20nine

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CMO of a fintech company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 20nine?

We needed to reposition our brand and build brand awareness.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

20nine supported our rebranding efforts for six months. Initially, they conducted focus groups and surveys, and we asked them to double down on surveys for the different brand options.

Afterward, they supported our graphic design needs and helped us with all the brand assets, including photography. They created social media assets, internal assets for video conferences, presentation templates, and business cards. Essentially, it was a holistic redesign of all the primary company assets. 

Moreover, they helped with photography and social media assets on an ongoing basis.

What is the team composition?

We worked with the VP of brand strategy, a creative director, some graphic designers, and a project management account executive.

How did you come to work with 20nine?

I researched across multiple channels, including Clutch, Google reviews, and other third-party websites for marketing agencies. I selected 4–5 agencies and had introductory calls with all of them. 

20nine was the most prepared, with an exciting and solid approach, and had the method I sought in rebranding.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $200,000–$400,000. Initially, it was $240,000, considering just rebranding, and then with the additional graphic design support, our retainer was between $10,000–$18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–June 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

20nine was excellent in terms of speed and time saved. Rebranding usually takes up to a year, but they were quick and sharp, considering the amount of work we requested, and they did it in half the time. 

We could not have done it internally without hiring an external team. They saved us a year and a half between hiring a team, getting the team on board, and starting the project.

How did 20nine perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered the work on time and budget. Everything was communicated upfront and clearly. We used emails, Google Docs, and a set of documents they proactively shared, and we adhered to a shared timeline.

At some point, I was asked whether to proceed with additional requests or stick to the base plan. Even when I decided to proceed with additional requests, they could reduce the timing, and we always stayed within the timeline we set for ourselves.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to give a shout-out to Len, the VP of brand positioning and strategy. He was great and understood where we came from and who we wanted to become regarding the brand. He brought to life our vision regarding where we wanted to go and what we wanted to represent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

If we asked for additional expenses outside the scope of work, they were promptly communicated and highlighted.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any significant areas of improvement. They did a pretty good job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend them for rebranding initiatives, especially if you’re looking for a boutique firm. They’re pretty solid.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an advertising exchange that works with publishers, agencies and brands to create and activate more memorable advertising campaigns. I'm the SVP of Marketing overseeing marketing strategy and execution.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 20nine, and what were your goals?

Our business was going through a transformation and we were looking to rebrand to align with the transformation. We hired 20nine to help us narrow in and align on our messaging, narrative and brand look and feel. From there, we hired 20nine to support various activation layers including website design, video, sales decks, templates, etc.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

20nine was recommend by a former colleague and another friendly in the industry. We narrowed a list of vendors down to about 6, had intro calls with each, and then narrowed our selection down to the top two. From there, 20nine won our business by a landslide given their emphasis on both design and messaging, as well as their process.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

20nine worked with the marketing team to define the scope and timeline and from there we worked through the various steps to get our stakeholders aligned on messaging and direction, including a half day workshop.

Once we got alignment after the workshop, we went through the PFP and top level messaging presentation, narrowed in on our top PFP message and design direction and then refined. 20nine kept us on track and on time and worked closely with all of our stakeholders as we tried to define who we were and where we were headed in the midst of a lot of change in our business and industry. We were pleased with the final deliverable.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

There was a fully stacked team that worked with us, including a lead contact, project manager, a few designers and a few content experts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

In the midst of the rebrand, I had to go out on maternity leave which was a bit challenging for both my company and 20nine. However, they moved the rebrand efforts forward and we partnered with them on many additional activations to take the messaging from themes to putting them into practice. This was a full rebrand so our company launched a new website, new collateral, new sales deck(s), new office design, new intranet, etc. 20nine gave us the foundation to brand all of the above easily.

The new brand identity is much more in line with our current corporate vision and direction and is resonating much more with our client base. The messaging has helped sales with a more compelling narrative. We launched a brand campaign off the heels of the rebrand and we've seen a significant increase in web visits, web leads and awareness.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

• Communication: A+
• Project Management: A-
• Communication Tools: Mostly email and Microsoft Teams Timeliness: B+ (we asked for a very aggressive timeline and part of the delays were on our end, but we were slightly behind schedule)

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The people/team were professional, passionate and very fun to work with. While they were not in our industry, they picked up our business needs and concepts quickly. Their skill set was wide ranging as they supported us through branding to video to website.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Overall, they were fantastic to work with and the end result was amazing! It would be great if they would have built in client/customer feedback into the later stages of the process. It was built into the front-end, but once we landed on messaging it would have been great to survey the same/different clients and prospects to get their feedback and buy-in.

I wound up doing that separately, but it was later in the process and we wound up getting important feedback to update a key message. Also, we were no doubt a difficult client because we had a lot of stakeholders involved, but I wish they would have pushed back on us a bit more on certain projects.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at a company that digitalizes clinical trials with software solutions across various data touchpoints. We have software and services that help take clinical trial data off patients and clinicians and convert paper-based processes into electronic ones.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 20nine?

We hired 20nine to do a messaging refresh. The company had a rebrand after a couple of acquisitions and a merger before I joined. At this point, the brand was a couple of years old, and the messaging platform needed a refresh.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, 20nine walked us through a discovery process to understand the business, the marketing and message challenges, and the company’s unique factors. They learned about our company’s personality and how we wanted to be perceived in the marketplace. 

We already had an established brand identity regarding our name, logo, and where we operate in the marketplace. 20nine reviewed our current materials and the competitive landscape to identify any space in the messaging and visualization of the various players involved. They also interviewed internal stakeholders across our marketing, sales, product, and operations teams. 20nine also talked to select teammates in our executive team and board members. 

From there, they helped us refine the identity used to express what we stood for. The goal was to capture what we do in a unique way that differentiated us in the market. 20nine helped us with our brand line and to articulate other layers of our messaging platform. They showed us 3–4 options for the messaging platform. 

The team developed repositioning statements, our brand line, and our tagline. They also created storylines they broke down into major and minor stories to serve as the backbone of the messaging that our company would produce after that. 20nine delivered individual positioning statements that articulated our business as a whole. 

Additionally, they did some ad hoc design and writing work. 20nine also created marketing videos for us, both live-action and animated. The videos were either product-oriented or company-oriented. For example, they produced an animated video for a particular product. For the live-action videos, they used stock footage and overlays. They handled the entire video production, from scripting to editing. 

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with around four teammates from 20nine: a project manager, a copywriter, an art director, and a video editor. More teammates worked behind the scenes. Additionally, we had contact with the management team, including 20nine’s owner and VPs. 

How did you come to work with 20nine?

Initially, I found them through online research while looking for branding agencies in the Philadelphia area. I chose 20nine because the team was a personality fit for us. Moreover, I liked how they pitched their process and their references. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with 20nine from September–November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

20nine had a tried and true process and came out with great options. I knew the engagement was successful when they initially presented the options because they understood our business. Almost all the options were really strong, making it hard for us to select one. 

Additionally, we've had better sales performance year-over-year, and 20nine's work might have contributed to that with brand awareness. However, we can't attribute the results directly to their work. 

How did 20nine perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered on time and within budget. I pushed 20nine to work faster than their timelines because of our internal needs, and they were very accommodating. We communicated through Microsoft Teams. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

20nine's biggest strength was their creative process. Although many agencies create these proprietary mechanisms, 20nine had one of the most effective processes for developing creative and messaging. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The timelines weren't fast enough for us. However, I also understood and respected 20nine's process. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should get to know the key individuals who'll work on your process quickly. This way, you can get a sense of whether the team will be a personality match for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing, communications, and PR for a private Catholic high school.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 20nine?

We hired them for marketing in our admissions process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had previously hired another company to do independent research about our brand and messaging. We gave all of that information to 20nine to use at the beginning of the project. Their team reviewed our brand messaging, and did a little bit of their own research, but made the decision not to modify anything. Instead, they provided us with suggestions on how we could enhance it. 

20nine designed our marketing and admissions pieces, specifically, a view book used to market to prospective students. 

What is the team composition?

We met with Josh (Chief Solution Strategy Officer) at the beginning of the process, but our primary contact was Connor (Account Executive), who successfully navigated us through the process. Along the way we interacted with their inhouse photographer and had a very good relationship with Liza (Lead Designer) and Tracey (Creative Director) who were responsible for design of the piece.

How did you come to work with 20nine?

We identified 10 potential marketing firms we felt were qualified to create new materials for us and asked them to submit proposals. We shared the materials we had with them and offered to meet with each potential group so they could ask questions and understand what we were looking to achieve. 

A group from our organization reviewed all the proposals and narrowed it down to four firms that made an in-person presentation. 20nine was the only company with a team-oriented approach, which we appreciated. Shortly after the presentations, we decided to move forward together with 20nine. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between April–September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We had an extremely successful admissions season, and the view book was one of the key factors in launching the season. We believe that the view book set the tone for that success. We think that 20nine took a product that was already good and made it even better. The piece that we came up with was something completely unique, which was a tremendous achievement. 

How did 20nine perform from a project management standpoint?

They had a very streamlined communication process, and we really only had to speak with Connor if we needed anything. Our timeline was very rushed, and 20nine did a great job adjusting their schedule to ensure everything was completed on time. The view book was delivered when we wanted it to be out there, and even with a fast timeline, they were able to work within the deadline.

They stayed within the budget, and everything that was budgeted was delivered. We communicated via phone calls and texts. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really made the project a priority, and there was a lot of good synergy between our organizations. 20nine collaborated very effectively with everyone involved in the project to get everything past the finish line. They were very creative, and we appreciated that in their portfolio, they worked with many different types of firms and industries. 

20nine had a very fresh approach and brought out-of-the-box ideas. They focused on crafting a message and made something unique for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they could have improved upon. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

20nine is an expert, and you should trust the experts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former regional director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 20nine?

We had a branding issue with a Harley Davidson fundraising event. The event had been around for about 25 years, and the challenge was to give our brand a fresh look that would appeal to a broad spectrum of Harley Davidson riders of all ages. We hired 20nine to create the new brand and the promotional and publicity materials to advertise the event to riders and potential corporate sponsors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

20nine provides our organization with branding, social media marketing (SMM),  and design services. They took the outdated event materials, threw them away, and rebranded the event's look and feel. For the rebranding project, they worked with 15 independent Harley Davidson owners and the Dealers Association to encourage them to make these changes to move the event forward. 

Our company meets with 20nine at the start of the year to do broad canvassing and present big-picture ideas. Then, they present the concepts to get feedback from the Harley Davidson Dealers Association and us. From there, we discuss the changes to prepare materials for the promotional campaign. 

They've helped manage Facebook Ads campaigns for us, creating the skins and materials for the monthly promotion of the event. They've also designed content for Instagram and Twitter. For the event, 20nine has created a look and feel for the merchandise and designed t-shirts. The team has also put together the event's signage. 

What is the team composition?

Greg (President & CEO) was my initial contact. The team includes a project lead, two teammates handling social media and other aspects, and one person working on materials. 

How did you come to work with 20nine?

Our company had partnered with them for a smaller event in the Philadelphia market; we initially connected with 20nine through the local market. When this project came along, I called Greg, who turned out to be a big Harley Davidson rider, so he was all in. 

How much have you invested with them?

They worked pro-bono. If we had paid for it on the street, the project would've cost around $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2005, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Since we started working with 20nine, fundraising outcomes at the event have increased by about $1 million yearly. 20nine came up with a fresh look that's current, powerful, and appealing to a broad spectrum of riders, helping us to get more exposure and higher participation in the event through a big tristate area. 

They've done such a great job that the Harley Davidson Dealers Association has said the new look fits perfectly with their brand. The team understands the community and the average customer, so they make the event's brand attractive and interesting from their perspective. Moreover, Harley Davidson's dealerships also got good materials for their in-store displays. 

How did 20nine perform from a project management standpoint?

They're outstanding at project management. The team never misses a beat — they're always prepared and professional. They also interface well with my team to get things done; they follow a plan of action and put together a timeline to execute it so that we don't need to meet to make decisions. At first, we met in person to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm impressed with 20nine's desire to be successful and to support our organization to raise money. Their staff has gotten involved with us and understands our mission. They see this project as an opportunity to do good for the community. Overall, they're passionate about the project, so it has worked well for them as well. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There's nothing they need to improve; they're very well-managed, and their team is very professional. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When you meet with 20nine, have a clear vision and understanding of your priorities, and be prepared to share them so the team can process your needs and how to meet them. Then, get out of the way and let them do the work!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and head of operations of a craft brewery called SoMe Brewing Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 20nine?

We started a new brand and needed help with brand direction and design work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first decided on the brand name. During this process, we spoke with them about what we wanted our brand to represent and how we wanted it to be presented. Following that, they gave us a bunch of ideas and presented different options for our approval and further fine-tuning before eventually settling on a brand design and identity. Their deliverables included our logo, color scheme, can labels, and other brand assets.

Their team continues to help us with other tasks.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Kevin (Executive Creative Director).

How did you come to work with 20nine?

I grew up together with Kevin, my best friend.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $10,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on this project in July 2018, and our engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve sold a lot of merchandise and beer due to their great ideas and designs.

How did 20nine perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re phenomenal in this regard. They’re very hands-on, and we’re well taken care of — not once have we felt they’re wasting our money or taking advantage of us. They’ve also gone under our budget. For communication, we interact through email and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is exceptionally talented in what they do, and their level of creativity is above par in comparison to other providers. They’re also quick to respond and are never afraid to reach out for any clarifications.

Are there any areas they could improve on?

I honestly can’t think of any. We’ve had a flawless experience working with them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to share your ideas and let them do their thing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of a legal cannabis company called Good Harvest Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 20nine?

We needed help with branding strategy, logo development, website development, and market positioning.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a consultation call with 20nine and went over our business positioning and where we fit within the market. We discussed our marketing and communications ecosystem, and they advised us on how we could address business needs within the cannabis industry. We discussed our business values and the marketing challenges we had faced.

They helped us develop the brand strategy, created a color palette, and developed a logo based on our business values. They built our website using WordPress and built SEO for the website. They also produced an animated explainer video for us and posted it on YouTube.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Greg (CEO & Founder) and roughly six other team members. We worked with an account lead, a copywriter, developers, designers, and brand strategists.

How did you come to work with 20nine?

They were referred to us by a trusted industry partner. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested roughly $25,000 in the engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2018, and the engagement was complete in October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We saw an increase in website traffic, and they improved our SEO. The video received many views on YouTube. They developed the website to the point where it was easy for us to upload content, such as blog posts and case studies post-handoff. Once the site was up and running, it was easy for us to manage and maintain.

How did 20nine perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great in terms of project management. They planned realistic project timelines, met deadlines, and delivered good quality assets. They were very professional throughout the process. 

We started with a blank canvas and went back and forth with some designs, but they embraced our feedback and came back with designs that hit the mark. Everything was done well from start to finish, and they were timely. We used JIRA to manage the project and Slack to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their process is impressive, and they have each project stage down to a science. 20nine is one of the best agencies I’ve worked with. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing they could improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be specific and transparent with feedback. 20nine takes feedback in stride and will work with you until they meet your desired specifications and qualifications.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a senior product manager for a publishing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 20nine?

We hired 20nine to help us design the packaging for a product we were publishing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided direction, and 20nine provided us with graphic design services. 20nine designed the box and book cover for an upcoming product. They created color schemes and consulted with us on branding and marketing.

What is the team composition?

We worked with around seven people, including Kevin (Creative Director), a client relations project manager, and a few graphic designers. 

How did you come to work with 20nine?

We had previously worked with 20nine, so we decided to engage them again. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in March 2022, and they completed it in July 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We don’t have defined measures to determine success for graphic design, but we approved the project when it was finished, so I’d say 20nine was successful. We’re very happy with the designs they created. 

How did 20nine perform from a project management standpoint?

20nine met all the project deadlines and delivered assets efficiently. We met periodically via Microsoft Teams and communicated via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We are most impressed with their design capabilities. We’re consistently pleased with the work 20nine delivers, which is why we continue to partner with them. We work well together, and we like their process. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Being that they are involved with graphic design, it would be beneficial if they could familiarize themselves with print. It would be great if they could provide expertise around how designs look and feel on paper compared to on screen and how to best optimize colors in print. Also, as a minor point, we prefer a business casual look, and I think they could present more professionally.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former CMO of Beeswax, a cloud-based bidder-as-a-service media buying firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 20nine?

We wanted to create a clear message that would resonate with our target customers strongly, while attracting off-target customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

20nine provided us with branding, marketing strategy, and positioning services. They helped us develop a seamless platform that hit our target audience emotionally, while ensuring the focus was on the message.

They interviewed our senior management, customers, and key stakeholders to understand how we were being perceived so that we could build a set of language to project the future of Beeswax.

As for the deliverables, they provided some visual assets, such as our website and pitch decks.

What is the team composition?

We worked with account managers, messaging strategists, content writers, and graphic designers.

How did you come to work with 20nine?

We came across 20nine through a referral in 2011.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested a little over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2011–September 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The company was acquired by Comcast and I believe having a clear message and something that resonated in-market was an important factor in that success.

How did 20nine perform from a project management standpoint?

They worked extremely well from a project management perspective, met all our deadlines, and consistently stayed on budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were impressed with their creativity and technical understanding of what language will resonate with our target market.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they need to improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would suggest getting your executive team on board with the project, because it’s very important that all key stakeholders work together for the results.