Commence Studio

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Happy Mushroom Co.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Gourmet and medicinal mushroom company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Rebrand company to have national focus instead of local
• create online sales channel through e-commerce
• Create scalable brand packing systems

SOLUTION

How did you find Commence Studio?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Commence Studio over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• 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 designed for us a new logo, 5 product labels, and a full shopify e-commerce website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Increased direct to consumer sales and wholesale accounts. 
• Increased following/brand awareness. 

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

Their project management and communication were top-notch. Project fell slightly behind original schedule - though not due to lack of engagement/management from Commence team. They always responded well to our needs. 

What was your primary form of communication with Commence Studio?

Virtual Meeting

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

The quality of their work, their genuine care for the success of our company, the great team we worked with, and our aligned values of quality and sustainability.

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

Nothing major comes to mind. Overall very happy. We did go past the deadline on our project, but a lot of that was due to things on our end and we did not specify that we were in a huge rush for our project and we communicated in the beginning that timeframe was not a high priority. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder & CMO of MessageDesk

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

MessageDesk is a shared team SMS inbox that helps businesses and organizations route, assign and respond to conversations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Develop a comprehensive brand identity with logo and visual brand strategy
• Create unique illustrations and visual brand assets
• Flesh out and visualize MessageDesk digital identity though the website

SOLUTION

How did you find Commence Studio?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Commence Studio over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• 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.

Objective: Develop a cohesive, distinct and flexible corporate identity for MessageDesk. Key result: MessageDesk brand and assets are competitively distinct and compelling to our audience. Key result: Develop flexible, repurposable visual brand assets for display in both print and web. Key result: Create website UI/UX mockups that present MessageDesk with clarity Key result: Create an intro video that visually describes what MessageDesk is, how it works and who its for. Key result: Photograph the entire MessageDesk team

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most measurable outcomes were simply producing brand assets and deliverables on time. We tasked Commence with creating a complete corporate identity and we asked for it on a timeline. They did more than deliver. 

At MessageDesk, we still regard the money we spent with Commence to be one of the best long-term investments we've ever made. The branding and design work they did for us has gotten so much milage and paid for itself many times over.

What was your primary form of communication with Commence Studio?

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

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

We intentionaly left much of the project management up to them. Our only ask was to have various assets delivered to us within reasonable timelines. Aside from that, what we appreciated at MessageDesk was how well Commence explored options and presented creative pathways to us. 

Creativity is very much about exploring all possible solutions and Commence did a great job of leading that process and guiding it to a productive outcome in a timely fashion. Additionally, they were very quick and receptive to incorporating feedback - we went through several rounds of iteration and feedback.

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

Like us, Commence is a small and scrappy team. We were able to bond around that, and working with them felt very intimate and friendly. Instead of working with a larger agency or design house where you feel like you're a secondary consideration, we felt like we were first in line. Not to mention... 

Commence does top-notch work. We were really impressed by their ability to turn our thoughts and musings into a highly compelling brand identity. They gave a visual voice to what we couldn't express ourselves.

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

Asset handoff could have potentially been a bit cleaner. Instead of a single asset share, some assets we're first delivered and then later revised toward the conclusion of the project. This is less on Commence as we were pushing to get an initial brand identity out in public as soon as possible. Naturally, there was a little bit of tweaking that occurred up until the conclusion of the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at an online clothing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Commence Studio?

We wanted to redesign and rebuild our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Commence Studio did Shopify e-commerce development for us — the main feature was to allow users to purchase clothing through our platform. They also did custom coding based on our requirements.

What was the team composition? 

We worked with four Commence Studio team members, including Matthew (Founder), a web developer, a project manager, and a creative director.

How did you come to work with Commence Studio?

I knew about their work because they’re local to our city.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $13,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July–December 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site's quality was great, and I was delighted with the final product.

How did Commence Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They were responsive and met deadlines throughout the process. Regarding tools and communication, we used email, Zoom, and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team was knowledgeable in their space and delivered according to our realistic expectations, which was outstanding.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their communication in the first steps of the project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Maintain regular communication with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former e-commerce director and the current director of acquisitions for Death Wish Coffee Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Commence Studio?

We’d recently developed and launched a new website in July 2021, and our vendor dismantled their development team right after the launch, so we were searching for a new development team to help us out. Beyond this support, we were transitioning from one subscription platform to another, so we needed a developer to handle some of the technical and backend tasks involved in the migration.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our primary goal was to generate sales: core coffee products, merchandise, and a subscription service. These are D2C transactions and subscriptions. The development has all taken place in Shopify.

They walked us through a discovery process at the outset, including a comprehensive, full-site audit. Commence provided details on our SEO rankings, our competitors’ performance, and potential optimizations for site speed and enhanced functionality. We used this information to set benchmarks for our CRO goals.

Our platform comes with a customer portal, and we required its design to match our brand aesthetic and established UX.

What is the team composition?

We work with around four people, though I know there are a few people behind the scenes. Specifically, we’ve been working with Alisha (Frontend Web Developer) — she’s in the role of senior technical engineer and is one of the most incredible people I’ve interacted with. We’re also working with a frontend UI designer, a project manager, and the founder. The founder stays involved to make sure the Commence team is accomplishing our goals.

How did you come to work with Commence Studio?

We reached out to a number of firms through an RFP and connected with Commence. They were up against a number of larger agencies, but we wanted to bring on a partner that not only had sufficient resources but also had the required experience. They had the acumen and technical skill to instill confidence and trust in their organization, so even though they didn’t have the specific migration experience we were looking for, we knew they would handle everything well.  

I used to own a marketing agency and had collaborated with Commence’s owner a few times before he expanded into the e-commerce service space. When we were looking for a web partner, I decided to give him a call.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost is around $60,000–$75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the tools that we use is called Quantum Metric, and it allows us to find and quantify areas of user friction. Say that there’s an issue with our add-to-cart functionality, Quantum Metric will allow us to quantify the impact this has on our sales and, thus, prioritize our fixes. After the second quarter of 2022, we have around $200,000 in sales value we can recoup from site fixes when we make them. If the math holds that will be around $800,000–$1 million in one year. This return on our investment — Commence making these fixes — is our biggest metric.

Speaking of the migration, Commence facilitated a seamless transition. In fact, most of our customers were completely unaware of the change. This migration was desperately needed, as we were experiencing a large number of issues with our current subscription platform provider, which had resulted in a 50% loss of potential subscriptions. During the migration, we were expecting somewhere around 2,000 errors to fix, but after test9ing, there were only 18, and that’s all due to Commence’s thoroughness. Since the launch of this new subscription platform, we’ve finally seen an increase in subscribers for the first time in a long time. It’s like magic.

How did Commence Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re an A+ with project management. Commence has been great about holding us to the same measures of transparency that we hold them to, and we do the same to them. We trust one another’s expertise and do not shy away from disagreement. Everyone is highly professional. There were a few false starts around the beginning of the migration, but we all made the necessary adjustments and modified our timelines to be more realistic. They’ve done a great job of telling us what we need to hear.

Communication and collaboration take place over ClickUp, Google Meet, Slack, and email. We also meet on a weekly basis to talk through quickly what’s going on in the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were great at managing our expectations and then overdelivering on those expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s always room for improvement, but the only thing I can think of is if they had a larger team. They would be able to expand their services and help us out a little bit more. There’s nothing wrong with how they’re supporting us right now, but it’s always nice to have extra resources. For example, they could bring on contractors to fil a certain requirement if they don’t possess that capability in-house.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Interview them as much as they interview you. Don’t be afraid to push back and welcome pushback against yourself. Commence always speaks intentionally and provides value with everything they say.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a consulting firm. We do financial and operational consulting in the arts and education nonprofit sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Commence Studio?

We needed a new website design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Commence Studio built the WordPress website from scratch. We didn’t need anything fancy because we didn’t have web commerce, but they did many unique ways to add content and testimonials for customers. They also host the website for a small fee.

What is the team composition?

The principal was involved initially. Then, we worked with Cole (Project Manager), Alisha (Frontend Web Developer), and a designer, so four people in total. 

How did you come to work with Commence Studio?

A friend of mine knew them; he’s in the music industry. I was looking for something that wasn’t boring; I wanted something a little flashier, so he recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2021–April 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t looked at any metrics. Most of our business comes from word-of-mouth referrals, so the website’s importance is to legitimate our business when people are told about it. In that sense, the website looks good; it has a beautiful design.

How did Commence Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They were perfect on the budget and deadlines. If anything, we got delayed a bit because we missed two deadlines. We communicated via email and Zoom meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were great at understanding what we were trying to communicate. They worked well thinking about how they could convey the information in a new way. Also, what really distinguished them was that they gave us a handoff list on how to make changes to the website if we wanted to. They built many templates and a step-by-step guide to walk us through it. The person who will update our website was absolutely blown away by this, and I feel like I can do it even though I don’t know anything about this.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. They delivered everything they promised; we were really happy with how the website turned out.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

People just need to know how much time it’ll take them to write the content. You have to write it for them because they don’t know how you run your business; you have to give them what you want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chef and owner of Hey Hey’s Fried Chicken, a local food truck in Reno, Nevada, that specializes in fried chicken sandwiches.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Commence Studio?

We reached out to Commence to help us with our branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Commence helped us create our entire branding, including our logos, website, messaging, and general look and feel. Initially, we came to them with a Pinterest board of the kind of art we preferred, which was a mixture between traditional American tattoos and Reno vibes. Then, they provided us with a few options for our logo. After choosing one, they delivered 6–10 separate imagery based on it that represented our company and that we would be able to use at our discretion.

After the branding process, Commence developed our website. It is a simple landing page that includes our menu, contact information, social media links, and options for catering events. Additionally, they’ve created physical merchandising for us like stickers, and we’re currently working on designing some t-shirts as well.

Commence has also offered to run our social media, but as a new business on a budget, we decided to run it ourselves, using the branding and imagery they’ve provided.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked very closely with Kylie (Creative Director), who designed all the imagery and helped with the web design. Additionally, Cole (Project Manager) is my main point of contact, so I reach out to him if I have any questions. Besides them, I’ve also interacted with Matthew (CEO & Founder), who has been involved throughout the entire process.

How did you come to work with Commence Studio?

Commence came highly recommended to us by a couple of other local owners. We were blown away by their work, so we were excited about working with them on our whole branding process. It was a very easy decision.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $9,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2021, and we’re still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Commence’s design work has had a great impact on our business. A local artist they recommended painted the logos on our food truck, which made it very noticeable. We get a lot of positive comments from customers about our image, which will help us a lot in the future.

Additionally, the stickers have been selling a lot, so when we launch our t-shirts and sweatshirts, I know that we will have a lot of sales too. I give Commence 100% of the credit for that result — I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done.

Opening in winter is always challenging for a food truck, but we’ve got a good response so far. I’m really excited to see what Commence’s work does for us in the spring and summer when people want to be outside eating food.

How did Commence Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Commence has performed very well. They’ve done everything within the promised timeline, always delivering great quality work. Additionally, they’re personable, and their price is fair.

Cole is also very communicative and available whenever we need him. We communicate via email and phone calls, and we have in-person meetings at their studio whenever we hit important milestones.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to detail and the quality of their artwork distinguish Commence from other providers. It was impressive that they delivered what we wanted on the first iteration, having only one round of small edits. We met with Kylie for an hour, which was enough for her to understand what we were looking for and run with it. Working with artists like them has been a pleasure; they take their craft as seriously as we do our food.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any constructive feedback for Commence, and I wouldn’t change anything about the experience I’ve had.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to invest in branding; it gives your business identity and makes it stand out from the competition. I don’t regret this process at all.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a firm that provides accounting services to the restaurant industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our website needed to be redone in order to cater to our niche of serving restaurant clients; The project included a full rebrand of VAST as well as building out the new website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We have been familiar with Commence for quite some time. When we explained what we wanted to accomplish from the rebrand and through the new site, we appreciated the thoughtful responses and suggestions we received. We felt that they truly understood the scope of the engagement and how we could differentiate our firm in this space.

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

The scope of work included developing a new logo/wordmark/etc and building out a new site that incorporated our new niche in the restaurant industry. As part of the website, we wanted to refresh our team pics, build-out industry testimonials and case studies as well as provide a prospective client quiz where we offered feedback to the quiz taker on their best suite of services and recommendations to help them meet their goals.

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

Matt (CEO), Cole (Project Manager), Kylie (Creative Director), Alisha (Web Developer).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not yet. But we are just getting started. We plan to work with Commence on the next phase of the project which will include SEO.

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

We had frequent check-ins and were able to truly talk through and think through how we wanted to site to appear. I felt that the team had great feedback on how our brand is perceived and how to showcase our offerings to the industry we are targeting.

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

Many creative firms we have worked with haven't been as detail-oriented when it comes to financing. We felt that the Commence team truly understood what made our brand tick.

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

Because we are growing quickly and have a lot of projects in progress, we sometimes would not respond to them quickly inadvertently holding up the project. The team often wouldn't push harder to get what they needed - to their detriment! Moving forward, I would encourage them to be more forceful in enforcing deadlines to ensure the project moves forward!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Gravallese Co, a men’s grooming product brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Commence Studio?

We engaged Commence Studio to develop my overall branding and e-commerce website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To kickstart the project, I gave Commence Studio some general inspiration on how I wanted my brand to look and basic information about the company. Based on that, they created our logo and branding identity. They then designed our product packaging which was followed by the website development and design project. They’re currently providing website maintenance, and we plan to hire them for advertising and marketing work in the future.

What is the team composition?

I’m working with five people from Commence Studio, including Matthew (CEO & Founder) and Kylie (Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Commence Studio?

We saw Commence Studio’s website and the branding work they did for a few of my fellow friends and business owners. We liked that their level of attention to detail was impressive; they had every process lined out.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $20,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our partnership in November 2019, and we continue to collaborate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve been able to develop a user-friendly e-commerce website that allows our end-users to go through all the pages relatively quickly. Not only is it user-friendly for the customers but for our end as well.

Furthermore, during tradeshows, people always leave positive feedback on our branding and website. They also compliment us with our beautiful packaging. Overall, I like Commence Studio’s thoroughness — they make us feel confident about their process from start to finish.

How did Commence Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They have an excellent project management process. We communicate once a week through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve delivered everything they told me they’d deliver. Sometimes, they even go above and beyond and deliver more than what we ask for. Their services are really a step up from previous vendors we’ve worked with who only gave us around 80% of what we agreed upon.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hire Commence Studio because they have a good process. You don’t have to worry about them at all because they provide high-quality work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Community Project Manager for the Nevada Small Business Development Center. I manage the Made in Nevada program and Nevada Entrepreneur Network.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Commence to design Nevada Entrepreneur Network branding.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were recommended to Commence through a trusted partner, EDAWN.

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

Our team was interviewed to get a scope of the project, it's mission, values, and identity. Commence then did their own research and came back with 3 different branding concepts. They were very flexible and timely with our requested edits, and delivered all materials on time in a beautiful, easy-to-access package.

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

I believe we worked with 3 different people, Project manager and 2 designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website/landing page is now modern and sophisticated, thanks to the design recommendations from Commence. We also now have consistent, quality branding that can be implemented by our various partners across a multitude of platforms.

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

We had project meetings as needed. All of our requests were listened to, discussed, and ultimately decided upon in a team setting. Everything was delivered on time and matched exactly what we wanted.

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

The team of young professionals delivering high-quality, modern work in a flexible and laid-back environment. They made it very easy to consider drafts and be comfortable enough to recommend changes or edits as needed.

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

Nothing that comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a board member at a bioplastics manufacturer. We work within the sustainability arena.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

They needed to significantly update their website presence, which was clunky and outdated.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the restructuring of the WordPress website, they were key in smoothing out the messaging and making sure we were targeting the right audience with our content. Our organization strives to educate current and future customers as well as individuals on the importance of biodegradability. 

In the end, we received a full brand package, including an updated look and feel. They put time into increasing our site speed as well.

What is the team composition?

Peter (CEO) was our main point of contact, but we had support from about four others. 

How did you come to work with Laxalt & McIver?

I was referred to them. We interviewed and considered about six firms and did a lot of working narrowing down our options before I fully engaged them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $20,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–May 2020. At this point, we don’t have an ongoing contract but may seek their assistance on a consulting basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The company has seen huge success in receiving leads based on the information on the site. Hits are easier to view and analyze. There’s also been plenty of positive feedback on the site itself.

They updated the look and feel of the company that meets the needs of customers, potential investors, and highly technical engineers. Additionally, they had to clearly communicate the educational environmental component. They were able to accomplish all of that in their deliverables.

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

They were caring, responsive, and willing to educate people who weren’t familiar with the marketing landscape. Additionally, they always made themselves available for questions. We received regular updates on progress as well. The project ran longer than expected, but that was likely more on our end than theirs.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They undercharge and overdeliver. Their proprietary page speed techniques helped our site load faster, which was pretty important for audience engagement. They understood the needs of site visitors, how to capture their attention, and encourage them to take action. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything.