eGuide Tech Allies

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I founded GØØDZ, an online pop-up store featuring handmade products created by an international coalition of women. Goodz is partnered with The Pad Project, a not-for-profit that distributes menstrual products to girls, women, and other menstruators who otherwise could not afford them.

We sell products from all different artists around the world, each of whom has her own description and personal shopping page. The organization seeks to empower women through a two-pronged approach. It supports female artists in their creative and entrepreneurial endeavors, while also championing the fight against period poverty.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies?

I needed help with the backend of my website.

What were your goals for this project?

Setting up an efficient website that was scalable so that I could add new artists.

SOLUTION

How did you select eGuide Tech Allies?

Friend recommendation

Describe the project in detail.

Once we started, eGuide helped me choose my branding colors/font/aesthetic and we created a mood board together. They then helped me build up the website and have supported me ever since with any tasks or questions.

What was the team composition?

I was initially working with the head manager and I was then passed on to a helper who was specialized in my aesthetic and style. She was extremely helpful and super responsive.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within three months of launching, I have had 3, 774 visitors to the website and over 5,000 sales.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were incredibly responsive and accommodating. They truly want their customers to be happy with the experience. They were very transparent about pricing and very reasonable. Loved working with them!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Olive Fine Weddings & Events is an event planning company based in Chicago. I am the owner and lead planner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies?

I hired Gregory to help me figure out the best CRM platform for my business. I'm often managing many clients at once and was feeling like I needed one place to manage workflows. He ended up recommending Trello and setting it up for me.

What were your goals for this project?

Find a product that could help me stay organized and on top of client deadlines.

SOLUTION

How did you select eGuide Tech Allies?

Gregory's name was shared by a trusted fellow planner.

Describe the project in detail.

I met with Gregory in September 2019 to talk about one platform I had heard a lot about. He walked me through my process - from sales to booking to planning to execution - and took significant notes. He guided me through solidifying my process and ended up suggesting another product.

He then set it up for me based on existing documents I had. This was the most valuable part! Setting up a new product / software solution is so daunting. Not only do you need to learn how to use it, but you have to organize it to match you needs simultaneously. He took all of the guesswork out of the process and set it up and trained me on it.

What was the team composition?

Just me and Gregory.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I use the product he set up every. single. day.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Incredibly effective! Gregory was responsive and incredibly knowledgeable. It was a straightforward enough project that we just worked on it over email and with a few in person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

eGuide Tech Allies were so flexible to the company's needs, and took all of the really daunting work off the plate.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing! I enjoyed my experience immensely. So much so that I'm bringing Gregory back to train my staff.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior field marketing manager and small business expert at Yelp.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?

We were specifically working on project and team management in the beginning. I was overseeing a team of seven people and running project management for projects for our team, as well as some cross-functional products across the country.

We were also working on some content development for blogs, video stories, and webinars we were hosting.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We predominately were working on getting set up on Trello. They created the customization for how we were going to outlay all of our different cards for different departments, and then actively help me track deadlines for those projects and communication between my employees involved in each stage of the projects.

We were working on taking spreadsheets and word documents to put into Trello, and then creating templates to use as a team moving forward.

In April, we went through a decrease in workforce, so that changed a lot of what they were helping me with. My team was completely downsized to just me. Then I was working on project management and execution and prioritization of those roles.

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with Greg (Chief Executive Intern), but there were a few different projects that he would have someone else work on.

How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?

Greg and I met through networking. Two years ago, he attended a Yelp for Business Owners event that I was hosted. We’ve stayed in the same network, and then when I was in a position where I needed some services, I was able to bring them on.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $500 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All of the projects have been delivered within deadline.

We were able to complete the blog project that I had. That involved taking all of the assignments my team was working on and executing them into my calendar. We were able to hit all of our metrics in Q2 in terms of blog content creation.

eGuide Tech Allies makes sure we stay on track for deadlines. Most of the time, we would check the frequency of deadlines being moved and how often they were hit. We’re trying to eliminate any pushback or back and forth. For the project management work, we had to pivot because of COVID-19. eGuide Tech Allies continued supporting me with that.

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is great. We touch base two times a week. We’re definitely on the same page and are able to move the ball forward to get things prioritized. We use Trello as our main platform for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The personalization sets them apart. They know what’s going on in each project because they’re heavily involved. When I have things like spreadsheets that I need to send their way, they give me the right level of support.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Going into it knowing what you’re hoping to get is great. But stay in open communication with them. Trust them to be involved in some of that information you normally wouldn’t share. They’ll go the extra mile and use that to help better the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of Surge Institute, a leadership education nonprofit. We do leadership development and acceleration for education leaders of color.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?

We were looking for IT support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

eGuide is our outsourced IT support partner. They’ve helped us organize ourselves so that we can use better technology and tools to support our operation. 

One of the first things they helped us do was to set up and organize our Google Drive. We’re a coast-to-coast organization, so it was important that we have a shared drive that met our needs. They helped us develop an organization and a taxonomy within that organization so that we could use the resources we’ve built over time.

The team also helped us identify which small business software would best help us manage our operation. They introduced us to a project management tool, and other tools like Zoom. eGuide also handles our hardware, so whenever we have any hardware issues, we can call them to help us troubleshoot and solve the problem.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with four different people. Our primary contact is Gregory (CEO), and as we scaled up, we’ve worked with a client liaison and two others. 

How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?

We found eGuide through our network and became acquainted with Gregory.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $125,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

eGuide is extremely trustworthy. We trust them to handle the things we’re not experts at. We trust them to help us solve things efficiently, cost-effectively, and appropriately for an organization with our mission and size. 

Their work has had a great impact on our operations. The tools they’ve introduced have, with very little exception, quickly became the de facto way we work. 

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re really well trained and customer-service oriented. There hasn’t been a time where I’ve gone more than 24 hours without hearing back from them about a question, and the team always works to meet deadlines. We have a monthly call, where they do an annual report of the state of IT, which helps us a lot during budget development season.

They’re proactive in communication. There’s never been a moment where I’ve felt like the team wasn’t listening to what we had to say. We have a great relationship with them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I talk about them as a partner constantly. When we’ve looked for other vendors in other areas, like accounting, eGuide has been the model of the relationship we’re looking for. It’s been a relief to have someone working with us rather than feeling like the partnership is another thing to keep track of. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The one thing they could improve on is their research skills. We’ve asked them to think about what we should do as we grow, and it’s the only thing I can think of where I wasn’t impressed with how they responded. They do everything else so well, though, that it in no way puts the relationship in jeopardy.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what your goals are and invest in the relationship with eGuide.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a wedding planning company. I'm the owner and lead planner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?

I needed assistance to grow my business. I wanted to hire additional planners and expand as a company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first took a deep dive into my business. I wanted to work with people who aligned with my business model and had a similar mindset to me. They took time to get to know my methods and helped me through all the steps.

They helped me build the job description, gave recommendations on where to publish it, and guided me through the various applications I received. They gave recommendations for best practices in a phone interview, and they interviewed my top three candidates. I was busy running my business, and they made sure I considered the candidates that were the best fit for my company.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with one contact.

How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?

I heard about them through other industry professionals. Based on positive referrals, they were easy to hire.

How much have you invested with them?

I've spent around $2,500-$3,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started the hiring process around January 2019. I've already hired one person, and I'm about to send an offer to a second person. Now that I’ve hired the individuals I need, I'll still work with eGuide Tech Allies on systems, processes, and training.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I found the first hire on my own, but there was a definite difference in my second hiring process. eGuide Tech Allies wrote a very good job listing, which helped attract more qualified candidates. The second process was slower, but it was much more focused and, ultimately, more fruitful.

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

We don't use any special tools to manage the project, but they have introduced me to Trello. I used Google Sheets and Google Docs for training and procedural documents, but they're helping me transfer those documents and scripts into one easy location.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really appreciate the time they took to get to know my business. They have a background in the event industry, which saved time. Their approach fit my needs, and their passion for small businesses helped me grow.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they should improve. I've worked with other companies, but none of them did as well as eGuide Tech Allies did.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know your needs at the beginning. I told them what I struggled with, which helped us focus on the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own a business called Reenie Rose and it’s a creative business that's primarily in the wedding industry. I do commission-based work like signage, calligraphy, and lettering for individual’s weddings.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?

I started out looking to form a budget for my business for the first time, but as I started to work with eGuide Tech Allies, it became more and more about just developing the business in ways that I couldn’t on my own.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started by developing a budget, and from there started developing goals and specific systems within the business. Gregory (CEO, eGuide Tech Allies) has kind of guided me throughout, helping to look more deeply at what was working and what wasn’t.

We’ve been able to expand aspects of my business such as rentals and shift my focus to vendor relationships to help build my brand’s presence. His help with those issues built trust between our businesses to the point where I asked him to help me upgrade my website.

I had a very outdated website; because of how scattered my business is, it had been difficult to put together anything cohesive. Gregory and his team sat down with me several times and we really combed through what was going to be the most logical and useful way to present my work. Now I can actually direct my clients to view all of those services and products on my site rather than just having it out in the world for SEO.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Gregory for the most part, but Lauren (Project Manager, eGuide Tech Allies) has also been an integral part of my website rebuild as well.

How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?

I heard about them through some of my colleagues in the wedding industry who he had worked with before. I liked that they knew the industry a bit but were also knowledgeable about other things, so I decided to start working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $800 on the website redesign, but in total have probably spent closer to $2,000–$3,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the website from January–July 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I think the biggest benefit to the website update has been that I now have a page for rentals rather than having to send my clients to a Pinterest board or my Instagram and hope they’d find what I was wanting them to look for. Direct access to everything in my inventory allows me to put a link in their email or otherwise direct people right to what they want, which has really benefited my ability to make sales.

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate with a little bit of everything. For the most part, we use email, but if I need to reach them more quickly, I can always hop on a phone call, and we have regularly scheduled video calls for meetings to go over the website and other visual aspects of the business. They’re very straightforward and always keep me updated on things.

What did you find most impressive about them?

If I have a question or a problem, whether or not it’s really within their wheelhouse, they always do their best to solve it. Because of the friendship we’ve developed over time, I reach out with pretty much any business problem I run into. He has become a person I know I can count on for advice on just about anything.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any specific improvements besides that I’m excited to see their business grow. They’ve streamlined their work a bit over time, and I think that they are continuing to do that all the time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would just advise that anyone going into an engagement like this have as much clarity as possible on what you’re really looking for to help you achieve the best results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Clover Events, a boutique wedding and event planning firm based in Chicago, Ill.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?

I reached out to eGuide for some IT and business consulting services after recently starting my business. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, eGuide learned how to use the CRM tool I preferred, Dubsado, optimized it for my business purposes, and taught me how to use it in the process. They also set up internal workflows and uploaded content to my site.

I now meet with their team each month to go over other projects they help me with, including a mailing list on MailChimp, blog, and other general technical issues. 

What is the team composition? 

I work directly with Gregory (CEO, eGuide Tech Allies), as well as Lauren (Project Manager, eGuide Tech Allies). 

How much have you invested with them?

We probably spend about $500 per month on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since April 2017, and I now work with them on a monthly retainer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Gregory was able to successfully hone in on the capabilities of the platform and effectively translate that information to me, streamlining my business workflow. They've helped improve my overall online presence, which has, in turn, helped attract new clients.

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very organized and responsive. We track project milestones through Trello and Google Suite, which has helped improve the way I manage client tasks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're incredibly knowledgeable not just in their field of expertise, but in my specific industry as well. Their team has a lot of valuable expertise in technology, SEO, and other website tools that have been hugely beneficial to my business. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask a lot of questions. If you don't have time to learn about a new tool or technology, don't assume that they can't walk you through it. They've managed almost everything I've thrown their way incredibly well. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the CEO and founder of a Chicago-based hospitality group called The Paramount Group. We have a series of brands, including a catering company, a restaurant, a venue, a market, and a delivery service for fresh produce.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies? 

We were looking for an IT firm that could bring all of our antiquated systems across all of our brands up to date and teach us how to use the software effectively. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

eGuide Tech Allies provides complete IT support for all of our systems. After reviewing the software, they tweaked and integrated some of the systems with each other to improve our processing capacity.

Their team then educated us on how to best use our technology. Before, we were using our systems at a very basic level and weren’t taking advantage of the software’s full potential. Not to mention, we were still manually writing a lot of our processes. They showed us faster ways to navigate our technology, which made us more efficient when handling sales.

Currently, they’re supporting us on a new project to develop a POS system as well as an app system. They’re also responsible for training new employees on how to use our software.

What is the team composition? 

We interact with a few people, including their project manager and CEO. Everyone is extremely proactive, and they’re always willing to jump in if we need support. 

How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies? 

I found them through our mutual network connections and heard great things about them. They had a strong understanding of the hospitality industry, which was an absolute requirement for us. So far, it’s been great to have a resource that can not only help us navigate the technology, but is also familiar with our work.

What is the status of this engagement? 

Their work started in August 2017 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

eGuide Tech Allies has been a complete lifesaver in bringing us up to speed, and the ROI is impeccable. By educating us to be more well-versed in our programs, they’ve streamlined our workflow tremendously, which has allowed us to produce more business. We’ve seen a 10% increase in sales purely based on their system improvements alone. We’re now able to process and move orders at a much faster rate.

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

I can’t say enough good things about them. They’re all about providing superior customer service, so we never feel intimidated when asking questions. At any given time, I know that I can reach out and have someone help me or walk me through something. They’ve assigned a resource to meet with us on site twice a week, but we can also contact them 24/7 by phone, email, and text.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Their response time is unbelievable. Compared to other IT companies I’ve dealt with, eGuide Tech Allies excels at teaching their clients. It can be hard for non-technical people to formulate tech-heavy questions because they don’t always have the background to explain their needs. In those cases, their team takes the time to listen and understand where we’re coming from, which enables them to better tailor their training.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

No, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just be open to their suggestions. When I brought eGuide Tech Allies on to the project, I had a set scope in mind with a defined timeline and end date. But, now, I hope to continue working with them for as long as we can. They’re able to process information differently, challenging us to open our eyes and think in new ways. This pushes us to be better and keeps us on our toes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Ower of Magnificent Milestones

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.
Wedding stationery

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire eGuide Tech Allies to accomplish?

• New website
• Updated branding (colors, etc)
• Target market

SOLUTION

How did you find eGuide Tech Allies?

• Referral

Why did you select eGuide Tech Allies over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from eGuide Tech Allies were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Revised website, updated branding and target market.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a gorgeous website (with very little work on my end) ahead of schedule.

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

Ahead of schedule, very communicative.

What was your primary form of communication with eGuide Tech Allies?

• Virtual Meeting

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

They immediately grasped my goals, and delivered them quickly.

Are there any areas for improvement or something eGuide Tech Allies could have done differently?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of Niche & Co

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Boutique customized off site catering

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire eGuide Tech Allies to accomplish?

• Website Design
• Proposal Design
• Additional Spreadsheets

SOLUTION

How did you find eGuide Tech Allies?

Referral

Why did you select eGuide Tech Allies over others?

High ratings, Close to my geographic location, Pricing fit our budget, Great culture fit, Referred to me, Company values aligned

What was the size of eGuide Tech Allies’s team?

2-5 Employees

What was your primary form of communication with eGuide Tech Allies?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

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

Created our website from scratch, including what we do, who we are and galleries of our work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Incredible website that screams "us". Clear, concise financial sheets

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

So helpful -answered any questions and made adjustments quickly. Felt as if the e-guide team was invested in our projects as their own!

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

They were true experts who fully tapped into our brand.

Are there any areas for improvement or something eGuide Tech Allies could have done differently?

nope, super happy with it!