As recent graduates of OCAD University with complimentary degrees in Graphic Design and Advertising, Rachel and Theo joined forces in 2022 with a shared goal: to establish a business and provide design services to their local community.
By refining their design skills and each contributing their unique industry knowledge, they resolved to merge their talents and launch their own design studio. When determining where to establish themselves, Theo and Rachel looked back home to find the perfect location for their new business. They quickly recognized the potential that Guelph presented and eagerly anticipated offering their design skills to benefit businesses within their hometown.
"Park Creative specializes in crafting effective visual narratives and graphics that are tailor fit to their clients, not only elevating their brand but telling their story. By seamlessly integrating creative strategy with expertly crafted design pieces, Park Creative endeavours to propel businesses to success by providing the necessary support for brands to flourish. Elevate your business to new heights through refined branding, web design, and both print and digital projects."
Growing up in Guelph, both Theo and Rachel have not only actively supported but also worked for numerous local businesses in the downtown area. So, transitioning into helping the very businesses that they grew up utilizing and enjoying makes their job that much more gratifying. They have always had a passion and a flare for design and expressing a brand’s values visually. However, this was the first time that either of them had run a business. They knew that they needed help navigating the challenges of running a new company. While scrolling through social media, their answer appeared; the Business Centre of Guelph Wellington. They signed up for the Business Centre’s newsletter and eventually registered for the Stepping Into Business Workshop.
From there, they were recommended to join the Starter Company+ Program, which benefited them immensely. Firstly, the program helped them to understand that because they are so focused on building other brands, they weren’t taking the time to build and grow their own. Their Business Advisor, Olga pushed them outside of their comfort zone by suggesting that they attend networking events and engage with their community, which allowed them to connect with other businesses in need of support. Finally, Starter Company+ gave Theo and Rachel a support network of fellow business owners at different stages of business development that they could lean on for advice and support.
The grant money that Park Creative received through the program was used to purchase new equipment to help increase the efficiency of their work. They also devoted some of the funds to increasing their marketing efforts to build brand awareness around Guelph and beyond.
With the amazing strides that they have made in their business, Rachel and Theo look to give back to the community and the people who have helped them along their entrepreneurial journey. This led them to participating in the Business Centre's Lunch and Learn webinar where they helped aspiring small business owners elevate their marketing presence.
The growth of Rachel and Theo as entrepreneurs throughout their time running Park Creative is clear. When asked what they would tell themselves when they first started the business, they exclaimed, “value everything that you do for your business; keep educating yourself and pursue opportunities that allow you to excel at what you love doing."
"The Business Centre has had such a positive impact on our business and has given us the support and guidance that we needed as new business owners to excel in our field. The confidence gained from our participation in both the Stepping into Business and Starter Company+ programs have allowed us to work smarter, think bigger, and be bold." — Theo Peirson and Rachel Woodcock