5 Years in Business, what a GREAT ride!

Natalie A. Lambert, Owner

As a business owner, celebrating 5 years in business makes me whistful. I think about starting out, and memories of grueling over a 30 page business plan with my partner over martinis comes to mind! We started out as a Wedding and Event planning company.  My partner, Pixie Mellin and I always loved the aspects of developing our brand and when I had to move back to my hometown near Washington, DC, Savoir Faire Media was born.

I also think back to my first client - Rev. Glynn Ferguson of Sensational Ceremonies.  He was our favorite Officiant at weddings, and became a friend...I now consider him family.  He let me tweak and change his website, brand and strategy and started spreading the word to other businesses.  Today, his business has grown into several markets, almost 10 officiants and he is a leader in the industry. I guess you could say he and I both turned our dream into reality with a lot of hard work, talent, folks that believed in us and word of mouth - here we are!  So, thanks Rev! :o)

The most rewarding thing about the past several years has been turning businesses that were about to close or shutdown into thriving leaders in their industry.  I always joke to myself that we are 25% shrinks, 25% business strategists and 50% designers.  Creating a new image for a company does something very strange to a business owner...it transforms THEM as well. They get remotivated, re-energized, and for the first time in a long time they are excited and hopeful about the possibilities that a new brand, website, marketing plan will bring.  We become motivational, challenging them to reach higher than they think they can reach, grow bigger than they think possible.  They hold their shiny new cards in their hand, hold their heads up high and really start putting themselves out there. This transformation of business and self is truly the best part.  That - and the fact that I can't even make a stick drawing of a person - so graphic and web design allows my inner artist to come alive!

I would be nowhere without friends...after months of 18 hour days operating as a boutique firm of just myself and myself, lol, I knew I needed help.  I enlisted...wait for it... MY FIRST BRIDE!  Shellie West Postal was/is owner of Posh Betty, a papier and stationary online retailer and I knew how talented she was.  I asked her to join the team as a part time designer and 2 years later I am happy to say that she is full time, teleworking from her home office in Ohio and loving every minute of it.  

It wasn't long before I needed to expand again, and immediately thought of my childhood friend, and honorary cousin (our mothers were best of friends and she was named after me! Yay!) Natalie Blaz.  She had just finished her stint in the Marines and finishing a degree in Web Design but wanted to work from home. It was a perfect match of trust, talent and opportunity. 

I contacted a talented artist, Susan Traynor, in the UK to design our Savoir Faire Virtuals (avatars) and it was love at first site. She is so well suited to our company, that after begging and pleading she allowed me to be her exclusive one and only company to partner with for her unique and life-like Virtuals. 

But something wasn't quite right...Social Media was taking over everything and I was still struggling with finding time to grow the business and provide a better client experience after completion of the projects for future work.  Who else could I enlist that I trusted above all else, who knew my quirks and my style of running things as well as a complete Social Media/Blogging/Virtual junkie....my former partner Pixie Mellin!  So, not to sound cliche but "we are family, and I got all my sistas with me!"   and I couldn't be happier and more blessed.

Thanks to everyone who have made the past few years so successful.  As a company who operates solely on word of mouth - we thank YOU for your continued support and referrals and for continuing to come back for more.

Here is to 5 more years of success for me and my gals.

Sincerely,

Natalie A. Lambert