Company: Bubbly Creative
Guests: Cara Chatellier
Year Started: 2020
Employees: 1-10
If you’ve ever felt torn between staying in your comfort zone or building a business on your own terms, this episode of An Agency Story will resonate deeply. Cara Chatellier didn’t follow a playbook, she left corporate life, moved overseas, freelanced out of Madrid, and eventually launched a bold, personality-driven agency: Bubbly Creative. Now she’s helping service-based brands cut through the noise with real relationships, intentional branding, and a lot less fluff.
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Episode Summary
This week, host Russel Dubree sits down with Cara Chatellier, founder of Bubbly Creative, a Brooklyn-based marketing agency focused on supporting women-owned service businesses, especially in the health and beauty space. The episode digs into the realities of launching during the pandemic, the challenge of finding your niche, and the power of doing things differently.
Episode Highlights:
- Cara’s journey from corporate burnout to freelancing across Europe
- Why branding has to start with knowing yourself, before marketing to others
- The moment she realized her agency needed to change, and how she took control
- A cautionary tale about AI content, SEO scams, and protecting your brand voice
Key Takeaways and Lessons
Build a Brand That Feels Like You
Cara didn’t choose the name Bubbly Creative by accident, it’s a reflection of her personality and what she wants her clients to feel. Your brand isn’t just about looking good, it should sound like you, act like you, and connect with the people you want to serve. When clients feel that alignment, trust builds naturally.
Doing It Scared is Part of the Process
From moving abroad with no income plan to launching a brand in early 2020, Cara has made a career out of taking leaps, even when they felt uncertain. Her advice? Be honest about your fears but don’t let them stop you. The reward often lies just beyond the discomfort.
Referrals Aren’t a Strategy
Like many agency owners, Cara built her business on referrals, but hit a wall. This episode dives into how she’s shifted toward more proactive marketing and positioning to attract the right clients, not just any client.
Marketing That Lacks Depth Hurts Trust
Whether it’s bad stock photos or recycled AI content, generic marketing signals a lack of care. Cara shares real stories of how brands unknowingly sabotage themselves and what it actually takes to craft content that resonates.
Relationships Are Your Greatest Asset
Cara’s approach centers on understanding clients deeply, from two-hour onboarding interviews to crafting content that reflects who they truly are. If you’re not invested in learning your clients’ values, you’re just selling tactics.
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