BRANDISH

Blackcoffee is a premium brand development agency catering to clients at home in Calgary, Canada and across the globe. By marrying the power of strategy with premium design, we create brands that captivate, drive ROI and ensure solid gold reputations.

We work with our clients to execute their vision with an attention to detail and a level of consistency and coherence that is unmatched. Recognizing that exceptional design is nothing without superb execution, we work hand-in-hand with a carefully selected team of niche craftsmen to orchestrate projects both large and small, ensuring the most exceptional results, on time and on budget.

Over the course of 15+ years, I’ve grown Blackcoffee Studio out of this love for brand. Now I serve up Blackcoffee as my morning ritual while caffeinating clients and readers on the regular.

Meet the Blackcoffee Founder

Shannon Larkins

Brand strategist. Creative director. Black coffee drinker. Mogul maker.


A reporter in her early career, Shannon was trained to connect to audiences through story telling. A transition to politics, created a deeper connection to words through key messaging, spin doctoring, and speech writing.

Inciting emotion became an expertise. Shannon not only wrote what people would say – she choreographed how they would say it.

In charge of reputation management and crisis aversion, Shannon strategized top-level political campaigns.

It was only a matter of time before the business world discovered her gifts – one request to manage a crisis became a request to manage a reputation became a request to manage an entire brand from web design to client experience.

Just like political strategies, Shannon taught clients that business strategy must be about controlling the narrative.

It involves precise choreography, flattering lighting, poignant design, and a compelling script.

Shannon Larkins leads this process flawlessly leaning on her years of experience and intuitive sense of premium clients.

When the lights dim and the curtains go up, she makes sure your performance is powerful. Your set design is breathtaking. Your audience is in their seats...unaware of what all happened backstage, but very much in love with what you’ve created for them.

The reaction to the brand and website launch was overwhelming. It’s reach already established as I immediately received a call out of the blue from an energy capital group.

Michael Thackray

Energy Lawyer - British Columbia, Canada

It’s a privilege to partner with the Blackcoffee team. Their work has transformed my business and helped me build a solid foundation that has grown my success year over year. As the lead, Shannon is smart, quick and understands my target audience with clarity and depth, leading her team to develop and beautifully execute a strategic brand and marketing tools.

Don McDonald

McDonald Luxury Homes - Alberta, Canada

On my very first call with Shannon, she got me, she got my business and not just the way I saw it - BEYOND the way I saw it. She had this clear vision of where I needed to go and how I needed to get there, and suddenly I was excited about my work again, as my whole perspective on the future of my company just blew wide open.

Caroline Mays

Business Owner - California, USA

Working with Blackcoffee was a game changer. The team helped us build a cause, a clear brand and messages that worked. Their skillful handling of the media and depth of understanding of our target audiences led to an outstanding outcome.

Brad Caco

Former Vice President, Trinity Group - Ontario, Canada

The process that Shannon takes her clients through is truly a journey of awareness, causing you to look at your business in new and exciting ways. When you begin to view your business as a brand, it’s exhilarating. The love and appreciation I have for the brand that the Blackcoffee team created cannot be measured in mere words. My investment in your services will positively impact my business for years to come, of that I have no doubt.

Rhonda Tournay

Business Owner - Ontario, Canada

Shannon has a gift for empathizing with your target market and identifying what you can offer them to create a wonderful experience for both them and for you.

Jessica Dusak

Founder, Kettlebells & Vodka - Boston, USA

We're high maintenance so you don't have to be.


There’s a scene in When Harry Met Sally – no, not that scene – the one where Harry comments on Sally’s restaurant skills.

He says, “Sally is a great orderer. Not only does she pick the best thing on the menu, but she orders it in a way that even the chef didn’t know how good it could be.”

Sally is a great ‘orderer’ because when she orders a slice of apple pie, she’s not just thinking about the pie. She’s thinking about all of the circumstances surrounding the pie. Warm, cold, á la mode or no, Sally has thought through all of the options and left nothing about her dessert to chance.

Harry said Sally was high-maintenance.

I say Sally would have made a fabulous brand strategist.

As the lead brand strategist here at Blackcoffee it’s what I do every day – choreograph experiences to the last perfect detail.

Because it’s never just about the pie.

Your brand is not just the product you’re selling. It’s not just about your website, your client processes, or that fancy expresso machine in the client lounge.

Your brand is all of those things and more working together to create a premium experience.

That’s what makes Blackcoffee different. We create premium aesthetics, websites and experiences that attract your most profitable clients.


Shannon Larkins
Founder, Blackcoffee Studio