Commence Studio

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CMO of French Gourmet.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Laxalt & McIver?

We had an existing website that I was very unhappy with, so I needed help with that, along with branding design support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Laxalt & McIver has completely revamped our brochure and Matt (Creative Partner) helped with the photography for it. The team has also helped us with a few of our product code documents and have put together a brand theme and color scheme for us. Currently, they’re working with us to redo our website.

What is the team composition?

Kylie (Visual Designer) and Matt are our points of contact. 

How did you come to work with Laxalt & McIver?

I’ve been with the company for about 15 months now and one of my challenges was building my department from the ground up. We had Laxalt & McIver on retainer, so I went to see them. They’re great people and I decided there was no reason for us not to continue working with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

Last year, our retainer was $36,000. We no longer have a retainer with them, so we pay as we go for incidentals. We have about $21,500 budgeted for the website. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I personally began working them in January 2019, but they’ve been working with the firm since at least a year before that. Our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When people open our brochure, they always comment on how beautiful it is. That’s a consistent compliment we get. They love that it’s visually appealing, compelling, and simple. Their work is of the highest quality — first time, every time, all the time. 

The quality and presentation of the pictures were very good, which is critical when presenting a brochure or product online. 

How did Laxalt & McIver perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Dropbox to communicate. In terms of the timeliness of their responses, Kylie is outstanding. She’s very responsive and customer-focused. When we give her a call, she’s always thinking about the best way she can help us accomplish our goals. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Nowadays, it’s hard to find people who are proficient at what they do, have the right customer focus and are very responsive. Laxalt & McIver is all of those things. They’re a very professional firm. Matt is very collaborative. Although my interaction with him only lasted about four hours, I consider him a friend. His attitude is that he’s here to help us to be successful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions at all. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be crystal clear on what your requirements are so they know what’s expected of them. This will make their job easier.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Bombadil Flower Company is a mobile flower business that intends to sell affordable flowers to customers out of a retrofitted 1946 classic Ford truck

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Laxalt & McIver?

We hired Laxalt & McIver to create the image, or face of our company. They designed all of our logos, business cards, and the images we will use for the company website.

What were your goals for this project?

We were hoping to put our ideas into action and come out on the other side with some awesome designs that tell a story about who we are and what our company is all about.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Peter is a childhood friend and the first person we thought of when we decided to move forward with the project.

Describe the project in detail.

Peter and Kylie were responsible for creating the images that will be used in the content of our products, including logos, illustrations, business cards, stickers, signs, etc. Really anything we want to add our company name on to.

What was the team composition?

This project was taken on by Peter and Kylie. The breadth of work was relatively small, I assume, compared to other projects the company works on, and this felt like the perfect number of people to get everything covered.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results of this project go above and beyond anything Kyle and I were expecting. Given Laxalt & McIver's track record of past projects, it's hardly a surprise that their work product is fantastic, but still. We were blown away with the work Kylie and Peter put into the project and the designs that came of it. Our inspiration was quickly turned into a cohesive set of designs that work well together, play off of each other and really give the viewer an idea of our brand image. We're more than happy with the outcome.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective. We went through a couple rounds of edits throughout the project. Kyle and I were a bit reluctant to give every thought and all feedback to Kylie and Peter, but they both encouraged us to do so. This really helped shape the graphics they put together for our company, and since all of our criticisms were addressed immediately, they were resolved soon after. We appreciated that they took our feedback to heart and incorporated all of our comments into the designs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Most impressive to us was the way in which Kylie and Peter collaborated with us and how excited they get about the projects they're working on. From the beginning, they indicated to us that they'd always wanted to work on a project like ours..a little flower business looking for an image to put to the company. It's easy to see from the beginning how much of their passion they pour into projects..we felt that was made clear to us from the first review of the mood board they put together for us. We just really enjoyed working with Kylie and Peter, two people both obviously passionate about the work they do.

Are there any areas for improvement?

This may be an area that Laxalt & McIver already offer, but it would have been cool if they'd added one of our logos to some merchandise we may want to sell in the future (i.e., mugs, t-shirts). This is something we can easily do with the images they've sent over to us, but I could see that as an added bonus..getting a glimpse of the graphics on merchandise as a sort of inspiration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a jeweler and I run my own jewelry business out of Reno, Nevada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Laxalt & McIver?

I had an old website, but I needed to move from only promoting my brick-and-mortar store to creating a site where my customers could have the experience of building their own piece of jewelry.

The goal was to reduce the need for my customers to email me with every question they had, but because of that, the website needed to be fairly complicated. I wanted it to include a lot of options for customizing jewelry and to be aesthetically pleasing as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started on the platform Shopify, but Laxalt & McIver completely customized everything for me from there. They took the build-your-own options and not only designed the graphic for every section, but also built a spot for me to upload every stone option, every template I needed for metal color, size, and every other detail.

After that, they were able to set up payment capabilities and infrastructure. They continue to tweak the website as we go, adding features like QuadPay to the platform as I develop a need for them.

What is the team composition?

I started out working with 2–3 members of their team, but those numbers have doubled while I’ve been working with them. Now, they have someone working on each item, such as graphics, coding, and photography.

How did you come to work with Laxalt & McIver?

I contacted a few different companies, none of which seemed capable of producing very unique work. When I met with Laxalt & McIver, I knew that they shared a similar vision to mine. I was confident that they would be able to take my logo and my vibe and build something that I thought was really beautiful, and that was what was most important to me.

How much have you invested with them?

They charged an initial $5,000 to get the site going and since then have charged $150 per hour. Overall, we’ve spent around $8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in Winter 2018 and are continuing to tweak things on the website, so my work with them is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve been very satisfied so far, and I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback on the aesthetics of the site as well. I don’t track how people find the website or anything, but we have worked to find ways to make specific collections of rings or necklaces as visible as possible. It does feel like that’s had a positive effect.

How did Laxalt & McIver perform from a project management standpoint?

We collaborate closely on the project, which they are very good about. When we were starting out, I was very picky about some of the specific aesthetic choices we had to make.

We had a lot of meetings in the beginning because there was a lot they had to learn about how I run my business as well, but I think they did an amazing job given the frustrating circumstances. It has been definitely a learning experience for both of us. They do a great job of communicating to make sure they nail down exactly what I need.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think that, as a whole, Laxalt & McIver just have an amazing eye. They bring something to the table that gives me a much more unique website than what I could have gotten elsewhere. I appreciate that they took the time to add the extra features that really make people comment on how cool the website is.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing I would comment on is the length of time it took to make the whole site. Like I said, their team grew quite a bit in the amount of time I was working with them, so I think that part of it was just having a lot going on and not enough people to cover it, but it was definitely worth the wait.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief technical officer at Sierra Well, a vertically integrated cannabis company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Laxalt & McIver?

My company was looking for a new way to present cannabis as a product without being overly abrupt about it. On the site, we wanted to give users enough conduits to contact us and to make the menus easier to order from.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Laxalt & McIver created a cross-platform web app. They built the backend with React.

What is the team composition?

My team worked with two developers, Peter (CEO and Creative Director, Laxalt & McIver), and Matthew (Creative Partner and COO, Laxalt & McIver).

How did you come to work with Laxalt & McIver?

Our marketing director had previously worked with Laxalt & McIver and recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

My company spent between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together lasted from September 2018–June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t received any user feedback because we’re just preparing to deploy the app. However, our internal team enjoyed working with Laxalt & McIver.

How did Laxalt & McIver perform from a project management standpoint?

Laxalt & McIver was flexible; even when we changed the scope of the project, they quickly adapted and still came out ahead of it. They provided itemized and detailed logs about their work and progress, which helped me with several tasks, such as paying bills. We communicated via email and phone. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The scope of what we wanted was initially very broad, and we were amazed that they were able to narrow it down. Laxalt & McIver underpromised and oversold, providing great value. They did everything we asked for them to do and more.

We were also impressed by their creativity in programming. When we met to discuss the project, they were able to make changes as we were talking about them, and then show us the deliverable in the moment.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m 100% happy with the project that they did for us.

Any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to engage. If something isn’t going in the direction that you want it to, be clear and upfront about it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Anycart is a grocery shopping assistant. For example, taking the home cooking user base, we allow anyone to just write the name of a dish and we will add all ingredients to the shopping cart. My position is Founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Laxalt & McIver?

UI, UX, and product development.

What were your goals for this project?

People go to the grocery store and buy over $200 easily. Yet, when they try to shop groceries online, they struggle to spend more than the $30 minimum fee.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They are the best one-stop-shop in NYC and Reno. Their Dribbble page clearly shows that. Having the opportunity to work in person with Peter & Team has been a truly amazing and humbling experience.

Describe the project in detail.

It's always much faster to iterate on ideas with them. We estimate it's 20 times more productive and we achieve our goals much faster. Their holistic view of design allows us to think and rethink beautiful design, animations, and branding while also being super fast and productive. Their sketching and prototyping skills are the best I've ever seen.

What was the team composition?

We are 5 engineers and one product person (also an engineer).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started working on our app in January 2018 and by April we were featured in the Google Play store. In July we have been selected in the Google Play awards as the best daily companion of 2018. They only select four apps as "best of" every year.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely easy to communicate with and open to trying new things, which has been extremely refreshing and fun. We talk about what we want to accomplish, do quick prototypes, and then commit to a direction and make it look amazing.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was blown away by their capability to quickly provide value. Their skills are so broad, but they're also deeply knowledgeable, so they've truly driven change in our company and users.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I truly wish they created a branch in the Bay Area, though their Reno branch is close enough that it makes very easy for us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Derby Barber & Supply

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Barbershop and Bar

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Commence Studio to accomplish?

• Overall Brand Update
• Website/booking platform/SEO
• New graphic design cut sheets/artwork

SOLUTION

How did you find Commence Studio?

Referral

Why did you select Commence Studio over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Commence Studio were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Commence provided me with updated branding (logos, fonts, business cards etc). They also created an ecommerce shopify website using photography that they shot at my business. The website had a booking platform integrated and all the analytics I would need to track my sales/booking. Deliverables include: Branding update, logo redesign, graphic artwork cut sheets, business carts, fonts, ecommerce website design, merch designs, SEO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Increased bookings 25% and organic traffic 20%

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management and communication were amazing. They delivered all items on time and all of my needs were met.

What was your primary form of communication with Commence Studio?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their communication and understanding of my brand. They really took the time to understand my vision and listen to my needs. I was very impressed. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Commence Studio could have done differently?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of Hellhole Radio which is e-commerce store which specializes in custom apparel and goods which are centered around music with a satirical twist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Commence Studio, and what were your goals?

Our business was in the first stages of creation when we were searching for someone to help design a logo. We knew that getting our logo, and branding in general, would be crucial to our business since what we were trying to create was something unique and original, yet somewhat raunchy that also came from a female perspective. We hired Commence to help create a logo as well as a cohesive branding strategy that communicated our brand via creative artwork.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found this vendor on Instagram and were a big fan of their work on their website. Each company that Commence works with really has a specific artistic vibe that is all unique and different, yet fits so well with each brand/company. We did price out several other consulting companies, but their artwork and price for services paled in comparison to what we got from Commence. Choosing to work with Commence was the BEST, and the easiest, decision I have made so far since starting my company.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

To start, we did a one on one call to discuss our needs in general before going into a team call to better communicate our goals and desired outcomes. Once the Commence team had a firm understanding of what we were trying to create, they were then able to create an entire illustrated brand package for us which included logos, artwork for brand merchandise, our website, and even things we could use effectively for social media.

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

I worked directly with the owner (Matthew), our own project coordinator (Cole), and their artist (Kylie) who were all so amazing throughout the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are launching our online store this week, but we have had AMAZING feedback from the brand merch that we have created thus far. The feedback we receive from musicians and artists who have received promotional items and "swag boxes" have had really great feedback, and they have even been stopped and asked where they can get their own shirt.

We honestly didn't anticipate selling branded merch as a central focus of our business to begin with; however, after seeing the response from friends and strangers we actually decided to invest in more brand merch which will open up revenue streams we weren't anticipating when we started our business. Commence did such amazing branding/artwork for us that we even wanted a shirt, sticker, poster, or patch of EVERY design they made.

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

The communication with Commence has been unmatched. They were consummate professionals every step of the way and worth every penny that we spent with Commence. They set clear and realistic expectations for us for budgeting and delivery times, kept us updated throughout the entire process, and responded to every email and question with prompt and focused attention.

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

What truly amazed us about Commence Studio was their support and how well they listened to our needs and ideas. They actually created something that not only encompassed everything we asked, but also gave us MORE ideas for our company. Their branding strategy meetings were not just about creating artwork and logos for us. It was about how Commence could truly help make our business both successful and unique. They were very present during our meetings and helped take a business idea that was VERY vague and somewhat ambiguous and create branding that NAILED what we were trying to communicate.

We could have never found a more perfect fit with a company who is genuinely invested in our company. Once the services and branding package was delivered, Commence still stayed in touch and even followed us on social media. This makes us feel like this is a unique trait for a company to stay in touch and continue supporting us even after their work for us was complete. There are truly not enough kind words we can say about Commence.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nope. We literally don't even have constructive criticism because the whole process was so great.