Belmont Abbey student not only an athlete, but also entrepreneur
Charles Solomon not only takes a full load of classes at Belmont Abby College, and plays on the basketball team, but the 6 foot 6 junior forward also started a marketing company this summer.
Solomon Media Management uses social media to help clients, such as Twisted Sugar, a gourmet cookie store in Belmont, reach more customers.
“We are a social media agency with the mission to grow our client's digital presence," said the 20-year-old student-athlete from Monroeville, New Jersey. "We use analytics and data to identify a target audience and then put together a strong marketing strategy for our clients.
“We are trying to humanize marketing by creating content that will help our clients interact with a potential customer."
When the process works successfully, Solomon says, it saves businesses money by allowing them to grow organically rather than having them pay for social media followers.
"We create ads and specific material meant to attract potential customers,” he said.
The business has done well enough Solomon has brought on fellow Belmont Abbey students Anna Alayo, a 19-year-old elementary education major, and 20-year-old biology major, Brandon Baker, to help him.
Both Alayo and Baker contribute on a different level of creativity to the marketing projects they have created for their five clients in the Gaston County and Charlotte areas.
“My team is amazing. They are a big part of my company’s growth," Solomon said. "Brandon is a creative individual who is always there to take pictures, create graphics and make videos, while Anna is always there to give me constructive criticism and analyze what each brand needs.”
Solomon Media Management recently partnered with an established firm, The Sumner Group in Gastonia, to help with its Mattamuskeet Goose Club clothing brand.
“I have known Mike Sumner (the owner) since the summer. He is like my family and he asked for my company’s assistance in reaching his younger audience with marketing,” said Solomon.
Solomon credits his move toward a career in marketing with a summer job he held with the Gastonia Honey Hunters, the new professional baseball team that began its first year of play in 2021.
Part of Solomon's job with the Honey Hunters involved using social media to better engage fans to the new team.
“I applied because it was a job involving sports so I thought it would be a good idea to work there and gain experience,” Solomon said, “So while doing that, I fell in love with marketing and I was inspired to create my own thing to help local businesses grow.”
Growing up, Solomon’s focus was on basketball, however; his mother, Tamika Solomon, always taught him to not focus on just one thing.
“She encouraged me to do other things at school so I could learn how to balance different things. It is because of her that I am able to manage my time and focus on my studies, my athletics and now, my company, at the same time,” Solomon said.
Solomon will continue on his track to earn a degree in sports management, even if he may now be on a different career path.
“Our majors do not define us. We are in college to figure out what we are interested in. I still love sports and if the opportunity comes to do both then I will be the first to hop in, until then, this is my focus (marketing) and I want to see where it takes me,” said Solomon.
Beatriz Guerrero can be reached at 704-869-1828 or on Twitter@BeatrizGue_
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Belmont Abbey's Charles Solomon plays basketball, runs own business
