After 40 years in business, Toronto-based real estate marketing firm L.A. Inc. announced on Thursday that the company has closed its doors.
“The end of an era. L.A. Inc’s journey has come to an end. It has been 35 plus years of amazing story telling. We’ve witnessed profound changes in the real estate sector, both up and down,” said the company in a LinkedIn post. “Unfortunately the headwinds we have experienced over the last several years have been too great to continue.”
The award-winning Toronto-based agency was founded in 1985 by Lawrence Ayliffe, who has over six decades of experience working in advertising and is “a true icon and gentlemen,” said President & COO David Klugsberg in a separate LinkedIn post.
“After 25 years with L.A. Inc. I am heartbroken to say that the company has closed its doors,” Klugsberg also said. “During this time, I have been extremely fortunate to have worked alongside some of the most creative and passionate people I have ever met. This includes current and past staff of LA — thank you all for being part of the LA family, numerous clients, vendors, and consultants. I am proud to say that many of these people have not just been colleagues but friends as well.”
A top marketing agency in the city, L.A has partnered with iconic brands like Leon’s Furniture and Ray-Ban over the years, but is most well-known for their influence in the real estate and development spheres.
The majority of L.A.’s clientele consisted of developers, including big names like National Homes, Fengate Asset Management, QuadReal Property Group, and Mattamy Homes, to name a few, plus other notable clients like B+H Architects and data and analytics firm Urbanation.
In the development world, building the condo tower, townhome, or rental building is half the journey and the other half — landing projects on the radars of prospective buyers, amplifying selling points, and ultimately helping fill units — all hinges on the brand management and ad campaigns of experienced marketing firms like L.A.
Over their nearly-four-decade run, L.A. was behind the success of numerous major development projects including Great Gulf’s One Bloor, M City, and 357 King West, alongside a number of smaller developments like Westbend Residences and Seventy 5 Portland.
Master storytellers, L.A. has spent decades spinning architectural renderings and floor plans into polished visions buyers can hitch their hopes to. With One Bloor, for example, the firm’s promotional work included crafting the main brochure, broker package, logo, direct mail, site signage, presentation centre, and website, as well as a full advertising campaign.
“Great Gulf came to us looking for an inspired campaign that would reflect the premium location, striking architecture and sensuous nature of this world-class project,” said L.A. Inc. on its website. “‘This is your fantasy’ became the calling card for the campaign, reinforcing the idea that everything at One Bloor, from the architecture to the amenities, is your fantasy come true.”
Looking ahead, COO Klugsberg says he “will continue to be involved with some current projects,” but also plans to “take some time for myself and family” and to “re-energize and re-evaluate.”