BatesMeron Sweet Design

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-owner of a food truck business oriented around Detroit-style pizza. We recently shifted to a brick and mortar location that offers pick up and deliveries. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

As a result of our transition to the brick and mortar store, we needed to have a better social media presence. We did well on social media but focused on the pizza and didn’t expand much beyond that with the brand. We also wanted to create promotional materials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BatesMeron mostly developed merchandise to supplement our healthy social media presence. Their team created 3–4 different designs that we’ll apply to many of our marketing materials.

They also developed a customer loyalty program. Their team was involved in generating ideas. We started with a call when we discussed what we wanted to tackle. We also talked about our goal and how to structure the program around it. For example, would it be a punch card or a spend-based program? We settled on a punch card, and then BatesMeron created designs and a name.

What is the team composition?

Initially, we had four people on the call. Our main group ended up being three people.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our partnership in April 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We added our rewards program to our Monday email blasts. In the email, we tell customers how many pizzas they need to buy to achieve a free one. It incentivizes a purchase. We’ve definitely seen an uptick in repeat customers, which was our goal.

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicated via email but reviewed materials on Zoom calls. Our first call focused on fact-finding. Rather than pushing us, their team listened to what we needed. During the second call, they shared their ideas to secure our approval. Their team delivered their recommendations and gathered feedback during the subsequent calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team was in our target demographic, which enabled them to give appropriate feedback. It was nice to work with a young design team of like-minded people.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If anything, their team could’ve brought more ideas to the table. They did what I expected, which was listening to us and focusing on our needs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come prepared with a clear idea of what problems you want to solve. As soon as they understood our problems, they had a clear path in mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president and founder of Flower Show Productions. We are an event production team that focuses on large-scale greening and gardening events for education, inspiration, and motivation within the gardening community.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Our initial goal was rebranding the show, which included developing a new name and logo as well as reorganizing some of the actual events to be a little more relevant to today’s society.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled the rebranding process from end-to-end, working closely with us to deliver graphic design, copywriting, marketing suggestions and programming, and experiential programming creation. The only thing they haven’t done is actually place the media in various outlets, but they’ve done all of the content creation tasks leading up to that step for us.

What is the team composition?

We have a main point of contact as well as 2–3 other teammates who work on the project. I am also in contact with their owner about more general aspects of the engagement.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Our company interviewed a few firms and really liked the energy of their team, so we decided to bring them on board.

How much have you invested with them?

The total investment has been over $1,000,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2011 and are continuing to do so today.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the things that we experience on an ongoing basis is people being very impressed by our look and imagery. They’ve helped us to come up with a different theme for the flower and garden show every year since we started working together. They’ve done ideation sessions and a lot of design work that has received almost entirely positive feedback.

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We typically use Basecamp to communicate with them on a daily basis, as well as holding a base set of meetings depending on the time of year and what’s in front of us. That could be anywhere from once a month to once a week depending on how close we are to our events.

They were very flexible about scheduling those meetings, both in terms of time as well as location depending on what was more appropriate. They have really walked through the entire process with us over the years, and never let a thing slip through the cracks in that time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve always liked how easy to talk to and connect with they are. The quality and thoughtfulness of their work was what really drew me to them and has kept me coming back. I’ve especially appreciated the times that they came back to me and said that I wanted one thing but that they thought I would be happier with something else.

I really liked that because it showed they had looked at who I was and built upon our past experiences, which is not something you get with the vast majority of outsourcing companies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have to say that there isn’t anything in particular I wish they would improve. The owner and I meet once a quarter to talk about potential improvements but those are always addressed so I don’t have any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t hold back. Put out as much effort as you want back from them, because telling them the nitty-gritty or ugly truths of where you’re at and what you need will help them to really get to the core of your business goals.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of DX Learning, a leadership development firm. We cater to any sized company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We wanted to take our existing, older website and update it. We also wanted to enhance our brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began our engagement with BatesMeron by focusing on the brand image and messaging of our company. After consulting with all internal teams, they delivered a 20-page document on the brand itself, a new logo, a new color scheme, new messaging, and other content to support how we were going to position ourselves in the marketplace. 

Now, we're in the midst of the website transition, and the team is currently working on development. BatesMeron has replaced the landing page, which is now in line with the new branding and messaging. The team created all the wireframes themselves.

What is the team composition?

We’ve interfaced with four people so far. My main point of contact is Amy (Senior Account Manager). We also work with Becka (President), Maggie (Copywriter), and Matt (Senior Designer).

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I met Becka through a CEO peer group. We became colleagues and friends though that, and when the time came to update our company, I gave her a call.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000–$120,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in March 2019 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any hard metrics, but anecdotally, we’ve received a lot of positive feedback from clients. They’re impressed with the new colors and logo; in short, they love the brand. Even those who’ve been familiar with our company for five years or so have said they prefer the new look. Internally, we love it as well. BatesMeron has provided the utmost quality. 

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They always deliver on time, and their communication is strong. To track the project, we use Basecamp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The intimacy and willingness to get to know us that they’ve brought sets them apart. BatesMeron has a diverse team with a great skill set, and their ability to visualize and articulate what we want to get across is excellent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re great when it comes to delivering on expectations, but one place they could work to improve is keeping consistent communication throughout the project. Having weekly check-ins and follow-ups would be great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide them with as much clarity as possible, and do your best to be proactive. Also, understand that the more work you put upfront, the more you define the project’s success.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a bookkeeper for Quality Network Solutions, a company that provides I.T. technicians and hardware to 145 school districts in Illinois and Missouri. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We wanted to design a logo to celebrate our 20th anniversary in business as a gift to the owner of the company. Then, we decided to redesign the company logo as well. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BatesMeron initially talked to me about different facets of the company (i.e., our services, target audience, and goals). We didn't want a logo that was too flashy since we targeted schools with small budgets; we wanted something clean and bold. After they developed our 20th-anniversary logo, our management team was so pleased that they gave me the go-ahead to have BatesMeron redesign our main logo as well. 

What is the team composition? 

I worked with Becka (President, BatesMeron Sweet Design) and Joshua (Associate Creative Director, BatesMeron Sweet Design). 

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I met Becka through a children's charity project that I worked on years ago and I liked her work then. When it came time to redesign our logo, I reached out to her after we had horrible results from trying to work with a cheap vendor. Fortunately, she was happy to help even though it was a much smaller project than what her team typically takes on. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We love all the logo options BatesMeron provided. The new logo brought our company up to the current century and improved our overall image online. The anniversary logo boosted awareness and the legitimacy of our brand within our community, which has been great for business. 

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Becka got back to me right away when I first reached out to her. Their team did a great job of collaborating closely with us over the phone to flesh out design ideas, making the whole process fast and efficient. Josh also did a great job of explaining everything and walking me through any technical issues I had with opening or viewing files. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very intuitive. It's amazing how they were able to listen and translate our vision into designs as if they knew our company as well as we do. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I was perfectly thrilled with everything they did. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you're looking to achieve when you begin if possible. It's always harder when there's more than one person making decisions, so try to narrow the focus as much as possible. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing for Impact XM, an experiential marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We needed a vendor to replace our previous programmer; that resource was disorganized and inefficient. We hired BatesMeron Sweet Design to build a new website with efficient functionalities. We wanted the designs to reflect the team’s branding expertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a WordPress site from scratch using a base template. We then expanded the scope to include graphic design. Our team signed a six-month commitment for those services.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Leah (Account Coordinator, BatesMeron Sweet Design). The team included a string of project managers and a dedicated programmer.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I knew the owner from previous projects. During those engagements, the team produced top-quality work, had savvy expertise, and was well-priced.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from April–August 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team was design-oriented and confident in their decisions. They defended their choices whenever I disagreed with a solution, but they were also open to compromise and alterations. I appreciated the level of counsel BatesMeron Sweet Design provided in addition to their excellent customer service.

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Our side had unrealistic expectations, but BatesMeron Sweet Design helped us establish viable timelines. They drove the schedule and made necessary adjustments to overcome challenges. The dedicated programmer invested significant time in our account while managing their other clients’ needs. I communicated directly with Leah and the dedicated programmer as direct points of contact; both resources accurately relayed messages. The entire team used Basecamp to track progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their branding and design expertise were noteworthy. The team had business acumen and the friendly service of a boutique firm. It was the best of both worlds. They were savvy and fun to work with—a spectacular combo.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could upsell better. The team didn’t push their services and I only discovered one offering by accident. They could market themselves more assertively.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the senior director of corporate communications for Lundbeck, a global pharmaceutical company based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We wanted to redesign our organization's identity and look and feel to reflect our old values and connect with our employees.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The BatesMeron team conducted several extensive meetings in their discovery process to understand our business perspective. They met with our business leaders, figured out our goals, and designed digital content to connect with new and existing employees. BatesMerson provided advice on our designs and how to improve our employees' perception of the company.

What is the team composition?

I worked with the owner of the firm, an account manager, designers, and strategists.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I met with the owner of the company at an event and was impressed with the unique way they ran the business.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $40,000– $50,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have worked with them since September 2017 and the engagement ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measured the culmination of the design campaign and people’s reactions. The results were in the high 90s out of 100 for an understanding of our company’s beliefs which was the primary goal of the redesign.

How did perform from a project management standpoint?

BatesMerson always stayed in touch about deadlines, updated us on modifications, and replied to our feedback. They were transparent with cost and took their time to understand our feedback and prioritize our business perspective, unlike many other design firms.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really take the time to discover your business and to customize their approach to the business challenge. They are creative with their solutions and keep the project cost-effective.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything right now.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of CT Mechanical. We’re an HVAC mechanical contractor that serves the Chicago, IL area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron?

We were looking to establish an updated, consistent voice and update our marketing materials accordingly. The company is 10 years old and we wanted to break out of the small contractor mentality to show take on bigger projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the engagement with a series of introductory meetings and worked together to define our goals and set our course of action. We decided to create a comprehensive style guide that included language preferences, color schemes, email templates, and other standards we were looking to adhere to. Following its completion, we put BatesMeron on retainer and used them for specific projects as necessary. On our 10th anniversary, they helped us phrase an email salutation to highlight the milestone. We’re currently working on sell sheets and branded merchandise as well.

What is the team composition?

We had an account manager that served as our main point of contact, and Becka (President, BatesMeron) was involved throughout the project as well.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron?

We recently hosted a piping supplier of ours for an in-house presentation, and we were very impressed by the quality of their materials. We asked who did the project for them and they referred us to BatesMeron.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $40,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2017, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have metrics available yet, but we’ve been very impressed with their ability to understand and simplify the technical jargon specific to our industry. We gave them fairly limited information on our business going into the project, and the sell sheets they’ve produced have exceeded all expectations.

How did BatesMeron perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great communicators and they always respond when we have questions or concerns. I’ve been very pleased with them so far.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve worked hard to understand our business and establish a voice that complimented and advanced our mission. Other vendors we’ve worked with have required a hands-on approach to leading the team, whereas BatesMeron has guided us through the process and worked collaboratively to achieve the best possible results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Fredman Design Group, a full-service interior design and architecture firm that specializes in residential design. We have offices in Chicago and Michigan.

At Fredman Design Group, our interior designers, architects and creative minds expand the possibility of what design can do for our clients in their spaces. We design spaces with soul.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We're in the process of rebranding to honor the work that we've done over the last 40+ years. With our new CEO, we wanted to create a brand in alignment with her vision for the company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They walked us through several different steps in our rebrand process that they created, with unique design and tailored messaging based on our business. They spent a lot of time with our executive leadership team and the CEO to understand our goals and company culture.

They went on to oversee a complete rebrand that included a new company name, new logos, new language for all of our collateral materials and new ads/signage. They also redesigned our website and revamped our social media presence.

What is the team composition?

We worked with the entire team, but our primary contacts were the president, the creative director, a senior copy writer, and an account manager.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

They presented a proposal to our team. After interviewing several prospects, we concluded that they were the best option for the project. We’ve been working with them since December 2016.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $100,000-$250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2016. They now manage our marketing operations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have specific data right now but we track social media engagement. They’ve been instrumental in populating everything we can to expand our brand in a cohesive way.

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

BatesMeron did a fantastic job. We corresponded through email and weekly meetings, and they've been very responsive throughout the project. We share a hard drive of information and use it to collaborate on various design/marketing efforts.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is creative, diverse, and talented. They don’t approach their work in a conventional manner like other companies in the media and PR space. They have a unique method of engaging in dialogue to get to the heart of the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are Porter Pipe & Supply and I am the marketing and training coordinator. We are a wholesale supplier, serving the mechanical, industrial, and commercial construction markets in the Chicagoland and surrounding areas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We had the same letterhead and branding materials for 30–35 years. We wanted to rebrand ahead of our 40th anniversary in 2016. We wanted something modern that really represented our company and our trajectory.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial discovery meeting with their team to talk about our goals and our business identity. We’re a family-owned business, so we emphasize partnership with all our customers and vendors. They asked a lot of questions to delve into what we wanted. From there, we came up with a new logo and branding through an iterative process.

Since the rebranding, we work with them on a monthly basis as our main marketing firm. We’re working on a value proposition folder that represents our brand with sell sheet inserts, flyer templates, website redesign options, emails, etc. It’s a well-designed folder that covers every aspect of our marketing. They’ve looked at all the defining elements of our brand and are helping us evolve.

What is the team composition?

Becka (President, BatesMeron Sweet Design) was our initial point of contact, but we work regularly with Carlie (Account Manager, BatesMeron Sweet Design), Josh (Senior Copywriter + Brand Strategist, BatesMeron Sweet Design), Melissa (Creative Director, BatesMeron Sweet Design), and Todd (Graphic Designer, BatesMeron Sweet Design).

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Our COO is in a Vistage group. One of his group members worked with Becka and recommended her. They built a rapport right away. We met with them and other firms, but felt they were more personal and would be a better partner. We knew immediately that they were the team we wanted to work with.

How much have you invested with them?

The rebranding cost $21,000–$25,000. We now have them on a $7,000 monthly retainer.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started rebranding in July 2016 and wrapped up the initial phase in December 2016. We continue to evolve our graphics and messaging, which is part of the reason we keep them on retainer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This was a strong partnership from the beginning. We went to market with our new look in early 2017 and didn’t have much of a marketing presence until then. 2017 was the first year we hit our sales goals and broke the $100 million mark as a company. We get tons of feedback from customers that the new logo is recognizable and our messaging is clear. They have absolutely played a role in our success.

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re awesome. I’m new to the marketing area, but they walked me through all of their ideas. We use Basecamp as our main project management tool. Now, we have over 30 different projects at any given point. I have a weekly call with Carlie to prioritize projects and can contact Becka for any emergency needs. They’re a great group. I don’t have to worry about my marketing materials; I know I’m in good hands.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve worked with a lot of different marketing companies, but I can always trust BatesMeron. I consider them friends and their work is exceptional. We’ve never been disappointed with anything they’ve produced for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like them to visit us more. We changed our monthly site visits to conference calls as part of our retainer, but we do like seeing them to keep the interaction more personal. I know our executives meet regularly, but it would be good to have more face-to-face time with the whole team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is Happy Work Spectacular Life, and we do career coaching for people at any stage of the work world’s life. I’m a co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We needed an initial branding campaign. We had our wonderful baby of an idea, and we needed BatesMeron to figure out our logo and how to position ourselves soup to nuts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BatesMeron has a pretty neat process that they follow. They make it super easy as a client to take the anxiety out of the overwhelming task of figuring out who you are and how you want to represent yourself. It started off as an initial meeting where we got to go around the room in what they called a “visual buffet” where we got to identify looks and feels of images and campaigns that we liked and didn’t like. This helped to get more of a look and feel for what we wanted visually and emotionally out of our brand, and they were able to drive that out of us.

We had a great facilitated discussion that BatesMeron's team led around what mattered to us and why. It also helped us identify who we were and why we were different from any of our competitors. It was like a clarity session after coming from something that was fuzzy. We had done quite a bit of work ahead of time before coming in with them, and we knew we needed something professional to really spruce us up. We thought we had all of our ducks in a row in our answers, but then they came in with the session and helped us take the fuzzy lines and sharpened up the edges. Then BatesMeron took all of our discussion away. I’m not sure how they did it because it was so convoluted and crazy the way we gave them all this information, and they came back with a brand, a personality brief, and rounds of logo iterations.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Becka Bates [President, BatesMeron Sweet Design] is a member of a monthly CEO organization called Vistage. That’s where I knew her from.

How much have you invested with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Our engagement was $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with BatesMeron in October 2016. Our project will be completed within the next few weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I wish we had metrics because that would mean we are up and running. The results have yet to come up because we haven’t launched the website. At this point, it’s purely anecdotal. So far, folks we’ve shared our logo with, even though it’s not finalized, have really liked it. Preliminary feedback from our advisory board is that they like the wording and essence of how BatesMeron captured who we are and who we want to be.

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

It has been very positive. The BatesMeron team is very well organized. They use Basecamp, but we didn’t really adopt it. We mostly used emails, phone, and face-to-face meetings.

What did you most impressive about BatesMeron Sweet Design?

BatesMeron does great artwork. They are also really cool to work with. It was cool to see that they really got us from the beginning. They are so intuitive and smart that it didn’t take them long to figure out who we are, what we want, and a great way to present our brand.

Are there any areas BatesMeron Sweet Design could improve?

In a world where I am all about improvement, I honestly can’t think of something that stands out for them to work on.