SHELBY – Downtown Shelby welcomed a new business full of familiar faces on Thursday morning.
Digital marketing and branding firm Pivot Creative officially opened its doors at 49 E. Main Street in downtown Shelby. Pivot provides design, branding and web services to hundreds of small to large companies in a variety of industries.
“We have a 21st century, state-of-the-art business that is located along one of the most treasured historic districts,” said Shelby Mayor Steve Schag. “You’re standing in a very wonderful place today.”
Pivot Creative is the newly branded look of Lantz Star Graphics and H&L Consulting. Formerly two partner companies for over 15 years, owners Natalie Lantz and Ed Houston finally decided to combine their companies.
“From day one we said we needed to join forces, and we finally decided we can do better under one umbrella,” Lantz said. “You have to be creative, and you have to pivot as times change in order to stay ahead.”
Lantz and her team were steadily outgrowing their offices near the airport off of OH-39. They knew they wanted to stay in Shelby, and jumped at the opportunity for a downtown location.
“I appreciate Natalie’s commitment to invest in Shelby; I know it took some effort, but she persevered, and because of her desire to stay in Shelby she is here today at 49 E. Main Street,” Schag said.
Jodie Perry, president of the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce, also praised Pivot Creative’s new location. She noted Lantz is a member of the Chamber’s board of directors, and her team designed the Chamber’s new logo.
“I know it was a lot of work, and you’ve got more yet ahead, but thank you for reinvesting in Richland County and for continuing to build your business, and go beyond business to be involved in your community,” Perry said.
More than prime real estate downtown, though, was the desire for Pivot Creative to invest in their collective hometown of Shelby.
“Natalie of course is a Shelby girl, and we love to tell that story when one of Shelby’s girls or guys stays here,” Schag said. “They get their education and go off and enhance their education, then come back to Shelby.”
“It’s part of why we’re here in a small town; we’re here to be with our friends and with our family, and we have the support system that I know we wouldn’t have if we were somewhere else,” added Lantz.
