The second floor of Bistro 290 in Niverville will look very different the next time you visit. Black Chair Marketing has leased the space, moving their offices from just off Portage Avenue in Winnipeg.

Black Chair’s owner, Ian Krahn, says the move to Niverville is the result of a long journey.

“I actually don’t have a background in marketing. Any of the people I hired and work with me, they didn’t go to university or college to learn marketing,” says Krahn. “We’re kind of a group of business owners, people who have owned small businesses, or been a part of small businesses. We really understand and care about where the dollars go when you’re trying to market and advertise.”

This unlikely marketing team fits with Krahn’s philosophy of business, which has been in place ever since he started a masonry company at the age of 21. 

“I’m constantly trying to tackle a traditional industry and change it,” he says.

The masonry company was Krahn’s first step in living out this philosophy of being non-traditional. After several other successful ventures, including running the marketing division of FXR, Black Chair Marketing was born.

“About two and a half years ago, I started the company with a couple friends of mine,” Krahn explains. “We rapidly figured out we were onto something.”

After about a year of growing successfully, Krahn experienced a challenge which caused him to reassess his priorities.

“One of my kids ended up in the Children’s Hospital for a few months,” he says. “I took a year off work. It gave me this cool perspective and realization… that [with] all the clients and all the projects in the world, you don’t want to let life pass you by without spending time with your family.”

This experience made it easy for Krahn to choose to move the Black Chair Marketing offices to where he already lived—in Niverville. Aside from the advantages of being closer to home, the move also made sense for other reasons.

“It’s a beautiful space,” Krahn says of the second floor of 290 Main Street. “It’s perfect for us. Now that we’ve moved our offices, we’re actually selling the fact that Niverville is a pretty cool community… It has a cool culture that isn’t talked about enough. It feels like Niverville cares a bit more.”

Even since deciding on the move, Black Chair Marketing has grown further. They’ve added two extra offices that are already full.

Krahn recognizes the challenges of being unique in the marketing world, but he’s confident of what they can do for clients.

“We’re a marketing company that is more of a partner than a service provider,” he says. “Our key skillset is helping companies navigate the new digital tools that exist. We help companies communicate their value proposition in a way they themselves may not even see.”

Black Chair Marketing expects to be fully moved into their new space around the middle of May.