With Warrick & Boyn’s support, first-time business owners Neil King and James Korn are writing Eyedart Creative Studio’s next chapter
When Neil King and James Korn purchased Eyedart Creative Studio, they stepped into an entirely new chapter, one neither of them had experienced before. The duo, longtime employees at Eyedart, purchased the downtown Goshen, Indiana, marketing agency in 2024 from former owners Ben Stutzman and Gina Leichty.
Stuzman, the company founder and a graduate of Goshen College, continues to ply his artistic and graphic design talents at Eyedart as the company’s Web Developer, and his wife, former co-owner Gina Leichty, currently serves as the first female—and 33rd overall—mayor of the City of Goshen, Indiana.
In purchasing the company—and adding ‘co-owner’ to their respective Marketing Director and Art Director titles—Neil and James quickly realized that buying the business was only a first foray into new and unfamiliar turf.
Securing ownership and navigating the transitions and the myriad legal, financial, and operational complexities involved required knowledge and guidance they didn’t yet have.
“It was an exciting time when James and I decided to purchase Eyedart, and we had no doubts about our abilities—and the ability of our team members—to maintain Eyedart’s high standards for quality content and customer service,” said Neil. “We knew what we wanted to do, and how we wanted to do it. But that said, it did not take long for us to accept that we didn’t fully know what we didn’t know. There were a lot of moments early on where we were learning on the fly and adapting in real time.”
Eyedart, founded by Stuzman in 2004, is a full-service content marketing, social media, event planning, PR, and digital design agency that works with businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs all over the map to bring their ideas to life. From branding, web development, and video production, to signage, media and public relations, custom graphics, and creative installations, Eyedart helps clients tell their stories in ways that are both visually compelling and strategically effective.
While that creative focus is what inspired Neil and James to purchase the business, procuring the business and learning to run things behind the scenes presented a whole new set of challenges.
Making a meaningful difference
“From the very beginning, the team at Warrick & Boyn provided a lot of clarity to what could have been an overwhelming process for us,” said James. “They helped Neil and I understand the structure of the acquisition, and they made sure that every document, agreement, and obligation was clearly explained. While working with them, we never felt uncertain or buried in legal language. They made sure we felt informed and confident with each step along the way.”
Beyond the transaction itself, Warrick & Boyn served as a steady resource during the transition into ownership. For two individuals who had never run a business before, questions often came up regarding liability, contracts, compliance, human resources, bookkeeping, and general day-to-day operations.
“There’s a huge difference between guessing and knowing,” Neil said. “Having a legal services partner in your corner who’s seen it all before takes a lot of pressure off. With access to the knowledgeable team at Warrick & Boyn, who’ve been available and responsive in answering our many questions, we had the freedom and the ability to focus on Eyedart’s next chapter. No one person can know everything, and it’s been wonderful to be able to focus on our customers and our growth instead of having to worry or second-guess decisions in areas where the team at Warrick & Boyn is so well-versed.”
A trusted community partner
According to James, equally important has been the sense of partnership he and Neil have felt in working with the team at Warrick & Boyn.
“Because of their approachable style, their interest and energy, and their responsiveness, it just feels like Warrick & Boyn is more than a legal advisor,” James said. “It feels more like working with a collaborator who is invested in our success. Warrick & Boyn’s legal savvy and consistent support helped build a strong foundation of trust early on, and at no point along the way has our relationship felt transactional—it feels like they actually care about what we are doing.”
Looking back on their first year of ownership, Neil and James credit much of their confidence to the guidance they received early on.
Purchasing Eyedart Creative Studio was a bold move, and the operation continues its upward trajectory. According to Neil, Eyedart’s style—in working not only with businesses, but regional community foundations and area nonprofits, as well—can be summed up in Eyedart’s slogan, Marketing for Good.
“We get to do work we love for clients we truly care about,” said Neil. “In our industry, that is as good as it gets. We get to make our community stronger. It feels good to deliver positive results for our customers, and to know just how far James and I have come as owners. There’s room to learn and grow, as there always is, but this has been an incredibly rewarding and positive experience, and the team at Warrick & Boyn has played a big part in how good we felt about the purchase process and how hopeful we are for our future.”
We feel good about your future, too, Eyedart, and we thank you for trusting us to guide you! If YOU are stepping into business ownership for the first time, having the right legal advisors can make all the difference. Let Warrick & Boyn guide you through all of the ins, outs, and transitions of business ownership. Call us today at (574) 294-7491.