Local Film Company Glows with Success
Starting a film business in Western New York requires out of the box thinking, which is just what the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Buffalo District Office 2023 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Robin Lazzara does. A SUNY Buffalo State graduate, Robin founded Glow Video, LLC, and became a first-time business owner in her early twenties. Glow Video allowed Robin to stay in the area after graduation, become a permanent Buffalonian and start a successful business producing promotional videos for local not for profits, small businesses, musical artists and other small to medium sized entities. Her company handles all aspects of production, from preplanning to site production and editing.
SBA’s funded resource partner, Buffalo State Small Business Development Center (Buffalo State SBDC) assisted Robin with wide range of advisement from business planning to financial projections, to even choosing the appropriate type of insurance. Robin’s advisors work with her on an individual basis, determining specific items and paths needed for business success. As Robin says, the SBDC “helped starting her business be less intimidating and more manageable.”
Robin continues to move forward with the Buffalo State SBDC’s assistance. She is working directly with local communities and organizations establishing relationships which lead to rewarding film projects. During COVID, Robin created an independent local initiative for a Film Neighbor Network to demystify the film industry and its related jobs. She hosted Zoom calls about various departments on bigger film sets, including presenters and live questions, all of which have been archived and loaded up on you tube. Both Glow Video, and her establishing non-profit, are taking advantage of the film industry boom in Western New York, with expanded tax incentives, architectural and geographic originals (such as Niagara Falls and historic downtown Buffalo buildings) and investments in soundstages from larger companies.
Robin’s vision is to expand to lead a team of film production individuals. Her idea of success is that you are happy working where you are, and Buffalo is that place for her. SBA and its resource partner at the Buffalo State SBDC will be here to assist Robin and Glow Video’s journey for years to come.