Archer Cooper

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-owner and director of Atlas Four Ltd T/A SevenYays. We are a B-C consumer good startup in the personalised gifting category.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Archer Cooper, and what were your goals?

Our proposition was new and unique. A personalised 'advent' style countdown gift calendar offering the customer the option to choose their gifts and add further personalisation through packaging and card choices/messaging. The principle objective of the project was to design and build an e-commerce solution which could provide a highly user friendly and engaging online experience to what was a completely new, and unfamiliar concept.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I had already identified Shopify as a forerunner in terms of e-commerce solutions as a result of my own research. I then found Archer Cooper through the Shopify Experts directory and discussed the project with them and a number of other shortlisted providers. The decision to proceed with Archer Cooper was driven primarily by Craig's immediate grasp of what we wanted to achieve, and our perception that he had the ability and desire to work with us to help refine the concept and fine-tune it in a manner that ultimately enhanced the user experience.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

1) Scoping sessions led by Craig where we explored the objectives, essential vs desired deliverables, and implementation options at various levels of complexity and cost.
2) Assessment of competitor landscape (to the extent that it existed) and review of what aspects work and don't in terms of box building functionality.
3) Agreed project deliverables, timings, and costs.
4) Web build, including a bespoke element to sit on top of standard Shopify functionality.
5) Liason with other service providers including the design team to ensure the look and feel of the site was complementary to brand.
6) Data upload and testing.
7) Training.
8) Launch.
9) Review period & support.

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

My primary contact was Craig Cooper (founder), who in turn liaised with other AC team members. One point of contact was very helpful.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We have launched successfully. Ecommerce metrics in terms of conversion are strong, and the business, although only 4 weeks old, is performing ahead of plan and growing strongly. Archer Cooper remains on hand to assist with general advice which has been very helpful given that this is our first e-commerce business.

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

Flexible, communicative, responsive, proportionate/appropriate. Google meet & Docs, Loom for training videos.

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

Archer Cooper 'got' the project, what we wanted to achieved and Craig believed in it. From our very first (virtual) meeting Craig's input has been invaluable. Not only did Archer Cooper build me a brilliant site, but Craig (Founder) guided me through the whole process, helping influence strategy, content, and marketing. He is a great guy with a smart commercial and technical mind. I couldn't recommend him more highly and look forward to continuing to work with him as sevenyays.com goes from strength to strength.

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

Genuinely nothing that I can readily identify.