We Make Nice Websites

Over the last two years of being in business, an inevitable question often arises, “How did you meet your business partner?” Our reaction is usually the same every time… “uhh…we… just met through a mutual friend. This guy named Craig.”  Two years (as of this past Sunday) have gone by since the initial connection was made. We thought it was time to share the true story of how We Make Nice Websites came to be. 

Our mutual friend Craig’s lastname is Slist. In fact, you probably know him too…Craig Slist.  

Ok, so Craig is a website rather than a real person, but we tend to think of it of somewhat appropriate given the industry we got into. At the time, Josh was looking to start a business and needed a designer to help him. (Enter: Greg) I had just came home to Rochester after a short work contract in Toronto, Ontario and was looking to find a job. Instead of finding one, I decided make one. 

I was recently looking back at some old emails a few months ago and found the very first email I ever sent to my future business partner and now co-founder of WMNW. 

On September 18, 2009, I sent Josh this email:

Re: Graphic Designer for Websites needed (Rochester NY)

Hi Josh. I am a recent grad from the RIT School of Design. I think I suit the type of graphic designer you’re looking for. Give my portfolio a look at the website below and let me know if you’re interested in pairing up. I am fairly experienced and network myself both in the Rochester and Toronto design community very well. I’d love the opportunity to help start up a business and definitely feel I am capable of helping. 

Look forward to chatting. If you have any questions feel free to phone my cell or reply.

Oddly enough I can remember exactly where I was at the moment when I wrote that and the feeling I had when I pressed ‘send’. It’s funny how things work out… 1000 cups of coffee, 731 days and over 50 clients later, we’re still working together. 

When we met face to face for the first time, we met at the Pittsford Village Starbucks. Once we agreed to officially work together, we continued to meet there, develop a brand strategy, a business plan, and then closed our eyes and crossed our fingers, hoping only for the best. 

Then, on December 23, 2009 I got a phone call from our very first client, whom I had been busy buying coffee from and charming for the past week or two. (And it wasn’t Starbucks unfortunately, but rather a small coffee shop in Mendon, NY.) On January 1, 2010 we officially opened the doors to business.  

The rest of course, is history.

For additional company info you can see an interactive timeline on our “about” page here.

Do you have a cool story about how you started your company? Send them to info@wemakenicewebsites.com or tweet them to us @wmnw #startupstory