Barker & Christol

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an Advisory Board Member at Old School Farm and Arts

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Barker & Christol?

Organization restructuring

What were your goals for this project?

Complete restructuring and rebranding

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Based on the positive reviews, variety of services and initial conversation with Brooks Christol

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The agency with a world vision and constantly improving the approach to marketing and service.

What was the team composition?

Have worked closely with founder Brooks Christol

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project had a huge success among Board members who enthusiastically adopted suggested ideas and changes. Our rebranding is in full speed.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Efficient and on time

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Barker & Christol is truly a group of exceptional professionals. I had the pleasure of working with Brooks Christol himself and it was an honor. He and his colleague Dustin have kindly offered to help our small non-profit organization.

They interviewed us thoroughly, listened to our needs and organized a strategy session to obtain more information about us and our work. They have got an incredible understanding of our organization and initiatives which resulted in proposing new ideas, challenging us and suggesting a new approach.

Their work was valuable to us and it helped us to kick start restructuring and rebranding. Thanks to Brooks Christol, we are maintaining regular communication and updating him on our progress. We felt valued as a customer would be an understatement. I would recommend Barker & Christol to any company or organization to work within the peace and in crisis times. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

None, keep up the good work!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a real estate and auction company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Barker & Christol?

We hired their team to help us get more traffic to our website and our auctions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Barker & Christol provide a range of services for us. They’ve planned out our social media calendar. Brochures and videos about our development have also been produced by their team. Their team runs our SEO campaigns, as well. 

What is the team composition?

Two people primarily work with us. 

How did you come to work with Barker & Christol?

I had formed a connection with Brooks (Partner, Barker & Christol) through a board that we both served on. I had seen the work he did for the board and was impressed. We got along great and he was also good at his job, so I decided to hire them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2018 and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s hard in our business to tell where the traffic is coming from, but we have had one of our best years recently. We’ve also heard from several people that they’ve seen our Facebook ads and customers compliment our brochures. 

How did Barker & Christol perform from a project management standpoint?

We frequently communicate through email, and we have monthly in-person meetings. Their team presents new plans at each meeting, laying out ideas and potential next steps. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re an enjoyable team to work with—they make the work fun and we’re never bored. We tend to go over our time just because we’re talking about so many other interesting things, so they’re great and informative to work with. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really can’t think of anything they could improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let them do their thing and trust their ideas. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in marketing for a home building company. We build about 100–125 houses every year.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Barker & Christol?

We hired Barker & Christol to help with print advertising and our online presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Every year, we have a few brainstorm sessions to set our plans and pick an area to focus on, like new communities or lifestyles. From there, they create advertising materials and efforts based on those needs. 

What is the team composition?

I work closely with two people from their team. 

How did you come to work with Barker & Christol?

We’d already been working with Barker & Christol before I started with the company, so I wasn’t responsible for finding them. They work with another company that supports our efforts and we've had a smooth engagement, so it was a natural choice to continue using their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Since I joined the company in 2017, our engagement has been ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Whenever we’re running a campaign, I always see a jump in the metrics that we’re tracking. The ads have been placed very well within our communities, so people let us know when it catches their eye. 

How did Barker & Christol perform from a project management standpoint?

We typically communicate through email, along with the occasional phone call. All of our deadlines are met by their team. I’ve never had a timeframe go by without hearing from them. They always reach out to me to check our needs ahead of publishing materials, too. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a very personable team that likes to learn about the customer’s company and needs. They’re not trying to push their own ideas that wouldn’t work for us. I really appreciate the ease of access that comes when working with them. They’re very flexible and easy to work with. We have smooth transitions between our teams and they’re quick to turnaround communication and materials. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t come across anything they could do better. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open in order to have good communication. You should always have a clear message so they can precisely know what you need. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a nonprofit organization that specializes in working with children who have suffered from trauma of some sort, and I’m the manager of the marketing department.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Barker & Christol?

There was major brand confusion within our organization as well as externally in the community, so we were looking to freshen things up a little bit, brand-wise, as well as to alleviate some of the confusion about who we are and what we do.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They came to our office for an initial meeting and just dove in, getting to the core of our identity and then helping us recognize some of the hard-to-admit problems that we had in our brand and messaging. They helped us redesign our logo and our website, as well as come up with more consistent copy around the ways that we talk about our purpose as an organization.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with two members of their team, one more on the design side and then one account manager as well.

How did you come to work with Barker & Christol?

We went through an RFP process and they responded. The biggest thing for me was that looking at their website, we could tell that not only had they worked with nonprofit organizations in the past, but they really understood what it was like to have a nonprofit as a client. Once we knew that they would be able to support our mission-based work, we decided to go with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2019 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have our biggest fundraiser coming up later today, actually, and are planning on unveiling the changes there. That will be an important sign of how the project will be accepted on a larger scale. Internally, the new logo, designs, and messaging have all been very well-received, which we are excited about.

How did Barker & Christol perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very easy to communicate, which is a huge relief for me. I have a project management background, so it was great to be able to work with folks who speak the same language and communicate early and often about pretty much everything.

We talk multiple times a week and always have very substantive conversations. They are very direct about where we are at, what’s going on, and what they need from us for our next steps, so we’ve never had any problems.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their whole team is just very personable. There are a lot of emotions that come into play when you’re rebranding an organization that’s been around for over 20 years and have some attachments to the original branding system. They do a great job of being compassionate and professional at the same time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, our whole experience with them has been very positive.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just be open and honest when communicating your requirements to them. Don’t try to hide anything, because they’re going to deliver what’s best for your organization in the end.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a business owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Barker & Christol?

We needed web redesign and a brand refresh. 

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to further establish our brand within the marketplace. We wanted a significant refresh for our entire look and feel, from our logo to our web presence.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our team interviewed a number of service providers, both local and national. Barker Christol took the time to listen to us, grasp our business goals, and understand how we planned to grow.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected Barker Christol, we had several discovery meetings that further defined the project's needs and scope. The process was simple and smooth, and they were responsive from concept to delivery. They provided opinions in a consultative manner

, and were patient with our internal decision-making process.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with every functional expert, while a single point of contact facilitated each stage and drove the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are very pleased with the outcome of the project, which further defined our message and expertise and positioned us better within the market. Now we can leverage our brand with greater credibility to new customers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their workflow was consistent, easy, and timely. They kept their end of the bargain and consistently delivered on time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by their willingness to listen, their creative designs, and their timely deliveries. I was satisfied with the process and the final product. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a marketing manager at a heating and air company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Barker & Christol?

We were looking for a company to help us with our marketing plan, social media, and website management.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They're responsible for all of our digital marketing efforts and handle both strategy development and implementation. They manage our website, a Facebook account, and SEO. They also help us with all the creative materials.

What is the team composition?

We work with 6–7 members of their team.

How did you come to work with them?

I wasn't with the company when we first started working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend over $100,000 a year on their services.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2016 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They're very available and promptly respond to our emails or phone calls. If we need a quick turnaround on anything or if someone leaves a negative comment, they resolve the issue immediately.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform very well. We have monthly meetings, so they keep us up-to-date with the progress. When we have feedback, they're willing to sit down and discuss what they can do to get it right. If they feel strongly that we need to go in a certain direction, they always explain their reasoning and educate us until we feel comfortable with the strategy.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very personable and accessible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're responsive to feedback, so keep an open line of communication. That helped us get exactly what we wanted.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the manager of member services at Duck River Electric Membership Corporation. We are an electricity distributor in Tennessee.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Barker & Christol?

We were about to embark upon about a year and a half effort to change all of our electro-mechanical meters in the field to advanced meters. For some reason, advanced meters have a negative connotation attached to them, so we wanted Barker & Christol's help in communicating the proper message about the meters to our membership.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They brainstormed with us and presented a pitch of what the message should be. They helped us with the copywriting and the branding of the marketing campaign. They developed a branding for the product, created a tagline that we could use for future technologies, and created all the communication pieces for the pilot of the advanced meters that we would then hope to carry through our full deployment. They provided all graphic design services for our business mailing, a residential mailing, and extra handout information.

What is the team composition?

We work with three or four people.

How did you come to work with Barker & Christol?

They were recommended by a neighboring electrical cooperative that is about three times our size. We felt comfortable that if Barker & Christol could handle an account that size well enough to earn that recommendation, they could handle us as well.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent less than $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2017. Our pilot test was administered in fall 2017, and our full deployment began in May 2018. It will be another year before we’ve finished the deployment.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We did the pilot with 7,500 of our members, and the communication materials were so strong and so effective that we had very little pushback. In the two areas where we launched the pilot, our goal was that our members would not reject the meters and not choose to opt out of having one. Of those 7,500, we only had 14 members choose to opt out and not take the meter. It was a very successful pilot in terms of communicating the right message so that members don't make an uninformed decision.

How did Barker & Christol perform from a project management standpoint?

They have been excellent. The account executive assigned to us has been prompt, and he listens well and understands our objectives. He’s attentive to our needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of their strengths is their ability to think outside the box. The campaign material that they came back with was something I would have never thought of. I would have never thought to approach it in the creative way that they approached it. When we got the materials back, it was clear why we needed them. They're great listeners and great questioners. They researched our industry and tried to produce something that would resonate with our members.

Any advice for potential customers?

It is best to have a brainstorming session and utilize their creativity.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the office manager for Home Pest Control of Middle Tennessee. We’re one of the oldest pest control and termite companies in the Nashville area. Started as a family-owned company in 1959, we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and excellent ratings across all search and social platforms.

I work directly with the president/owner and oversee the administrative side of the business. I handle everything from maintenance and custodial work around the office to calculating the payroll, cutting checks, and filing taxes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Barker & Christol?

Barker & Christol worked with us for years doing basic SEO, logo design, and marketing consulting. Last year, we proposed a stronger partnership and asked for their aid in multiple aspects of marketing. We gave them our full budget, including all digital and print materials, and they created a plan that matched our revenue and goals. Now that we have an established partnership, we sit down and go over what we have and where we want to go and allow them to take the lead.

They first proposed a digital campaign to increase our revenue and expand our influence within the market and industry. Using our budget, they helped us build a stronger digital product to advertise. They created a stunning website and suggested policies and procedures for social platforms. Now, they’re focusing mainly on SEO since we have a great digital product that we need to push in front of people.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase our revenue and influence by creating a better digital product that communicates more clearly with our consumers. Barker & Christol accomplished this by designing a better website with a cleaner format and establishing a strong presence on social platforms. With this digital presence, we’re able to convey a sense of professionalism and honest communication before our client ever has to pick up the phone and speak with us.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our company selected Barker & Christol before I came on board. They are trustworthy, family-oriented, and masters of their craft. They have decades of experience and show the utmost care and attention to every client, regardless of how large of a campaign that client needs. They truly want what’s best for us and for our customers.

We decided to form a stronger partnership with them after many trial-and-error marketing experiments on our own. Barker & Christol had never taken advantage of us as a small client or pushed us to the wayside. Because of the integrity and care they showed when we didn't work together as closely, we decided to give them more control over our marketing.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They have almost complete control of our marketing efforts. Our company’s owner, operations manager, and I form a strategy and budget with realistic goals for our busy season during the winter months. Then, we talk with Barker & Christol and ask them to form the marketing plan to drive that goal to fruition. If something doesn't sit right with us, they immediately find a better alternative.

They created and formatted our entire website, and they now handle every aspect of our SEO and AdWords. They also guide our social media management and provide tracking and reporting. During our website creation, we provided a lot of content outlines (e.g., services, insect information) as well as the vision and identity of our company.

What was the team composition?

A lot of team members were involved. I spoke with both partners about strategy and vision, an art director designed the website, a social media manager helped me create in-house policies and procedures, a writer formed the website copy, and an SEO specialist prepared keywords. Several other team members had a role behind the scenes.

The team composition never changed, and we never felt confused or overwhelmed. Barker & Christol planned sessions with me in advance and communicated efficiently. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have received nothing but positive reviews on our website. Our Facebook membership doubled within a few weeks. Our product successfully conveys a sense of open communication and professionalism before customers ever speak with us. Once they find us online, they’re interested.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Barker & Christol managed every task and never let me become overwhelmed. We communicated via email and phone and scheduled meetings through Gmail for simplicity. They gave realistic deadlines and ample support to complete whatever task needed to be done. They took feedback well and never seemed offended if we disagreed with an approach. They always offered alternatives, delivered promptly, and made sure everything was convenient for us.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They advocate for our customers and hold us accountable for the message they are advertising on our behalf.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We’re completely satisfied and only regret not having more revenue for advertising with them. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Jones Company of Tennessee, LLC is a 90-year-old legacy home builder specializing in construction and land development. We are located in Franklin, Tennessee. I am the Director of Marketing. I handle all of the advertising and marketing decisions for The Jones Company; our sister company, Consort Homes, in St. Louis, Missouri; and all of our new home communities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Barker & Christol?

We were searching for a local ad agency that could understand the local real estate market. We wanted a small firm that would not treat us like a number and would not "nickel and dime" us to death on hourly billing. We also wanted a firm that was flexible, creative, and willing to be a partner with us, not just a consultant.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals range from broad ideas like increasing awareness or branding to more specific sales-driven goals, such as increasing neighborhood traffic by 15%. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We conducted an online search and compared all of the local ad agencies and their portfolios. We met with a few other agencies and even worked with several more before we selected Barker & Christol.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Barker & Christol have helped us with promotional campaigns, branding campaigns, billboards, print advertising, video, and more. They handle design concepts, media placement, and even some supporting items such as signage.

What was the team composition?

We have a dedicated representative on our account, as well as several supporting team members. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

We have worked on a variety projects with Barker & Christol throughout our six years together, and our goals are always met. They have facilitated many successful campaigns.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are extremely responsive and organized. We always get great results and the work is completed in a timely manner.