Brantford, ON

The Story Behind Clarity Marketing & Design

The Story Behind Clarity Marketing & Design

This summer I celebrated my 14th year in business. For most of the 14 years, the business has provided my family and I full time income. I didn’t create the business 14 years ago thinking I would still have it today and that it would become what it is now. It has been a long road. Some years are easy, and everything goes well and some years I contemplate why I have a business in the first place. However, it’s a remarkable feeling knowing you’ve created something significant as a solopreneur!

Why did I start my business in the first place?

In my last year of high school, I was working two part time jobs in restaurants (Montana’s and ABC Restaurant), volunteering at two local shelters (C.A.R.E.S. and Langley Animal Shelter) and writing for various publications (Youthink Magazine and the Cloverdale Reporter) as I was wanting to attend Kwantlen University for their Journalism program.

Towards the end of grade 12, I got involved with the Surrey School Board for a new online youth resource they were launching called Protecting Surrey Schools Together (PSST). There were two “parts” to the online resource 1 was a section were youth can anonymously report or leave tips of problems and issues going on in Surrey schools and 2 articles, contests and such. I was involved in the 2nd part. I was writing articles for the website for youth to read, share and comment on.

I was the only one in the group that was graduating and wanted to stay involved. I remember the day, when I asked if I could stay involved and continue writing even after I graduate. The response I got was, we were thinking of contracting you to run PSST… Didn’t see that coming!

So, that summer (I was only 18 years old), I had to figure out a business name, register the name and business and that September I started contracting with the Surrey School Board and did that from 2005 – 2010.

A couple years in, I took Marketing courses at Kwantlen, Web Development courses at BCIT and Graphic Design courses at BCIT and Langley College.  Once I had the skills I needed, I grew my business by the services I offered and the clients I started to take on.

I also landed another big client, BC Youth Week and provided all things marketing from 2008 – 2013. From there the big-name clients kept coming.

Including:

  • City of Burnaby
  • Prostate Cancer Foundation BC
  • WestCoast Families Magazine
  • UrbanBaby & Toddler Magazine
  • BC Library Association
  • MS Society of Canada
  • Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

The pros of owning a business

  • I can pretty much live anywhere and still have my business
  • It gives me the flexibility to be a business owner and a mom of 3
  • I run the show!
  • I have the freedom to express myself and my values through my business
  • There are no limits to what I can earn

Thinking about starting a business or you’re in the early stages of starting one?

Connect with me to see how I can help you through the process and how to get set up properly the first time. I’ve been there and done that more than once! I can help you make a plan of action for your business name, logo, website, social media and marketing plan.

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