Good Stuff Partners

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Digital Content Manager of Community Arts Stabilization Trust

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) is a community-centered real estate organization committed to ensuring artists and cultural workers can stay anchored where they create.
 

In deep partnership with communities across the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly communities that have endured historical underinvestment, we believe artists and cultural workers should be valued and rewarded for their work and recognized as key building blocks of a healthy society.
 

CAST models new ways to secure and steward affordable, inclusive spaces for creative and cultural expression. Our programs and services have helped arts organizations build pathways to ownership, enabled artists to secure long-term affordable leases, and created dedicated spaces for cultural connection and exchange.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Good Stuff Partners to accomplish?

• Create a visual and written identity for our Warfield Commons building.

SOLUTION

How did you find Good Stuff Partners?

Referral

Why did you select Good Stuff Partners over others?

Company values aligned

How many teammates from Good Stuff Partners were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Developed tone and voice for messaging around the building
• Pitched options for the name and logo
• Designed a splash page for the initial site launch
• Designed a website for the final site launch
• Created templates for social media and web graphics with guides on how to format
• Created a one-pager for language to use with different audiences and generally
• Provided brand colors and fonts
• Deliverables 
  • Messaging document
  • Design outline with colors, logos, fonts, and icons
  • Social media and site design templates
  • Splash page and website
  • Elevator pitch

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Public launch of the branding reached over 1,200 accounts across social channels
• We currently have 6 tenants in the building
• We've had 2.9k visits to the website since launching, and 5.5k pageviews

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

Good Stuff delivered promptly and was responsive to our needs. There were a few times that the process slowed down because what was delivered was not quite what the CAST team had in mind, causing some confusion in communication.

What was your primary form of communication with Good Stuff Partners?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They were incredibly personable, making it easy to communicate with them.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Good Stuff Partners could have done differently?

• Asked more questions to get a better understanding of our aesthetic preferences
• Researched more organizations, institutions, and non-profits in the area to make sure branding didn't overlap (for example, one of the logo options closely resembled Code Tenderloin's logo)
• Multiple meetings spent a lot of time reviewing what we had already done, it would've been great to focus on the new work done and decision making.
• We thought that Good Stuff would take more lead in the vision and come to us with creative and fresh ideas, but it felt like we had to provide a large amount of guidance and inspiration in order to get to a good place.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the PR Associate of Beyond Trending

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

PR & Communications for tech startups, VC investors and nonprofits.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Good Stuff Partners to accomplish?

• Assist with core messaging & company descriptions
• Rebranding
• Re-build company website

SOLUTION

How did you find Good Stuff Partners?

Referral

Why did you select Good Stuff Partners over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Good Stuff Partners were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We worked with Good Stuff Partners to help us with a complete rebrand of Beyond Trending. They helped us identify our key messages and descriptors, re-do our logo and brand elements, and rebuild our company website. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Good Stuff Partners provided us with new brand files such as a new logo, brand colors, and various brand images that could be used for future promotion. Using Squarespace, they completely rebuilt our website. 

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

They were very responsive when we reached out with questions. Their team kept regularly biweekly cadence with us, and we worked together to meet our needs in a timely manner. Collectively, we all worked well together. 

What was your primary form of communication with Good Stuff Partners?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Good Stuff Partners asks the hard questions and nails down the messaging and vision of your brand from the start. Their thorough process for messaging helped to connect the dots with visually designing our brand from scratch, which seamlessly led us to produce an amazing website with refreshed branding and copy. Their graphic design skills were also impressive to us.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Good Stuff Partners could have done differently?

Sometimes they were focused on the tasks at hand, while we were trying to still process our thought process through steps. When we voiced that we needed to slow down or take a step back at a task, they were receptive to that. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Communications Manager of a nonprofit company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a leading poverty-fighting nonprofit that serves the entire Bay Area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Good Stuff Partners to accomplish?

Design annual impact report page on our website

SOLUTION

How did you find Good Stuff Partners?

Previous work

Why did you select Good Stuff Partners over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Good Stuff Partners were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Good Stuff supported with design, digital strategy and project management for our annual impact report page on our website. We tasked them with building the designw within our existing web modules since we were already pleased with the structure we had for previous reports, but wanted a light refresh to ensure the content seemed new and engaging. 

Once our content was developed and final, Good Stuff led us through an iterative design process to agree on the overall layout, and implemented the page on the backend of our site. They also led us through a QA process to ensure the page would function without any hitches. Good Stuff also developed social media assets for us to use to promote the report, which was very helpful for our team. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very pleased with how the report performed this year! Anecdotally, we heard really positive feedback from donors, partners, and internal staff about the report, and saw an improved engagement rate compared to previous years in the weeks immediately after the launch. Process-wise, development was also much smoother than it had been in previus years.

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

Good Stuff's project management was extremely effective. They built a timeline for us to work from for the report design, and were extremely communicative via email throughout the process. We have several rounds of internal review on our end and they were right by our side through the entire process!

What was your primary form of communication with Good Stuff Partners?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Good Stuff was deeply commited to the success of this report, and felt like much more of a true partner than a vendor throughout the process. And we really appreciated their creativity in finding solutions that worked within our existing web structure.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Good Stuff Partners could have done differently?

As discussed, I think just being more upfront about the potential challenges of working within our existing web structure from the get go would have been hepful since we ran into some issues and had to bring web developers in later in the process. Overall though, the team was wonderful!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Publisher + Co-Founder of VegNews

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

VegNews is the world's largest plant-based media brand encompassing a flagship magazine, digital media, a podcast, and global vacations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Good Stuff Partners to accomplish?

• To create a best-in-class, beautiful website
• To ensure we have a top-notch back-end system for updating content
• To future proof our brand for years to come

SOLUTION

How did you find Good Stuff Partners?

Referral

Why did you select Good Stuff Partners over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Good Stuff Partners were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We've worked with Good Stuff Partners on a number of projects, and have been beyond thrilled every single time. They are a true partner for our company, and deliver 120% on every project they do. They are responsible for so much of our success, and I can't imagine doing business without them. 

For this particular project, they created a brand-new website for us with a stunning interface, excellent user experience, mobile readiness, and a cutting-edge CMS. Their design skills are top notch, they're excellent communicators, and they immerse themselves into our brand and market to ensure they're delivering the best possible product. I can't recommend Good Stuff Partners enough.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have won multiple awards for our Good Stuff-designed website, and are constantly receiving accolades from readers and our peers in the industry. We're thrilled with the results!

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

Good Stuff's communication skills and project management is the best I've ever experienced. I don't know how they can be SO great at design and SO great at site architecture—PLUS be great communicators and project managers. They are truly one of a kind, and for us, they will be always be our brand agency. There's no one better!

What was your primary form of communication with Good Stuff Partners?

Virtual Meeting

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

Good Stuff Partners not only delivers top-quality work (in every area), but they're a joy to work with. They also have great business values, and really feel like a parter. They are our forever partner, and I'm so grateful to have discovered them!

Are there any areas for improvement or something Good Stuff Partners could have done differently?

Honestly, I would say no. We've worked with them on a number of projects (print, digital, social, email), and they do superb work every single time. They are AMAZING and a true treasure.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COO of a food & beverages company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We're working on several substantial breakthroughs that are going to make a very real sustainability impact in the world of coffee.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Good Stuff Partners to accomplish?

• Develop our brand strategy and positioning.
• Define our brand voice.
• Create our brand identity.

SOLUTION

How did you find Good Stuff Partners?

Online Search

Why did you select Good Stuff Partners over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Good Stuff Partners were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We are a pre-revenue startup, which means that our brand was a blank sheet of paper when we engaged Good Stuff Partners. We now have a compelling and authentic brand that is codified in our brand book. We also have the core brand assets that we can leverage across our various marketing channels.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• In-person market research results. 
• Brand book and all of the associated brand assets.

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

Good Stuff assigned a dedicated project manager to our engagement who communicated well and ensured everything was delivered on time. They have a very logical, immersive, and thorough process for developing a brand from scratch. Although they have a structured approach for developing a brand, they are also flexible and accommodated our unique style and constraints.

What was your primary form of communication with Good Stuff Partners?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their small size ensures that your project gets the attention of the principles. They're completely engaged! They're very creative and detail-oriented, and their designs feel timeless. The Good Stuff team really immerses itself in your business, products, and culture. Their work always reflects the essence and mission of the company.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Good Stuff Partners could have done differently?

They're a great agency and fun to work with!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Sales and Business Development of Ritual Coffee Roasters

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Formed in San Francisco in 2005, Ritual Coffee is a fully independent and woman-owned coffee roasting company that roasts high quality coffees sourced from people they know around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Good Stuff Partners to accomplish?

• We hired Good Stuff Partners to create the label artwork for a full line of ready-to-drink canned coffee beverages.

SOLUTION

How did you find Good Stuff Partners?

Friend of a friend

Why did you select Good Stuff Partners over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Previously worked with them

How many teammates from Good Stuff Partners were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

1. Planning session This is a deep dive into the details of your new products, gathering detailed inputs from your team:
   1. Marketing plan overview
   2. Identify key differentiators
   3. Project planning session with key milestones
2. Research We’ll look at competitor packaging and exemplar packaging examples in other categories. This also includes looking at in-store fixture and point of purchase.
3. Product range architecture Your range of products need a clear architecture, allowing both connection to the parent brand and product personality to work seamlessly. We’ll future proof this as much as possible, so potential brand extensions have a logical place to live.
4. Content & copywriting We’ll help shape the on-pack content to make sure your positioning is simple and clear across each of your three SKUs. We’ll develop messaging, describing each of the products and their unique characteristics. This could also include the Ritual story or brand message.
5. Template Wireframing All required content to be included on pack will be provided by Ritual. This includes product names, barcodes, nutrition panels, ingredients, weights, etc. We’ll then apply content on the supplied templates for sign-off before moving into the visual concept phase.
6. Visual concepts We’ll develop two different concepts and apply them across the template wireframes. Ritual will select one concept for refinement.
7. Illustrations As we develop your new look and feel, we might include illustrations or artwork from one of Ritual’s illustrators or artists. If custom illustrations are needed, we’ll estimate the costs separately as it’s too difficult to determine the complexity prior to the design phase.
8. Artworking We’ll apply the refined concept across all the product templates, making sure we’re adhering to the standards and guidelines for minimum font sizes, bar codes, ingredient list, etc. We’ll work with your printer to provide final ready-toprint artwork files.
9. Project management We’ll manage the process of acquiring content and getting final files delivered to get to print and production. This includes weekly project calls with all teams and details like color testing with your printer to make sure the new design will reproduce as intended. Product naming

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the end of the project, we walked away with three beautiful and complete ready-to-drink can labels, a wireframe for several more SKUs, a professional sell sheet, labels for the case pack box, and large custom display units to use at trade shows.

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

Good Stuff Partners was incredibly organized from the very start. Our team was extremely impressed with their project management capabilities. Not only did they deliver their items on time, but they also made it easy for us to deliver ours on time too with gentle reminders and follow up communications.

They kept us on track by meeting weekly (virtually), by providing continuous recaps of the meetings and reminding each team member what their homework tasks were. They kept all of our digital files organized and straight -- and there were a lot of them! Whenever we need something on the fly, we can always count on them to come through for us in a timely manner, even expediting the more urgent needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Good Stuff Partners?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

In addition to their outstanding organizational and project management skills, the team members at Good Stuff are incredibly creative, smart, nice and fun to work with. Working with them on this project has been the most fun and thrilling work experience of my career! We look forward to collaborating with them more in the future.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Good Stuff Partners could have done differently?

We were extremely satisfied with the work efforts of Good Stuff and can't think of a single area of improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Environmental consulting firm specializing in project entitlement support, habitat restoration design, and environmental planning. I am the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Good Stuff Partners, and what were your goals?

Re-brand and new website. We are a 41 year old company with an outdated brand that we had grown out of. Wanted a new brand that better represented who we have become over the years. Needed a new website to carry that brand.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Recommendation from a past client of theirs + we went through an interview process and got multiple bids. GSP wasn't the least expensive but we felt they were the best match for our personality.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

- Research/competitive landscape - Brand Architecture - Positioning and Voice - Purpose Statement and Elevatory Pitch - New logo/identity - entirely new website

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

4-5 plus a web design subconsultant. Roles included: - Creative Director - Brand Strategist - PM - Associate Creative Director - Designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Very pleased with the outcome. The working relationship was very positive and even fun. We accomplished all of the goals we set out to at the beginning of the project. Project stayed on schedule and budget.

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

I wasn't in the driver's seat for this aspect of the project but my understanding was that there were very regular (weekly often) check in meetings to ensure the project was moving forward. The project was tracked in a PM software (Asana) and regularly maintained, and communication was direct and friendly.

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

I guess I would call it culture. They were just such a fun group of people - so talented in their respective disciplines and creative, but fun! They do great work, but having fun along the way made it so enjoyable. I looked forward to every meeting I had with them.

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

Not from my perspective but Liz might be able to provide some constructive comments here. I recall her mentioning something about the transition from the website planning software to actual laying the website out not translating too well. This was surprising to her and resulted in a lot more work than anticipated.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Co-Founder & COO of B Generous, a financial technology startup focused on providing "Donate Now, Pay Later" options for nonprofits and donors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Good Stuff Partners?

We hired them to design our ground-up visual brand and identity (e.g. logos, visual system, etc.), collateral materials, and website visuals.

SOLUTION

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

We interviewed more than 60 firms initially and requested RFPs from around 10. We thoroughly interviewed and reviewed their work, past clients, and overall fit with our organization and ethos. Good Stuff had beautiful design and a strong roster of clients in our world.

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

The project had several phases from initial discovery, through logo and visual system creation, and finally application of that visual system across dozens of customer-facing documents, websites, and other o/o platforms (e.g. social media). We have maintained an ongoing relationship after the initial project spec. was done for both maintenance and new first-order design work as well as updates/further iterations on the brand.

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

We had several resources, but our primary contacts were the two founders of the firm, Aimee and Adrian, with an account executive providing additional design and administrative support. It was excellent working directly with the senior team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything was done that needed to be done to create a scalable visual system. Not the cheapest, but we got what we paid for, which was an extremely professional and well-thought-out visual system and identity that is memorable, can grow with us, and flows to both our B2B and DTC businesses. Once we got into flow design was very easy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Weekly meetings, emails, and ad hoc communications. Took a little time to understand each others' best working style, but always felt that Good Stuff was diligent, detail-oriented and understanding from a PM perspective. We could have been better using their project management tools, and they could have joined us on Slack for quicker comms, but overall it was a great flow.

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

They put in substantial hours above and beyond our scope, at no cost to us, to get our initial visual system correct. We aren't the easiest clients simply approving one of the first three designs. But they insisted on working with us until they got it right. Others may have fired us as a client, but they put in the hours that made it work for everyone. And here we are nearly a year later!

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

See above on Slack comms. Only other thing I would say is that initially a little more speed/sense of urgency, but that is a startup guy talking. I know that would have compromised some of the design thinking, so there is a tradeoff.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a lifestyle retail store that sells sustainable home and garden products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Good Stuff Partners?

I was opening a brand new store and hired Good Stuff Partners for branding services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Good Stuff Partners provides us with branding services. Initially, we gave them a design brief, imagery, and references to help them get acquainted with what we wanted in terms of branding and colors. The team has helped us choose our name and color scheme. We collaborated on the logo idea, and they designed it. They’ve helped select our font and designed our hangtags and signage.

Additionally, Good Stuff Partners designed our website using Squarespace and Canva. They’ve also designed all the assets for our social media accounts.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Aimee (Founder & Creative Director) and Gloria (Senior Designer). At the start of the process, I also worked with another designer. 

How did you come to work with Good Stuff Partners?

I knew Aimee personally. I have a background in brand management and have worked with many agencies in the past. Since I knew Aimee’s work quality, it was a no-brainer to go with Good Stuff Partners when she gave me a price proposal that aligned with my budget expectations. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $60,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around July 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since our store is new, we can't provide metrics. However, I always get positive comments about the branding in the store. Our customers have responded to the details, such as the copy tying into our font — it's very well done and executed. 

Good Stuff Partners is organized and timely in all their delivery and materials. Therefore, they ensured I had everything I needed for the store to open in November 2021. The team has both creative and project management skills, which is very helpful. As for the website, they've given us tools to manage the design on our own, making things easy for us. 

How did Good Stuff Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

They've very good at project management. While I'm usually the one leading projects, this time, Aimee has kept me on track and moving forward in our planning. During the bulk of the project, we had a weekly call, and Good Stuff Partners kept moving everything along. 

We use Asana as a tool, and I can access it whenever I want; it has worked really well for us. As for communication, we use Zoom, phone calls, and emails. During our meetings, Good Stuff Partners always have a plan. Whenever I need something, they get back to me quickly and let me know when they can't get to a task immediately. 

Moreover, they deliver on time and stay on budget. The only increases in our budget have been due to things I've added, which they've given us an incremental quote for. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Good Stuff Partners' creativity and adherence to the budget set them apart. Many agencies have trouble staying on budget while delivering what the client wants. Meanwhile, Good Stuff Partners has been able to take our requirements and meet them. For example, we spent a lot of time choosing the font, and they were patient while also sticking to the budget. 

When working on packaging and branding, many agencies take a long time and have to go to the drawing board a few times. With Good Stuff Partners, we've never had to start over from scratch; they've kept us moving forward, which speaks about their ability to balance creativity with the business side of design. We don't see that combination of qualities very often in agencies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There isn't really anything they need to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Work with them! I've worked with many branding agencies, and Good Stuff Partners is one of the best providers for your dollar.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of marketing at Exponent Partners. Exponent Partners is a social enterprise committed to helping nonprofits in education, human services and philanthropy drive radically better impact.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Good Stuff Partners, and what were your goals?

We hired Good Stuff Partners to provide strategic brand consulting services to help us get crystal clear and aligned on who we are as a brand and what value we bring to our audiences.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I am honestly not clear on how we selected this vendor because the project was already underway when I joined the company.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Good Stuff Partners guided us through an in-depth discovery process. They conducted interviews with internal team members and did an analysis of our market, competitors and our position in the space. With these insights in hand, they guided us through the process of establishing our brand voice and value proposition statements. The final deliverable was a brand strategy document - a compilation of all their work, as well as brand messaging and value proposition statements.

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

We primarily worked with Adrian, partner and brand strategist, and Amy, creative director. When we got to the final implementation stage we also worked with Beth, account and project director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We now have more clarity on our brand voice and positioning/messaging statements, allowing us to more clearly articulate the value we bring to the markets we serve.

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

The Good Stuff Partners team had a very hands-on and collaborative project management style. They adapted to our internal dynamic and were very understanding and were very honest and transparent l when our project evolved beyond the initial timeline and scope. They worked closely with us to bring it to a close in a very positive way.

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

I really appreciated their commitment to the successful implementation of our brand strategy. They hosted a brand training workshop for our internal staff members and really focused on us getting the most out of our investment.

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

There are times when it felt like the very specific feedback we gave (and particularly our CEO gave) wasn't fully incorporated into the work product, resulting in additional feedback cycles. We got there in the end, however.