Alright you lazy bastards, gather around and let me tell you the story of how Tezza became a million dollar brand with no money down. You might think it’s impossible and not for everyone, but Tezza and her husband Herrmann proved that with hard work, creativity, and a willingness to take risks, anything is possible.
Tezza, also known as Barton, started her journey as a side hustling student at the University of Utah. She worked as a wedding photographer and content creator for brands like Urban Outfitters, slowly building a following before the influencer game was even a thing. She didn’t have a trust fund or a wealthy family backing her up, she had nothing but ambition and talent.
After getting married to Herrmann, the couple moved to New York in 2016. Barton wanted to combine her side hustles into something that helped non-professional creatives explore new kinds of art, but she didn’t have a clue where to start. They tried selling books and invested in a denim jacket line that never went anywhere. But they didn’t give up.
They noticed that people were engaging with social media posts of Barton’s life, including a collage wall of photographs and artwork above their bed. That’s when they had an epiphany. They started designing and selling photo collage kits, so people could decorate their homes like Barton and Herrmann’s studio. And guess what? These kits went viral!
However, it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. The kits were costly and time-consuming, and the physical packages took up a lot of space in their tiny apartment. But instead of whining about it, they adapted and overcame. They realized that their followers didn’t just like the content of their photos, they liked how the photos looked. And with their pre-owned cameras and editing tools, they didn’t have to spend any money to create a set of pre-made filters available for purchase on Adobe Lightroom.
After selling the filters through Lightroom for 15 months, Barton and Herrmann launched the Tezza app in June 2018. For four years, the couple and a single assistant were responsible for Tezza’s product design, social media presence, and marketing. Today, the company currently has 14 employees, including Barton and Herrmann. Now, Tezza is best known as a photo editing app, currently ranking between competitors Lightroom and VSCO on Apple’s app store.
But you know what, the app didn’t become a million dollar brand overnight. It took perseverance, dedication, and a willingness to take risks. Its free version offers a limited number of filters and editing tools, and users who want more pay either $5.99 or $9.99 per month for tiered access to Tezza’s full photo and video editing suite.
But what’s the key takeaway from all of this? Barton and Herrmann’s mantra that “done is better than perfect.” They learned that you learn so much more by just getting stuff out there. Being on social media, people will just tell you what they like and don’t like. Then, you can improve as you go and let go of the fear of launching something. And that’s the attitude that has made Tezza a million dollar brand with no money down.
So, for all you lazy bums out there who think success comes easy, take a page out of Tezza’s book. Roll up your sleeves, take risks, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. There’s no secret formula for success, just hard work and determination. And if Tezza can do it, so can you!
She didn’t have a trust fund or a wealthy family backing her up, she had nothing but ambition and talent.
