Founder Spotlight: How Sage James Creative Is Helping Rochester Businesses Clarify Their Brand Online
- Connected Know
- Dec 15, 2025
- 3 min read
Rochester, N.Y. — As more small businesses compete for attention in an increasingly crowded digital landscape, Hannah Lavigne has built a business around helping brands stand out with clarity and intention. As the owner and head designer of Sage James Creative, Lavigne works with entrepreneurs and small businesses to translate their ideas into cohesive websites, branding, and digital identities.
Founded in 2019, Sage James Creative is a website design and branding studio serving clients across Rochester and beyond. Operating as a solo founder, Lavigne focuses on brand strategy, messaging, and visual design helping clients align how they look online with who they are as businesses.
Lavigne grew up in Greece, New York, but her career path took her well outside the region before bringing her back. She studied at the University of Maryland, and gained early experience working across creative and marketing roles. Her background includes freelance work with Horacio Printing and Jennifer Dawn Coaching, a role at Zoic Studios in Los Angeles, and time as a social media coordinator for The Postpartum Resource Center of New York.
Those experiences helped shape a broad skill set spanning website platforms, branding, brand strategy, graphic design, and social media marketing, much of it developed independently. “I’m completely self-taught,” Lavigne said, a fact that often surprises clients given the depth of her work.
The idea for Sage James Creative emerged organically. “Friends and family kept coming to me for help with social media,” she said. “I realized I could make a living doing it and also share my creative gift with others.” What began as informal support evolved into a full-time studio focused on helping entrepreneurs communicate more clearly and confidently online.
One of Lavigne’s proudest milestones came not through client work, but through community engagement. She was invited to speak at a women’s retreat, an experience she credits with reinforcing her belief in the power of creative confidence and shared knowledge.
Like many solo founders, Lavigne has faced challenges, among them, standing out on social media. “Visibility is hard,” she said. “The platforms change constantly, and it can be difficult to balance client work with promoting your own business.” Still, she continues to build through relationships, referrals, and consistent work.
The advice that has stayed with her most closely reflects how she approaches both her business and her clients. “You have a unique gift to offer to the world,” she said. “It does your clients a disservice if you don’t use it. There are talents only you can bring to the table in the way you do them.”
That philosophy extends to her decision to build Sage James Creative in the Rochester area. “The community here, especially women-owned businesses, has been incredibly supportive,” Lavigne said. “The friendships I’ve built through my work continue long after projects end.”
Outside of client work, Lavigne enjoys exploring Rochester’s creative energy, attending the Lilac Festival each year, trying new coffee spots, and supporting local businesses like The NXT Level Collective. Her go-to dinner spot is Bella Pasta, and she’s often meeting fellow founders wherever there’s good coffee and conversation.
As Rochester’s small business ecosystem continues to grow, Sage James Creative reflects a broader trend among local founders: building sustainable, values-driven businesses rooted in creativity, community, and connection.
Fast Facts
Category | Detail |
Founder | Hannah Lavigne |
Company | |
Founded | 2019 |
HQ | Spencerport, NY |
Industry | Marketing & Design |
Employees | 0 |
Website | |
Education | University of Maryland |
Hometown | Greece, NY |
Favorite Local Restaurant | |
Favorite Local Business | |
Favorite Rochester Activity | |
Coffee Spot | Always trying new places |
@sagejamescreative |
About the Founder Spotlight
The Connected Know Founder Spotlight is a weekly feature highlighting the entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders shaping Rochester’s startup and small business ecosystem. Each profile offers insight into the people behind local companies driving creativity, growth, and community impact across the region.
To submit a founder profile or nominate a business, visit https://www.connectedknow.com/profilerequest .
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