We had the good fortune of connecting with Bismarie Plasencia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bismarie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Ever since I can remember, I have had a “go-getter” attitude. Whether it was trying to land a role in the school play or being chosen to be in the front for the dance recital, I worked hard to achieve my goals. I rarely let “no” or “it’s impossible” hold me back. I would either look for a different way, ask how I needed to improve my skills, or try again.

 

I still am that way. I am a firm believer that positivity will lead you to success. When you truly believe you can accomplish something, you WILL.

The idea of starting a business first arose in college, but I’m sure the seed was planted way before that. For group projects, club events, or summer camp activities, I always enjoyed leading or being the creative lead. Yes, I was that student who volunteered to put the PowerPoint together or be the spokesperson for the team.

It’s weird, I never saw myself as a “natural born leader,” and I still don’t. I have a lot of room for growth in being able to lead a team. However, I enjoy the heck out of it.

With this passion for taking charge and leading, starting a student-run agency felt like a calling. Flashback to sophomore year of college, I had just switched my major from broadcast journalism to advertising and was searching for a job or internship to gain experience in the field. I applied and got a position at the Independent Florida Alligator, the University of Florida’s student-run newspaper, as an advertising sales rep. Though I didn’t have much passion for print advertising, I really enjoyed the connections I was building with our various local clients.

I also noticed an opening to offer better services to clients who didn’t see the value in print. Thus, the idea for an in-house advertising agency was born. I founded SparkIt Creative and led it for a little over a year, and while doing so, I realized that running an advertising agency and assisting with the growth of small businesses was exactly what I wanted to do.

I wanted to run my own advertising agency, build relationships with business owners, and assist smaller businesses that couldn’t afford a larger agency. I actually remember the day I called my dad and told him, “I want to start my own business, an advertising agency.” I had been sitting in my room looking at grad school programs, researching other small agencies, reading about other female entrepreneurs, and saying, “I can do this.”

I then applied for the Master’s in Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida during my last year of undergrad and was accepted into their program three days before my undergraduate graduation.

Following my graduation from the program in the summer of 2020, I took on my first freelance client, which was a telehealth hematologist called Heme Onc Call. That was the first business to have confidence in me and my marketing services. I then accepted a full-time position at SPARXOO, an advertising agency; however, that career path was short-lived. I continued working with Heme Onc Call as a freelance marketing consultant.

As I continued to onboard more clients, I realized I needed a reliable place to work AND a full team, so I transformed a section of my family room into an office and began helping my clients grow. When more work started coming in, I knew I needed a strong team to produce high-quality work. So, I picked up the phone and knew exactly who to call; they were all friends and colleagues I had worked with in the past (this is why networking and connections are crucial when starting your business). I had no doubt in my mind that they would help boost my agency to the next level. Most of the team would be working remotely, while some would accompany me to in-person client meetings.

Once my clientele began to grow, I knew I needed a name. I couldn’t just start a business saying, “Hi, I’m Bismarie, let me run your social media.” A company’s name is crucial for its business because it is the center of its brand. So, I immediately started brainstorming a name with my friends, family, and colleagues. The name-selecting process took about a month, and I sent out two rounds of surveys to see which name resonated better with audiences.
Finally, in late April, I decided on GetBissy Marketing. Not only was it a play on my name, Bismarie, but it also represented who we were as an advertising agency. GetBissy was going to turn businesses into busier and better brands. We were getting busy as an agency and for our clients.
Now that I had my name, my team, and a handful of clients, it was time to make it official. Branding was the next step. Balancing client work and working on building my business’s brand was a challenge. I would dedicate the majority of my time to my clients’ work but still work on the business’s branding after work hours.
I officially launched my company with the completed logo, social profiles, and website on August 13th, 2021. GetBissy Marketing is currently servicing 15 clients, including fitness centers, boutiques, yoga studios, medical offices, burger shops, hair salons, cupcake shops, and much more. We have even expanded into servicing clients in Gainesville, Florida!
GetBissy Marketing works with any small business looking to expand its brand online. We work personally with our clients, guiding them every step of the way. We not only monitor their performance online but also monitor their business sales to ensure our efforts are successful.
I am fortunate to have a bright, young team brimming with talent and new ideas. I pour my heart and soul into this business and make sure our clients meet their goals. I owe a lot of my success to my personality and speaking ability. Like I always say, when you radiate positivity, success will follow.

What should our readers know about your business?
GetBissy Marketing works personally with every client. We act as your in-house social media manager and become a part of your team. We not only get to know the business, but also the people within it. You won’t find this level of dedication and passion anywhere else.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1 – I would take them to Coral Gables and walk around that area for bit. Eat at Green Street for breakfast. Head over to Merrick Park in the afternoon to shop for a bit. We would then go to Chug’s Diner for a chill Cuban themed dinner and call it a night.

Day 2- We would head over to Key Biscayne. We’d get a quick breakfast at Flour and Weirdoughs. Then we’d stop at Publix to pick up Publix subs and snacks to take to the beach. We’d spend most of the day at the lighthouse beach in Key Biscayne. For dinner we’d eat at Boater’s Grill, a delicious seafood restaurant by the water.

Day 3- We’d go to La Carreta for a big Cuban Breakfast. Then we’d go spend the day in Dadeland Mall for some more shopping. We’d eat lunch at the Earl’s, maybe even catch happy hour, get a passion fruit margarita and go watch a movie at Sunset Place at night.

Day 4 – We’d go to brunch at Copper Blues in Doral, go home to rest for a bit, then head to Pueblito Viejo for a fun Columbian dinner.

Day 5- We would wake up early and head to Hollywood Beach. Once we arrive, we would eat lunch at Taco Beach Shack for some of the best tacos in South Florida. We’d then spend the whole day at the beach and rent bikes to bike down the boardwalk. Later in the day we’d stop into Ben & Jerry’s for some delicious ice cream. At night before leaving we’d get dinner at Rocco’s.

Day 6 – We’d get a country breakfast at Chuck Wagon restaurant, then spend the morning at Tropical Park. We would take some skates and skate around the park. Later in the day we would get ready and head out to Brickell. We would get drinks at Sugar, a rooftop bar. We would eat dinner at Moxie’s later in the night.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The BIGGEST thank you to every single person who has helped GetBissy flourish, thanks so much to these talented individuals: Michael Weinberg
Nicole Lopez
Vivian Lukasik
Ian Flores
Amanda Friedman
Natalya Escobar
Hannah Nemery
Lisa Winders
Lauren Nigri
Mackenzie Sands
Amber Teboe
Jessica Fleisher     

Website: https://www.getbissymarketing.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getbissymarketing/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getbissy-marketing/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/getbissyagency

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getbissymarketing

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.