Gemstone Media

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an event manager for a group of funeral homes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gemstone Media?

We hired Gemstone Media to help us livestream funeral services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our funeral directors are able to sell livestream packages to the families that we meet. There are multiple options available where we can make virtual streamings either public or private. Gemstone Media can also make DVDs or USBs for the services they’ve filmed. 

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Phillip (President), but there is a larger team involved that does the filming. 

How did you come to work with Gemstone Media?

I met them through one of our funeral directors. One of the director’s family friends hired Phillip for livestreaming service for a funeral. They struck up a conversation, and then I got in contact. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested less than $10,000 so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2020. Livestreaming services became very important in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic because of the restrictions on large gatherings and travel. Our engagement with Gemstone Media is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve livestreamed about 70 services so far. Many of the families have given us positive feedback. They’ve told us they feel very blessed to be able to see their loved one’s funeral without needing to worry about traveling or potentially exposing themselves to COVID-19. It’s been a great opportunity for our families to have a high-quality livestreaming experience. 

How did Gemstone Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great. I can contact them at any time, and they always pick up. There are times when we have last-minute requests, and they’re always accommodating. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They work flawlessly. They’re very easy to work with. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, no. They’re all about making sure they do whatever is easiest for us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask questions and see what is or isn’t possible. They’re all about making sure they can meet your needs. More than likely, they’ll be able to do whatever you want them to. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the regional manager with Aflac.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gemstone Media?

They helped us develop some training videos for the new sales agents that were coming on my team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I knew what I wanted the videos to have in them, so I just used them for better quality production than we had in the past. They walked me through every scene and how it was going to look. We picked an example of what type of video worked for our budget. 

They produced different videos, from product presentations to advice videos, and then walking them through things specific to our company. Their team handled the recording within one day and they delivered the videos about three weeks later. The videos were between 3–7 minutes. 

What is the team composition?

There were two people working on the production of the videos. 

How did you come to work with Gemstone Media?

I’d worked with one of their employees at a previous employer so they were my go-to choice. 

How much have you invested with them?

I believe we spent around $3,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–May 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I get good feedback from my team. They like the videos and it helps them practice and improve their presentations. They also use the videos to review before entering a meeting, and being in sales means it’s important to have your best presentation ready. The videos came out better than I expected and the quality was good. 

How did Gemstone Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They made the process easy for us. They were good at communicating. There wasn’t much to it — I let them know what I wanted, they gave me options, we discussed, and they executed. Once we approved things for them, they carried it all out. We used email to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were obviously experts in production and design so their recommendations were easy to take. The visuals were really impressive. They’ve been in the business so long, so their efficiency and expertise make them stand out. They made it simple for me to understand the production and the end goal. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I don’t see how it could have gone any better. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Tell them what you’re looking for and they’ll match it. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

JDRF, also known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is an organization dedicated to improving lives and curing type 1 diabetes. In my role as Executive Director for the North Florida Chapter, I'm responsible for generating $1.4 million annually to help advance our mission and work with an amazing group of volunteers to accomplisht his.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gemstone Media?

We hired Gemstone Media to write, produce, edit and finalize commercials to help promote local efforts around the JDRF One Walk, our largest fundraising event of the year. These ran on t.v.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals of these commercials was to further awareness of our events, inspire involvement, make it look fun, meaningful and professional.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Gemstone Media was highly recommended by a board member and that's how our relationship started.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Met to discuss project goals. They helped identify and define steps of action, produced writing and talent, shot the footage, edited and developed final piece, as well as placed ads on t.v. stations.

What was the team composition?

Diverse group of individuals participated from the type 1 diabetes community as on air talent. The team at Gemstone was also diverse and really great to work with our team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Yes, Gemstone was fantastic to work with. The commercial furthered awareness and led to a group of 4,000 attending the in-person event that generated $400K for JDRF's mission.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Great workflow.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The communication and on-time scheduling was great from Gemstone.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No - they were great.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m was a marketing manager at a CPA and investment management firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gemstone Media?

Our managing partner had a vision of creating a series of videos that we could use on social media, in-office, and 30-60 snippets to start conversations with our clients. They were related to retirement, saving money, and being debt-free. We’d been thinking about it for a while, and it was one of the first projects I challenged.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I wrote the script for these videos, and they did everything else after that. They produced different file types so that we could use them on different platforms, too. The team put them in our lobby and were on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube. They were also sent out via newsletter.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from their team.

How did you come to work with Gemstone Media?

I had previous experience working with one of their teammates in a previous role. They were great then, and when we decided to implement this project, they were the first person I called. We had a meeting and our managing partner liked them, too, so we decided to go with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2015, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got tons of client feedback. They really loved the video series, and one video on our YouTube channel got over 25,000 views.

How did Gemstone Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. The team was constantly communicating with us. Even after our project had wrapped, they were really good about staying in touch and assessing other ways that they could help. The team also invited us to other events to introduce us to new partners. We really enjoyed our working relationship.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were more than just a media company; they were really good community partners for us. It was one of the big reasons why I decided to work with them after I transitioned into a new role.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was really impressed. They were timely and I was impressed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be specific. As long as clients know what they want the end product to be, they’re really good at giving clear steps on how to get there.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Airstream Ventures.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gemstone Media?

We do a series of televised sporting events and we hired Gemstone Media to produce all of them. We also hired them to produce and film all of our media days, as well as some occasional promotional videos.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Gemstone Media runs all of our live sporting events. The team produces them and does the graphics. I usually reach out to George (CEO & Founder) and tell him the scope of work, and he will then provide a proposal.

From there, our team starts working on the production of the event. When the event comes, Gemstone Media produces it and sends it to the television stations. 

What is the team composition?

We work with George, as well as engineers, producers, and directors.

How did you come to work with Gemstone Media?

I was introduced to them 4–5 years ago when I was working at a different job. George and Gemstone Media have a good reputation in our city. When I started my company, I had lunch with George and we decided to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent between $100,000–$150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first project with them started in October 2018, and our engagement is ongoing. We have an upcoming project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s been a great partnership. We do focus groups and surveys after events, and those reviews are almost always extremely positive. Their problem-solving, listening skills, and ability to create our vision are impeccable. The viewers are always amazed at the details we can deliver, and that’s to Gemstone Media’s credit.

How did Gemstone Media perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is very responsive and they’re always on cue with us. Gemstone Media is also very communicative when there are delays

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are detail-oriented and they stick to their word. They carry out our vision very well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, because they have so much going on, Gemstone Media falls behind on the production work. It doesn’t delay our broadcast, but we can tell that we aren’t the only client they’re working with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of development for the Jacksonville Humane Society. We’re a local, privately funded organization that has been around since 1885. We offer services such as adoptions, a low-cost veterinary clinic, and education programs. We’re also a no-kill facility and we work with other organizations to go no-kill.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Gemstone Media?

We wanted to explain all the different services we offer to the community in a clear and comprehensive way. We decided short videos would be a good route.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Gemstone Media filmed multiple short videos each showcasing a different program that we offer at the humane society. They provide full-scale production services, including filming and editing. We distributed them on our YouTube channel and promoted them on our social media. We also use the videos for events. 

What is the team composition?

George (CEO) was our main point of contact, but more recently, we’ve been working with Phillip (President). 

How did you come to work with Gemstone Media?

I met George and Gemstone Media years ago when I was at a previous company. I had great experiences with them in the past because they’re on time, organized, and efficient. We have a limited marketing budget, but they’re more affordable than other vendors.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve invested between $3,500–$5,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2019, and our relationship is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We track the number of views we get on the videos, and we found that the pages on our website with video components get more traffic. The number of subscribers we have on our YouTube channel has also increased. It’s helpful to have videos explaining our programs, rather than just having long blocks of text. 

How did Gemstone Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re absolutely amazing. We’re one of their smaller clients, but they treated us as if we were one of their top clients. They respond quickly to phone calls and emails. Their turnaround time is also very fast. When we’ve asked for a video with only a week or two of notice, they made it happen. They’re always willing to help us. I can’t say enough nice things about them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

What they do is really amazing. Storytelling through video is one of the most impactful marketing tactics I’ve seen. The people that work there are awesome. They’re all so passionate about what they do, and they care about our work. They’re very flexible when working with us, even if there are things we can’t afford, the team is accommodating and makes it happen. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. We wish we could do more with them, but our budget doesn’t always allow us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

I highly recommend using them. Give them your wish list, even if it’s something that feels unrealistic, they’ll make it happen.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Marketing Director , Men's Health Centers

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gemstone Media, and what were your goals?

Recording capabilities for radio commercials

SOLUTION

How did you select Gemstone Media and what were the deciding factors?

Highly recommended by a number of media companies in Jacksonville

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

Recorded a number of radio commercials for airing in Florida

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

1 - Audio Engineer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Outstanding, Gemstone Media has a very high level of professionalism from start to finish

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

Organized, well equipped for all types of broadcast commercial recordings

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

High level of experience among their staff

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

None