Get To Know Beth Josey-Toews, Founder of Bandit Creative | Canadian Business Owner Spotlights by Kelsey Reidl, Marketing Consultant.
Meet Beth Josey-Toews!
Founder of Bandit Creative,
a one-woman design studio specialize in branding, logo design, illustration, and custom visuals.
Welcome to our Canadian Business Owner Spotlight Series hosted by me… Kelsey Reidl (Business & Marketing Consultant).
In this series, I'll be catching up with the most talented, generous & inspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in Canada & beyond.
Enjoy learning more about these wonderful humans, and give them a ‘follow’ or get in touch in order to collaborate with them + work with them.
-Kelsey
The TL;DR for Beth Josey-Toews of Bandit Creative.
Beth Josey-Toews is the founder and creative force behind Bandit Creative, an independent design studio built around her love of the outdoors, illustration, and blending adventure with artistry.
After more than a decade working in the design industry, Beth launched Bandit Creative to create work on her own terms and build a business that reflects the kind of designer she wanted to be.
Today, she works with businesses small and large, to create bold, distinctive visual identities, illustrations, and graphics that feel anything but the usual.
Okay, let’s get to know Beth!
Name
Beth Josey-Toews
Profession / Title
Graphic designer/Illustrator
Business Name
Bandit Creative
Industry / Niche
Design & Illustration
My Business Was Founded In
2024
Current Location
Paris, Ontario
3 words you would use to describe yourself…
Independent.
Loyal.
Creative.
Tell us more about your business
Bandit Creative is a one-woman design studio ran by me, Beth Josey-Toews. I specialize in branding, logo design, illustration, and custom visuals. I work with businesses of all kinds, big and small. Most of these businesses are outdoor-minded brands that want a visual identity that feels unique to them rather than something pulled from a template.
My workdays are a mix of client projects, sketching and designing, emails, meetings, and the behind-the-scenes work of running a small business. Most clients find me through Instagram, word of mouth, referrals, and my website.
In one or two sentences, what specific problem does your business solve for your clients?
I help businesses figure out how to visually tell their story and stand out in a crowded market. I create custom visuals that are fun and feel like them, not like everyone else.
Recent milestone you've celebrated in your business
I recently signed on with a business I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to collaborate with. I’ll be a freelance contract designer for this business regularly and a part of their designer arsenal. It’s a really exciting milestone for me, and I can’t wait to share who it is when I’m able to!
What is a recent investment you’ve made in your business
One of my recent investments has been taking the time to find a better CRM system and completely revamp my client onboarding process. As Bandit Creative has grown, I realized I needed better systems behind the scenes to keep things organized and create a smoother, more professional experience for my clients. Not only has this improved the process for my clients, but it’s helped me smooth so much out on my end as well!
What changed after that investment? Why do you see it as an investment, not an expense?
It’s made my entire client process more organized and streamlined, from the initial inquiry through to project completion. I’m spending less time piecing things together behind the scenes and more time focusing on the actual creative work and my clients.
What would you tell a new entrepreneur who's considering investing in the same thing, but is hesitant?
Just do it, and take the time to do it properly from the beginning and from the ground up. You’ll be so happy you did!
Now for some fun stuff!
Always…
Always trust your gut.
Never…
Never cut corners.
Advice for other entrepreneurs, who are slightly less far along…
The small things add up. Push yourself and do one small thing that contributes to your goals every day. Do the thing. Take the extra 10 minutes. Before you know it, you’ll be way farther ahead than you realize.
What is a tool, resource, podcast, book or person you’ve invested in that’s added value to your entrepreneurial journey
Adobe Creative Cloud, hands down. Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma, and the rest of the good stuff are basically the backbone of my business. I’ve been using Adobe products for almost 15 years, and nothing has come close to the quality of their products or the results I’m able to achieve with them. They’re a huge part of how I establish the designs I create.
Favourite way to wind down after a long workweek
Dinner and a movie with my husband, daughter, and pup! Doing anything with my little family brings me the most joy.
Before starting my workday, I make sure to…
Brew a coffee. Dark roast, and completely black, is a must.
Best part of my work is…
The clients I get to create for, the relationships I build with them, and having them trust my vision. There’s nothing better than having a client who really trusts the process and lets me run with an idea.
Last vacation you took (and where did you go)
A road trip through the Rockies in a camper, from Calgary to Squamish, ending with a climb up the Stawamus Chief!
