AQOMI STUDIOS

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the sales manager for a car dealership that sells various brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

We needed them to help us improve our customer acquisition. We’re in a very competitive business with lots of dealerships nearby.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created videos and TV commercials for us. We ran a typical cheesy car business commercial with the owner talking on the lot, and they created it from idea to production.

They also developed our website and designed a banner for the site. Features included product listings with current interest rates. They continue to maintain our site.

What is the team composition?

I work mostly with Tomek (CEO, Aqomi), and sometimes another team member.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I worked with Tom previously, when I lived in Edmonton. I think everything he does is perfect. The production quality is phenomenal.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We starting working together in May 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of the videos is phenomenal. It’s hard to track metrics, but we want to have enough of a presence that we’re in customers’ minds so we pop into their head when they think about buying a car. We heard from our customers that they saw and enjoyed our commercials, so they proved memorable.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

Tom takes care of everything and I like working with him. He has an eye for the right shot.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re fun to work with and they make video shoots easy rather than stressful. Everything turns out perfectly with them. We’re having fun for a day or two, then I see the product and I’m amazed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m completely satisfied.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust them and let them do their thing. It might seem too easy, like they’re having too much fun, but trust the process and trust Tom. In the end, you’ll be very happy with the results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior vice-president of a consulting company providing software to Fortune 500 companies in the oil and gas sector, power, utilities, and pulp and paper processing industries. We deliver risk-assessment machines for managing their equipment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

Since we are a software company, we were looking for a number of different things from them, including branding, artistic design, and some pointers on the interfaces of our software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were more or less hired as consultants to help us out with branding, web site design, and GUI design for some of our applications. As subject matter experts, they’ve been able to help vet some of our ideas and items over the years.

What is the team composition?

Over the course of our time with them, I think we’ve worked with about 4–5 people.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

We were looking at a number of options but primarily wanted someone who was agile and had new ideas for the market. We found Aqomi through the web and thought they fit all those requirements, so we’ve worked with them ever since.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $20,000–$50,000. ­­

What is the status of this engagement?

We started with Aqomi in 2009 and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been very happy with the work Aqomi has done for us. They do a great job of putting in the research to see where their competition and the rest of the market is going.

They are able to come up with some really unique ideas off the back of that work. Our company has definitely gained an advantage because of how difficult that is to do in the corporate market and how creative their ideas are, nonetheless.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

They work hard at project management, even though it can be pretty difficult at times. Since everything is a joint project between us, it’s often a case of bouncing things back and forth between our teams.

Despite that, everything is generally within the time frames we establish, and everything usually goes fairly smoothly compared to if we tried doing it ourselves.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It feels like they genuinely care about the customer. They clearly want you to succeed, which I think is an outstanding quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are always ways to improve since nothing is perfect, but I can’t recall anything specific that I wish they had done differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise people to give them a try—start with a small project and see how it goes. Decide how you like to work and see if they can bring value to that process. It’s been a very good experience for us, and I think more people should take advantage of it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and advertising manager for a co-operative pottery studio and store. We rent our space to different artists.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

My company wanted to increase sales and create a more professional marketing system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aqomi has helped develop our social media marketing. Most of their work so far has been verbal branding; they provide advice on how we can connect our store displays to social media.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

A co-worker recommended Aqomi.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent $8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our work with them in October 2018, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen results. My team is very happy with Aqomi’s work.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been excellent. We communicate with them in-person and online.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re pleased with the results. Their work is very educational.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think they could’ve improved. We have a limited budget, and we’ve gotten quite a lot for the money spent.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of business development at a real estate development company. We specialize in interior construction services for office, restaurant, retail, and hospitality spaces. I’m responsible for managing client relationships and finding new avenues for business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

We wanted to refresh our RFP submission form without deviating from the look and feel of our brand. My company had proposal writers, but we didn’t have an internal marketing team. We hired Aqomi to help us redesign our RFP.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aqomi reviewed our existing forms and showed us examples of other proposals. They presented new design options, with different images, graphics, and layouts. Our proposal team, my boss, and I provided input on the designs, and we ultimately agreed upon one that we liked.

What is the team composition?

We communicated directly with Tomek (CEO and Head of Strategy, Aqomi). My team also engaged with Calista (Head of Innovation, Aqomi).

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I met Tomek at a business mixer, where he showed me some of his work. I was impressed by the quality of his designs and the level of artistry in his work. The timing worked out because my company had been discussing our need for a proposal refresh.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $47,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project occurred in December 2017–July 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback surrounding the look of the proposals has been overwhelmingly positive. Clients have said that the proposals are a pleasure to read.

We’ve secured a local market and grown significantly in 2018–2019. We attribute our growth to many factors, but we feel that the proposal refresh has absolutely had an impact. We’ve closed multi-million-dollar deals using the redesigned proposals.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

Aqomi was responsive and timely. Whenever I reached out to Tomek, I always heard back from him. They followed our timeline; in one instance, when we expected to receive a deliverable from them in a month, they got it to us in less than two weeks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Other design agencies we’ve worked with have wanted us to tell them what to do. Aqomi was different because they brought ideas and concepts to us, as opposed to waiting for us to guide them. We told Aqomi what we wanted to present, and they worked within that scope. Their strongest attribute was their creativity.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there wasn’t any negative feedback internally. They met timelines and fulfilled requirements.

Any advice for potential customers?

Trust them to be the experts; let them be creative, and you’ll be able to maximize what they bring.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of Your Story, a high-end video production company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

We work with a lot of different businesses and organizations across several industries. When our clients require services that we can’t support, such as design or marketing, we need to outsource this work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

My team outsources web design, graphic design, and branding to Aqomi. We’ve worked together on a few video projects. Their services have included logo designs and graphic mockups.

What is the team composition?

We engage with 5–6 individuals, depending on the project. My team primarily communicates with Tomek (CEO and Head of Strategy, Aqomi), and we also work with Paula (Chief Brand Officer and Head of Community, Aqomi). I know their team has expanded since last year.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

My business partner introduced me to Tomek.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began in April 2018, and the work is continuous.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Aqomi has been able to execute on what our clients are looking for. They are attentive and thorough, and they always deliver. We feel confident referring clients to them.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communications with my team and our clients have been great. We communicate via phone, email, and social media. They also have access to our Slack channel.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Aqomi’s branding is amazing. I haven’t come across another company that can create what Aqomi does. Tomek is a branding visionary and one of the most talented people I’ve ever met.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any negative feedback or things they could work upon.  

Any advice for potential customers?

Provide Aqomi with your vision and ideas, but let them do their thing. They can add a lot to what you originally envisioned.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at a small food company, which we founded when we noticed a gap in the market for ready-to-eat, chemical-free meats.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

My company had obtained some store listings, but we needed help differentiating our new brand. We weren’t looking for a full rebrand, since we already had a package design and a website that we built with a standard site builder. We hired Aqomi to make various adjustments to our existing brand materials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aqomi developed our POS information, such as flyers and banners, that we give to stores and delis. They designed our letterhead and business cards. Aqomi also helped build our storyline and develop a better website for us. The team provides social media marketing to improve customer recognition.

What is the team composition?

We work with Tomek (CEO and Head of Strategy, Aqomi) and Paula (Chief Brand Officer and Head of Community, Aqomi), both of whom are readily available. Paula often sends us webinars and other materials that help us with marketing. My team also engages with several designers.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I searched Google for the top fifty advertising and marketing companies, one of which was Aqomi. My team was impressed by what they’d created, particularly their packaging, and their track record for success. Tomek took the time to inform us about their services and compile a package.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together at the end of 2017, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started in one province, and now we’re in all of Western Canada. Our sales are growing every single month, and we definitely wouldn’t be growing as quickly as we are without Aqomi’s services. Aqomi understands who we are, and they’ve aligned themselves to what we want to do. While most vendors would usually just do the marketing themselves, Tomek and his team educate us on marketing so that we have the skillset to navigate this industry and save money. They’re invaluable in that regard.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

Aqomi’s overall responsiveness, timeliness, and organization are amazing. They always do what they say they’re going to, in the time that they say they will. We communicate via email and phone. They take our calls at any time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The way they treat their clients and deliver such hands-on availability is remarkable. Their creativity also sets them apart.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

Any advice for potential customers?

My only advice is to call Aqomi. They will take so much time out of their day for any client, even one that is young and can’t afford their services yet. Aqomi will make you feel like they’re there to help.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a construction company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

I brought on Aqomi because I needed better marketing. I don’t deal with computers at all, and I needed extra support. I was hoping that they could bring in more work for my team and me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Most of their work revolved around rebranding my company. I already had a website, and Aqomi came through and fine-tuned everything. Rather than rebuilding the site, they focused on redesigning it to make it look better. They also delivered a bunch of different ad campaigns.

In addition to delivering the work, Aqomi trained and coached us so that we could understand what they were doing. I had hired another person to help me with marketing, but some of the work that I wanted ended up being outside of her skill set. Tom (CEO, Aqomi) came in and taught her some things so that she’d have a better understanding of their services.

What is the team composition?

I’ve only worked with Paula (Chief Brand Officer, Aqomi) and Tom.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I grew up with Tom, and he’s still a good friend of mine. I knew that he was good at what he did, so I brought him on as a partner during a previous business engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’re taking a break from active marketing efforts at the moment, but I’m still in contact with them to plan future work. We’re chatting back and forth about potential ad campaigns. I started working with them sometime in 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Part of the reason why I’ve paused our ad campaigns is that Aqomi has already hit the quota that I set. Overall, the partnership has been working very well. They increased interest in our business and our total sales, which is exactly what we wanted.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is very organized. Our timelines shifted occasionally, but they’re very easy to work with and were usually on time with their deliverables. I’ve never had any problems with their work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to detail is impressive, and working with them has been such a pleasurable experience. Even though I’m somewhat naïve when it comes to computers, Aqomi never talks down to me. They understand that not everyone has their level of expertise.

Before working with Aqomi, I felt like I was always giving up money without knowing exactly where it was going. Tom and his team are excellent about explaining their processes and giving us an idea of what’s happening. They were willing to come in and coach me through their services.

They’ve also been a huge help for my social media person. Whenever she had questions or concerns, Paula sat down with her and helped her figure things out. She definitely has more knowledge now than when she first started working with me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In my experience, running into problems with timelines is pretty standard for any project. We’ve seen our fair share, and most of these problems have been the result of something that was outside of our control. Aqomi did everything in their power to meet deadlines, even when they had to deal with external factors.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be willing to learn from them. Other than that, I don’t have much to offer in terms of advice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Le Monstre Clothing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

My company hired Aqomi to provide digital marketing and other creative services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aqomi oversees marketing and SEO campaigns on multiple channels, including print, TV, radio, web, and mobile. They deploy our techniques as well as their own. My team provides the art, and Aqomi offers social media guidance, such as appropriate hashtags. They also design posts and determine when to post for optimal views and traction. The team built out our artist’s social media page.

We told Aqomi what we wanted our website to look like, and they’ve done all of the coding, motion graphics, photo manipulation, and typography. They timed our site to inventories so that when it runs out, the site shuts down.

We hope to work with Aqomi in the areas of facial recognition, holograms, and AR.

What is the team composition?

We’re in direct contact with four team members. Our main point of contact is Tomek (CEO and Head of Strategy, Aqomi). He takes our ideas back to his team, and they determine the best course of action.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I saw Aqomi’s ads and liked their name and logo, and then I noticed that they were local. We had an in-person meeting and decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together began in September 2018, and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within just a few days of working with Aqomi, we began receiving more hits and views. We rank higher on Google, and customers are messaging us.

Aqomi has helped us get our apparel and designs into a bigger market. They design and execute campaigns to attract as many customers as possible, and we’ve consequently connected with celebrities, athletes, government and corporate organizations, CEOs, and young professionals. We’ve sold out of our collection and art pieces.

Our in-house artist’s social media following has gone from the low thousands to around 15,000 organic followers. Aqomi has boosted his recognition and value, and he’s now working with major entertainment companies, musicians, and more.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been great, and I would recommend them to other people. Our teams work together very well. We communicate via phone, email, text, and in-person. If we continue to expand the scope of our engagement and require more constant communication, we’ll probably utilize Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is very personable and supportive; not many vendors would be receptive to our non-traditional art. They understand that to stand out in our increasingly competitive industry, we must be unconventional. They think outside of the box and work quickly. Making our site available when we have inventory, and unavailable when we run out of it, portrays my company as unique, ultra-limited, and exclusive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s been great so far, so I can’t really provide any input here.

Any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to speak your mind and be yourself.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a realtor in Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

My real estate company was struggling to build brand recognition and generate leads.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aqomi helped us with a rebrand. They updated and revamped all of our social media accounts. Now, they’re focusing on advertising around social media.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Tomek (CEO and Head of Strategy, Aqomi). We’ve communicated with Paula (Chief Brand Officer and Head of Community, Aqomi) and a few other behind-the-scenes team members.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I’ve known Tomek for several years, and I thought of him when my company needed help with branding. The marketing company that Tomek worked at before Aqomi had a good reputation. Although we hadn’t worked together, I knew other realtors who’d used Aqomi.   

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together began in 2018, and it is ongoing. They’re still spearheading all social media and advertising efforts, and we’ve been adding more to the engagement because my business is becoming more elevated.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve helped us reach more people who might be interested in our services. Our social media ads have driven more leads, and we’re getting a significantly higher amount of views on social media. In terms of ROI, I’ve had a few deals come out of Aqomi’s work.  

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

Aqomi works smoothly and maintains open communication. We regularly receive phone calls and emails from them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They deliver work quickly; they revamped all of our social media in just a day or two, and they’ve been taking great care of us since we hired them. The team is very motivated.

Are there any areas they could improve?

More face-to-face interactions might be helpful because I don’t know much about social media or advertising. Their work has been great, but I’d like them to show me what they’ve done in more detail so that I can learn to do more.

Any advice for potential customers?

Have clear expectations of what you’re looking for, because Aqomi does different things for a multitude of clients.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the general manager of a small soup and sandwich restaurant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

We learned that our customer base was dwindling. We hired Aqomi to optimize our social media channels and provide other branding services to increase business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We never had a very strong social media presence, so Aqomi’s first step was helping us build a base of followers on Instagram, Facebook, and others with various social media marketing efforts. We’ve given them complete control of our accounts so that they can create and post content as they see fit.

We’ve decided to rebrand our restaurant recently, an initiative that has included a new logo and new signage Aqomi created. We have not yet launched our website, but Aqomi designed and developed that as well. It allows customers to look at our menu to view our daily specials and place catering orders online.

What is the team composition?

We've worked with Tom (Head of Strategy, Aqomi) and Paula (Head of Community, Aqomi).

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

They’ve earned high marks on a Canadian reviews site, and a friend of mine introduced me to Tom. We ended up getting along, and I was impressed with his company’s portfolio.  

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in December 2018 and remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a much more pronounced presence on social media thanks to their efforts. We look forward to launching our website and believe it will further our goals.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

Our original deadline has passed because we had several edits, and the owners of the restaurant wanted their feedback incorporated as well, which prolonged the process. Still, they’ve delivered on everything they’ve promised.

We primarily communicate through email, but we’ll meet in person when necessary. It’s been a painless process. It’s scary when you’re redoing something from scratch, but they’ve made the process easier than I expected.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their work speaks for itself, but they also manage their clients well. We’ve never had any complications while addressing our needs. They’re client-oriented and make the time to make sure we’re happy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project has taken longer than we anticipated, but our side played a role in that as well. The creative process tends to take more time because it requires more attention to detail and care. This is something to keep in mind for all creative projects.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Aqomi will have some interesting ideas, so it’s best to approach them with an open mind.