About
Website Design and Strategy for Businesses Ready for the Next Step
If you’ve ever looked at your website, marketing, or technology and thought, “I know this is important, but I have no idea where to start,” you’re in the right place.
At Hemlock Strategy and Design, we help small business owners create websites and marketing strategies that support their goals without adding more overwhelm to their plate.
Most of our clients are busy business owners who wear many hats. They care deeply about serving their customers, but they don’t have the time or desire to become experts in website design, SEO, email marketing, or digital strategy.
They want a trusted guide.
Someone who can listen, ask thoughtful questions, explain things clearly, and help them move forward with confidence.
That’s where we come in.
Whether we’re creating a new website, redesigning an existing one, or developing a marketing strategy, our goal is simple: to help you feel supported, informed, and confident every step of the way.
Ready to start the conversation?
Schedule a Complementary Consultation
What We Believe
There are thousands of website designers and marketing agencies to choose from.
Here’s what we believe makes the difference.
Strategy Comes Before Design
A beautiful website is only helpful if it supports your business goals.
Before choosing colors, layouts, or features, we want to understand your audience, your message, and what success looks like for your business.
Business Owners Deserve to Understand Their Marketing
We never want clients to feel dependent on me to make simple updates or understand their own website.
Part of our job is to educate and empower you so you can make informed decisions about your business.
Simple Usually Wins
Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated.
Clear messaging, thoughtful strategy, and consistent action often outperform the latest trends and shiny objects.
Relationships Matter
We believe great work happens when people feel heard.
Many of our clients tell me they appreciate having someone who listens first, asks good questions, and helps them think through challenges before jumping to solutions.
Who We Work Best With
While we work with businesses across many industries, our best-fit clients often have a few things in common:
✔ They have an established business and are ready to invest in growth.
✔ They are tired of piecing together marketing advice from dozens of different sources.
✔ They want a website that reflects the quality of their business.
✔ They value strategy, communication, and long-term thinking.
✔ They want a partner who will explain things clearly without jargon or pressure.
We Might Not Be the Best Fit If…
✖ You’re looking for the cheapest possible website.
✖ You want someone to simply build exactly what you request without asking strategic questions.
✖ You prefer a quick template solution without considering your long-term goals.
And that’s okay.
The best projects happen when we’re a great fit for each other.
Meet Erin Schlarb
Erin founded Hemlock Strategy and Design in 2021 after years of working in technology, project management, and website development.
Her path into website design wasn’t a straight line.
She earned a degree in Computer Science from the University of Mount Union and spent years working in corporate technology and project management roles. During that time, she learned how to manage complex projects, communicate with stakeholders, and create systems that solve real business problems.
Later, while raising her family, she discovered something important:
She loved helping people understand technology.
Not just building websites.
Not just implementing tools.
Helping people feel confident using them.
That realization shaped the business she runs today.
Hemlock Strategy and Design combines technical expertise with thoughtful strategy, education, and encouragement. Erin’s goal is to create websites and marketing systems that work for your business while helping you understand the decisions behind them.
Because when business owners understand their tools, they can make better decisions and feel more confident leading their businesses.
Why Hemlock?
The hemlock tree represents resilience, stability, and steady growth.
Those qualities reflect the way we approach our work and our relationships with clients.
Building a website or developing a marketing strategy can feel overwhelming. There are countless decisions to make and no shortage of opinions about what you “should” be doing.
Our role is to bring support and clarity to the process. To help you focus on what matters most. To create a plan that fits your goals, your resources, and your business.
Steady growth often outlasts quick wins – that’s the kind of work we love helping clients build.
Beyond the Office
When I’m not working with clients, you’ll usually find me:
- Spending time with my husband, three teens, and pup
- Hiking local trails throughout Northeast Ohio
- Reading with a cup of tea nearby
- Working in our family micro flower farm, Hidden Hemlock
- Crocheting or tackling a creative project
These activities keep me grounded and remind me that business is just one part of a meaningful life.
I bring that same perspective into my client work. Success isn’t about being everywhere or doing everything. It’s about building something sustainable and intentional.
Let’s Build Something Thoughtful Together
Whether you’re considering a website redesign, planning a new website, or looking for guidance on your marketing strategy, we’d love to learn more about your business.
Let’s create a plan that helps you connect with the people you serve and supports the future you’re building.
Start with a consultation, website review, or strategy session.
Connected for Your Growth
Professional Affiliations
Web Designer Pro
Professional Development and Networking for Web Designers
Copley, Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Member
Fairlawn, Ohio Area Chamber of Commerce
Member
Bright Star Award Recipient
Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce
Client Success
What Our Clients are Saying
Working with Erin at Hemlock Strategy and Design was hands down the best decision I made as I started my small business! Erin was professional, knowledgeable, and extremely insightful as she held my hand every step of the way. From assisting in the foundational development of my business to the detailed implementation and execution of my website, Erin has given me the tools to be a successful small business owner. I wholeheartedly recommend working with Erin for all your business development and web development needs - you will be SO happy you did!
When we chose Hemlock Strategy and Design, we chose the right partner. Erin provided a personal touch from our very first engagement through launch. She heard our needs and understood the “feel” we wanted to convey on our website and delivered! Throughout our engagement, Erin served as a thought partner, leveraging her marketing expertise to help us think through content, language, and design elements. Erin guided our website development with questions and data requests that focused us on the key elements of our business and desired messaging.