[Closed]

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder and CEO of a company that designs stylish organizational products that fit into your family lifestyle.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Taproom Agency, and what were your goals?

We hired The Taproom agency to customize our cart drawer to allow customers to add 'add-on' items to their cart. We're a Shopify brand and use a standard Shopify theme that we were looking to customize.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Taproom Agency and what were the deciding factors?

The Taproom came highly recommended by MuteSix.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

It's hard to describe the full scope as we were never given a transparent timeline or project deliverables. After the initial kick-off meeting, we were handed a faulty product that they expected to push live without any feedback from us. They had used 35 of the 40 hours we purchased from their 'a-la-carte' program.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We had one point of contact, our project manager. We have no idea who else worked on the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

They delivered a cart drawer that didn't match the aesthetic we were looking for (and saw no mock-ups prior to getting the "finished" product). On top of that, the features were not working properly across all devices and browsers. We ended up finding an app that worked flawlessly and had more features than they were working on for a fraction of the cost. We ultimately wasted $6000 working with The Taproom.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We used Basecamp for project management. We heard from our project manager twice after the initial kick-off call. Once to tell us they had some delays and the second to tell us it was finished and ready to go live. At no point did we see a design mock-up or anything in between in the process.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Absolutely nothing. I would not recommend them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything from the project management style to how they delivered their "working product" needs improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a manager at a clothing boutique.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Taproom Agency?

We hired The Taproom Agency to design a new e-commerce platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to transition our old e-commerce website to a new platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The Taproom Agency was recommended to my business.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The Taproom Agency transferred our website to a new e-commerce platform. Our team provided the design elements for their team to implement.

What was the team composition?

Our team consisted of two to three members from my business and two-three employees from The Taproom Agency.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We partnered with The Taproom Agency to completely design and develop our new platform. For those looking for an expert partner that will prepare your site for launch, we highly recommend hiring The Taproom Agency. We had a fantastic experience working with them. There were several unexpected issues before and after we launched. Their team found solutions to fix all of our concerns.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The team at The Taproom Agency demonstrates the highest levels of professionalism and work ethic. The project management was extremely organized. We consistently communicated with their team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their dedication and willingness to deliver quality work was impressive. The Taproom Agency went above and beyond to achieve our goals.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of GunGoddess Inc. We’re an e-commerce store that sells firearm accessories geared towards women.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Taproom Agency?

We were looking to switch e-commerce platforms and redesign the site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had previously worked with a development firm whose work was unsatisfactory, and after going through the issues that they left behind with the Taproom team, we decided to start from scratch. They managed all aspects of the development process in building a new site while shifting from BigCommerce to Shopify. They also migrated nearly six years of data to the new site and built custom features when the specific functions we were looking for weren’t available as widgets or add-ons. Associates on the team also ensured that the site was built according to SEO best practices. Since launching the new site, they’ve provided ongoing maintenance as required.

What is the team composition?

We worked primarily with Kelly (Owner & Lead Developer, Taproom Agency), but she has a team that assisted with various aspects of the project.

How did you come to work with The Taproom Agency?

We were researching companies that specialize in Shopify development. Their portfolio led me to reach out and eventually hire them for the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in the summer of 2015, and the new site launched in November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had customers that have been with us since the beginning comment on the new site’s usability and improved feel. The new color scheme and overall layout marks a departure from our previous site, but users have responded very positively.

How did perform from a project management standpoint?

We appreciated the consistency that working with one point of contact provides. Kelly was very responsive when there were issues or questions that arose, even on nights and weekends. She was always willing to walk us through the steps of the project to make sure everyone was on the same page. The team prioritized our timeline and worked proactively towards the best possible outcome. We used Basecamp as a project management tool and communicated primarily via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness and reliability were key in the timely and effective completion of the project. They had an in-depth knowledge of the platform and prioritized our goals through excellent customer service. We’ve also been very happy with the support that they’ve provided following the site’s launch. They’ve maintained a very high level of service throughout the engagement.

Any advice for potential customers?

We didn’t have a clear idea of exactly what we wanted the site to look like, but the Taproom team provided excellent advice on the direction we were heading. Make sure to leverage their expertise and experience in the planning stages, especially with ideas that might seem unworkable. Kelly has the ability to make things happen.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an apparel website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Taproom Agency?

We were looking for a company to help us develop a functional and efficient website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We knew what we wanted for the layout, so Kelly (Owner and Lead Developer, The Taproom Agency) gave us recommendations and direction in terms of how the code could impact our ideas. Sometimes, we changed the direction a little, and other times we wanted to proceed with our ideas. Kelly provided great feedback and tailored the website to exactly what we were looking for. She was involved in the whole process since day one, helping us lay out the product page, the category pages, and the home page. She also implemented a restocking app for us. This is a Shopify website, and The Taproom Agency helped us with the branding.

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with Kelly and she had another team member who did the branding.

How did you come to work with them?

I looked at different Shopify developers and read multiple reviews. The Taproom Agency stood out to me because they were local and I wanted to have face-to-face meetings.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them from July–April 2016. They continue to provide maintenance and help us with the updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Kelly brought a lot of ideas and knowledge to the table and delivered an excellent product. Everything we do is focused around our customers and their experience on our website. She did a great job with the backend and the functionality of the Shopify apps, helping us provide a better experience for our customers.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

The website launched according to our deadline and there were no real delays. Kelly is responsive when it comes to communication and sets clear expectations and deadlines. She uses Basecamp, which is very effective for keeping everything organized.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a business owner, I'm looking for the latest apps on my website. Keeping up with the Shopify updates, The Taproom Agency is very knowledgeable when it comes to the apps and themes. Kelly brought a lot of value to the project and came up with many ideas that improved my website.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear idea of what you want and they can help you implement it.