Grindstone Advertising

We don't focus on working with big brands.
We focus on making brands big.

Who we are

About us

We're more than just an agency

We’re the artisans of the digital world. Nestled where the whales come to play, in the Garden Route, South Africa, our boutique agency specialises in a spectrum of services, from web design and development to SEO, branding, and design.

We're on a mission to energise your business

We deliver cutting-edge marketing solutions and equip our clients with scalable tools and strategies necessary to flourish in a constantly evolving digital landscape.

So what makes us different? Our culture

Our small but mighty team brings a treasure trove of creative talents to the table, carefully crafting inspirational work, and pushing boundaries to empower businesses to excel. We know a sustainable approach to business is essential for long-term success, and we weave our commitment to sustainability into every aspect of our work, from eco-friendly office practices to supporting local and client conservation initiatives. 

Business of the year 2023

The Values that drive us

Brave

Together we are warriors
We challenge ourselves and each other
We think bigger than we are
We’re brave enough to shine

Compassion

We are genuine
People are everything
Integrity is crucial
Empathy is at our core

Adept

We are flexible
Our energy is focused
Our process is clear and methodical 
We plan to exceed

Innovative

We love solving puzzles
Highly skilled 
We think bigger than we are
We’re brave enough to shine

Our team

We don’t just give you one great person for your project, we give you a whole team of amazing and unique talents. Our team bring a wealth of creative personalities together to work on each project, and we challenge each other to think outside the box.

Lynette Whittaker

CEO | FOUNDER

Chief whip, creative counsellor, controller of chaos, think tank, avid oenophile, and travel sommelier, Lynette has been in the creative industry for almost 25 years. With her passion for marketing, brilliant design and constant commitment to the growth of her clients’ businesses, she proudly heads our team of strong creatives and professionals, ensuring only the best marketing and design solutions are delivered to clients.

Jan van Deventer

DIRECTOR

Jan’s career is a testament to his marketing prowess, particularly within the hospitality industry. His ascent from juggling plates as a waiter to juggling multiple projects for clients reflects his deep understanding of the customer journey, while his entrepreneurial ventures showcase his ability to elevate diverse businesses. Jan leverages this rich background to drive innovative strategies and deliver exceptional client service.

Bernadene Claassens

ACCOUNT & PROJECT MANAGER

Bernadene grew up talking endlessly. To keep her busy (or possibly to keep her family sane), she was enrolled at a modelling school at five years old and obtained her modelling Teacher’s Certificate at a young age. Bernadene’s love for people has led her to a career as a restaurant operations manager, and afterwards, developing an unexpected passion working for a funeral agency, before joining our more lively office, here at Grindstone.

Klea Ferreira

HEAD OF DIGITAL

Always friendly with exceptional client service, Klea is an experienced designer and digital guru. After completing her studies and winning a D&AD and Loerie award in succession while working on a number of international brands, she relocated to sunny Mossel Bay. After more than 15 years in the industry she still loves every step of the creative process – from concept to final design. She’s also an avid photographer, illustrator and artist.

Esther Jacobs

HEAD OF CONTENT

Esther is a content producer by profession and a conservationist by avocation. She has gained an eclectic mix of skills throughout her couple of decades of working in copywriting and social media management. Esther’s passion lies in conservation and she controls the office naughty jar for anyone who dares bring single-use plastic to work. She also boasts being nominated as Scotland’s Ambassador of Rock through Hard Rock Cafe, once-upon-a-time.

Manuel Koloma

PROJECT MANAGER

Manuel, with a zest matching Mozambique’s sun, champions integrity and social responsibility. A master juggler, he effortlessly balances his passion for cutting-edge tech, like Blockchain/Web3 and AI, with a dedication to problem-solving, all while maintaining his love for adventure and exploration. Watch out world – Manuel’s on a mission to revolutionise industries and conquer new horizons, one innovative idea at a time!

Nicolaas Steenekamp

DEVELOPER & UX DESIGNER

Nicolaas is a graphic designer, developer, photographer, musician and writer. After he received a BA degree in Creative Brand Communications in 2014, he worked as a graphic designer, translator and Afrikaans copywriter at various corporate groups. In his free-time he enjoys summiting all the peaks of the Outeniqua Mountain range or attempting to break his PB on a half-marathon.

Saskia Rezelman

DESIGNER & ILLUSTRATOR

Our talented graphic designer and illustrator is known for her unwavering enthusiasm and incredible creative talent. Saskia effortlessly conjures up captivating ideas that leave a lasting impression. Her genuine kindness and deep love for nature shine through in everything she does, finding inspiration in the great outdoors. Saskia’s meticulous attention to detail merged with a touch of fantasy, makes her a valuable asset to the team.

Andre Carstens

COPYWRITER

André loves to live healthily, exercising for a few minutes, and then gobbling up a whole cheesecake… because life is about balance. If you ask him what he loves the most in life, he’ll quickly respond with ”Rufus” (his dog). He seamlessly slotted into our dynamic team. By using his innovative writing ability, he has proven himself a valuable asset, not only to our team but to our clients.

Connor Evans

DEVELOPER & UX DESIGNER

Meet Connor, a dedicated self-taught web designer and developer fueled by a genuine passion for all things web-related. Over the years, he’s transformed from an enthusiastic novice into a skilled practitioner, continuously refining his craft and showcasing the potential of self-motivation and dedication in the digital realm. Connor enjoys adding extra sentences to bios so they are the same size as the rest.

Kristin Routledge

ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

Meet the office’s newest star. Kristin is the youngest in our team, but don’t let that fool you; she’s got her sights set on the boss’s chair. Between client calls and conquering admin, she’s giving our other style queen, Saskia, a run for her money with her fashion sense. Kristin’s not just part of the team; she’s redefining it, and when she’s not head down at the front desk, she’s dreaming of SCUBA or her next adventure.

What our clients say

In this very rushed world we live in today, people don't often take the time to listen. Bernadene has been amazingly friendly from the word go and nothing has been too much trouble. It can be very difficult relaying ideas via long distance, yet she got me every time and made me feel at ease, so much so I felt comfortable leaving decisions to her at times. I will most definitely recommend Bernadene to anyone needing website development. Many thanks
I'd like to express our gratitude for the time and effort you and your team have devoted to our requested projects. The quality of your team's work consistently impresses us, and we're consistently delighted with the final results.
Our company, Organic Aloe, wanted to go through a process of re-branding and improving our ‘look & feel’ and Grindstone Advertising was definitely the right choice as service provider. What we wanted was a local company in close proximity and one who would be able to meet our expectations - they have succeeded in that. We will surely continue to make use of their services in our journey ahead.
Really LOVE the new LM LOGO and CI … The Facebook Banner. Stunning. Fresh, Smart and excellent in my humble opinion. Most impressed.
I engaged Grindstone Advertising in August 2019 to assist with the re-branding of LM Radio in South Africa. The re-branding exercise together with the creative imaging was completed ahead of schedule. I was extremely pleased with the standard of creativity and the resulting product. Ongoing support meets and exceeds expectation. I am more than happy to recommend Grindstone Advertising to any company that requires these creative services.
Grindstone Advertising has been delivering an outstanding service to Cranefield for the past 3 years. In fact, we don’t view them as our marketing agency, they have become more like an extension of our marketing team. Not only do they have a knowledgeable and experienced team, they are always enthusiastic, prompt and receptive to their clients. I would gladly refer any business that’s looking for a trusted, experienced marketing team to Grindstone Advertising.
Not only does Grindstone change and adapt with us but is also part of shaping our vision. Thank you for all your hard work, genuine interest in what we are trying to achieve and the whole team's positive energy.
We had a very very successful meeting last night, largely as a result of the good work that you have produced.

Earth Legacy Foundation

Conservation Projects

“To empower society to live sustainably and in harmony with nature to conserve the future of biodiversity.”

Earth Legacy Foundation is our conservation NPO, dedicated to preserving wildlife and the environment for future generations. We partner with a variety of organisations to collaborate on community and conservation efforts across Southern Africa. These include educational workshops, plastic pollution events, biodiversity studies, and women’s empowerment.We are working on expanding our initiatives to address the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, such as biodiversity loss, pollution, and overexploitation. Our team aim to strengthen our collaborations and networks with other organisations and stakeholders who are as committed as we are to creating a more sustainable and conscientious world.Our efforts are supported by profits generated from tourism partners, emphasising the role of ecotourism in the sustainability of their projects. The team behind the foundation comprises entrepreneurs, planners, creatives, and extroverts united by a commitment to sustainability and the understanding that natural resources must be preserved for future generations.