About Us

Lavern Gingerich

Founder, Esrify and Bonflare

Two Worlds. One Mission.

In 2005, I started Bonflare from my bedroom, building websites for small businesses in Plain communities. This was before people browsed the web on smartphones or used social media to choose what to buy. There was far less competition online, and businesses could still ignore the internet and thrive.

Running a business without internet access was easy then. All suppliers accepted phone orders. There were plenty of local papers to advertise in. A lot of businesses did fine with no marketing at all beyond word of mouth and foot traffic.

But today it's getting harder to sustain that way of doing business. Suppliers expect online orders. Customers investigate businesses through Google reviews and buy products without ever leaving the couch. Social media is no longer optional—even if you don't participate, people are talking about your business online. 

This makes a problem for businesses in our plain communities. While the digital world has woven itself into every aspect of life, many of us still prefer to work with our hands instead of on screens. And for good reason.

If you're an Anabaptist business owner, you don't need another fast-talking digital marketer telling you to "get with the times." You just need a trustworthy partner to handle online orders, manage reviews, post products, and navigate the maze of online requirements, without expecting you to change who you are.

That's why we created Esrify.

How It Works

We're building a network of helpers from Plain communities who understand the values of plain businesses from the inside. People who can handle the digital necessities while respecting why our clients choose to stay offline.

Businesses: You keep doing what you do best, while our helpers take care of your unavoidable online tasks. 

Helpers: You get paid to serve businesses you believe in, while working from home on your schedule.

Why This Matters

The internet has become infrastructure—as essential as electricity or phone service. Every week, excellent craftsmen and small retailers struggle to reach customers, not because their work is substandard, but because the digital divide is making them invisible.

Esrify reverses that trend by connecting businesses to helpers who can bridge the gap.   

We Understand Small Businesses Because We Are One

Esrify is a service of Bonflare. After 20 years of helping small businesses navigate each new wave of technology, we're applying what we've learned to serve business owners who know something has to change but weren't sure how to do it. Until now.

Questions? Ideas? We'd love to hear from you.