After overcoming a life-threatening health battle, Ken Middlebrooks walked away with something most people talk about but few actually act on — a completely new perspective on life.
He left corporate America. Not to retire. Not to slow down. To build something that mattered to him.
Ken channeled that resilience into Closets.Love — a custom closet design and installation company serving metro Atlanta. The mission was personal: create beautiful, functional spaces that bring order and joy to people’s homes.
There was just one problem. The company hadn’t even opened yet. No customers. No social media. No online presence. Nothing.
But Ken knew something most new business owners learn the hard way: having a great product means nothing if nobody knows you exist.
Before the first closet was ever installed, Ken called eLuminate Marketing.
Building a Business Before the Doors Opened
Most startups launch first and figure out marketing later. Ken did the opposite.
He brought eLuminate on before the business was live. No social media accounts. No brand positioning. No advertising. No online presence at all.
The goal was simple: when Closets.Love opened, the phone needed to ring.
eLuminate built the foundation from scratch:
– Created all social media accounts from the ground up
– Developed brand positioning and strategy tailored to the metro Atlanta luxury home market
– Launched social advertising campaign designed to generate leads immediately
– Built a content engine with promotions, enhanced visuals, and consistent posting
The results didn’t take long.
302 Leads in the First Year
Within 12 months, the numbers spoke for themselves:
– 302 leads generated — averaging over 25 leads per month
– $12 average cost per lead
– 9,000+ Instagram followers built from zero
– Consistent pipeline of homeowners across Buckhead, Johns Creek, Roswell, Alpharetta, and beyond
For a brand-new company with zero name recognition, that’s not a slow build. That’s a launch.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. The quality of those leads told the rest.
These Leads Are Made of Gold
Ken didn’t hold back when he saw what was coming in.
“I wanted to tell you, these leads are made of gold. Most of them are converting. I have never had leads this hot before anywhere in my sales career, I don’t believe. Keep the great work up.”
That’s not a polished testimonial. That’s a text message from a business owner who couldn’t wait to share the news.
For someone with years of sales experience across multiple industries, calling these the hottest leads of his career says everything about what the right marketing strategy can do — especially when it’s built from day one.
More Than Leads — A Brand That Competes
In just one year, Closets.Love went from nonexistent to a recognized name in Georgia’s custom closet market. The Instagram presence alone — 9,000+ followers — puts them alongside competitors who’ve been in the market for years.
The promotions, content, and advertising didn’t just generate leads. They built credibility. Homeowners across metro Atlanta now see Closets.Love as a premium option — not a startup.
That positioning matters in a market where trust and craftsmanship drive purchasing decisions.
What Happens When You Get Marketing Right From Day One
Most new businesses spend their first year scrambling for visibility. Ken spent his first year closing deals.
The difference? He didn’t wait to figure out marketing after the business launched. He made it part of the launch.
302 leads. 25+ per month. $12 a lead. 9,000 followers. And leads so hot that a veteran salesman called them the best of his career.
That’s what happens when the marketing is ready before the doors open.
