Level Group

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Side Gig® is a new brand of products created by Anthony Giglio that reflect his love of the food, wine and lifestyle of his Italian heritage. Our mission is to source ingredients and products that reflect the essence of Italian discernment for quality, craftsmanship and deliciousness. Our products are innovative spins on traditional Italian kitchen staples.

We source the best ingredients from farmers, foragers and purveyors who align with our ideal that less is more. We are driven by our desire to create products that are delicious because of the purity, integrity and judiciousness with which they are made. We're proudly launching with Side Gig SuperSalt®, the first in a projected line of curated products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Level Group, and what were your goals?

When I reached out to Level Group all I had had was my first product, SuperSalt, but it didn't have a brand identity, a logo, any collateral, a website -- nothing whatsoever.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I met with several Brand Development agencies, but Level Group asked different questions; they dug deeper into my story, my background, and brilliantly identified how to build not just an identity for SuperSalt, but a brankd for my overarching company name, Side Gig.

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

Working with the Level Group team is an ongoing pleasure. I initially chose them to create a logo and label for my Side Gig SuperSalt, thinking it was a relatively straightforward process that could be fleshed out via email. Jennifer and Nick’s approach, however, is entirely personal and deliberately thoughtful; I dare say it’s a bit therapeutic, too, requiring a healthy dose of introspection on my part.

Over the course of several weeks, we met or spoke by phone to dig deep into my personality and thought processes, especially by way of storytelling, until we finally got to the essence of what my brand, logo, and product should look like, feel like and convey. The resulting logo, label, and collateral are simply stunning. And the feedback from nearly everyone who sees it is extraordinary. I really could not be happier with their work and look forward to continuing our journey together as my brand expands.

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

I continue to work with three people:

• Jennifer, Principal, Creative Director
• Nicholas, Principal, Creative Director, Managing Director
• Eva, Art Director

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The package design for Side Gig SuperSalt is so striking it generates conversation immediately. Thanks to Level Group, my Side Gig SuperSalt has won two awards: 2020 American Graphic Design Award, GD USA: Side Gig SuperSalt Packaging and Graphis Design Annual 2022: Side Gig SuperSalt, Gold Award The success of the packaging and branding messaging has won my PCG shelf space in 100 Whole Foods Markets on the East Coast; a dozen Central Markets in Texas; nearly a dozen Fox Trot Markets in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.

It also landed Side Gig SuperSalt a coveted spot on FOOD52, an online marketplace of home goods and kitchen products that bridges the gap between gourmet cooking and crowdsourced recipes.

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

There are no quick and easy answers with the Level Group team; they're thoughtful, pensive and deeply invested in parsing out all variables before providing a solution or advice.

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

I like that it's a relatively small agency that feels intimate. With that intimacy comes relationships and immediate access. Even if they are buried in a dozen other projects at once, they will take the time to let me know they heard my request and that they're working on it.

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

Not in my experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and managing partner of Kapur Investment Partners, an asset management firm with a single product hedge fund offering (Octavian B.C. Fund)

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Level Group, and what were your goals?

I asked Level to help create an unconventional and differentiated brand/logo, website, pitch deck and other marketing materials. The goal was to drive engagement for my business' digital presence through unique branding.

SOLUTION

How did you select Level Group?

I narrowed my search to 3 highly recommended firms and Level stood apart from the others based on their experience, broad based offering and strong digital insight.

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

Level did a comprehensive marketing uplift including brand origination, logo, presentation materials, website, marketing folders, and LinkedIn profile.

How many people from the Level Group team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked directly with Nick Hubbard, Jennifer Bernstein, Eva Beckendorf and 3rd party writer. Everyone on the team is a top notch professional.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Level produced phenomenal and impactful work across every dimension of my firm’s marketing uplift, including branding, pitch deck, website and more. Their team worked tirelessly to bring a fresh and unique brand to the staid investment management industry.

As a new start-up fund with limited resources, I found the creative process to be efficient, thought provoking and has significantly enhanced Kapur Investment Partners’ ongoing client engagement efforts. The finished products perfectly capture my firms’ spirit and substantially exceeded my expectations. I now feel confident and prepared to win new business. I’m looking forward to continuing my relationship with Level and entrusting them with my firm’s mission critical marketing work.

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

Level effectively manages budget and speed to market and are very detail oriented in terms of managing expectations and making sure things don't run off course.

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

Jennifer and Nick complement each other extremely well, in terms of design, structure and messaging. Their wealth of experience and business verticals and mediums are indispensable in solving every arises issue.

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

I cannot identify any glaring weaknesses, Level is very detail oriented and left no stone unturned.