Life & Work with Heather Locke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Locke.

Hi Heather, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It all began when I attended the University of Tennessee where, as part of their College Scholars program, I was able to design my major and I chose interactive media. I quickly managed to gain some interesting internships – one with an online media company and another in game development. It was an exciting time as the industry was rapidly growing and I felt like I was at the forefront of an emerging industry.

After graduating, I moved to Phoenix and worked my way up at a digital agency managing household name clients such as Disney, HBO, and Subway. Although it was an amazing experience, I saw what I thought was a gap in the marketplace where reliable technical resources appeared to be difficult to find so I set out to fill the void.

I started Hammersmith Interactive in 2011, primarily focused on the design & build of websites. As I’d hoped, our customer-centric focus caught on and we evolved into Hammersmith Support digital web services company going beyond just design & build, but also hosting, ongoing site maintenance, compliance, SEO along custom applications. In 2020, we opened operations in Nashville and the growth has been exciting with the bonus of going back to my roots.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with most businesses, it was very challenging at the start. I had to hustle, network, and focus on building my referral network. I spent a lot of time going to events, meeting for coffee & lunches, and joining groups trying to connect with influencers.

Not only was it a time investment, but it was also a financial investment during a period when cash flow was very tight. I also had to build up my customer base before I could afford to hire people to help me. My biggest challenge, accomplishment, and investment was scaling my business and adding high-quality technical resources without draining my financials.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Hammersmith Support is a web services company focused on helping clients of all sizes move through every phase of the process: design, build, hosting, maintenance, and SEO. Our clientele is wide-ranging and diverse from roofing contractors, to law firms, to large healthcare organizations, entertainment companies, and non-profits.

Our core values are customer service, transparency, and community. I can honestly attribute our success to the close relationships we’ve built with our clients. We know their business, and their challenges, and they know when they call us – they get us! No 800 numbers, no waiting on hold, no third parties, and no unreturned calls.

One thing we are known for is our website maintenance packages where we manage client updates and the ongoing security and performance of their sites. In many instances, we are providing clients with a full technical team at a fraction of what it would cost to manage and retain internal technical resources.

Community is also very important to us. We have a volunteer culture and we provide annual pro-bono services to non-profits in our hometowns. In Nashville, we’ve supported Land Trust of Tennessee and Waves.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The Covid pandemic shone a bright eye-opening light on how fleeting and delicate normalcy can be. I’m a more grateful person as a result.

It also forced businesses to be more efficient. Thanks to Zoom, we can not only provide better and more immediate service to our clients, but I can also network more readily with people all over the U.S. No traffic hassles, driving in bad weather, or getting lost. Nothing replaces a face-to-face meeting but it does provide a great option for busy clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hammersmithsupport.com
• Instagram: @hammersmithsupport
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hammersmithsupport
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherlockeaz/

Image Credits
Sarah Hoag Photography and Amy Allmand Photography