When Gwen Vryhof Bultema and Jillian Lambert bought Professional Marketing two years ago, the duo had a vision to eventually add a creative department and bring graphic design and photography in-house. After rebranding and launching the Grand Rapids-based company as Bultema Lambert Communications last year, the time is right to add the creative dimension and expand the company's scope of services.
Both Bultema, 27, and Lambert, 30, had worked for Professional Marketing nearly 10 years before they had the opportunity to purchase it. After years of outsourcing the graphic design and photography, the women brought longtime creative freelancer Marc Scaturro onboard as Creative Director, growing the workforce from two full-time employees to three.
"Creative has always been part of the business, but not a large part of the business, partly due to having freelance creatives because it was hard to accommodate our clients," Bultema says. "We didn't feel comfortable taking on any major projects, but with Marc's addition, that's absolutely an opportunity now.
"Marc is both a photographer and a graphic designer, so he can get headshots, shots of buildings, or can spend a day at a company and take shots for newsletters, websites, or any need the company has," Bultema adds. "He can also create a logo and a brand identity associated with the logo, and can do catalogs, e-marketing materials, and more."
Since the company's inception in 1982, the firm has been heavily invested in representing the home décor industry, working the major home and gift décor trade shows, connecting vendors with new products, and connecting those vendors with retailers and consumers.
Bultema Lambert also handles public relations and communications for service businesses, manufacturers, nonprofits, and cause-driven associations.
Source: Gwen Vryhof Bultema, Bultema Lambert Communications
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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