Second to Nunn helps clients expand by focusing on bottom line

Memphis businessman Michael Nunn has learned a lot about starting a small business in the middle of the Great Recession.

Nunn has grown from no customers to 50; moved from a cramped home office to a spacious, 650-square-foot set up; and increased staffing from one to four employees.

"We've grown an amazing 58 percent this year in a very difficult economy," said Nunn, founder of graphic design and visual communications company Second To Nunn Design.

Nunn focuses on sales and marketing collateral materials, corporate identity and Web design work for small-to-medium-sized clients.

He launched the company in his home January 2008.

"I have always wanted to have my own business," he said. "It took a job loss to get started, but now there is no turning back.

"We want our clients' marketing to be second to none while helping them build and expand their brand," he said. "We are passionate about what we do on every project no matter the size. Immediate response is our top goal to meet deadlines, provide a quick turnaround and ensure excellent customer service."

Nunn, a graphic design graduate from the University of Memphis, has hired two designers and an office administrator.

To provide a total design package, Nunn has added Web capabilities to his services. This move enables clients to seamlessly transition their identity or brand to the Web by building a custom Web site.

"More companies are partnering with outside design firms to provide creative solutions to their needs such as brochures, membership packets, ads, direct mail for events, logos, business cards, and stationary," Nunn said. "About 75 percent of our work is still print work.

"I have not seen a decline in this area, but we add the Web focus to produce more value and a balanced approach."

Nunn said the key to his success has been the bottom-line approach.

"It is important to be creative, but thinking and acting as a business owner adds tremendous value to my customers," he said.

Scarlet Jones, membership and marketing coordinator for the Germantown Athletic Club, was one of Nunn's first clients.

"He has provided tremendous value helping keep our brand image and messages consistent," Jones said. "Customer service is one of his top strengths. He has been an instrumental part of the solution. I cannot imagine being successful without Michael's involvement."

During the past two years, the Germantown Athletic Club has worked to increase its membership and educate residents on what the club offers.

Nunn has been a part of that success. Since October 2007, the club has added 6,000 new members and has made many improvements, including an indoor pool renovation, fitness area renovation with new weight training and cardio equipment, entryway renovation, CheckFree software upgrade, Club Café and locker room renovations.

"All of these improvements had a marketing and communications strategy to the community," Nunn said. "It makes me feel great to see the successes that my client is having with our support."

If Nunn looks into a crystal ball and it is 2014, he hopes his business is thriving, profitable, has more employees, and is still known as a customer-focused firm.

"We feel very positive about our future," Nunn said. "The keys to success are staying passionate about our clients, being a business partner, and keeping the customer number one. From my home office, this journey began; there is no telling where this dream will take us."

Second To Nunn Design

Employees: Four

Address: 516 Tennessee St., No. 231 (In Emerge Memphis building)

Phone: 830-9837

Web site: secondtonunndesign.com