Awaken Branding

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president of a mattress company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Awaken Branding?

We reached out to Awaken Branding for help with our brand messaging and organization.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Awaken Branding initially did a lot of background work, flying out to our office to meet in person to brainstorm and hone in on our objectives. They also conducted research on our target audience, applying psychographic and demographic data to then cultivate unique brand messaging materials. They ultimately delivered a lot of written content that's used to introduce our company to new customers, as well as branding guidelines. 

What is the team composition? 

I had one main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Awaken Branding?

I called a few different vendors but ultimately felt that Awaken Branding had the best value proposition for the price. I also liked that they were local within the U.S. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested just under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from around April–June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Awaken Branding did an excellent job of simplifying our message. They also streamlined a lot of communications materials, making information about our products more digestible for consumers. 

How did Awaken Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very organized and efficient from start to finish. We never had any trouble reaching them by phone or email. They also provided regular progress reports throughout the engagement. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're both creative and data-driven, combining the two seamlessly. An adequate amount of data backed every decision they made. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They performed perfectly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Maintain open lines of communication and be honest about branding goals. Try to bring as much information to the table as possible. It was challenging for us in the beginning, for instance, because their team had a lot of questions that we didn't necessarily have answers to. The more you can elaborate on what you're trying to say about your company and products, the better equipped they'll be to help. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of an e-commerce platform for fruit-based hair masks. We’ve produce perishable hair masks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Awaken Studio?

We needed assistance developing our website and rebranding our hair mask jars.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Awaken Studio worked on this project from the idea phase to the launch. We received multiple options for our branding and packaging from them, and they helped us find the best choice. Their team supported us in redoing our logo, creating brochures and banners, and developing our website. They also supplied photography for the site and used WordPress to build it.

What is the team composition?

I worked with the creative director and the art director.

How did you come to work with Awaken Studio?

We wanted someone local to Atlanta, and we were referred to Awaken Studio by a friend. Our team liked the feminine aspect of their brand. We chose them primarily because of the ability to meet them in person, but that didn’t end up happening during this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February until September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received positive feedback on the website and rebranded packaging. The Awaken Studio team delivered exactly what we envisioned for the project. The site and materials are feminine, beautiful, and delicate. We are in the launch process.

How did Awaken Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team used Basecamp to communicate and display project materials.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciate the work Awaken Studio did for us; they did a good job understanding what we wanted. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Though their work is excellent, being more receptive to constructive feedback could improve the overall professional relationship.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a hair care product manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Awaken Studio.

We were revamping our complete collection product line, which included changing the bottle and label before going retail. We wanted to keep the vision of our product the same even as the look changed, making it stronger to closely align with our goals.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Awaken Studio was the first branding agency that we worked with. They gave us a proposal for rebranding and one of the first steps was to perform research to understand where we stand in the market. They gathered data from our target audience and told us where and how to best launch our new product. Once we had all of the market research compiled, they gave us a second proposal which included a timeline of what we needed before the launch of the new product line.

They produced a number of deliverable products, including a new label design. We’re an organic brand so we wanted illustrations of plants and herbs. Awaken Studio negotiated with different artists to get the look we wanted. Once that was completed, they created all the marketing materials including pamphlets, brochures, and design content for the website. They also provided ideas for the photo shoot to promote the product line. They contributed to almost everything that goes with the new message and design of the brand.

What is the team dynamic?

Our project manager was Andres [Art Director, Awaken Studio]. We mainly worked with him directly, but if we are on a tight deadline, then sometimes Luisa [Creative Director, Awaken Studio] will come in and help to make sure we meet that timeline.

How did you come to work with Awaken Studio?

My partner found Awaken Studio. I think Andres used to previously work for one of the labs we also worked with. My partner worked with him on a project and she thought it would be a good fit.

I did have other candidates that we were going back and forth with. The reason we chose Awaken Studio was that they were very understanding that we are a small business, and they worked with our budget. Everybody else had set pricing and didn’t care if the business was small or large. We liked that they were able to accommodate us and work with what we have.

How much have you invested with them?

Approximately $14,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in September 2016, but the original planning and proposal started in January 2017 as a six-month project. We have since then extended the project. The work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They really understood my vision and what I wanted with the brand. Everything they’ve delivered has been on point. It’s difficult to find somebody you can match up with, and they understand what you’re trying to do. They brought everything to life.

How did Awaken Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve been communicating through the platform Basecamp, which allows us to have an idea where we are in our product line.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I travel frequently to promote the brand. No matter what time it is, whenever I call or text our project manager, he answers and is always there. There’s nothing better than to have security when you need a project done and you know that they’re there for you.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m very satisfied so far. They’ve been very understanding with everything at this point. There hasn’t been a single thing that I felt has been lacking.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a contract manufacturer servicing the personal care and beauty industry. I’m the president and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Awaken Studio?

We wanted packaging and website branding for a new brand we’re developing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created all our branding for our launch this December (2017). We expanded on their original logo design, and developed packaging and artwork based on that. We’re now doing 3D renderings and are moving into work on our website.

They’re building everything for the site, including the platform development, a shopping cart feature, and everything but the copy. We provide the verbiage, and make sure we’re following the regulatory guidelines for the product line. They do the rest.

What is the team dynamic?

I work with Andres Escorcia [Art Director, Awaken Studio] and Luisa Guevara [Creative Director, Awaken Studio].

How did you come to work with Awaken Studio?

Another contract manufacturer recommended them. They’re a new company, and young, which is part of the reason I wanted to work with them. Their capacity to think differently blew me away.

We first met in our offices and discussed what we wanted to accomplish. They returned with a whole proposal based upon our needs, including three different logo options. I loved their concepts, so we decided to move forward with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere around $8,000–$9,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started near October 2016, and are still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback we’ve received is mostly from in-house tests. Everyone likes the look of the product and the logos. They met every single point in our timeline, and we’ve been able to measure their progress.

How did Awaken Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive, and I have had no issues communicating with them. We speak on Skype at least once a week to keep on top of the project. I can reach out to them any time during the day, and they offer times they are available. I really enjoy working with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have great ideas, and are innovative and thorough. If we want to make a change that might negatively impact the image of the final product, they show us potential outcomes and make suggestions for a different route.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a new company, but they’re right on track. They don’t have much experience just yet, but they have the capacity. They’ll have a lot of important clients in a short time.