Creole Studios

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of ModTod. We’re a peer-to-peer marketplace where parents can buy and sell clothing their children have outgrown. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Creole Studios?

I wanted to create a mobile app for our marketplace, so I needed to find an app development team to help me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, they walked me through their proposal, which mapped out the app’s narrative and visual elements. I drew wireframes for each page of the app and described my desired functionality, and they created a capabilities sheet and project timeline. We had ongoing conversations regarding my goals for the design and functionality of the mobile app, which we used to develop various customer workflows. Then, they shared their plans to bring the app to life from a technical coding standpoint and built it from scratch. 

The app is available for iOS and Android and enables users to log in via email, Google, or Facebook. Customers can create a profile with a picture and a short bio. They can also upload photos from their phone or take them directly within the app and make minor edits. The app features a picture-driven product feed, allowing users to scroll through and see the available items for purchase. There’s also a search and filtering feature.

Customers can create a referral code to share the app on other platforms, such as WhatsApp and Facebook. They can also complete and track purchases directly within the app via Canada Post. Once a user makes a purchase, they receive tracking information and can confirm when they’ve received their products. 

Although the team has already delivered the app, they continue to support us from a maintenance standpoint. 

What is the team composition?

I work with the founder and a project manager, but a team of five people supported our development needs.

How did you come to work with Creole Studios?

I initially found Creole Studios on Upwork. I reviewed 103 proposals, and theirs stood out to me because they catered their response to match my project. The team demonstrated their capabilities and included case studies for previous projects, which made me confident in their ability to execute my needs. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $20,000 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018, and they delivered the core project in July 2019. Now, they help us with maintenance. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Creole Studios has produced a well-designed mobile app, and we’ve received positive feedback regarding the aesthetics. We’ve experienced several bugs and crashes, but Creole Studios has assigned team members to fix them when they’re available. 

How did Creole Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve really enjoyed working with them from a project management standpoint. Our project manager has been the conduit between Creole Studios and me. We’ve had several calls where she’s translated my non-technical language into requirements for the developers using Trello. We communicate via email and meet virtually.  

The initial development took longer than expected, but my naivete with development projects played into that. The team has stayed on budget for the most part; the only exception is our ongoing maintenance contract. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Creole Studios is a communicative, flexible partner. Despite the time difference, they’ve responded to requests promptly and made themselves available when necessary. Furthermore, they’ve been able to create something that only existed in my mind. The team was honest about what was and wasn’t realistic from a development standpoint concerning my desired functionality for the app. They’ve done a great job translating my ideas on paper into something that exists in real life. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Trello has a significant learning curve, so they could improve by using a more familiar project management tool.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend factoring in the cost of maintenance because things inevitably break, so it’s worth continuing to update the app and fix bugs. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the MD of Exclusive Travel Group, a luxury travel inbound company based in New Zealand and Australia

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Creole Studios?

We needed assistance with API integration

SOLUTION

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

Reputation and good communication

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

We began with scoping out the job, trialing solutions and coming up with a finished product

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

4 people

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We ended up with a great solution. Their team was understanding and patient with us during our hectic times.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was easy and efficient

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

Always willing to help and go the extra mile

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of an elearning platform

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Creole Studios, and what were your goals?

I needed to integrate a third party software into wordpress website and I thought that it will be a huge standalone project.

SOLUTION

How did you select Creole Studios and what were the deciding factors?

Creole Studios, represented by Mr. Anant, solved the integration problem seamlessly and with a high standard of professional coding.

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

The scope of work was to give access to WP, try out the software integration, validate that it works on different operating systems, and then employ online. Javascript and PhP are used (as per my understanding)

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

one developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

the software integration worked exactly as required with all details precisely covered

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

we communicated through a freelancing platform and the delivery was prompted on time. Anant was extremely clear and communicated very well.

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

Their ability of doing complex tasks, and their commitment to do their job without excuses. You can hardly find such professionalism in todays mass market of coding hobbyists.

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

Nope. It can't be better than this. I just hope other companies learn from them

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the director of e-commerce at Aetrex, one of the fastest growing companies in the footwear industry. The company was founded in 1946 and is widely recognized as the global leader in comfort and wellness footwear products.

Our mission is to create the healthiest shoes on the market today. With fashion, function, and quality at the forefront, Aetrex designs and manufactures casual, dress, sandal, athletic, and therapeutic footwear for both men and women. All styles are crafted with care to meet the highest standards in design, incorporating cutting edge technologies and offering unmatched customization and adjustability.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Creole Studios?

We've hired Creole Studios to help build 3 WordPress sites for Aetrex: foot.com, aetrextechnology.com, and footprints.aetrex.com

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create a user-friendly experience that communicates our story with a dynamic backend that allows little to no management required to publish changes.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose them because they had outstanding customer reviews.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was to develop the websites in a short amount of time; they needed to be ready for presentation before certain events took place.

Explain how the solution addressed your business challenge.

We were able to completely redesign a new website in literally weeks.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of myself as project manager, 2 developers, and the COO who helped oversee their performance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

There has been an outstanding improvement in sessions, search engine visibility, and key performance indicators across the board.

How effective was the project management?

The project management was exceptional.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed with their cost, efficiency, communication, and the level of quality in their work.