Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucas Shaffer.
Lucas, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My path into entrepreneurship was not a straight line.
I started Stand And Stretch after spending years working in design, marketing, and web development roles where I repeatedly saw a disconnect between what businesses were promised and what they actually received. Marketing was often treated as a collection of tactics instead of a system tied to real business outcomes. I wanted to build a studio that prioritized clarity, transparency, and results over buzzwords.
In the beginning, Stand And Stretch was just me handling everything, from strategy and design to development, advertising, and client communication. That phase was critical because it forced me to understand how every part of digital marketing fits together. It also shaped our core philosophy: sustainable growth comes from thoughtful strategy, strong execution, and long-term thinking, not shortcuts.
As results improved and word spread, the business grew organically through referrals. We expanded our team, refined our processes, and built out services across SEO, Google Ads, retargeting, and custom WordPress and Shopify development. Growth was never about chasing trends, it was about doing the work well and earning trust.
Today, Stand And Stretch works with businesses across the country, including clients in Savannah and the surrounding region. While we have grown, we remain hands-on and deeply involved in strategy. Every engagement is treated as a partnership, not a transaction.
Where we are most excited right now is how we are integrating AI into our workflows and client strategies. We are using AI to enhance research, accelerate testing, uncover patterns in performance data, and support smarter decision-making, without removing the human judgment that makes marketing effective. The goal is not automation for its own sake, but using AI to help businesses move faster, operate more efficiently, and compete at a higher level.
The journey has required patience, adaptability, and constant learning, but building a company rooted in integrity, results, and innovation has made every step worth it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, and a lot of our challenges came from making intentional choices that ran counter to the traditional agency model.
One of the most significant shifts we made was transitioning to a gig-based talent model starting in 2017. Rather than building a large internal team, we chose to work with highly skilled specialists on a flexible basis. That approach gave us agility and access to top-tier talent, but it also required stronger systems, clearer communication, and a higher level of accountability. There was no room for inefficiency or ambiguity, and that forced us to mature quickly as a business.
We are also a minimalist company by design. We do not rely on long-term corporate contracts or locked-in retainers. Our growth has always depended on outcomes. The work has to perform, the strategy has to make sense, and the relationship has to deliver real value. Clients stay because results justify the partnership, not because of paperwork. While that model aligns with our values, it also means there is constant pressure to execute at a high level.
Operating this way during a tough economy has not been easy. Market downturns, platform changes, privacy shifts, and now rapid advances in AI have all added layers of complexity. Every year requires adaptation, and there is very little margin for complacency.
That said, the fact that we are still here after 17 years is something I am genuinely proud of. Longevity in this industry is rare, especially without leaning on rigid contracts or bloated structures. It is a strong signal that our approach works. Staying lean, focusing on outcomes, and treating clients as long-term partners has allowed us to weather difficult periods and continue evolving.
Those challenges shaped who we are. They forced discipline, sharpened our thinking, and reinforced our belief that simplicity, accountability, and results-driven work are what truly sustain a business over time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Stand And Stretch, LLC?
Stand And Stretch, LLC is a best-in-class boutique digital agency specializing in custom web design and driving qualified traffic to the websites we build. We focus primarily on eCommerce brands and businesses where performance, clarity, and accountability matter.
We are known for our high level of internal and client-facing communication. Our processes are intentionally transparent. Clients receive regular, structured updates that clearly outline what tasks were completed, who completed them, which phase or project they were tied to, and when they were finished. While this level of communication can feel dramatic at first, it quickly becomes one of the most valued aspects of working with us because it removes ambiguity and builds trust.
We also track time rigorously. This serves two purposes: internally, it allows us to monitor efficiency and overhead, and externally, it provides clients with transparency in an industry that often hides behind bloated creative processes and vague deliverables. There is little room for excess or “snake oil” in how we operate. Everything is measured, intentional, and tied back to outcomes.
From a technical standpoint, we use the latest tools available for creative production, analytics, and campaign configuration. We keep KPIs close and performance visible, especially for eCommerce clients where margins, conversion rates, and lifetime value matter. Whether it is SEO, Google Ads, retargeting, email marketing to segmented and financially researched audiences, or social media distribution, every channel is connected back to the website and its ability to convert.
Simply put, if it connects to the website, we can do it. Our work is designed to function as a complete ecosystem, where design, traffic, data, and communication all work together to drive growth.
After 17 years in business, especially through a challenging economic landscape, our longevity reflects a disciplined, minimalist approach and a commitment to doing the work the right way. We stay lean by design, partner closely with our clients, and let results speak for themselves.
What makes you happy?
My kids and being a father are at the top of that list. They keep me grounded and constantly remind me what actually matters. Being present for them and setting an example through the work I do is incredibly important to me.
I also get a lot of happiness from mountain biking. It is my reset. It forces focus, clears my head, and keeps me balanced in a world that moves fast and demands constant attention.
Professionally, nothing beats long-term client relationships. Seeing clients who have been with us for years continue to grow and succeed is deeply rewarding. I genuinely enjoy building real relationships, and that mindset is reflected in how far we are willing to go for the people we work with.
Honesty plays a big role in that. If we are not the best fit for something, we say so and usually already know someone we trust to recommend. Doing right by people, even when it means stepping aside, builds trust and long-term goodwill. That combination of family, balance, and meaningful relationships is what truly makes me happy.
Pricing:
- Custom Web Design (WordPress / Shopify) Projects typically start in the mid four figures and scale based on functionality, integrations, and eCommerce complexity starting at $2,500
- SEO & Traffic Growth Ongoing engagements generally range from low to mid four figures per month, depending on competition, scope, and KPIs.
- Paid Media & Retargeting Management Management is customized based on ad spend, channels, and reporting needs, typically starting in the four-figure range.
- eCommerce Marketing & CRO Integrated retainers covering traffic, email, analytics, and optimization are scoped based on scale and performance goals.
- Transparency & Flexibility No long-term contracts. Pricing is clearly scoped, time-tracked, and tied to outcomes, with full visibility into deliverables.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.standandstretch.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standandstretch
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standandstretch
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stand-and-stretch/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StandAndStretch
