Episode Summary
This episode features Kim Beechner, founder and CEO of Embark Marketing, a full-service agency dedicated to the food and beverage industry. Kim started her agency before she graduated college, scaled her team using unpaid internships, and even grew during the height of the pandemic—all while raising her son and pursuing her master’s degree.
Here’s what you’ll learn from this episode:
- Why defining your niche can multiply your impact (and your income)
- How to identify the right time to hire—and avoid early mistakes
- The powerful role education and mentorship played in scaling her business
Agency Info
-
Company: Embark Marketing
-
Guest: Kim Beechner
-
Year Started: 2010
-
Employees: 1-10
While the theory of marketing is the same, the tactics are different based on the industry.
Kim Beechner
Key Takeaways
Bold feedback can fuel your biggest growth
When Kim hit a wall trying to grow her generalist agency, she reached out to her university and asked if her business could be the focus of a class project. The result: an honest evaluation that led her to double down on the food and beverage industry—a space where she already had deep operational knowledge and passion.Focusing on a niche transformed her agency into an industry expert.
The first hire mistake most agency owners make
Early in her journey, Kim used unpaid internships as a way to identify potential hires. But her first mistake wasn’t in the intern program—it was waiting too long to bring someone on full-time. Her advice? Start thinking like a team leader sooner than you think you need to.
Pandemic success came from quick pivots, not panic
While many restaurant-focused agencies struggled during COVID, Embark Marketing leaned into rapid adaptation. From launching online ordering systems to marketing to-go margaritas, Kim’s team helped restaurants survive—and even thrive—through the uncertainty.Innovation during crisis became the foundation for long-term growth.
Entrepreneurship can be a family affair
im also shares how she involved her young son in her businesses—from delivering giant yard games to assisting on marketing shoots—teaching him financial literacy and responsibility along the way.
Enjoy this Episode?
Subscribe to An Agency Story on your favorite podcast app for more real stories from agency owners. Loved what you heard? Leave a review or share this episode with someone building their agency from the ground up.
