used these organic learnings to produce a PR strategy for the launch of our new Digital Talent Agency.
Is word of mouth working to your advantage?
Without a doubt, and we couldn’t be more grateful! More than 50% of our business has been through referrals and it’s safe to say that referrals are a sign of a job well done! There aren’t many agencies offering the services we do and at the scale we offer it so we’re uniquely positioned to cater to a specific market.
What social media channel would you say has worked the best for your business and why?
Instagram definitely! We use it to recap our events and the projects we work on, which serves as a mini portfolio for brands to look at when enquiring about us. Alongside this, we use the platform to stay engaged with the Influencers in our network and also to find new talent!
Does your company help the community that you’re located in?
100%. As three black women, we’ve made it our mission to be a support system to the talented content creators, tastemakers and influencers of colour who before recently had been overlooked, underpaid and undervalued. All our projects are with our community in mind and we hope we’re able to continue serving them well.
