Enterprise Nation

Everyday Models may not be a home business any longer but it started life that way. What the company does offer is an opportunity for home business owners to earn a bit of extra cash. We talk to Matt Garcia who was approached by a family friend with an idea that he just knew made sound commercial sense. 

About Us

By way of background, this is the story of how it all began:

‘The Everyday Models concept was originally conceived and developed by James Brookner and Matt Garcia.

As a Nottingham University student in 2007, James read about a guy in Nebraska who was auctioning his forehead as advertising space. The story raised important questions over what should, or could, constitute brand space.

Ready to start working for a top investment bank in Monaco, James discussed his idea with Matt, a close friend and founder of a successful creative agency, to benefit from his 20 years industry experience.

Matt loved the idea of empowering ´sellsumers´, providing individuals with new and exciting ways to earn money for themselves, while offering brands a cost-effective ways of reaching their target audience.

So the guys put their heads together, researching numerous interesting and non-conventional platforms that could be developed and used as brand space.’

Everyday questions

We asked Matt for a little more information…

Did you agree to incubate the idea as one of your creative projects, and it grew from there?

Pretty much. I saw the value in the concept from our very first conversation, and once we had scoped the potential a little further, i.e. to include everyone on a national and international basis, not just students, using Social Networking, vehicles and property, we both recognized the importance of developing a business around it as quickly as possible. So, it was incubated to an extent, but we set about it in earnest from the outset.

Speaking of growth, the business started from home (who’s home?) – when did you know it was time to outgrow the home?

The idea was originally conceived and mapped out by James while he was at university, and later at his home. Once we had developed the concept, brand, website and processes we then moved the operation to my offices in North London, where the business is now based. The agency is growing on an almost weekly basis, so the intention is to find larger, more scalable premises in due course.

In what kind of ways can your models earn money?

Our agency provides ‘everyday people’ the opportunity to earn money in a number of ways, while living their daily lives. Our methods include;

• Human advertising or ‘everyday modelling’ such as body advertising on t-shirts, jackets and caps etc,
• Vehicle signage including cars, vans and even bicycles and motorcycles
• Social Network Profiles such as the use of their Facebook profile image and status message
• Promotional Work combining everyday modeling with a more pro-active task of distributing flyers or conducting surveys

Is their an archetypal Everyday Model?

Our service is available to anyone who wants some extra cash, whether you are a student, doctor, housewife, mobile worker or white-collar professional, Everyday Models is available to everyone, anywhere in the world.

What are your plans for 2009?

So much to do! As a rapidly growing business we are currently developing departments in key areas, including sales, project management, press relations, franchise development, membership management, investment relations and more. James and I are working to handle all of these aspects with an increasing staff, in order that we can manage our growth effectively. We’re also in the middle of producing our corporate video, which is proving fun!

• Matt Garcia, Everyday Models