Classic City Consulting

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of SEO at Techwood Digital, a digital marketing company offering search services to local, national, and international businesses. We also offer PPC and web development services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting?

When we were launching web development as a service, we had coding experience but not design. So, I hired them as a partner to help us build that area of our business working with our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Classic City Consulting has been involved with 5–10 projects with us since I started. They give expert design consultation whenever we need it. They mainly focus on WordPress development, plug-in development, and API integration. 

What is the team composition?

I typically work with Chris (Founder, Classic City Consulting), Daniel (Project Manager, Classic City Consulting) and one other person.

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

We had a connection with one of our salespeople. We met him at a networking event and thought he might be able to help us, which ended up being a very rewarding partnership.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2019 and the relationship is currently ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Despite having a client that was unorganized and unable to make decisions, Chris and his team were able to take care of everything at the drop of a hat in a short time frame.

They were also able to bring expertise to a development project involving API integration. This was really important because with their help we were able to not only integrate the system for one client, but it worked for many clients. 

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management skills are great. They use monday.com; our team has been committed to Asana, which is a little different. When they share a board, I am able to see exactly where something is and what process it’s in. Everything is really streamlined, easy, and transparent. How responsive they are to clients has really made my business more successful. The feedback from the team is second to none.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re elite and completely professional; I couldn’t ask for a better company to work with. It has been hard to find someone of their nature in our type of workspace. Other companies have been flakey or don’t get their work done. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I can think of.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Using technical jargon aided in our relationship. If you’re not a technical person, they are still really good at explaining everything on a nontechnical level and are very straightforward.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a leadership and business growth coach for high-growth mid-market firms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting?

We needed to launch a rebrand that integrated three different aspects of my business: my coaching work, writing books for publication, and speaking.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed a WordPress site for me. The team got to know me and my brand, determining key attributes. Then, they went into the design process, and we agreed on what content elements needed to be generated. After that, we went through an iterative design and feedback loop to complete everything.  

What is the team composition?

I had two points of contact there. One was a project manager and the other was handling more of the heavy-lifting on the development end. 

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

I was referred to them by my social media team and talked to a few other developers in that process. After speaking with them, I felt pretty comfortable with their capabilities and portfolio. They seemed like the right fit

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $8,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from September 2019–January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Anecdotally, I’ve heard that people like the new site. I feel that it clearly communicates key information and my overall vision. It’s also been up to my standards aesthetically.  

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

I communicated with their team members every 1–2 weeks throughout the process. They used mostly phone calls and emails to communicate. While they were strong in managing the project, I ended up having to do plenty of follow up. Ideally, that level of attention to detail wouldn’t be on me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They got to the gist of the brand and brought it to life in the design.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d appreciate greater attention to detail on the management end of the project. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior pastor of Annistown Road Church in Snellville, Georgia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting?

We needed a new website and rebranding for the entire church.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our staff gathered all of the information about the church and our past, goals, and vision for the church in the future. They helped us walk through all of that, and then distinguish and prioritize the things we had accomplished versus what we aspired to.

From there, we went through our strengths and weaknesses, which helped us determine what audience we needed to focus on reaching based on the demographics we already had and the community makeup.

The Classic City Consulting team was able to provide us with a strategic plan for positioning ourselves to appeal to those demographics, which primarily consisted of a name change, and new website, and a revamped presence on social media.

What is the team composition?

In total, we worked with three people from their team, some of whom helped facilitate the discussion around our branding, and others who worked primarily on the videography for our media creation.

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

Someone recommended them to me, and we chose them partly because of their reputation and partly because of how affordable they are.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $12,000 overall.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from about April–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Even in the short time since the project ended, we have increased from about three young adults who regularly attend to about 30, and overall membership has gone from close to 100 members to over 240. Our giving has gone up, and we have been able to successfully replace all of the revenue we lost from the decrease in membership after the change in pastors.

In addition, we’ve been able to increase our partnerships in the community because of the work done by Classic City Consulting, including a project in a mobile home park that we are starting soon. We have been able to do some really phenomenal work thanks to the image that they helped us cultivate.

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

We had an excellent experience with their project managers, who would respond to phone calls and e-mails very quickly and always kept us updated on what progress we had made. We used Google Docs as the primary collaboration tool, but they had several other internal softwares that they used for communication and tracking which all seemed to work very well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a personal touch that really shows in their work. Everyone on their team cares about their customers and achieving their goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I just hope they keep doing what they’re doing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The sooner you start, the better!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The website is JoeyJett.com, which is an informational and e-commerce site for the clothing line of a professional skateboarder. Joey Jett became a skateboarding prodigy at age seven and went on to become a professional skateboarder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting?

We wanted a website that could cater both to Joey’s taste and those of his fans and also be very user-friendly and adaptable. As a professional skateboarder, you have to be edgy and artistic, so that was one of our main criteria as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked closely with Classic City Consulting on every aspect of the site, from which type would best fit Joey’s style, to how we wanted to present his clothing options. We settled on a WordPress website, and Chris (Owner, Classic City Consulting) built everything to our requests. He also provided informational videos explaining how to change a variety of features as we wanted.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about three members of their team, all of whom were great, but Chris was the most consistent person who worked with us.

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

Someone that I was working with recommended them to me, and I based the majority of the decision on that recommendation. I did some research to make sure that they were legit, and their reviews online seemed positive, so we decided to hire them for the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The whole process, from planning to the launch of the website, lasted from June 2018–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site works very well and has produced great results so far. It links out to all of Joey’s social media and allowed him to sell out the first runs of his clothing line almost immediately. We’ve been making changes on the go since the site first launched, and it has been very flexible in allowing us to put up different products and change different aspects of the design. We’re very pleased overall.

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was very efficient. Chris kept us informed through phone calls and emails and was always on schedule with progress toward the final project. He also did a great job with the videos that he produced to help us understand different aspects of the website, which was a huge help.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The videos have been incredibly helpful since our team is not very tech-savvy. He delivered close to 20 videos in the end just so that we could more independently operate the behind-the-scenes of the site.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. We’re very happy with the product and everything that their team provided to us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just spell out exactly what you want. The beauty of Classic City Consulting is that as long as you’re clear about what you want, they can make it happen.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Dean’s Construction and Roofing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting?

We first engaged them to build our website, but they’ve done lots of things for us over the years.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first had a meeting about who we were and what our goals were before building our WordPress website from scratch. They helped generate the content for it, including the copy and pictures. We went back and forth with several revisions to fine-tune it.

What is the team composition?

There were two main people working on the project, which included the owner and a content writer. Chris (Owner, Classic City Consulting) spearheaded the project and was my primary point of contact.

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

I’ve known the owner for a long time, since college. I looked at his website and portfolio and was impressed by his past work, so I decided to reach out to him.

How much have you invested with them?

I think we’ve spent around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

They built the first website in 2011, but have provided updates, ongoing maintenance, and hosting.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw a significant increase in calls and inquiries after we developed our website. Almost all of our business is generated online, and I largely attribute that to the website they’ve created.

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re fantastic. They’re communicative and meet all their deadlines because they’re either always behind or right on schedule. When we request changes, they’re quick to implement them as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism is stellar. They do exactly what they say they’re going to do, and they understood our company’s vision very well. They’ve demonstrated a genuine concern for company growth, which I really appreciate.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If they need information, give it to them quickly. That’ll make the process more seamless.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager of a manufacturing firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting?

We needed a whole new website designed. Our website was backed by Magento 1.0, and when I came on board last year, I had a lot of questions and concerns about the backend of the website. The more the owner, sales director, and I talked about it, the more we decided that we just didn't want to change the background. We wanted to make the website more user-friendly and up-to-date so that it was easier to use and more appealing to the online customer.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They got to know us, our backstory, how the company was formed, and what brought us to where we were. Then, they helped us storyboard the design of the website. Sometimes what you think you want is actually when you want once you see it in a storyboard. They walked through lots of changes with us, some they suggested and some we suggested. They were really good about working with us to get to the bottom of what we felt we needed, as well as honest and forward about what they thought sounded good or detrimental. Even when we pushed back, they still worked with us to minimize any damage.

We got a test site where we could see how everything was going to look and made some tweaks from there. Then they took it and did some finalization and set some things up for us. They also did some training with me and one of the owners so we knew how to use the WooCommerce system behind the WordPress site. They set up some inventories for us and made a few training videos. It was nothing elaborate, but just enough to show us the steps required for maintenance. When everything was ready for us to do the backend work, they gave us the key, we went to town, and then they came back for the go-live.

We just finished up our first two major sales—our first Black Friday sale and another weekend sale for Christmas—and Classic City was right there when I had questions about how something happened. They jumped right on it and gave me the support I needed to keep things going. It's been a great process.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Chris (Owner, Classic City Consulting) and Daniel (Project Manager, Classic City Consulting).

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

We actually found them on a top 10 list Clutch published. We put out a request for bid and contacted them and 3–4 other possible companies. Classic City was unique in that, not only did they want to help us with our website, but they also worked with someone that could address our branding. They understood our product, where we were coming from, the issues we had with the website, and what we wanted to do.

This is one of the additional factors that helped us decide to give them the bid.

It was also important that they had a love for our product and had a good handle on their business. They were also locally based, so we could see them face-to-face when necessary.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $24,400 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January until May 2019, when the site went live.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re unique in that, kids know about us but their parents don’t, and the parents are the ones that can spend money. Once the website got redesigned and the kids were able to give their parents a little more information about us, the hits we got became incredible. It’s made my life a lot easier because reports using WooCommerce are so much easier than Magento. Previously, I had to find somebody that knew how to do the development work, which took a lot of time. Most of the background work in WordPress and WooCommerce I can do myself, but if I'm pressed, I can always pick up the phone ask for some help. Even after go-live, I can call and tell them what I'm dealing with.

The biggest thing for me is the ease-of-use of the system. We’re also different from most web-based stores because we have a sales guy that's selling to schools and third-party vendors. I use our website almost as much as the customers because I enter these in-person orders.

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

During all the setup and design phase, I talked to them probably once a week with questions. As the process went on, when they were actually heads-down developing, it was maybe once every two weeks. Once we got to a test site, we were back to once or twice a week. However, often they or I felt we needed some questions answered or things rehashed.

They kept things on time and were great about walking our owner through the pros and cons of certain decisions and integrating his preferences. They managed their time and our time well. I think they did a fantastic job.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was their character and the way they deal with people. They're honest, and if they feel they have done something off-kilter, they're the first ones to admit it. They're always straight and upfront with you, and that's rare in business.

They're personable and ethical, and I can't say enough about that. It means a lot to me on a day-to-day work relationship. They were also really good at addressing our issues from their standpoint, as the designers and developers, and then from our standpoint, as the company owners.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes they were difficult to get a hold of, but everyone has that problem on occasion.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as honest with them as they are with you. As with anyone, the more you can bring to the table the better. It's like going to get your haircut. You don’t say, "I don't know, do what you think is best" and expect to get what you want. Come in with what you want and shoot for the stars, and they'll help you find the best place to land between outer space and your planet.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an account manager on our client services team and get involved to make sure that projects get delivered properly and on time, as well as help support our project managers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting

We engaged Classic City to help with an e-commerce platform build on WooCommerce. We have a client that specialized in loans and this platform was going to allow them to operate online versus manually within stores. For example, if you want to buy a new mattress through our client, you can finance the mattress for $49 a month. Classic City was helping us complete this platform so the transaction could be fully completed on the internet, with online payments.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we did what's called a solution design. Classic City provided us with a very thorough written design document of how they would go about developing this plugin, how they would go about implementing it, and what their methods would be. They also highlighted any areas where they didn't know what the process would be, so any areas of ambiguity, where they wouldn't really know what their process would be until they dove into it. They highlighted any concerns and provided some recommendations based on research they had done on their own.

Next, we got the solution design approved by our client. They were really impressed with Classic City's approach, and we were able to present it on site. Phase two was to build the platform, develop, and deploy it.  Phase three, after everything had been developed, is our client utilizing the new plugin and having users in the marketplace online purchasing those mattresses. They're able to give us any feedback on any glitches, or anything we can do to adjust our code to make it more user-friendly.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one developer at Classic City, and one other person who was focused on financials.

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

We've had a relationship with the owner of Classic City for years now. He actually used to be an employee of our company years ago. He then branched off to start his own business and we've been contacting him on a case-by-case basis. There are just some things that our in-house team doesn't have in their skillset and that's when we'll contact Classic City and that's when he'll step in and help.

How much have you invested with them?

I would guess it's in the $10,000 – $50,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began this project in September 2019, and our work is still ongoing with a support phase.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, the feedback we've received on the plugin has not been any fault of ours; they've asked us to make changes due to enhancements they want to make. They haven't been able to give us any hard statistics, but I do know our client has 56 merchants who are utilizing this payment option only within a month. The biggest metric for me is that there have been zero errors with this plugin, and it's ready to go. There's nothing holding them back from using it as much or as little as they want and the sky's the limit now. 

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed really well. I did have to keep a pretty tight reign on tasks and timing and had to manage it pretty closely. They don't have their own in-house project management team, so I had to be very much on top of the developer in terms of timelines, requirements, and tasks. As long as I was clear about what I needed, he delivered exactly what I needed on time, so it was no issue as long as I was diligent. 

Our one developer at Classic City would demonstrate his work for us on a bi-weekly basis. We communicated with them 4-5 times per week. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism was excellent. We needed the developer to join all of our meetings since there were questions I couldn't speak to, and he carried himself very well. He was polite, well-spoken and he was able to answer questions while remaining calm if he didn't know the answer. You really don't see that personality from a developer that often, which is why it stuck out to me. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes their availability can be difficult, especially for us because we're used to working with full-time employees who can be in the office every day to sit in on meetings. Since I knew that a lot of their workers are remote, I made sure to set the availability requirements at the start of the project. My only area for improvement would be to be more transparent when they're contracted by other firms about when they're going to be out of the country, or working remote and, or on vacation, just because those are things that can throw a project for a loop if everyone involved isn't prepared. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to have a project manager who is willing to manage them and layout all of your expectations from day one. Like any contractor, they don't want any surprises, so it's important to be very clear upfront and come to a full agreement of what it is you need. Classic City will always stick to its promises as long as they know what they are. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an SEO specialist for a large retailer in the automotive space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting?

We wanted to build a WordPress blog to push out marketing materials quickly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The original build was an MVP WordPress site from scratch. We brought them up to speed about what we had already, and how we expected the deliverables to look. They set up a dashboard for project planning, which made sure we were all on the same page. Then, we put various stakeholders in contact with them so they could give their feedback. That allowed individual subject matter experts to give detailed, project-specific information.

What is the team composition?

We mostly worked with our main point of contact, but we occasionally spoke with an administrator for payments.

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

Our original encounter was through a mutual connection. The company we work with for hosting suggested them, so we looked over their portfolio and set up a meeting.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $10,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and the initial build took about two months. Since then, we work on refinements, feature additions, and a few other elements with them. We still have an active relationship, and we're currently setting up a longer-term contract.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're very happy with their work.

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is one of their strongest points. They're very responsive, and they get things done quickly. We always know the status of each deliverable, and our stakeholders can see what is happening from day to day. We spoke with our main contact almost daily, or at least twice a week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication is very impressive. I work with several companies, but none of them are as quick to call me back or respond to my emails.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could provide more preemptive weekly reporting. That would help to streamline the process for our broader team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't be afraid to reach out to them. They're very responsive, and they won't keep you waiting.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president of production services at Wits' End Production, a company that designs events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting?

We needed a partner to both work on our website and help find technology solutions to creative situations. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Classic City Consulting has worked on various projects for our end clients. Typically, we talk to the client to determine what they want to accomplish with a certain event, and if it involves technology, we bring in Classic City Consulting. We brainstorm a few ideas together; then they do some research to determine if it’s a viable and efficient solution. If so, we then begin the project and have regular reviews before presenting the product to the client. Once they approve it, we run tests, fix any issues, then give the client the final product.

For example, we recently had an event for a hotel company that wanted to use hotel keys as a means for attendees to win prizes. We initially had the idea of RFID cards that were coded with particular prizes, but Classic City Consulting helped us realize that it was an expensive and burdensome idea. Instead, we programmed the keys to activate a randomizer on a computer that selected a prize. This took less time and money and also made it easy for us to adjust which prizes were still available if inventory ever started running out.

What is the team composition? 

We mainly work with one or two people, and our main point of contact is the owner.

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

A co-worker suggested them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$50,000 on multiple projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered in 2015, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They provide technology solutions to our clients that make our firm look good. We trust them to deliver what they promise and support our needs. We can approach them with a problem we’re not sure how to solve, and they’ll find a solution.

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re easy to work with and have clear communication. They almost always deliver on time or early, and they let us know if there will be a delay.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They don’t just do web design; they provide creative solutions to tech needs. They’re fun to work with and have a great wealth of creativity.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. 
 
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Have a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish and keep an open mind to solutions you may not have considered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an event producer for Wits' End Productions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Classic City Consulting?

We hoped to create more engagement at our conference and trade show booth that we operate for a third-party client. We needed a way to interact with more attendees and draw them to our booth. We wanted to do this through gamification.   

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Classic City Consulting developed a web portal that offers a digital prize wheel with a backend inventory management panel. They initially provided several design options for us to choose from. Once we made our selection, Classic City Consulting began building the product and branding it for our client. I served as the liaison between Chris (Founder, Classic City Consulting) and our client.

We collaborated on the user experience while using the web portal. Rather than having a static wheel when not in use, we elected to include animated confetti. When a user wins a prize, we made sure that the design included an audio chime and a pop-up screen—meant to draw attention at the conference.  

We went through a final phase of enhancements before receiving a finished product. Classic City Consulting programmed the required inventory sheet into the web portal, and Chris worked with me to implement and test the product on-site. The admin panel allows us to monitor our prize inventory. I can see when we need to restock or eliminate the prize option from the wheel.  

What is the team composition?

Chris was my day-to-day contact, but I would connect with his team’s developer when Chris wasn’t available.  

How did you come to work with Classic City Consulting?

I’m unsure of how we initially found Classic City Consulting, but we were familiar with Chris and his abilities. We vetted a few other providers, but we chose Classic City Consulting because of their responsiveness and competitive pricing.

How much have you invested with them?

Throughout our last three projects, we’ve spent $9,000–$12,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

I’m not sure when our company began working with them. Personally, I’ve worked with them since January 2017.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received promising feedback from conference attendees that interact with our product. It’s especially gratifying when competitors ask how we built the game.

How did Classic City Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated weekly through phone calls and email. For more difficult items, we held impromptu phone calls. They were always very responsive and met our important milestones.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed first and foremost by their responsiveness from the RFP process throughout the project. And secondly, Chris is a genuine person, and that’s helped me develop a relationship with him that extends outside of the workplace.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve never had to take them to task for something gone wrong. If anything, I tell them to keep doing what they’re doing.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

We found it worthwhile to provide a creative brief featuring objectives and desired outcomes. Future clients should be detailed in how they see the product being utilized. It will help Classic City Consulting work faster and diminish the revision process.