GreyBox Creative

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP of Finance & Strategy for Scratch Music Group. The company is a leader in DJ performance and education services, each operating under sister brand names.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative, and what were your goals?

Scratch was looking to do a comprehensive brand re-vamp for its Scratch Events division, including a deep dive on brand identity and name, and carrying through to a new logo, visual identity, website, etc. We wanted to give life to a brand that for too long had operated in the shadows as a B2B.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Clutch reviews were instrumental in finding an initial group of 4-5 agencies we felt could handle a comprehensive project, so that they could in-house work stretching from the identity to design ends. I vetted the final group via other online sources and their own websites, before conducting intro calls, and selecting a partner that clearly jumped out to us as the best fit.

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

Greybox Creative partnered with Limbic Brand Evolution, which conducted the brand identity half of the scope of work. Greybox was present as observer/shaper for this half, and then picked up at the mid-way from the output of the identity work to take over the 2nd phase, and had the task of producing: a new logo; a new core visual identity including fonts, colors, etc.;

Website templating in design form for a front page and 2 additional internal pages; applying the visual identity and key messaging from the brand hierarchy to a selection of 1-pager PDF sales collateral templates; the compilation of all the design and messaging features into a comprehensive brand guidelines document.

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

The design work was led by Remo, Creative Director, and the entire project was overseen and facilitated by Vincent, Founder/President.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were thrilled with the output of the work. We are a small company with no in-house marketing or branding expertise to guide us, and had little experience with a project of this nature or budget. The entire new brand identity that was delivered exceeded our expectations. Every time we pushed them to take a concept a little bit deeper, or to put a different spin on it, they nailed it.

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

We kept a very open line of communications. The typical cycle would be each week having the Greybox and Scratch teams meet via Zoom to go over new progress, then discussing understanding of next steps, then waiting to correspond via email until we were ready to repeat the cycle again.

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

The most impressive part for Scratch was the feeling like we were working with a partner who was too good for us. We thought during the initial pitch, and even at the end, that this agency was too good and too well-regarded to work with a small company on a relatively small budget. Despite that, we felt the whole way along that they valued working with us, and were happy to have us as a client/partner.

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

The project extended for longer than was agreed in the SOW. It was ultimately no issue for either party, but it would have been good to have better alignment of expectations between the scope and the timeline.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the Delivery Head & Shared Services Leader for Americas region at Sagility. As part of my strategic project, I lead the branding project for a spinoff entity now known as Sagility.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative, and what were your goals?

After working through the naming of the entity with their partners, we had to establish a visual identity for the company that captured the essence of our organization and ensure that it would represent us well during the expansion planned for the years ahead. So, the new brand had to connect with both and internal (twenty-five thousand employees) and an external global audience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did a lot of online research and found their work to be very polished and strategic and we respected their past work. I believe it was the naming partner we were working with that recommended them as well for all the visual identity work.

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

GreyBox was responsible for the conceptualization, execution and finalization of the new Sagility logo as well as the core corporate items such as; stationery, and key sales/marketing collateral and brand guideline.

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

The team that we worked with at GreyBox was an experienced group. There were three people; Strategist, Creative Director and Vincent, the founder of GreyBox was involved the key stages of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All project deliverables were met on time and with high quality. Everything is so recent and new, but the impact has been dynamic. The identity that GreyBox established infused energy into the entire organization. We now have a face that represents us well for many years to come and everyone is excited about it.

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

Thorough planning yet flexible in managing evolving changes and additions to the scope of work. Due to our business obligations needing to be met, we were under a tight timeline and a schedule that did not leave any room for failure. They were great, they communicated regularly, accommodated us on a few occasions while we tried to involve several of our people from multiple time zones and GreyBox delivered in the clutch!

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

I would say just about everything impresses me about GreyBox. I was impressed with their simplification of complex ideas communicated graphically. They were a highly responsive and experienced team. They were extremely personable, and true experts in their field.

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

None, that I can think of

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the EVP and group head of a global communications firm's corporate and biotech department. We’re in the integrated communications and PR industry. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GreyBox Creative?

We had a client that needed to develop a product name; they also needed a logo developed for the new name. After hiring a naming company, we needed a company that could develop a logo quickly. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We developed the product name with our naming partner. Then, GreyBox took us through their process, interviewing us about the brand. They came back with their brief, and we provided additional feedback on it once they had drafted the logo. The team also provided a small set of branding guidelines for the application of the logo. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with two people from GreyBox: Vincent (Founder & President) and Remo (Creative Director) 

How did you come to work with GreyBox Creative?

The naming company we hired recommended GreyBox to us; one of our colleagues had previously worked with the team. As a result, we decided to engage them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000–$50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from June–October 2022. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

GreyBox was easy to work with and delivered on time. We liked what they did, and the end client chose the logo they created to use in the product. Overall, everyone was satisfied with the quality of their work.

How did GreyBox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

To communicate, we mainly used Teams and emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their efficiency was impressive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

GreyBox is a casual group, which is good. On the other hand, I’m used to having a little more rigor when tackling projects. I prefer a more buttoned-up style. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Brief GreyBox thoroughly and participate in their brand briefing process. That way, you’ll be absolutely sure that they have the right information going forward. On top of that, allow them to present their own work to the end client. This is helpful since they can hear the client’s feedback directly and not through another set of ears. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of Teleful. We help new homeowners see and choose from available options for cable, internet, and home security. They call my call center or put in their address online, and we give them the options in their area. Then, they can choose freely from packages pricing and providers, and we handle setup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GreyBox

I went to them for help with our web development and design, as well as digital marketing and branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve been with me since the beginning, walking me through the development and design of my website and branding. I was given different views of the website as they were designing it, and they let me choose from a number of logo options.

The site launched three months ago, and GreyBox is now doing digital marketing including PPC and social media marketing.

What is the team composition?

Vincent (Director of Business Development) is one of our key people, as are Remo (Creative Director), Gaelen (Head of Strategic Online Sales), and Jordan (Digital Marketing Strategist). At the height of the project, there were about 5–6 people on the calls, each dedicated to a specific part of the project.

How did you come to work with GreyBox Creative?

I heard that they were reputable through a friend who’d worked with them before. After performing due diligence on Google, I reached out to Vincent with my ideas to see where he would go. He gave me a strong vision of the site, design, logo, and marketing.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $50,000–$60,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I give them a lot of credit for helping build my brand. We went live on the site three months ago — and sometimes marketing takes time to get going, but we’ve done well with Google Ads from the jump. My business needs around 3–4 sales per day to break even, and I’ve been receiving 15–20 calls per day with a good conversion rate. We’re targeting all the right people and population segments.

How did GreyBox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

We have biweekly calls with the marketing team to adjust campaigns if needed, and there were weekly calls while we were developing the website. GreyBox’s team is on top of everything we need. Their web development team hasn’t even stayed in touch with me since the launch.

They hit the budget right on target and have stayed with us throughout the whole process, which has put my mind at ease. Communication happens of phone calls, texts, emails, and Zoom meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re attention to detail and attention to the person stand out. GreyBox feels out what I’d like them to do and then expands upon those ideas. If you go to them with seed, then they’ll make it into a flower, bringing to life what’s in your head.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at this time. They’ve been great thus far.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They know what they’re doing and will make your idea into the goal, even if you can’t articulate it. You want them in your corner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Chief Marketing Officer at IBS Intelligence. UK-headquartered IBS Intelligence is the world’s only pure-play Financial Technology (traditional and new-age) research, advisory, and media firm, with global coverage, and a 360° portfolio of intelligence offerings.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative, and what were your goals?

We hired GreyBox to do a complete brand overhaul of IBS Intelligence to refresh the brand's messaging and visuals. More importantly, to bring in synergy with the core pillars of our business to the constantly growing global customer base.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did an online search of branding agencies, where we shortlisted GreyBox, after few rounds of discussions.

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

The scope of work was to detail out the new branding strategy that included the new tagline, logo, branding colors, new visual identity to reflect across all collateral and touchpoints.

It started with understanding our brand, target personas, offerings, etc., to come up with a new visual identity along with the tagline (value proposition statement) that resonates well with our brand

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

The team comprised of Vincent (Founder) and Remo (Creative Director) who led the project to completion

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new brand identity has been received quite well by clients and others. The new visual design is contemporary and has given a new lease of life to our brand. The new logo design is quite relatable with the 5 pillars of our business and is helping us communicate very effectively.

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

The GreyBox team would regularly update vis emails and calls. They worked as per the mutually agreed timelines and that helped a lot in closing the project on time. Their ability to understand our feedback and deliver on time was quite impressive.

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

Their diligent efforts to understand the business and pain points at the initial stage that is in sync with what we wanted, was quite impressive. They were also flexible in terms of sharing more if we wanted an extra deliverable, which helped in making our lives easier.

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

No improvement areas as such, as they met all our expectations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Ovation is a speciality finance investment firm. I am a partner and head of business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative, and what were your goals?

Brand strategy, visual identity system, and pitch deck.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Referral from a private firm that had worked with GreyBox and was very pleased with the output.

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

Began with a brand strategy workshop to hone the messaging. This led to business card and stationary design and brand guideline. We then spent time refining how we talk about our firm with considerable input from GreyBox. This process resulted in a complete redesign of the pitch deck with innovative infographics tailored to our specific strategy.

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

Three.

• Strategy and Writing - Diane
• Creative Direction - Remo
• Coordination of Deliverables - Vincent

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new branding and content immediately led to a higher new-prospect meeting rate than the prior “internally generated” materials.

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

The meetings were held as frequently as needed via Zoom. We did not feel there was any loss of quality vs in person. GreyBox was available in a timely manner through the engagement.

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

GreyBox has many clients in our industry and understands the unique messaging and jargon that correctly positions our firm amongst the competitive set.

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

At this point we don not have any thoughts on improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a nonprofit. Our mission is to advance community-based supports. The program we’re in is a consumer-directed personal assistance program. It’s a Medicaid program for consumers who are seniors or people with disabilities who have need for personal care.

They’re able to self-hire their own workers to perform those tasks for them. It creates independence, autonomy, and ultimately leads to a better quality of care and cost-effectiveness.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GreyBox Creative?

Our organization had never done marketing before. I took over as CEO and wanted to get our name out through rebranding, brochures, and logo design. The objective was to market the program because we found out not many people knew about it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GreyBox Creative first handled a complete rebranding initiative. They created our logo and new brochure in a couple of forms; one is a pamphlet-style and another is a booklet. Their team revamped the content and visuals.

GreyBox Creative has also created some one-pagers. We get calls from potential clients and like to give them something as a takeaway. The one-pager serves as a factsheet that those potential clients can receive electronically or through the mail. It presents key facts about our organizations and what sets us apart.

How did you come to work with GreyBox Creative?

I was seeking a company that wouldn’t need a lot of back-and-forths. The less time I spend re-explaining myself through the back and forth, the better. I was looking for a company that’d ask questions at the point in time when I say something or give direction.

Then, I’d receive a draft and all the details would be pretty much there, with the exception of a couple of changes here and there. That’s what GreyBox Creative offered me. They expressed that when they give me a product, they listen and bring it to 95% of what I’d expect of a first draft.

After some searching on Google, I narrowed down five companies. I selected them because after visiting their website and seeing their testimonials and branding, they really struck me. I called each company, assessed, and made a determination of what I felt was best for our needs — and that was GreyBox Creative.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $12,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement started around November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

GreyBox Creative has shown great attentiveness and listening skills. Their ability to listen and then apply those requirements by producing a deliverable at first glance is above par. Additionally, the quality of their products is excellent. GreyBox Creative produces high-quality products that communicate our message to the recipient.

We’re seeing a good ROI on the marketing dollars we’ve spent. We’ve seen an uptick in clients as well as more sales. We’ve received great feedback about our branding, brochures, and logo. People are seeing us and our brand presence has definitely grown. There are more eyes on us, and we’re more noticeable now.

How did GreyBox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been excellent. We communicate through email, Zoom, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their listening, application, and quality are what separates them from others. The reason we switched to GreyBox Creative is why we’re still there today.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take the risk. Marketing is a big leap of faith because you don’t know what you’re going to get until you do. Take the leap with GreyBox Creative, and they’ll make you successful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a sales associate with the Coleman Group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GreyBox Creative?

We needed help creating a brand, building a website, and managing SEO campaigns.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GreyBox presented three different options for our brand identity and explained their rationale behind each one. We then chose the direction in which we wanted to go, and they built out our brand identity, including logo and tagline.

Their team also created business cards, folders, note cards, listing presentation sheets, and other print collateral.

They also built our website using WordPress. Their team managed design and development. They linked the website to MLS and Google Maps API to show properties’ locations. Now, they’re in charge of our SEO campaigns and are assisting us with design for additional web and print collateral (i.e. newsletters, sign riders, email signature, etc).

What is the team composition?

Our project manager’s Vincent (Founder & President) who oversees the rest of the team that includes developers, designers, and branding consultants.

How did you come to work with GreyBox Creative?

I used Clutch, another resource, and Google to search for a partner. I liked that GreyBox was smaller and experienced in the real estate industry. They also had positive reviews.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$50,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around September 2019, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

GreyBox listened to our ideas, learned about our team, and then created vision boards for our team and each team member. Using the vision boards, they created designs and aesthetics for the brand that highlighted our shared values and approach to our work, while letting our individual personalities also shine through. Their team was able to capture who we are and how we serve our clients. We love the look and feel of the website and all of our new print collateral.

How did GreyBox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re extremely responsive, answering our emails within the hour. We never wait a day for a response. The project took longer than planned, which was partially due to COVID. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Greybox is an extremely talented team of experts in creative design, branding and website development that are passionate about the results they deliver to clients. We felt that we were getting the best in every area of the project because of their team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At times, it took extra effort for us to stay on top of communication because many different people became involved in the project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Opt for the in-person kickoff meeting with the Greybox team. Think about the right deliverables for your company. Make sure you have the time to help oversee and input into the process to maximize the value-add the Greybox team can bring to your business.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Executive Director of a nonprofit financial capabilities headquartered in the South Bronx, serving about 15,000 low- and moderate-income New Yorkers each year,.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative?

We hired Greybox Creative to upgrade our existing website to ensure ADA-compliance. We also at the same time did a refresh/redesign with Greybox working collaboraitvely with our designer, Van Gennep Design and our marketing consultant B-Storytelling.

What were your goals for this project?

To launch a new website aligned with our recent rebranding and to ensure a more interactive user experience. A primary goal was to ensure the site was AD A-compliant.

SOLUTION

How did you select GreyBox Creative?

We had been working with Greybox to maintain our existing website and ensure website security.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was a website redesign after a rebranding to refresh the site and ensure website ADA compliance.

What was the team composition?

The Greybox team consisted of a creative director and the head of web development. They worked collaboratively with a marketing team form B-Storytelling and our graphic designer, Daniella Van Gennep

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website is up and running, fully compliant. Some of our colleagues have suffered nuisance suits for non-compliant websites. This enabled us to proactively respond. We have received a lot of positive feedback about the visual appeal of the site.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow. Greybox was able to work efficiently and constructively with multiple parties in competing this.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was very impressed that the company was out in front of the ADA-compliance issue, something we were not even aware of until it was brought to our attention and which we then learned was a real risk. Greybox addressed this very effectively.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, everything worked fine.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a managing principal for S Squared Advisors a specialized equity investment firm that believes in the confluence of volatility and value. The inclusion of volatility in our investment process is a significant distinction that sets us apart from other firms. Our strategies reflect the idea that investing in stocks exhibiting low realized volatility while backed by high-quality fundamentals can yield significant risk-adjusted returns.

This methodology attempts to allow our factors to work over the long run while reducing numerous measures of risk, including standard deviation and max drawdown. Our systematic approach results in a well-constructed portfolio composed of companies that embody solid balance sheets, are highly profitable, efficiently use capital, and have superior margin of safety. Simply put, S SQUARED ADVISORS is Value Investing Elevated.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative?

Entire firm branding, letterhead, business cards, website, marketing materials, and personal and company digital foot print.

What were your goals for this project?

Creating a well positioned brand that represents our unique approach to equity management and investment services.

SOLUTION

How did you select GreyBox Creative?

Previously worked with Vincent at his prior company.

Describe the project in detail.

Collaborated Vincent and his team to create a unique brand that represents our distinct value proposition via letterhead, business cards, website, marketing materials, and personal and company digital foot print.

What was the team composition?

Vincent and entire team from writing, creative, and development

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have received numerous feedback from current and potential clients on how polished and thoughtful our marketing materials and digital presence is for a firm our size.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

highly effective

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The ability of the team to distill the unique nuances of our firm in a clear and concise manner impressed us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No