Jamie Grimstad
Entrepreneur / Influencer Marketer / Strategic Advisor
NYC / London
curatedbyjamie.com
instagram @jamiegrimstad / @curatedbyjamie
Q What do you do?
“I’m an expert at growing brands through people.”
My expertise across consumer, venture & marketing lends itself to a unique approach to brand building rooted in influencer marketing, that you won’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s through traditional paid partnerships, content creation or bringing influencers on to the cap table, I help to best define how my clients can leverage influencers to drive sustainable business growth. My client portfolio includes: SiO Beauty, Le Prunier, Firstleaf Wine Club, Prakti Beauty, Mercato, Mediheal, and more.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I’ve spent the past 11 years working across the creator economy, venture & consumer spaces.
On the influencer side, I’ve had the opportunity to partner with brands across categories since around 2011 – from Nike and Adidas to Afterpay and Manuka Health and more. It was from these early partnerships that I was able to develop an understanding about how creator partnerships are structured, the best brand communities are formed, and ultimately, what marketing tactics resonate with a consumer across digital platforms.
The learnings that I have made while cultivating my own community, spurred my interest in venture/marketing and helped me transition into the next phase of my career.
For the past 5 years, I’ve been building my consulting business, Curated by Jamie, where my expertise is really growing & investing in brands, through the lens of influencer marketing. I’ve worked with clients across categories, along with VCs, to implement influencer marketing strategies that drive impact and results. From cannabis and beauty brands to fintech, the influence ecosystem is not a “one size fits all.”
Q How do you stand out in your field?
Influencers are proven brand growth drivers, which I’ve seen first-hand. Having sat on both sides of the table – on both the influencer and the operational sides of a brand – I innately understand how important it is for a brand to build an ecosystem of loyal brand ambassadors, customers & community – and more importantly, where they go wrong. Leading with a relationships-based approach, I advise my clients on how to best leverage influencers to drive engagement and growth.
Q What are you working on right now?
The future of the creator economy will see more-and-more creators not only promoting the brands that they know and love, but also investing in them. As we head into 2023, I’m excited to start helping some of my clients think of “influence” beyond the social post, but rather, on the cap table. I’ll be leaning more heavily into strategic advisory, as I help more clients fill their cap tables with influential voices who believe in more than just their product(s) – but their overall vision.
Q What’s your style?
Quality over quantity is always my motto. My operating style is thoughtful and data-driven, while also creative & out-of-the-box. I like to offer alternative perspectives, but also don’t try to fix what isn’t broken. Every client is like family, and I try to go above-and-beyond to deliver results. I think that my past work, personal partnerships & website reflect this well.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
A current career bucket list item for me is publishing a cookbook, which I have slowly and surely started working on, but wish I had more time to get it across the finish line! *One day!*
Q What is frustrating you right now?
A common frustration I run into is that many companies still brush off influencer marketing – compared to traditional PR – as a channel because it’s seemingly capital-intensive, or they haven’t had a positive experience. Influencer marketing is not a one-size-fits all, and what influencer engagement looks like from one brand to another is vastly different. I think that this space is still chasing credibility, and that’s where I come in. The majority of the work that I do is getting my clients to believe in the power of influence – connecting them to the right people and voices that can drive impact and business growth.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Pitching! Emails! Sales! While most of our clients come from referrals, I’d love to have someone help me pitch some of our *dream* clients on a daily basis to help us build our portfolio & expand our offerings.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I’ve learned a lot over the past three years specifically, but one thing that I constantly keep in mind is that “success doesn’t happen overnight.” You have to embrace failure, be okay with uncertainty, and ultimately keep your head down.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
It sounds very basic, but definitely wine. I have a true passion for cooking and food, and have always wanted to learn more about the wine industry – it’s the perfect pairing!
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I’m looking to bring on new clients in 2023 that need strategic support (operationally) or influencer marketing support across the consumer space. From hosting a brand event, to implementing an influencer marketing roadmap, to sourcing new talent – every relationship looks different! I like to start with an introductory call to understand high-level business goals, and then put together a proposed scope of work from there.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I’ve worked with companies large and small, but smaller teams lend themselves to a more hands-on approach! The focus of my work has been on consumer-first brands across categories – from fashion and beauty to fintech, but I’d love to continue to push further into luxury categories.
Q What is your rate?
My work is not one-size-fits all, so I put together a custom proposal for every client based on expected timeline & business goals. One-off projects for product seeding & talent sourcing, like Jamie’s Box , start at $1,500. If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to chat! Just shoot me an email.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email is the best way to reach me – or if you prefer to DM, that also works, too!
I’d love to chat! :)
Email: jamie@curatedbyjamie.com
Web: curatedbyjamie.com
Instagram: @jamiegrimstad
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I’ve worked closely with Sara Newton of Alice Black Media for a while now, and have nothing but great things to say! She’s a hustler, and knows what she’s talking about when it comes to the realm of paid media.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Lot's of running, cooking, and conversation. I try to be a sponge!
This member profile was originally published in December 2022.