CreativeWeb

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the managing director of Cranleigh Magazine. We run two sections; print and online. We print 7,800 copies of our magazine, deliver them to the local area, and also publish online to establish our digital presence.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Creative Brand Design?

When we started the magazine six years ago, I was aware that a lot of magazines were dying off, so I needed to design a new magazine that could also be published online.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Creative Brand Design has been with us since the magazine’s inception. I wanted to have a freshly printed magazine, and an equally fresh online presence so we would have dual facilities if ever our online presence would kick in at a higher rate in the future. We’ve done 71 issues so far, and it’s all archived on the website — which is one of the ideas that we put into the design requisite. Every single thing that we do is archived as a PDF that anyone can refer to.

We initially told them we wanted a website and a really good local online presence. We also asked them to establish our Facebook, and Twitter since we have a reasonable following on both platforms.

I’m not quite sure of all the technicalities of the development, but we also told them that we wanted a listing system, so that any business that comes to our magazine would be listed immediately on the website. These businesses could use the listing system to advertise their services and products, so we requested a listing system with a paid advertising feature.

The platform was built on WordPress so that we could upload content ourselves — we also asked them to build our logo and optimize our SEO. They set up our emails and have been hosting our website since its creation.

Moreover, Creative Brand Design helped us by doing paid ads on Google, so if someone wanted to find information about the local area, we would come up first.

What is the team composition?

We worked with designers, SEO specialists, and copywriters. They also had technical experts who worked on the backend of the website.

How did you come to work with Creative Brand Design?

They came quite highly recommended to us. I chatted with a couple of people who introduced me to a member of the company.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around £5,000 GBP (approximately $6,800 USD). We had a certain amount of money to play with, and we wanted to keep the project within our budget. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked from September–November 2015. We still go back to them when we need to implement new features, and if we have any long-term projects, we will certainly be using their comprehensive service.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I found them to be very professional and the quality of their service was 100%. They delivered what I asked on schedule and they never went over our budget. At some stage, we may upgrade the whole site, so I would definitely go to them for a complete site review.

How did Creative Brand Design perform from a project management standpoint?

All my queries were answered through their ticketing system. Every time we sent a request for help, our ticket gets logged and we’ll get a response saying they will deal with it as soon as possible. Moreover, there was usually an opportunity to speak to a specialist, whether for SEO or coding — we found that that was a very good way of doing it rather than having a mass of phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of the things that I liked about them was they were quite innovative. The internet is changing all the time, so it’s hard to keep up half the time — however, they always seemed to be on the pulse.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t really put a finger on something like that. They actually look after clients no matter how big or small. They’ve grown a lot over the years, and they’ve become more sophisticated as a company in what they can achieve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would highly recommend them. Go in with a completely open mind, and let them meet your brief to take you further forward.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there?

I’m the operations director at CitySpec Specialist Pest Management, a pest control company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Creative Brand Design?

We needed their help in optimizing our online presence.

SOLUTION

SOLUTION 
What was the scope of their involvement?

Creative Brand Design supports our digital marketing pipeline by helping us acquire a higher Google ranking and reach out to a wider audience. We've kicked off our engagement with a brainstorming session, wherein we've relayed our targets and current statistics to help their team formulate tailored strategies for us.

Based on the information they've collated, Creative Brand Design has expanded our existing site sections and features and produced additional content to optimize our overall UX. They've also designed our landing pages, taking our specific target locations into consideration.

Creative Brand Design's ongoing work for us centers on SEO, PPC, and social media marketing. Additionally, they're in charge of our web hosting and site maintenance efforts to ensure that our platform is always at its ideal state.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is their project manager, who oversees a team of developers, designers, engineers, and digital marketing specialists. 

How did you come to work with Creative Brand Design?

Creative Brand Design recommended to us — upon learning about their team, we reached out to them for a trial. We were truly impressed with their performance, so we decided to officially onboard them as our creative partner.

How much have you invested with them?
 
We've spent about £80,000–£90,000 (approximately $111,000–$125,000 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement commenced in February 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Creative Brand Design has elevated the quality of our website, making it more sophisticated and user-friendly. They've integrated concise yet unique sections, which have evidently improved our clients' navigation experience. 

As for their team's marketing efforts, we've seen a 70% increase in our inquiry rate, and we now have more marketing opportunities to explore through our robust metrics. Overall, Creative Brand Design continues to prove that our long-term investment in their team is worthwhile, and we can't thank them enough.

How did Creative Brand Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate via email and phone calls and conduct periodic in-person meetings. Creative Brand Design has top-notch project management skills — they always bring productive and innovative ideas to the table, so our expectations are exceeded every time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our near-decade partnership is enough proof that we find Creative Brand Design as a goal-oriented and reliable team. They take the time to understand our needs and always make an effort to keep things moving forward —  this personalized and dedicated approach truly makes us feel like they're a part of our internal team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I struggle to think of anything — they've been a perfect partner to us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared with an outline of what you want to achieve for your business. Creative Brand Design will surely understand and even refine your ideas to deliver the best results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the product marketing manager for Genvid Technologies, a middleware company working in entertainment. I was the main liaison with CBD for the project.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Creative Brand Design?

To design, develop and maintain a new website

SOLUTION

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

Through an RFP submission and direct conference calls. CB Design consistently impressed with their ambition, grasping of complex concepts and attention to detail

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Once we'd conducted the initial discovery process, which was largely undertaken through CB Design's own initiative, they began their core design. We were presented with several alternatives and once we had made our choice, we began the wireframing process. After a series of revisions and updates design work began in earnest, then actual development and deployment.

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

I worked directly with four key members of CBD's staff - the UI/UX design lead, the head developer, the studio manager and the founder.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The process was a challenging one, because of our very specific needs, complex product and the fact that most of our stakeholders are in a different time zone. CB Design managed all of this in a responsive and diligent way, creating a beautiful and highly functional site which meets all of our needs. We've signed ongoing hosting and maintenance contracts and wouldn't hesitate to work with them again.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Despite the time differences for many staff, CB Design were efficient and effective communicators, managing a blend of formal video meetings and direct messaging through Slack.

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

The grasp of the concepts involved was excellent, and every stage of the process was professionally and creatively handled. Everyone I dealt with was consistently pleasant and thoroughly competent.

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

We went over timeframe, but this was largely in part to our own revisions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own the business. We have three e-commerce businesses in the UK and in one of them, we sell audio vacuum tubes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Creative Brand Design?

We were trying to reach as many customers as possible with the budget and facilities we had.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Creative Brand designed our Magento website that’s integrated with PayPal, and they migrated all the product data to it. They also designed our branding and logo, and they’re currently handling SEO and website security.

We’re in a niche market so it’s very difficult to have an image. We have to describe our products in a way that people can understand, to make it easier for them to click and buy. This is one of the major areas where Creative Brand helps us.

They’ve offered us social media marketing services, but we don’t have the kind of business that would go well with that.

What is the team composition?

I have two points of contact, their director and a technician. I don’t know how many people are working behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Creative Brand Design?

I live in a small village in the southeast of the UK, and I’m a believer in supporting local businesses. Creative Brand Design is based in the locality, and that’s how I got involved with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’re spending $5,000–$10,000 per year with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Creative in May or June 2014. We had a major upgrade in 2019, and we’ve had two redesigns in-between. The collaboration is still ongoing, as we’re planning to do a Magento upgrade.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results are pretty good. We started with sales of £50–£60 per day, but now, we’re getting £400 per day just on the website alone.

How did Creative Brand Design perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s very easy to contact them if we have any issues and we get replies quickly to our emails. Either they fix the issue straight away, or they schedule it for us. They’re quite busy, so I wouldn’t expect them to fix an issue within five minutes, but they get things done.

They provide us a platform where we can check the progress of the work. Most of the communication is through email, because it provides a log of the conversations as opposed to phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re people that we can actually talk to. Interactions with certain providers can be quite robotic. Here, I get responses from people I can relate to.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They need to get even bigger. They have a huge volume of work, so they need to expand.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I’ve recommended them to a couple of people already.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of Cranfold Developments a Property Development company based in Surrey & West Sussex

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Creative Brand Design?

To build a website in order to give us an online presence to showcase our developments to potential purchasers as well as advertise the contracting side of the business.

SOLUTION

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

Having reviewed web designers in our area we decided on Creative Brand Design due to the professionalism and knowledge.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

After a number of meeting to discuss the brief and goals of the project, we received various design options for the main page. Once the theme was chosen, the design was finalised with feed back provided at various stages.

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

In total, we worked closely with two people, a project manager and a designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was completed on time and on budget. Site traffic has increased significantly and we continue to receive positive feedback on the website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager was easy to communicate with and we received frequent updates both in person and via phone.

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

Their knowledge and understanding of the brief and their ability to take this through to the end.

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

Nothing. Very impressed throughout every stage of the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our organization is a think tank for coming up with policy ideas for economic growth. I’m the director of the campaign.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Creative Brand Design?

We needed a new website that was more bespoke, modern, and more accessible for the publications that we print. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Creative Brand Design created a new WordPress website for us with 5–6 different pages. It was a relatively simple brief, but they came up with an attractive design, provided content creation, and did some research on the sector. They also provided us with wireframes and did some SEO work as well. The site already went live, but they still do some specific work for us from time to time.

What is the team composition?

I had a main contact point who was partly involved with the design, a person who was responsible for the wireframes and production, and I had somebody who dealt with the SEO and post-launch issues.

How did you come to work with Creative Brand Design?

I researched for companies who were able to do this type of project, and I was impressed by some of the work that Creative Brand Design had done.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in January 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

First of all, we’ve had a significant upgrade in the number of website hits we garnered — we’ve probably quadrupled the traffic we’ve been getting which is good. I’m also very happy with the look and feel of the site, as it’s very user-friendly.

How did Creative Brand Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They have an integrated project management system which you get access to once you use them. It’s so easy to comment on everything, and the wireframes and designs get along interactively with the system that they use. The team also stayed on top of the timetable. It was originally set to launch in March, but was pushed back to mid-April as we were getting content to them a bit late.

Most of our communication was done by phone, and then it subsequently moved to either by email or through the dedicated project management system.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I never spoke about this, but whenever I want to contact them, they’re always available. They’re also responsive when it comes to ideas, so if I had a rough idea, they would be the ones to flesh it out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. There were a couple of minor issues I noticed when the site went live, but they resolved them pretty quickly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I believe the key thing is to spend some time thinking about what you want out of the website before you start. I had a bit of a blank canvas when I started with them, but it was partly because I didn’t want to interfere with their creative juices. However, I also think they wanted more input from me at the beginning about what I wanted to achieve, so it’s also important that you give them ideas.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of CTR Developments. We’re an engineering company that mainly focuses on designing and building race cars.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Creative Brand Design?

We needed their team to update our existing website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our website was up and running for many years, and we hadn’t really thought about updating it until our customers started to notice that it was already outdated. We then thought it was about time to jump in the trend and improve our website to potentially increase our revenue. 

We initially tasked Creative Brand Design with redesigning our main logo before deciding to push through with the refurbishing of our site since we were pleased with how the logo turned out.

Creative Brand Design used WordPress to develop our platform — they changed its theme to make it look more professional yet modern, while our team was in charge of generating web content since it was product-specific. We let them take over the UX design phase so long as they subscribed to our goals and color preferences.

What is the team composition?

We work with one project manager and a team of three designers and developers.

How did you come to work with Creative Brand Design?

I found their team online after looking for a design agency to help us with our site update needs. Apart from their affordable services, we were also impressed with their online portfolio, so we decided to onboard them right away.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $6,000 on both the logo and the website.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from June 2020–April 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t sell essential products that people would consume every day, but we could definitely say that our sales went up since Creative Brand Design reworked our website. 

Our customers found it easier to contact us, and that wouldn’t be possible, had it not been for our new website. We also got positive feedback on its functional and modern look, and our new logo was equally well-received by our customers. Overall, their team’s efforts had a beneficial impact on our business.

How did Creative Brand Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Our main communication channels with Creative Brand Design were phone calls and emails. Their team was keen on structuring the project flow, so there weren’t any difficulties when it came to understanding each phase of the project. 

While there were instances wherein deadlines were not met, they made sure to deliver everything we needed so the timeline wouldn't be compromised. In terms of project management, I’d give them a seven out of ten.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team’s supportive nature definitely stood out — it’s an important aspect for us because we’re not a huge company with corporate sponsors. We were always assured that they valued our partnership, and that was an integral part of the project’s success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were instances wherein I felt the need to chase them for updates. I was aware that the project was going smoothly, but I would appreciate frequent updates to see where we were at in terms of the timeline that we set.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to relay your goals clearly and set up everything you need in terms of prototypes and project plans. They’ll take it from there and deliver what you need.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Lead of Sigma Engineering Product Design

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sigma EPD is a design-led engineering firm that manufactures and installs high-end commercial ventilation, custom fan walls, and energy-efficient heat recovery systems across Scotland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CreativeWeb to accomplish?

• We required a user optimised platform to drive our enquiries and sales
• We wanted a cleaner look with less clutter
• We wanted a premium feel to the website to better suit our branding and convey the quality of our products
• Full control, ownership and access to the site was a non-negotiable

SOLUTION

How did you find CreativeWeb?

Online Search

Why did you select CreativeWeb over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget

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

The web design project encompassed the full lifecycle of our redesign, starting with audience research and site architecture mapping, which was fully mapped out during discovery, moving through responsive UI/UX design for mobile and desktop, and concluding with asset optimization and quality assurance testing. Key deliverables from this scope included foundational site maps and wireframes, a digital UI style guide detailing our web typography and color palettes, and high-fidelity clickable prototypes. The final handover successfully provided a complete package of optimized media assets, production-ready design files, and the necessary training  to allow us to manage and update the site moving forward.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The design team maintained excellent brand consistency across the entire website, ensuring that every button, font size, and color palette precisely matched the approved UI style guide. Additionally, they communicated quickly and effectively throughout the project to keep everything moving forward.

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

Daniel, our point of contact, was quick to respond to emails and was always more than happy to offer a call to explain things in more detail. No amount of adjustments was too overwhelming for them and his team were a pleasure to work with.

What was your primary form of communication with CreativeWeb?

Email or Messaging App

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

Their in depth, and honestly, 'over and above' research before starting the project and their ability to develop a solution that does what it says on the tin.

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

Towards the end there was a few difficulties with communicating via direct line, but this was quickly resolved and we did not percieve this as a hindrance to the quality or delivery of the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I'm an executive of Anti Slavery Initiative Oxford

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

ASIOX is a charity supporting survivors of modern slavery

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CreativeWeb to accomplish?

• Create a website

SOLUTION

How did you find CreativeWeb?

Referral

Why did you select CreativeWeb over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from CreativeWeb were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Creating a website suitable for our needs and the needs of our service users

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a place where we can tell our story, inspire others to get involved and a place where people can access the help they need.

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

They delivered items on time and were swift to respond to our needs

What was your primary form of communication with CreativeWeb?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

CreativeWeb delivered a beautiful design, was patient with us, and gave us clear instructions and guidance when needed.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Communications Executive of an accouting firm

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A leading UK accountancy firm offering audit, tax, advisory, and business services to support organisations across multiple sectors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CreativeWeb to accomplish?

• Update our brochures so they looked sharper and more consistent
• Get a clear set of brand guidelines we could actually use day-to-day
• Make sure our client documents had a more professional feel

SOLUTION

How did you find CreativeWeb?

Referral

Why did you select CreativeWeb over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Referred to me

How many teammates from CreativeWeb were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We asked Creative to help tidy up our branding. They pulled together a new brochure design, gave us a consistent set of sub brand guidelines, and made sure our pitch decks and other documents all looked like they belonged together. The key bits we got were the brochure, updated templates for presentations, and a set of clear guidelines the team can follow.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The brochures look better and we’ve started using the new templates without any issues. Having the guidelines makes things easier when we’re pulling documents together. Overall it’s worked out well.

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

They got things back to us when they said they would. If we asked for changes, they picked them up without any fuss. Communication was straightforward.

What was your primary form of communication with CreativeWeb?

Email or Messaging App

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

What stood out was how they actually listened to what we wanted and kept things simple. The designs looked right for our firm without overcomplicating it, and the whole process felt easy to manage.

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

The only thing I’d mention is the timescales. A couple of bits took a bit longer than expected, though to be fair some of that was on our side too.