BLVR®

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communications director for Young Life Africa/Middle East, a nonprofit working with high and middle school students in 24 African countries, and two in the Middle East.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?

We needed a website that could act as a "virtual banquet".  The existing platform was difficult to work with and didn't allow us to leverage our digital assets in a way that transported the viewer to Africa.  We were growing quickly and wanted a robust means to demonstrate impact and convey information.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BLVR developed our site in WordPress with some custom elements. We’re not very technical, but the site is easy for us to use. We have a number of plug-ins, including an interactive map that allows people to zoom in on certain locations and get more information about the specific countries we work in.

Because most of our donors are in the US we wanted a website that served as a virtual fundraising banquet and mentally transported them to the regions where we work. We initially focused on our work in Africa, giving our donors insight into the kids we work with and their stories via video. The site is primarily informational, but we do have call-to-action sections for people to donate. Since the website launched, BLVR has designed several report templates to build a more cohesive look and feel. They’ve also produced a number of small graphics.

What is the team composition?

We usually have a single point of contact, a project manager, and a designer with a supporting team. I don’t know the whole team, but we met the lead developer when we visited their office, along with the lead creative, the project manager, and 6–7 developers. I know they worked with additional people for the plug-ins. Their creative director also provides input.

How did you come to work with BLVR?

We contacted three firms, including BLVR, and selected them based on their creative and the team they put together. They were on the shortlist for a previous web development project several years ago, but that was shelved. When I talked to people in our organization for recommendations this time around, BLVR was a known commodity. Additionally, they’d done work for other groups we thought highly of. In talking with BLVR, I felt like they truly understood us and our Christian purpose.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since April 2017. Since the website launched in 2018, we’ve worked on other one-off projects including fixing some web pages or introducing additional plugins.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen a lot of traffic going to our sponsorship campaign on the site, so we’ve definitely gotten a bump. Internally, people have told me that our site now sets the standard for our organization. In building our website, BLVR established a look and feel that was both more creative and more strategic regarding donations than what we had before.

How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?

We used BugHerd during web development to track issues and task progress. It helped allow both our teams to work remotely. We’ve also used GoToMeeting and Zoom for video conferencing. Email has been sufficient for the large part of our interactions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're thoughtful regarding design and provide excellent photography services. Photography is our main challenge due to a lack of on-the-ground resources, but BLVR’s lead designer scanned through our images and applied unique filters to create a powerful look and feel.

I also appreciated the work they did on the research side to understand who we were. This helped produce a design that pushed us out of our comfort zone. We went back and forth, and they were flexible without compromising too much. Finally, their flat structure made it so I could talk to their principal, project manager, and team members alike.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. I really enjoy working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO at The Rock Church.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?

We were looking for help with new branding and a new website. We wanted to stand out and be different and give ourselves the freedom to push past what churches typically do.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did lots of research and used their experience working with faith-based clients to show us what other people were doing both inside and outside our space. We had a lot of conversations about who we were and what we did, and they came back with a revolutionary website and brand package. They designed the website and we handled development in-house. The site now has a modern appearance and interface and is aligned with our brand identity.

We have about 200 outreach ministries, and each one wants to do their own thing. BLVR developed and instituted clear marketing guidelines for everyone to follow that still maximized their independence. They also designed collateral for us, including a bulletin. Some churches are moving away from bulletins but we find them to be a great marketing tool. The bulk of BLVR's services have been completed, but we’re always reaching out to them for a little help here and there.

What is the team composition?

I work with their chief designer, their CEO, a project manager, and a few other resources. We also interact with their COO, who gave me his personal phone number.

How did you come to work with BLVR?

They’d developed parts of our website previously, before I worked here, and we restarted that relationship after bumping into them at a conference. I gave them our new direction and they were wide open to it.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$199,999 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a church, we don’t have a bottom line to tie this into, but our congregation engagement has increased. We’ve had our largest men’s and women’s events and marriage retreats since the new identity launched, and nearly every one of our ministries has also experienced corresponding growth. All of these results stem from the cohesion and connectivity of BLVR’s deliverables.

How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s been great. They update us when things are going to be a little late or when we're late delivering things to them. They also post all the changes online so we can access them immediately.

We can go into their project management tools to comment on the bulletin or printed pieces or the website itself. It’s a very modern, streamlined communication process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They never get frustrated with our changes or ambiguous guidance. Changes are made when we need them and they always hit their deadlines. We felt really special when they came to visit us at the start as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I’ve seen. It’s been a fantastic experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re cutting-edge and creative so give them space to do their job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of The Barnabas Group, a ministry that specializes in providing strategic planning and resource development assistance to churches and Christian schools and colleges. We have 10 chapters and local affiliates across the nation that offer marketplace leaders opportunities to equip and assist ministries in order to excel in their purpose and goals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?

We needed a new website and design. What we do is unique, and it’s hard to explain in a sound bite, so we needed someone with story-branding skills to translate it to our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did the story-branding and designed and developed our WordPress website from scratch. In the past, my website had a national landing page with individual sites to get more information. We changed that, and now all information is on the main national site, and the local chapters have their own individual sites listing all their meetings and ministries that they presented. It brought the national page to the forefront, and that helped as well.

They understood what I was saying and what we were doing, and they were able to translate that using images. The images connected career calling with kingdom impact, and they were able to express that connection clearly and effectively.

How did you come to work with BLVR?

BLVR’s COO is affiliated with The Barnabas Group in San Diego. He is one of the 600 partners we have across the nation. I was visiting that chapter and, after some conversations, we made the connection to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February 2018–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received a lot of extremely positive feedback from stakeholders about the clarity of messaging and ease of use, and they said it was more professional-looking and relevant than it had been in the past.

How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was excellent. They used BugHerd, which was so helpful and made it easy for me to see where they were, and I was able to add comments. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication was extremely effective. They were quick to respond, and they were clear in communicating what they needed from me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would have loved to see things turned around a little faster, but I understand I was not the only client they had at the time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust the process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Truth Becomes Her is a San Diego-based publishing company that creates resources and tools for girls to increase their confidence and gain the skills necessary for effective leadership. As the co-founder and CEO, I am the chief content creator and oversee all of our content across our channels (e.g., web, social, etc.).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire BLVR?

We’re expanding our current publishing company into a content house and education/training platform and needed resources to help us rebrand.  

What were your goals for this project? 

Our primary goal was to have BLVR lead us in a full overhaul of our current brand assets (e.g., name, logos, colors, look and feel) and develop the new assets that we would use to engage and equip our audience. We aimed to make necessary changes to our current brand so that the publishing resources would become a product line underneath the umbrella of this new brand identity.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected BLVR after careful consideration because we felt confident they would do excellent work. 

Describe the scope of their work in detail. 

The kickoff meeting with BLVR provided us with a complete understanding of what the process would be from start to finish. They explained all of the tasks and timelines in detail, establishing milestones that we needed to hit at each step. 

The BLVR team then did an extremely thorough job of assessing our business to gain a complete understanding of where we'd been and where we were headed. Both my co-founder and I worked closely with them to provide all the necessary information, and they also conducted interviews with third-party consultants and contractors.

The final deliverables included a complete brand book with all creative assets (e.g., name, logo, design templates), pitch deck, and a wireframe for our new website.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with Kristina (Brand Account Manager, BLVR), who acted as our project manager, as well as Lenya (VP, BLVR) and Scott (CEO, BLVR). The size of the team didn’t change during the process, but our communication with individuals adjusted appropriately, depending on which step we were working through.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Scott and the entire team at BLVR were fantastic to work with. From the initial discovery meetings to the extensive research they did, the BLVR team worked diligently to prepare and execute the new brand design and all aspects of the creative. They had an excellent gauge of our business at all times, and the rebrand was a total success. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs? 

Their workflow was remarkably effective and unlike anything we’d experienced before. They engaged us throughout the rebrand and provided guidance at every step. We’re grateful and beyond happy to have had BLVR’s expertise and support. 

What did you find most impressive about this company? 

As a company, they truly care and put their heart into everything. It shows, and we are pleased to give them our highest recommendation. 

Are there any areas for improvement? 

No, none that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of WeVow. Our organization offers employers the support and resources necessary to build a safe workplace culture with zero tolerance for sexual misconduct.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?

We partnered with BLVR to put together a cohesive brand and company website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, I presented them with a rough outline of my idea. Over a few days and several meetings, we flushed out my vision and put together a concrete framework for the product and a business plan. Then, BLVR created our brand, communication strategy, and our web platform using Laravel. We’ve launched the site, and BLVR continues to support and refine it. They’re also assisting with marketing and promotional efforts.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of 12–15, one acting as a project manager. Despite one change, there hasn’t been any turnover in our group.

How did you come to work with BLVR?

I was working with them through another organization and approached them with this idea.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2018, and it’s an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, the quality of their work has been excellent. They’ve been focusing heavily on user experience, creating an engaging and intuitive interface. Early users praise the product for its ease of use. As we collect more feedback, we’ll continue to make improvements.

How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?

Our level of communication is strong. There is a clear understanding of our timelines and expectations. They took the lead on the technical elements of the engagement, which has been very helpful. I can count on them to deliver high-quality results.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I trust them. It’s clear that they genuinely care about the mission of our organization. They offer valuable advice and suggestions, which ultimately improve our product. Also, everything they create is beautiful. I don’t think I could get this level of quality anywhere else.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind right now.

Any advice for potential customers?

Listen to BLVR’s ideas because they have the creativity and talent to bring them to life. Clients should describe their concept and allow BLVR to help structure it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Swell Soda, a local craft soda company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?

We wanted to redo our basic website and add some functionality. We were also aiming to take our branding to the next level. After finishing most of the work, we wanted to bring in an outside perspective for improvement.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After we shared the story of who we are and we’re doing, they evaluated the brand and talked through what was most important and how to reach the most people. My family has lived in Southern California for six generations, so they tied that into the brand.

They then started on our labeling, suggesting minor tweaks to our logo to bring about a better overall perception of the brand. These ideas focused on improving cohesiveness and professionalism in every aspect of our product.

Originally, we weren’t able to sell products on our website. BLVR implemented store functionality so customers can choose how many of each soda they want in their case and sign up for a subscription program.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Adam (COO, BLVR) and Todd (Digital Design Director, BLVR), but I was primarily in contact with Scott (CEO, BLVR) and Damin (Creative Director, BLVR). There was also a coding lead and a project manager, in addition to more people behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with BLVR?

I’ve known them and monitored their work for a long time, so we reached out to them when we started the project.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The initial phase was from April–June 2018. We’re currently wrapping up the website and will relaunch the brand in a couple of months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve gotten very positive responses from the people we’ve presented their work to. They made a shift in our branding and logo which, at first, I was adamantly opposed to, but I let them show me what they wanted to do. After looking at the packaging side-by-side, I realized it was better than I could have guessed. They made our whole brand cleaner and more recognizable.

How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great with communication. We had three or four in-house meetings in the several months we worked together, in addition to plenty of phone and email communication. I already knew what to expect work-wise, based on what I’d seen them do before we engaged, and they certainly met those expectations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

First and foremost, their integrity is outstanding. They do what they say they’re going to do, and I never felt like I got less than I asked for. In fact, I felt like I got more. They immersed themselves in our brand and filled in the gaps that I couldn’t see, becoming a true part of our team. Our success was their success. Their fresh, outside perspective was extremely helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were so on top of everything that I often hindered them by getting caught up in other parts of the business. They had to wait for me to approve things. I was never disappointed with anything they provided me.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should let go of the concrete idea you have of your brand—your baby, really—and be open to what it can become. For us, BLVR’s changes were subtle, but they made a world of difference to our overall appearance.

We had a particular style and look we didn’t want to lose, so their suggestions bothered me at first. After I saw what they had in mind (and got over my personal preconception), I realized how much better their input would make our branding more successful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the marketing and communications representative of a community-based, nonprofit agency with over 200 employees. Every day, we provide low-income families with access to affordable child care so parents can work or complete their education. We also provide high-quality early education and nutritious meals so children can better succeed in school and life.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire BLVR?

We hired BLVR to reimagine our website, which was dated and not user- or mobile-friendly.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a high-quality, modern website that made it easy for people to understand who we are, what we have to offer, and how to get involved. The site also needed to unify our fragmented online presence and help us effectively tell our story.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected this vendor through a competitive bidding process. BLVR was able to secure the contract by meeting our scope, specifications, and criteria.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

BLVR implemented a comprehensive website design and development plan. The project was a large undertaking with a lot of moving parts. They began with an audit of our existing website, identified challenges and opportunities, then strategized a solution. After the planning phase, they helped us structure and organize our content. Using their branding expertise, they helped clarify our messaging, establish creative direction, and capture images and videos.

BLVR designed the UI based on wireframes, goals, and content. They then converted the designs into a custom-coded WordPress site, followed by a quality control process. Once our website went live, BLVR trained us on content management and analytics.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager who oversaw the whole process. We met with BLVR's in-house team of experts on branding, copywriting, photography, design, and development at relevant points in the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

BLVR transformed our outdated website into a beautiful and intuitive platform. Our clients and staff were very impressed with the result. We continue to receive many positive comments about our new website’s professional and modern design. We have also experienced more engagement and submissions through our website’s online contact forms.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

BLVR provided excellent project management and guided us every step of the way. They delivered exceptional customer service and were always available to address any questions. We appreciated their patience and positive attitude. While they were open to design suggestions, they made sure that the project stayed on track.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

BLVR was wonderful to work with. We were impressed with their ability to get deep inside our mission and more importantly, who we serve. BLVR’s incredible team of creative, professional, and caring experts went the extra mile to help us create custom features to increase our impact. We can’t think of a better team to work with, and we look forward to collaborating again as projects come up.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the strategic development manager for a commercial real estate group; we advise high net-worth private and institutional clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire BLVR?

We needed a complete rebranding, SEO strategy, an entirely new website, and to develop new print and digital marketing to match our new brand.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a cohesive brand that our clients would identify with. This includes a fresh website that attracts more visitors to give us better metrics than our current site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After working with a previous agency that gave us terrible customer service and no results, we searched for more branding agencies. We wanted one who had done other projects for commercial real estate groups and BLVR had. After considering 5 other agencies and their portfolios, past clients, and website, we decided on BVLR. Overall, it was their work and customer service that lead us to choose them.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After an initial meeting with the director of our project and one of the founders, they set out to learn what we were looking for. We had a meeting with other internal members and they revealed their direction for our brand. We gave them write-ups and our ideas for logos. They created a logo and brand for our team after these meetings.

What was the team composition?

We work with the director and the founder of the company. We interact with different members of the team, including the digital producer and designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are currently still working with BLVR and anticipate being finished in January, but we are very pleased so far. We are very impressed with the logo and art direction for our website and marketing collateral. They’ve gone above and beyond what we asked for.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They give us weekly updates and we discuss progress at least every two weeks. They keep us updated on what they've accomplished and what the next steps are. The team is highly responsive to every question and phone call; they respond by phone or email within the day. We use a project management site and collaborate on the wireframes of our site.  

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I find their commitment to understanding our team and our market to be impressive. We can feel that they care about our success and business. They are doing a great job so far.  

Are there any areas for improvement?

They've been amazing; I can't think of any improvements.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Vessel Bags. We offer handcrafted customized bags for professional athletes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?

I had the idea for my business but needed help to introduce it to the world. I approached BLVR to design the brand’s identify and develop its e-commerce website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BLVR helped build my business from the ground up. First, they initiated a brainstorming and competitive research process. They pitched some preliminary business names and drafted early designs. Then, they worked to establish a strategy that would solidify our approach to the marketplace. After creating a cohesive brand, they began developing and designing our Magento website. This process included the implementation of significant features like a golf bag customization module.

Following the website’s launch, we engaged them to provide PR services and influencer research. As a result, they got us into several large golf events and presented me with the opportunity to appear on national television.

What is the team composition?

There were five people on the project including a project manager, their head of marketing, a Google Analytics specialist, and two designers.

How did you come to work with BLVR?

My business partner researched brand development firms and found them online.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $600,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from January–July 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since 2012, our sales have doubled each year and I attribute a lot of that success to the quality of BLVR’s work. We quickly became the leading custom bag company in our market. The branding materials they’ve delivered look phenomenal. Being so unique in the online space helps continually drive sales. We’ve even been highly-ranked in a local publication’s list of the top 100 fastest-growing private companies San Diego.

How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated once a week during the branding and web development portion of the project. Once the site launched, we only interacted with them about once a month. They understood what we needed and worked with us to deliver. The meeting summaries and final executions met our standards.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I never came to them with concrete ideas, but they proactively engaged the conversation to create the best products possible. They’re able to wow me every time they present an idea.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could more effectively schedule deliverables. They scoped out a significant project for us and promised a timeline that proved to be too aggressive.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I like working with them and definitely recommend their services. My advice would be to talk to BLVR about the product’s hard launch date and the business implications of such. Make sure they give themselves enough time to complete the project and perform a thorough QA process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the Chief Creative Officer at Dunham+Company, a Dallas, Texas-based marketing and fundraising agency that works with nonprofit organizations across the U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?

One of our offerings is brand strategy including brand identity from a graphics point of view and we outsource that work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We outsource all of our brand identity work that’s focused on graphic design and web development to BLVR. They do work for both our company and for our clients. Their projects include print campaigns with graphic design and collaterals and online campaigns with new websites, web banners, and other elements. They also work on high-level strategy.

What is the team composition?

My traffic manager works directly with a project manager from their side. My main point of contact is their Co-founder and COO. We also work with a brand identity lead.

How did you come to work with BLVR?

A colleague of mine introduced them to us about 10 years ago.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $1 million with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2009 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

View BLVR as a strategic partner in what we deliver to our clients. Generally, all of our clients who are working with BLVR are satisfied with their work. For example, a church we’ve been working with for the last three years in collaboration with BLVR has seen a 15% increase in income and a 10% increase in attendance.

BLVR helps us bring our brand strategies to life creatively on the visual side. They execute at a very high level. They pretty much always nail it. It’s not always on the first shot but it always is when their work is finalized. In my position, it gives me security to know that when I have BLVR on a project, the client is going to be happy with what they get.

How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?

Things run pretty smoothly. They recently brought on a new project manager to work with us. They’re growing and needed more help.

Generally, we communicate with clients on behalf of BLVR but it’s not unusual for them to communicate directly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I can say that, almost without compare, they’re able to bring a very strategic approach to the creative that they produce. It always tells a strong, relevant story that gets attention for the right reasons.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their attention to detail in terms of proofreading their own copy. We sometimes receive materials that have typos or grammatical errors. The quality of their work is high but sometimes we have to go back and forth to fix the copy.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't overly rely on email to communicate. Get on the phone to talk things through. Also, make sure that everyone who will touch the project is brought into the vision from the start and that the entire team is kept well-informed. That way all of the players understand the scope and goals of the project and are pulling in the same direction.