Kelly Moir, left, and Sam Eastman have co-founded a new marketing firm called Lake Effect Studio. Handout/Sarnia Observer/Postmedia Network
A new business is launching next week in Sarnia-Lambton despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Called Lake Effect Studio, it’s an environmentally conscious branding and marketing firm, according to its website. After months of planning, the business will officially open Monday and the occasion will be marked that afternoon by a virtual ribbon cutting with the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce – Lake Effect recently became a member and operates its newsletters – and some local politicians.
“It’s really fun because we don’t have a physical storefront at the moment anyways so the whole virtual ribbon cutting is a cool nod to the digital marketing field that we’re in,” co-founder Kelly Moir said Friday.
Moir and co-founder Sam Eastman, who met at Northern high school and have been “attached at the hip ever since,” have joked over the years about starting a business together. Now that they’ve both graduated university and returned to their hometowns – Moir is from Bright’s Grove and Eastman Sarnia – they felt it was time to follow through.
COVID-19 wasn’t going to stop them.
“We just had this idea and we’re like, ‘Why not?’ Perfect time while we’re all stuck at home to just build something that we’ve been talking about for a while,” Moir, 22, said.
“I feel like the whole pandemic situation has really accelerated this industry,” Eastman, 23, added.
The name, which came to Eastman one day, ties into the geographical area and the effect they hope to have on their clients.
“The more that I kept repeating it the more that it made sense in so many different ways,” Moir said. “Especially with our focus on the local community, it’s a nice homage to that.”
Moir, who last year helped create a group of young environmentally conscious people called the Sarnia Sustainability Ambassadors, said they specialize in waste-free event planning and digital marketing, but they will outsource for printed materials if necessary in the hopes of being a one-stop shop.
Short term, they’re focusing on building their brand awareness, but eventually hope to have a downtown storefront and hire some staff.
“I think the fact we’re bringing this environmental aspect will really allow us to stand out,” Eastman said.
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