Evolve Agency Group

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the senior director of The Dufresne Group. We’re a furniture, mattress, and appliance company, and we have retail stores in Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Evolve Agency Group?
We needed a partner to support our annual event.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
Evolve Agency Group facilitates our annual event, which is a massive one-day conference with over 200 attendees. They’re responsible for creating PowerPoint presentations for whatever we’re doing during the day and hosting the dinner and entertainment part of the event during the night. They also handle all of the technical aspects of the event, including sound, lighting, the stage, and the conference room layout.

What is the team composition?
My main point of contact is Dack (Director, Brandfire CX), but I usually work with 5–6 people from Evolve Agency Group at every event.

How did you come to work with Evolve Agency Group?
Dack has been involved in the furniture industry for years, so that's how I came to know him.

How much have you invested with them?
We pay Evolve Agency Group $40,000 a year to facilitate our one-day event.

What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve been working together every year for around 20 years now, if not more.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The event was a success, as it has been every year since we started working with Evolve Agency Group. Because we’ve been working together for so long, they already know what I want and need to make my life easy and ensure a seamless event.

How did Evolve Agency Group perform from a project management standpoint?
I’ve never had a problem with Evolve Agency Group’s event management efforts. They’ve been been fantastic at managing everything and providing great suggestions to further improve the event.

Additionally, based on the quote that I received from their competitors, I also know that I’m getting good value for their price.

What did you find most impressive about them?
I’ve coordinated with the same facility to host our annual event for 20 years. This facility recently signed an agreement with one of Evolve Agency Group’s competitors, and I willingly paid the penalty just to have Evolve Agency Group handle my event again this year because of how much I trust them and how comfortable I am with them.

Evolve Agency Group makes my life incredibly easy for what could be a complicated event, and my loyalty to them is a small price to pay for their exceptional customer service and event support.

Are there any areas they could improve?
I couldn't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Dack knows what he’s doing, so just follow his lead.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the marketing and social media manager at a food company that is a premium supplier of sustainably raised food products for the North American market. We've been in business for more than 50 years, and we have well-established brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Evolve Agency Group?

We needed a marketing partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Evolve Agency Group provides marketing services for our company. Initially, the team managed our social media marketing and created content for our channels. With time, Evolve Agency Group has worked on other projects, managing our SEO and search engine marketing. The team also produces videos for our advertising campaigns and has helped us with a rebranding project for one of our brands. Evolve Agency Group has designed our website and delivers periodic reports on different marketing areas. Also, they worked with us on different shoppers marketing projects and packaging design projects as well.

What is the team composition?

We work with Pranjali (Account Executive) who manages the day to day business, and Deanne (Group Account Director) is always copied on emails and involved in all projects. We've met with other teammates for different projects, including David (CMO) for SEO management, Amelia (Account Executive), the social media team, the creative team, and Mary (Partner, VP & Creative Director), who translates our briefs into creative work.

How did you come to work with Evolve Agency Group?

Evolve Agency Group was already engaged with my company when I started working here and was a significant resource during my onboarding. We don't have a big marketing team, and I'm the only person in the department.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working at my current position in November 2020, and Evolve Agency Group was already engaged with my company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Evolve Agency Group manages the SEO of one of our websites, and within a few months, we've started to see the results. Our keywords are ranking higher, and our overall SEO is working better. On social media, we've seen improved engagement from the content the team produces. Evolve Agency Group is an affordable team for the quality they provide, and their work has had a good impact on our business. 

How did Evolve Agency Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Evolve Agency Group delivers work on time and on budget unless the scope changes. As long as we follow the project timelines, the team delivers on time. The team's prices are aligned with the market.
Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Deanne is the main person I work with. She knows our brand and is always there to support us. With her management and direction, she's the main contributor to our success. She's a very seasoned marketing professional and an expert in different marketing areas, helping with all the projects we've assigned to the team. Deanne helped me understand our brand and its history when I started working in my position. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Evolve Agency Group has different teams and specialties that are knowledgeable in their areas. The team is a one-stop agency for our company and has the expertise within their organization to help any brand with all their marketing needs. The best part is that Evolve Agency Group feels like an extension of our marketing team. I've worked with several marketing agencies before, and Evolve Agency Group is one of the best because I really feel they're working with us. 

When working with other marketing teams, I sometimes felt the account team wasn't interested. They gave the brief we sent to their creative team, and it was done without providing input or engaging with us. One of the best things about Evolve Agency Group is their team's involvement in our project. They're true partners, and the team always finds a way to accommodate if we need something within a tight timeframe. I'm happy with Evolve Agency Gro's creativity level. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I've worked with different teammates throughout the project, and the transition has been smooth. While Deanne has been always overseeing the account as the Account Director, there have been frequent changes to the account manager / executive. Now I work with Pranjali who is always on top of things. Before that, we worked with Amelia and another teammate. Although the account managers' change hasn't affected us much, I'd appreciate having less frequent changes within the team because the new teammates take time to adjust and to know our company.

I also appreciate the team's strong point of view because it's good to hear things from a different perspective. We've changed decisions based on Evolve Agency Group's recommendations. However, there was an instance on one project where I had a decision on one of the tactics, and the social media team proposed something different. I gave my reasons for my decision, and we went back and forth in our discussions. While I appreciate their suggestions, more flexibility would be good.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I suggest working on one project when engaging Evolve Agency Group to test the team. Nonetheless, the main impact you will see will be from working long-term with the team. The main benefit is that Evolve Agency Group works as an extended marketing team of any company. If you only work on one project with Evolve Agency Group, I don't think you'll see the full benefit of their support.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the trade channel marketing manager for a plumbing fixtures company. We sell plumbing fixtures to wholesalers, showrooms, and retailers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Evolve Agency Group?

We needed help with various marketing services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Evolve Agency Group has built displays, installed products and displays, developed creative materials, and printed those materials. We have conversations or provide a detailed brief depending on the project. We also go through review cycles of either renderings, concepts, or additional changes.

What is the team composition?

We’re in contact with Dack (Director & Co-Founder).

How did you come to work with Evolve Agency Group?

They were partners with the company before I was in this role.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost depends on the type of project. For example, creating marketing materials is much more affordable than building a display.

What is the status of this engagement?

I’ve been in this role for three years, and we continue to work with them and change the scope of what we do.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Evolve Agency Group has had a positive impact. We’ve been able to implement process and execution improvements. Moreover, we’ve received positive feedback from customers.

How did Evolve Agency Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They respect the project timelines and budget.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Dack is a pleasure to work with. He has met our business needs throughout all the projects we’ve worked with him. Moreover, he continues to go a step above and beyond.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re familiar with our brands, products, and market; they do their market research. Moreover, we like the full scope of what they can do. Evolve Agency Group can handle anything from small projects to big displays.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have more of a national presence, but that would be a stretch.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be transparent about your needs; they’ll find a way to make it work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager for Los Cabos Tourism. We are a tourism board that works for the government to promote travel in our area. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Evolve Agency Group?

We’ve hired Evolve Agency Group to provide marketing services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Evolve Agency Group presented a proposal and provided marketing action activation services for three different events. Evolve Agency Group sent an individual to each event and put together a database logging everyone who attended. They created all of the marketing materials for these events, including backdrops, videos, and music, and they set up a QR code for a contest we were running. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with four individuals from Evolve Agency Group. 

How did you come to work with Evolve Agency Group?

We found them through a Google search. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $145,000 in our first contract with Evolve Agency Group. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2024, and we finished our first project with them. However, we consider the engagement ongoing because we are renewing our contract. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their team completed everything in the contract. Our goal with these activations was to raise awareness, and Evolve Agency Group provided us with a large database of everyone who attended these events. We were able to send individuals from our own company to see how everything went at these events and were impressed with Evolve Agency Group and how they handled themselves. We were happy with their services, so we decided to continue working with them and opened a new contract.

How did Evolve Agency Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Evolve Agency Group delivers everything on time and stays within budget. We communicate with them via email, phone calls, and WhatsApp. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

We’d like to thank Dan (Director, Business Development) and Kristin (Account Executive) for their excellent work. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I deal with a lot of agencies, but Evolve Agency Group is the most organized and goal-oriented. Their team is highly creative in their approach and implementation. They are easy to work with and we never have to worry about them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing we can come up with at this point.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We recommend them 100%. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the director of marketing of a franchised network with over 385 locations across Canada. I managed both national and regional marketing efforts on behalf of our brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OKD Marketing?

We needed marketing assistance.

What were your goals for this project?

OKD Marketing worked on a number of projects while I was in my role, and each initiative had a set of unique measurables.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We met with an account representative from OKD Marketing who pitched a number of creative ideas. Some time passed, and we eventually found ourselves in need of a partner with their skillset. We chose to work with them, and the relationship grew from there.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We’ve tasked OKD Marketing with multiple projects throughout the partnership. Generally, they provided creative support across print, radio, and online channels. They developed and implemented online marketing campaigns to drive leads to our custom-built website. They helped us with media buying in primarily the digital space. They were also involved in building and managing a franchise contest. Whenever we had a retail event for our franchise, they produced and printed over 385 kits for the occasion.

What was the team composition?

I worked with a dedicated team from OKD Marketing, and there hasn’t been much turnover. In addition to our core resources, I also have access to higher-level management and various specialists as necessary. If there’s a specific need, like copywriting or social media work, they provide an expert to help us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Based on the quality and success of their work, the relationship continues to grow and expand.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The company had some pretty ambitious needs with minimal resources. The OKD Marketing team understood our challenge and worked proactively and responsively to meet all of our needs. I always felt like the work was in good hands. They kept us organized throughout each project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed by their staff. They don’t have to rely on outside freelancers because they have all the expertise they need in house.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m vice president of sales, marketing, and operations of an automotive company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OKD?

We approached them with a finished product I made over a 2–3 year span. My company’s strengths are in manufacturing, and we’re not great at marketing or sales of this kind of product in the retail space. We wanted to bring the product to market and increase sales.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We asked them for the best strategy based on what we wanted to do, and they presented the ideas for a website and online video. They developed our website, including the e-commerce portion, and also scripted, directed, and edited a video.

They designed all of our POP [point of purchase] displays for a prominent tire company, which was our main focus. They also helped with our booth display at a national hardware show in Las Vegas two years ago.

We sat down together to gather a keyword list. They did digital work for point of sales videos at the end of each aisle. For the prominent tire company, each store has a player that displayed a condensed version of our online video. They also redesigned these types of things.

We’re looking at a few options now. We’re going to be getting into the U.S. a bit more. We know what we’re doing in Canada, and expanding to the U.S. is a great step forward.

How did you come to work with OKD?

A friend recommended them to me. Their office was only two blocks away from mine, so it was a natural, easy fit. We didn’t consider any other companies. We knew what we wanted to do and that they were really good at their jobs. They were also knowledgeable about search engines, so it worked out well.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$199,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2016, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They developed my business. They did everything. We went from zero sales to where we are now.

We told them what we wanted to do, and they guided us through it. We went through and kept pursuing it, and finally, now, we’re displayed in a prominent tire company’s retail stores. They’ve done a very good job for us, and I’m really happy with them.

How did OKD perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s so easy. We just tell them what we want to happen and when, and they take care of everything. It’s almost like I have that department in my own business. Communication is also really good. I wasn’t thrilled with one, small segment on the video, so I went back to them and told them. They gladly agreed to change it, and it was fixed a day later.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The video was outstanding and hilarious. We’ve become friends through business, and it’s a really good working relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m not disappointed with anything. I haven’t gotten mad or upset, and there’s nothing negative to say.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be involved in every step of the way. It’s a great learning experience in an industry I’m not very familiar with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’ve been a sales development manager for a year for a fuel and ethanol company. We produce high-quality alcohols for several industries, including oil, fuel, pharmaceutical, beverage, and personal care companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Evolve Agency Group?

We needed new branding for the company. We’d developed further than what we were manufacturing and wanted to take that to market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Evolve Agency Group has redone everything from a new logo and brand strategy to website, letterhead, and business cards. We initially sent the scope of work and what we wanted.

What is the team composition?

We regularly work with three teammates: Dan (Director of Business Development), Ed (Digital Strategist), and Doug (Executive Creative Director). There are more people, but we’re only in contact with them.

How did you come to work with Evolve Agency Group?

We first vetted several marketing firms, and three of them were presented to a broader project group. Then, we interviewed them.

How much have you invested with them?

Since we’ve added more things and gotten scope creep, we’ve spent around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the project in June 2023; we’re still working with them on some new projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Evolve Agency Group’s work and collaboration have enabled us to go to market and feel confident with our branding. We now have the right sales tools to go to market.

How did Evolve Agency Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Although there was a slight delay, they corrected it throughout the summer vacation.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Evolve Agency Group’s team has played an important role. They listen to us and translate what we want well. If they don’t get it right the first time, they’re willing to go back to the table. However, they mostly hit the nail on the first time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We could have more scheduled follow-ups.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’ll deliver what you want.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder and Vice President

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Repairs and replaces major components in wind turbines using proprietary up-tower lifting technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Evolve Agency Group to accomplish?

• Promotional Video

SOLUTION

How did you find Evolve Agency Group?

Referral

Why did you select Evolve Agency Group over others?

High ratings, Great culture fit, Good value for cost, Referred to me, Company values aligned

What was the size of Evolve Agency Group’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Corporate video with sound and voice over used for marketing purposes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Client feedback has been extremely positive.

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

Evolve delivered on time, on budget and the work product was fantastic. The staff at evolve were extremely attentive to our needs and great to work with. They were creative, fun and on-time. They were focused on what we requested and listened to what our needs were. Evolve far exceeded our expectations!

What was your primary form of communication with Evolve Agency Group?

In-Person Meeting, Virtual Meeting

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

People, Culture and attentiveness to client needs. They listened and worked to develop and deliver a product that far exceeded our expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Evolve Agency Group could have done differently?

No - service and product were top notch and I can't think of anything else we would have required.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Green Benefits Group specializes in revitalizing employee benefit and retirement plans for small and mid-size employers. I'm the founder and president.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OKD Marketing?

We needed to update our website and branding message and produce videos that outlined our unique market position.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed help with positioning ourselves in the marketplace and clarifying our brand message.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed a few firms that we thought would meet our needs. We wanted to work with a firm that was big enough to deliver, yet small enough for a personal connection.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They built our website, produced video content, and directed our corporate rebranding.

What was the team composition?

We've worked with a number of their talented teammates, but we've had one point of contact. That's super.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We're at the top of Google search results and receive fabulous feedback from clients and prospects. Our rebrand has clarified our message and driven new revenue to our firm.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I couldn't be happier. They meet and exceed our implementation targets.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They understood us from the start and took the time to ask the right questions about our goals. If something needed to be tweaked, they did it immediately.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not from us.