Meet Jay Marie
To build a community of like-minded creatives, Jay Marie runs a membership-based creative studio in Jersey City, NJ that offers clients brand development, social media management, production services, and content creation. Since 2021, Jay Marie has received $30,000 in loan capital from Grameen America to expand her successful business.
“I started my own business because I just wanted to control my own life, my time, and my money. At any point, in any small business, you’re going to need funding and a financial organization that can support you – it’s just about finding the right one and Grameen America is the right one.”
Jay Marie began her entrepreneurial journey with an e-commerce clothing boutique. While she dreamed of producing high quality clothing, reality set in and she couldn’t afford the materials to bring her designs to life. Despite the initial setback, Jay Marie adapted to become the person helping to develop a brand instead of being the brand itself. She started renting the space to support like-minded creatives in the community with their brand identity and aesthetic. Over the years, Jay Marie turned her business into a full-fledged production and branded content hub.
“Grameen America is a resource that’s always there when you need it—even through the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur. Not only are you paying back a loan, but you’re also growing your credit and gaining a community of women to talk with. The entrepreneurs in my group and I go over business modules, take classes, and talk about how we can grow as a whole and individually.”
In 2021, Jay Marie joined Grameen America, particularly drawn to the community of likeminded entrepreneurs and the opportunity to connect with business owners from different backgrounds and industries. Jay Marie’s first purchase with a loan from Grameen America was a new camera and lighting equipment, and she has also used the capital for advertising to gain more clients. Jay Marie has also appreciated the opportunity to access larger loans after each repayment, matching her growth as an entrepreneur.
“Growing up, I watched my mom have different businesses, starting with a cleaning business and then daycare services. My mother was an entrepreneur role model in my life. I never thought I would be where I am today. I became an entrepreneur when I was 27 years old, but it’s been so rewarding to see that I’m capable of doing anything I set my mind to.”
“This business has helped me be independent and fly. Looking from my kid’s view, it gives her hope and lets her know that she can do anything too – that’s priceless. My motivation to keep going is to change the trajectory for my 14-year-old daughter by creating a better life for her. But it’s bigger than that. I want to become one of the first female entrepreneurs to help people in the production industry.”
Because Jay Marie’s business focuses on brand development, Grameen America financial and business education on social media, branding, and marketing have been the most beneficial.
“My first mission and passion are making sure my clients and their brands are at the highest level. My clients’ success is my success. Aligning myself with their success stories is fulfilling. Imagery and brand identity are so important, especially on social media and websites, which serve as your digital portfolio. My business comes in and fine tunes that. We work together to elevate each other’s brands and identify what each business needs.”
As Jay Marie looks to the future, she hopes to expand to a larger location and take on more memberships while truly cementing her place as a leader in the branding and creative world.