My Journey as a Business-man & Entrepreneur
Eric Elliott’s challenging childhood became a catalyst for his success. Growing up in the housing projects of downtown Charleston, South Carolina, he was orphaned at the age of eight, having lost his mother at the age of six and his father shortly thereafter. Despite the difficulty and pain of his circumstances, these experiences also strengthened him and led him to become resilient, independent, and innovative. From an early age, Eric Elliott became determined to make his luck by paving his way and building out his business empire to create a lasting legacy for his family.
As a budding entrepreneur, Eric Elliott also faced difficult life circumstances, but he maintained a strong work ethic, as well as an attitude focused on positivity. In a 200-square-foot room in 2009, during the wake of the Great Recession, he started VIP Marketing with a Toshiba laptop from Walmart, a desk from Craigslist, and no funding. Today, VIP is a virtual/remote agency with over 30 talented team members based all across the world. Since the firm’s inception, VIP has received numerous awards and accolades and has been recognized as one of the top branding agencies in the USA by Clutch.co. VIP’s demonstrated history of success is a direct result of their values: respect, honesty, confidence, growth, initiative, and accountability.
On the heels of VIP’s success, Eric Elliott founded Craft Creative in 2015, a full-service video production company offering everything from web videos to TV commercials to corporate videos. Craft Creative’s clients’ services span across industries, including medicine, hospitality, automotive, and non-profit, among others. The firm’s tailored approach to providing premium videos, high-quality graphics, and innovative web design allows for each client’s unique story to shine and set them apart. Since its founding, the firm has grown significantly and has offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Charleston, Denver, Greenville, Nashville, Washington, D.C., and Miami.
Throughout his career, Eric Elliott has served as a mentor to many entrepreneurs and marketing professionals and recognized that he had the potential to expand his reach to help others across the world. This inspired the launch of his podcast The AdCast, which debuted in 2020 via ACast. The AdCast is widely recognized as the premier podcast for marketers and advertisers. In each episode, Eric Elliott sits down with business owners, marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs to discuss unique marketing and advertising challenges that arise in different industries, as well as how listeners can improve their own marketing and advertising efforts.
In 2021, Eric Elliott expanded his empire and founded 10 Mile Studios, a full-space video production, podcast, and photography studio based on the 10-mile marker in the city of North Charleston. 10 Mile Studios was designed as a blank canvas solution for all creative needs. Notably, 10 Mile Studios is the only creative complex with a full studio and podcast room. In addition,10 Mile Studios offers rental equipment and RGB lights with one billion color options, making it the ideal creative environment for clients.
As a result of his continued success, Eric Elliott is widely recognized as a thought leader in marketing and entrepreneurship and has worked to inspire others to become strong leaders and effective businesspeople. He is the author of numerous articles and an active contributor to well-known media outlets, including Entrepreneur Magazine and Medium. Additionally, Eric Elliott has been a speaker at a variety of events and conferences, presenting on topics including creative marketing, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Eric Elliott is a devoted husband and a proud father who loves to spend time with his family. He is also an avid reader and enjoys learning new things to satisfy his unwavering intellectual curiosity.
In addition to his professional and personal fulfillment, Eric Elliott has been hailed as a pillar of his community by continuously making it a priority to give back and help others. As a result of his impact, the city of North Charleston established Eric Elliott Day, a holiday occurring every October 14th. Each year, Eric Elliott Day honors his life and his legacy and serves as an inspiration to others to follow their dreams and make a positive impact on the world.