Stev | Design for CPG Brands

Design subscription for CPG startups & founders who need premium design. Packaging, brand systems, visual identity.
Building in public: Day 03, $0 → $1K

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

Hey, I’m Stev. I run Sunzerif, a design subscription with 24-hour turnaround. We do brand, social, motion & web UI.

I'm building in public and looking to connect with other design founders, so if that's your thing, drop a comment or DM.→ https://t.co/kzqGXZpJAi

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

Day 03 of building a design as a service until I reach $1,000 and 10k followers.

Day 02:
Goal: $1,000 MRR
Current: $0
Followers: 1

Sent over 100 emails to prospects and so far I've got 1 reply. 🎉

I've also sent a follow up on the previous emails.

#buildinpublic

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

Day 02 of building a design as a service until I reach $1,000 and 10k followers.

Day 02:
Goal: $1,000 MRR
Current: $0
Followers: 1

Yesterday I ran a batch email reaching out to 50 people. No response so far. Sending another set of 50, seeing what happens.

#buildinpublic

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

Day 02 of building a design as a service until I reach $1,000 and 10k followers.

Day 02:
Goal: $1,000 MRR
Current: $0
Followers: 1

Yesterday I ran a batch email reaching out to 50 people. No response so far. Sending another set of 50, seeing what happens.

#buildinpublic

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

I'm starting a #buildinpublic journey of building my new design as a service for founders and small brands.

Day 01:
Goal: $1,000 MRR
Current: $0

I'll need:
🟢 $13/mo plan → 77 customers
🔵 $33/mo plan → 31 customers
🟣 $325/mo plan → ~4 customers

Wish me luck.

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

What I'm doing this week:
- Reach out to 100 CPG brands & founders
- Get 10 paying customers

#buildinpublic

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

I'm starting a #buildinpublic journey of building my new design as a service for founders and small brands.

Day 01:
Goal: $1,000 MRR
Current: $0

I'll need:
🟢 $13/mo plan → 77 customers
🔵 $33/mo plan → 31 customers
🟣 $325/mo plan → ~4 customers

Wish me luck.

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@WilkeBuilds Congrats 🎉

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@himanshubuildss Magical ⭐⭐⭐

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@thenamanraj @X Hey 👋. I'm Stev, and I'm building a design as a service for founders and small brands.

Let's connect!

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@saifgeeky 🔥

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@uiakanksha_ Nice work 🔥

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@BabaDev_ Hi.
I'm building Sunzerif, a design as a service for small brands.
🚀

https://t.co/kzqGXZpJAi

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

I'm starting a #buildinpublic journey of building my new design as a service for founders and small brands.

Day 01:
Goal: $1,000 MRR
Current: $0

I'll need:
🟢 $13/mo plan → 77 customers
🔵 $33/mo plan → 31 customers
🟣 $325/mo plan → ~4 customers

Wish me luck.

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@nickfthedev Looks like his head's stuck 😅

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@SuiBuilds It's a lesson one has to learn repeatedly because it's often easy to forget that perfection and waiting for the best time is only an excuse.

All the best 🚀

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

I'm starting a #buildinpublic journey of building my new design as a service for founders and small brands.

Day 01:
Goal: $1,000 MRR
Current: $0

At the current price I'll need:
🟢 $13/mo plan → 77 customers
🔵 $33/mo plan → 31 customers
🟣 $325/mo plan → ~4 customers

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@wilczyn Hmm I know replies is where the gold is. Problem is I find it hard to reply to AI generated posts too, because there's no opinion or value.

So it's not necessarily replying to just any post but finding posts worth that incite a conversation.

What's your strategy?

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

Designers after gaining recognition...He ain't wrong here, but this could have been a personal DM instead of series long public humiliation.

Not my problem though.

[Dan Mall @danmall]

No, I won’t check out your portfolio.

Here’s why.

Anytime you ask someone to do something, it’s a pitch. In a pitch, say what’s in it for the other person.

What’s in it for me to check out your portfolio? Why would I spend my time, energy, and attention—all of which I value highly—on that as opposed to anywhere else?

If there’s nothing in it for me, then you’re asking for charity.

If you’re asking for charity, then ask for charity. Make it clear. I like doing favors sometimes and being charitable sometimes. But I can’t tell if that’s what you’re asking for, and I won’t assume it.

Even if I agreed to it, you haven’t even given me any criteria. Is there something specific you want help with? Something to improve? Something you’re stuck on? Some job it’s not doing?

General questions get general answers. Specific questions get specific answers.

Since I don’t know what you want help with and there doesn’t seem to be much incentive for me, it’s a pass.

Here are some examples of pitches I would consider more (even if I’d still say no):

“Dan, would you be willing to do me a favor and review my portfolio to help me land a design job working on a U.S.-based team for a fintech startup?”

“Dan, can you please review my portfolio to see if the UI design work feels closer to junior or senior caliber? I’ll make a donation to your favorite non-profit as a token of thanks.”

“Dan, would you mind looking at my portfolio to see if I’m the kind of person you’d hire? I know you value your time, attention, and energy, so I’d gladly take any feedback you can provide after looking for even 30 seconds.”

@odeniransulaimo, wanna pitch again? I’m open to you trying again if you’d like.

But even better: pitch someone who’s in a closer position to help you get what you want. If you want a job at a sports betting startup, pitch a hiring manager at a sports betting startup to check out your portfolio. Even if they won’t hire you for THEIR startup, their feedback would be way more relevant to getting a job at a sports betting startup than my feedback would be, since I’ve never worked at a sport betting startup.

In short, when you pitch, make it about them and make it as easy as possible for them to give you what you want.

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@miracache Hello 👋

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@Zaydenf9 Revenue, obviously. You can have 10,000 free users and no revenue, which sucks.

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@SoraiaDev Congrats 🎉

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@kushmergedeck https://t.co/kzqGXZpJAi

[Stev | Design for CPG Brands @sunzerifco]

@lizengco 🔥