Hunter & Bard

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a marketing manager at Benchling, a startup that develops software for scientists at biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hunter & Bard?

We worked with Hunter & Bard to design a 25-page e-book targeted towards drug development companies.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop a design that would take our technical document and add an emotional dimension, cultivating an appeal beyond the complex language.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

It was clear that Hunter & Bard had a strong grasp of exactly what our needs were–even when we weren’t sure of those needs. They were patient with us as we described our desired output and were prompt, proactive, and precise in developing their proposal.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected Hunter & Bard, we sent them a list of a few specific desires for the final product. They already had a strong sense of our aesthetic sensibilities. Within three days, they delivered mockups for the overall design of the e-book. They then developed a full draft of the eBook in a matter of days. After a few minor revisions, they delivered the finished product.

What was the team composition?

We worked primarily with their CEO and one of their designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As we’ve just finalized the e-book, we currently do not have any quantitative metrics. However, the book has received internal praise from our marketing and sales teams. We were impressed by Hunter & Bard’s design. It went beyond anything that we could conceive ourselves. The finished product far exceeded our expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our teams was flawless. Hunter & Bard was extremely responsive and articulate. Response time did not exceed a few hours, and our email exchanges were substantive. They were also patient in addressing our concerns, no matter how minute.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their impressive work speed was only matched by their superb quality. In particular, their illustrations demonstrated a strong grasp of an otherwise exceptionally complex topic: the needs of scientists conducting cutting-edge pharmaceutical research. Their design brought an emotional dimension to what was otherwise a very technical document, giving the content greater depth and undeniable appeal. Beyond this speedy, flawless execution, they were extremely responsive and generous with their time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. Without hesitation, I would recommend Hunter & Bard to any firm looking for extraordinary design work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and major shareholder of a global web company. We provide a shopping platform for the U.S. and European markets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hunter & Bard?

We wanted to create a faster, simpler, and clearer UI, with the aim of better presenting ourselves on the market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team interviewed us in order to understand what our targets, needs, requirements, and goals were. I explained how I viewed my company, and how I wanted to present it to users. Based on this, they proposed solutions for covering the gap between my current position and my goal.

They worked on a new interface and branding elements for our platform. We introduced gamification functionalities to the UX.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Shira (CEO and Lead Strategist, Hunter & Bard), as well as two of their resources—one for the gamification and one for branding.

How did you come to work with Hunter & Bard?

I received a reference from a consultant in San Francisco. They were described as the best option for covering our current requirements, which I found proved to be right.

How much have you invested with them?

Our first agreement was for $30,000. We have requested additional services, increasing the total to $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have worked with Hunter & Bard from February to October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They created an amazing brand for our business, with a recognizable color palette. Our content is easier to understand, and the gamification elements quickly contributed to increased traffic.

How did Hunter & Bard perform from a project management standpoint?

They stuck to our initial budget and timeline, which, based on my past experience, is quite rare in this area. Most of the communication was done by email and Zoom.us. I also met their CEO in-person once.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They truly felt like a part of our company, rather than just a contracted partner. They took on our challenges as if they were their own. Their team was present every day, working towards our common goals. That was an incredible thing to see.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their CEO is quite involved in every project, which could also be seen as a strength. I’ve worked with bigger companies and better-known brands, but my experience was worse than with Hunter & Bard. I was usually assigned more inexperienced resources.

They’re in the perfect position: hungry and focused on the business. The CEO’s high level of involvement may become a problem in the future if the company grows. For now, I prefer working with them than with a big supplier.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of a B2B company called 3DLOOK. We create solutions for apparel, e-commerce, and retail.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hunter & Bard?

We needed coverage for the launch of our first B2B product. We needed effective sellers to increase our visibility amongst potential corporations, the biggest retailers, brands, e-commerce, and the investor community.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We made sure they understood what to do perfectly through an in-depth discovery process. They created the press release. Then, we started to plan the PR campaign together. They contacted the selected press.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Shira (CEO and Lead Strategist, Hunter & Bard) and Oksana (PR, Hunter & Bard).

How did you come to work with Hunter & Bard?

When we decided we needed a PR agency, I posted our need on Facebook. My head of marketing interviewed 5–6 agencies that responded. We ended up engaging with Hunter & Bard because they were the most responsive and eager to adjust their price to meet our expectations.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June until August 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They met the minimum goals that we set and we were happy with the results. We received one or two major press mentions and a few smaller ones, which were highly valued.

How did Hunter & Bard perform from a project management standpoint?

It was fairly organized and structured. We used Google Drive, Jira, and Asana.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re relatively small which is why they can respond quickly. They pay more attention and they are much more personal than other providers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We expected to finish 2–3 weeks earlier than we did. I understand that they can’t guarantee when journalists will post articles; it’s out of their control. In the beginning, they should have given us a better understanding that it might take longer than we expected.