Today we’d like to introduce you to Dezarea Strauch.
Hi Dezarea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My path to entrepreneurship actually started long before SalakSolutions. My first job was as a Visual Merchandiser for Tilly’s, a retail chain, where I managed everything customers saw in the store: window displays, dressing mannequins, wall displays, and mixing and matching clothes and accessories to create a specific vibe. I eventually traveled to assist with store openings and remodels, which gave me an early love for building a brand’s visual identity from the ground up.
Outside of work, I’ve always had creative passions. Party and event planning, and a deep appreciation for fashion and art. I’ve also always had a certain intensity and fierce independence, a natural tendency to go against the grain rather than follow a predictable path. What ultimately pushed me toward entrepreneurship was twofold: having a baby, which shifted what I needed from a career, and a real yearning for freedom over my time, my schedule, my earning potential, and how much of my life I got to spend with my family.
Looking back, this path makes complete sense for me. It’s a culmination of my passions and my strengths. My eye for visual storytelling from my Tilly’s days, my creative instincts outside of work, and that independent streak that’s always pushed me to flex my creative muscles and collaborate in a constantly evolving industry. I went from posting part-time for my mom to growing a profitable business across two states (and counting) and multiple business niches, all rooted in the same mission: helping business owners share their story, education, and expertise in a way that draws in their audience organically, while keeping authenticity and passion for their brand’s story at the forefront.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a business is extremely intimidating, especially for young women and young mothers. Your business can feel all-consuming, especially in those early years when you’re pouring in passion, money, and time for very little in return. And then there’s the never-ending list of titles you suddenly take on as a business owner, which can be intimidating too.
You often start a business around a passion, an interest, or a solution. For me, that’s digital aesthetics. I love taking someone’s social media account, giving it a facelift, and creating materials to share across platforms that draw people in; it scratches that creative itch. But that’s actually one of the smallest parts of my job now. There’s a whole world behind what gets presented on social media, and it’s an ever-evolving industry: algorithm updates, changing laws, trends, the constant evolution of the internet itself. It’s a lot to stay on top of, and it can become all-consuming.
So to circle back to the question, no, it hasn’t always been smooth. It’s been a lot of learning as you go, a lot of taking on new roles you never expected to have to think about. You have to bend and pivot, and there’s chaos, there are sleepless nights, there’s a lot of learning and a lot of changes you have to make as a person in order to own a successful business. But I’d say it’s worth it. I’ve had opportunities to travel, meet and learn from other inspiring business owners, collaborate with other creatives, and champion small businesses in a world of corporate takeovers… I’d say it’s all worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
SalakSolutions is a social media and brand storytelling company that helps small business owners, many of them in the beauty, wellness, and creative industries, build an authentic online presence that actually reflects who they are and why they started their business in the first place.
What started with helping my mom fill her books as a hairdresser has grown into a business that works with clients across multiple states and niches, from hair stylists and Lagree/fitness studios to photographers and other creative entrepreneurs. What ties it all together is the same mission: helping business owners share their story, expertise, and passion in a way that draws in the right audience organically, rather than relying on gimmicks or trends that don’t reflect who they really are.
What sets us apart is that we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all content. Every brand we work with has its own voice, its own story, and its own reason for existing, and our job is to translate that into content that feels true to them, not like it was pulled from a template. We put authenticity and passion at the center of everything we create, because we believe that’s what actually connects with people in a digital world that’s often oversaturated and impersonal.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is that SalakSolutions has stayed true to its roots. We started to help one small business owner who felt left behind by the digital world, and we’ve grown without losing sight of that mission. We champion small businesses and independent creatives in an industry increasingly dominated by big corporate players. I want readers to know that behind every account we manage is a real story, a real person, and a real passion, and that’s what we’re always working to bring to the surface.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love about Grants Pass is its natural beauty, the friendly nature of its people, and the up-and-coming, eclectic community taking shape here. I love watching the multicultural food scene pop up while also seeing the preservation of historic buildings, antique shops, and local history. I’m also thoroughly impressed by the community of artists and creatives, and by the opportunities here in the valley for young entrepreneurs.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salaksolutions/
