Ignite

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Loxwood Meadworks, a mead distillery.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ignite?

In this country, mead is still a medieval drink. It’s not as popular as it should be, so we wanted to reimagine mead for a new generation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We brought them in to sort through the branding, how it’s marketed, and how we can modernize it. They came up with the conceptual idea, create the whole marketing strategy, build the website, and branded the bottles — they do everything that’s involved with branding from start to finish.

What is the team composition?

We wok with about 4–5 people from Ignite.

How did you come to work with Ignite?

I was introduced to them by a relative and when I spoke to the CEO of their company, I knew that we were meant to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018 and the partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

What they’ve helped us achieve is hard to pinpoint with figures. We’ve literally released the products in a market that never existed, so we’re probably the only company that’s doing this type of service in this field. Thanks to Ignite, we became market leaders.

How did Ignite perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is great. They provide top-quality service since they have an account manager who is dedicated to answering our concerns and delegating tasks to their team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We like their company culture and friendly attitude. They help us achieve the results we want while having a good time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. We’re in such a good place with everything we’ve done.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you know what you want from the beginning. They will work with what you give them which is all they can do.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing of Pacific Catch, a 12-unit restaurant chain focused on sustainable seafood. I handle all of our digital, social, and in-store marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ignite?

I joined Pacific Catch specifically to modernize both the brand identity and digital platform. The most visible aspect of that was our website, which was visually and structurally outdated. It felt very corporate and not consumer-friendly.

Given that it was the digital face we presented to the world, it was important for us to update it and completely rebuild it to make it scalable for the future. Also, since 80% of our guests access our website through their phone nowadays, it needed to be mobile-friendly as well. Furthermore, we wanted a tool that would help us drive online order revenue. These were the critical factors that led us to find a digital agency.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ignite has completely rebuilt the website from scratch. They’ve implemented a CMS that’s easy to update and has new navigation methods. It has two main calls to action: making a reservation and ordering online, which are accessible on every page of the website. It’s also more visual than before.

What is the team composition?

Overall, there’s probably a multifunctional team of six involved in the process. We have someone in charge of account management, a brand strategist, a digital marketing specialist, a technical team building the backend, and a website designer.

How did you come to work with Ignite?

We did a lot of online research on the best examples of modern restaurant website design, and we came across Ignite. We were specifically impressed by a UK-based website they’d built for a Vietnamese restaurant. We reached out to them and two other agencies and went through a procurement process. Ultimately, we decided that Ignite would be the best fit in terms of skills, experience, and budget.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $50,000–$60,000. We pay them a monthly retainer for support and some improvements.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2020. They continue to collaborate with us on a CRM project to help launch a new product line later this year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s difficult to attribute success to them in terms of website traffic growth because a lot is driven by campaigns and marketing initiatives. However, we’ve definitely seen a reduction in our bounce rate, which is a key metric for the success of our web presence.

Moreover, we’ve gotten positive feedback on the look and feel of the new website and how mobile-friendly it is. Additionally, we’ve significantly increased our percentage of online order sales versus third-party deliveries by having a button that directly links to our online ordering platform, which is an important metric for us.

How did Ignite perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been great. In the beginning, we went through a digital brand strategy exercise with them. They had an established walk-through process that helped us clarify some of the project’s objectives. In addition, they’ve given regular updates on the project plan and milestones.

All in all, we launched the website within time and budget. Therefore, it’s been an A+ from a project management and communication standpoint.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a lot of experience in the food and beverage and hospitality industries, and our experience with them has proved it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be great if they’d included a monthly report that outlined some key metrics about the site and listed recommendations for changes or improvements.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They have a well-established process, so be open-minded and follow it. Don’t try to take shortcuts.

Also, when you’re building a new relationship, the vendor must understand your business, brand, and what you’re trying to achieve. It’ll help them produce something closely aligned with your needs. Therefore, you have to invest time and knowledge as a client to help them access all of the information they need to make the project succeed. It’s not just about investing money and asking them to build a website.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director of a small chain of restaurants across the UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ignite?

We needed help with our digital marketing strategy and web development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ignite has managed various online ad campaigns for us. First, the team works on a creative concept before pushing ads targeted across the country. They’ve done campaigns for restaurant openings, local awareness, and health and fitness. Additionally, the team has designed and developed landing pages for each of these projects. Our main goal is to drive brand awareness and lead people to our website to view menus and get reservations.

What is the team composition?

We work with four teammates.

How did you come to work with Ignite?

I was introduced to them by a friend who worked for Ignite. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2015, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team’s efforts helped us build a database with thousands of people even before opening some of our restaurants. They’ve put us on the map, and we’ve seen a record number of people visiting our website and booking tables. One of the campaigns they’ve worked on actually won the biggest foodservice award in the UK. Overall, the Ignite team is very creative, and they create standout campaigns.

How did Ignite perform from a project management standpoint?

Ignite has done very well from a project management standpoint. The team delivers on time, and the cost of their services has been worth it. We typically communicate via email and Zoom meetings, but we also had a few in-person meetings prior to COVID-19. They also give constant reports on ongoing campaigns, which we appreciate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a hardworking small team with big ideas that can achieve excellent results with reasonable budgets. Additionally, they’re very transparent. We always know who’s responsible for certain things and what they’ve been working on. They always keep an eye on our campaigns and ensure their success. Thanks to their constant reports, we have an opportunity to switch things up or increase the budget to ensure productivity. Ignite genuinely cares about the work they do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes their big ideas can be a little ambitious, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep in mind that it’s a partnership, and collaborate with them as much as possible. We highly recommend Ignite.