Who We Are
A Creative Agency for Visionaries
We are a creative agency with an entrepreneurial spirit, focused on helping small and growing businesses invest in strategic marketing. We’ll set you on the right path in order to scale your business!
Oakes Creative House is Different
What creative agency have you NOT heard say that?
Even so, we mean it!
For one, we’re upfront. We admit, this is our job. We make money doing what we do. BUT, we are dedicated to leading you in the right direction because we are also proactive! We know that operating without a marketing plan means you’ll likely spend more money on marketing in the long run. We’d benefit from letting you book one-off services, but we advise against it! Starting with a marketing plan will give you confidence and more return on investment over time.
If you’re in search of a woman-owned creative agency that can take the reins of your marketing, leading you toward business growth, you’re in the right place.
Crystal Oakes
Owner, Creative Director,
Graphic Designer, Strategic Coach
BA in Visual Communications
The Boss Lady
Hey there!
I’m Crystal Oakes, founder of Oakes Creative House—a woman-owned creative agency dedicated to empowering solopreneurs, small business owners, and growing businesses. As a graphic designer, web designer, and your potential fractional chief marketing officer, I’ve made it my mission to guide business owners through the complexities of marketing with education, strategy, and heart.
Growing up in a family of serial entrepreneurs, I swore I’d never work for myself. But after years in corporate marketing, managing teams, developing strategies, and witnessing the inefficiencies and burnout of hustle culture, I had a realization: I was meant to do this differently.
Entrepreneurial blood runs deep, and I saw a clear need for a creative agency that truly understands small business challenges. That’s how Oakes Creative House came to life—with the entrepreneur in mind.
With 15+ years of experience, work in 22 countries, and a passion for marketing education, I lead our team in helping business owners like you achieve your vision. Through our roadmap sessions, tailored marketing plans, and ongoing services, I guide you through the five phases of marketing. And let me tell you—I LOVE IT.
I understand what keeps you up at night: the overwhelm of running a business, the feeling of not being part of the “Club” that seems to know all the answers, especially about marketing. That’s where we step in to make your life simpler. I assemble your dream team, a mix of talented freelancers across disciplines and our in-house team, to provide professional, effective marketing that works—and a brand you can truly be proud of.
When I’m not championing your marketing efforts, I also enjoy speaking to groups about a variety of topics, sharing insights and strategies to inspire and empower others.
At Oakes Creative House, we’re not just about marketing; we’re about building relationships and creating success together. Let’s make your goals a reality—because when you win, we win!
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN
Meet the Team
If you want to work with a laid back, passionate team of experts, you’ve come to the right place! We’re a multi-talented group of marketers who love collaborative work and working with entrepreneurs. With unique interests of our own, we love connecting with our clients and getting to know you as we work together to grow your business!
Evonne Barrier
Virtual Assistant, Project Management
Evonne brings the efficiency piece to Oakes Creative House. Like most entrepreneurs, she started out working for others, honing her organizational skills in restaurant management, customer service and finance.
In her search for greater flexibility in life, she realized that every business needs what she can offer. Her talent is to make sure everything runs smoothly, details are communicated, schedules are met and that your project is delivered in a timely, efficient and cost-effective way -just the way you want it!
Tofunmi Fasesin
Designer & Illustrator
Mandolin Skipworth
Creative Marketing Strategist
Mandolin Skipworth is our Creative Marketing Strategist dedicated to empowering small and growing businesses. With a strong emphasis on empathy in communication, Mandolin excels in crafting compelling strategy and copy for blogs, newsletters, websites, and social media. Her expertise extends to strategizing and implementing effective SEO practices that enhance online visibility and engagement.
Steven Oakes
The Money Guy
Steven’s special sauce is anything to do with “left brain functions” such as numbers and finance (thank goodness, because Crystal’s creative brain does not work that way!), oftentimes you can find him acting as a photography assistant or an electrician. He wears many hats, sometimes multiple at once (though the most important is The Money Guy) and is essential to ensuring the wheels stay (mostly) on the bus!
Strategic Partnerships
Freelance Partners
Linda Wesley
Word Nerd
Linda is one of our word nerds who writes and edits all the things. She’s passionate about capturing the voice of each client and crafting clear and concise content for websites, print materials, and more.
She has previously worked in corporate marketing, K-12 school communications, and public health communications. The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in her family, and she always knew she would eventually go out on her own. Since starting her own business in 2014, she’s worked with many small businesses and nonprofits to help them better tell their story.
Robert Lane
Full Stack Developer
Robert brings almost two decades of experience in planning, developing, and implementing state of the art web based solutions for businesses.
His well-rounded IT background of infrastructure management (networks, systems, web hosting, database design), web development, project management and marketing gives him the skills and experience needed to create custom solutions for business owners in a variety of industries.
Sara Graybill
Technical Website Expert
Sara is our tech whisperer who delves into the complex world of coding and web development. With a keen eye for the latest tech trends and a knack for solving intricate problems, she specializes in creating dynamic and robust websites that not only look great but perform seamlessly.
Her background has equipped her with the skills to tackle any digital challenge. Sara’s passion lies in breaking down technical barriers for entrepreneurs, helping them transform their visions into user-friendly digital realities.
Ashley St. Clair
Photographer/Videographer
Ashley is a passionate photographer and videographer who brings a creative, intuitive, and empowering approach to every session. Whether she’s capturing bold boudoir moments, intentional branding imagery, or meaningful family memories, she blends technical expertise with soulful connection to help her clients feel truly seen.
Ashley is an expert in posing and finding your best angles — not just physically, but emotionally. Her direction is gentle but confident, helping even the most camera-shy clients shine. Every image she captures is infused with intention, authenticity, and artistry.
Looking for Something More?
Here at Oakes Creative House, we believe that every creative mind has something unique to bring to the table. That’s why we work with freelancers and contractors who excel in their various fields from graphic designers, web developers, content creators, photographers and more! We believe in pairing the right creative with the right project and that collaboration is key to achieving the BEST client facing work. If you are looking to fill your time with more project-based work, send us a message with your resume, portfolio and other applicable information to be considered for part of our ever-expanding team of freelancers!
Our Marketing Framework
We believe in marketing education and helping you spend your money strategically.
We know that as a small business owner or solopreneur, you have the choice of any marketing agency that you want. Our “shtick” is that while we’re a business, we’re passionate about providing you the services you need, not just selling you work to get your business.
That being said, we have implemented a marketing framework to help you better understand our proven process and where you are in your journey.
Gathering
Foundations
Serving
Expanding
Volume
Your First Step
Discovery Calls vs. Roadmap Sessions
What’s the best first step for working with Oakes Creative House?
Let’s break it down…
Discovery Call
If you want to get to know our team a little bit better and are testing the waters with different marketing agencies, a discovery call is the way to go! It’s a free, 30 minute, no commitment call that allows you to speak with one of our team members. There are no deliverables with this call, but you get the chance to feel out our team, and we can provide gentle direction in what step you should take next.
This is also a great option if you have a specific marketing service you’d like to work on with us, especially if it is a one-off service. We’d love to help you out!
Roadmap Session
If you are looking for an all-in, immersive experience that provides you with a list of which marketing projects you should invest your time, money or energy in, it’s best to book a roadmap session! This is a paid, 1-hour call with Crystal to dive into our 5-phase marketing approach.
You’ll learn which phase you’re in now, where you should invest, and be given insight into how much it would cost to work through the 5 phases with our team. This call is more immersive than a discovery call, and allows you to take what you learned with you to DIY or work on with another marketing agency, or stick with us for a top-notch experience!
A Woman-Owned Creative Agency for Any Industry
We’re proud to be a woman-owned and operated creative agency, full of talented women creatives, strategists, and professionals. We work with business owners across industries and are proud of our portfolio of work. Here are some of our favorite industries to work in, and client work we’re most proud of.
- Holistic Health & Wellness
- Leadership Coaching
- Consulting
- Arts
Our Work in Action
Okay – we’ve worked with some pretty AMAZING clients. One of the coolest parts of our job is getting to learn the ins and outs of industries we never thought we’d get to know. From HVAC to holistic health, we’ve become experts in a number of fields.
Well… maybe not experts… we still recommend you find a HVAC pro to fix your heater, but it’s been a JOY to dive into these businesses with these incredible business owners.
Check out all of the cool businesses we’ve had the honor to help bring to life!
Greta & Co. Travel Design
We helped Greta elevate her brand and website to reflect her personality, attract dream clients, and stand out with style.
Frontline Comfort
We crafted a warm, professional brand and site that honors caregivers and sets Frontline Comfort apart.
Eat Drink Host
We gave Eat Drink Host a bold, joyful brand and site that celebrates their mission and brings clarity to their growth.
Ready to take the next step?
Start with a Roadmap
If you’re serious about using marketing as a tool to grow your business, the BEST thing you can do is work off of a plan. If you’re ready to work with a professional, book a marketing roadmap call with Crystal to learn where you should start in your business!
- Limited Weekly Spots Available
- Discounted Services Offered if You Book a Roadmap Sessions
- Roadmap Session Credited When You Book a Marketing Plan
