Willowmark & co.
The Story Behind the Name
Willowmark is a name rooted in family, places , and the stories we carry with us. Every spring, while working in the forests around Grande Prairie, Alberta, my father would bring me home a bouquet of pussy willows. It was a simple tradition, but one that stayed with me. My father worked in the forestry & logging industry for Weyerhaeuser, and today, my husband, who also works in that industry — continues the tradition my father began before he passed away.
The willow has another place in my family story, too. My grandmother had a large willow tree in her front yard, beneath which I spent countless hours playing as a child. She recently passed away at 101, just one month shy of her 102nd birthday, making those memories — and that tree — even more meaningful to me.
My family has also always had an appreciation for where we come from. We share an interest in genealogy and discovering our ancestral roots — tracing the people, places, and stories that shaped the generations before us.
That idea of roots became the foundation for Willowmark.
Willow represents the people, places, traditions, and memories that have shaped me. Mark represents what we leave behind — the businesses we build, the identities we create, and the impression we make along the way.
And there is another meaning hidden within the name: watermark. In the world of digital design, a watermark is a visual mark used to identify, distinguish, and claim a piece of work. It gives something an identity — a signature that says this belongs here. That connection felt especially fitting for a business built around branding, digital design, content, and helping other businesses establish a recognizable presence.
Willowmark, at its heart, is about identity. Where you come from. What you build. How you present it to the world. And the mark you leave behind. It is a name that carries a piece of my own story while reflecting what I hope to help other business owners create: something distinctive, intentional, and unmistakably their own.
Rooted in where we come from. Designed to leave a mark.
Hi, I'm Alana
The Founder & Creative Mind Behind Willowmark & Co.
My background is a little different from the typical creative professional. My career has been built across administration, management, customer service, marketing, social media, and creative design, giving me a well-rounded understanding of what it actually takes to run a business — both in front of the customer and behind the scenes.
Over the years, I’ve managed day-to-day operations, coordinated teams, handled invoicing and inventory, built client relationships, managed websites and social media, created marketing content, and supported the many moving pieces that keep a business running smoothly. My education in Office Administration and Visual Arts, along with additional training in social media marketing and bookkeeping, allows me to bring both creative thinking and practical business knowledge to my work.
I started Willowmark because I know how much goes into building a business beyond the service or product itself. Your brand, online presence, content, administration, and day-to-day organization all contribute to how your business is experienced — and managing all of it alone can be a lot.
I work with entrepreneurs and small business owners who want their business to look polished, feel cohesive, and operate more smoothly, but don't necessarily have the time or resources to manage every piece themselves.
Whether I'm developing a visual identity, creating content, managing social media, refining a website, or taking care of the details behind the scenes, I approach every project with the same values: attention to detail, creativity, organization, reliability, and genuine care for the business I'm supporting.
I believe the best work comes from understanding not just what a business does, but why it matters to the person who built it.
