MakeBeCool

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an IT specialist for Giordano Shop; we're an e-commerce company structured like a marketplace.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MakeBeCool?

We built our store on Magento, and we decided to switch to the Shopify platform. We were looking for a partner to help us develop the frontend and backend and help us understand the migration process as we were not experienced in Shopify.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

MakeBeCool's main task was frontend development, including the personalization, customization, and graphic design based on our e-store. They had to customize the main Shopify theme to have it correspond to our current platform.

They also developed a couple of web applications to add personalization to the Shopify site, which has a customization menu and allows customers to have a unique experience. In addition to that, they also supervised the migration from our current store to Shopify.   

What is the team composition?

We worked with an account manager, a project manager, a business data analyst, three developers, and one graphic designer. They all analyzed our current store to give us a better project perspective.

How did you come to work with MakeBeCool?

We found them online, where they were listed as a Shopify partner. We read some reviews and contacted some of the other companies that had previously worked with them. We chose them because we had a great first impression of them; they understood our actual needs at that time, had great communication, listened to us, and gave us a lot of suggestions.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent about $18,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from August 2021–April 2022. We are still in contact with them for additional edits and things like that.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At the end of every task, they did a QA check, and we did the same from our end. That being said, every deliverable met our expectations.

How did MakeBeCool perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been one of the most entertaining and greatest experiences we had in the partnership. They had a great relationship with us, and apart from always respecting the deadlines, we have never had a problem with communication. They had a strong system with daily summaries of what had been done by messages, emails, and phone calls.

Regarding other tools, we used their ClickUp, Google Meet, and WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their technical development and graphic skills were impressive; they were great overall, but the greatest talent they showed us was the project management itself. We had never experienced such strong communication with another partner — they included us, and we felt part of the project, which was great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they can improve on — they were great, and their team overcame the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They managed to move to a safer place and continued working. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open with them; share what kind of company you are, your main focus, and your goals. The more you can share with them, the more they understand your needs. They will be able to help you achieve your objectives and challenges.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO of a healthcare company. We produce premium disinfectant dispenders.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We planned to have our own customized shop with very special functional opportunities and a clean design we provided by an mockup.

SOLUTION

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

We loved the referenced and quality reviews!

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

- Consultant about functional possibilities - Review of our mockup (design) - Development - Feedback circles - Done

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

2-3 in total. Project manager, developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Their work was quality only! We had easy communication and they managed to solve everything we had in mind. We´re more than happy and super excited about the result. Very detailed work (functional and design wise)

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

We communicated via Video-Call and upwork. 1 Project manager 1-2 Developer

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

If I provide any wish, I'm sure they'd bring it to life, just the way I've envisioned it. This is outstanding!

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

Just in 1 out of 10 steps of work, we could have been slightly more precise about the requirements we had. But thats definitely the only thing i can mention. Well well done!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the COO of an Israeli start up developing advanced scent technologies with the renowned Weizmann institute of science.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

We hired makebecool to design our brand new website in the UK. We offer cat litter box malodor control solution through a dedicated website. We wanted to launch the activity in the UK post a successful POC in Israel and were looking for a professional company to take the chanallnage from A to Z including branding, design and development in 2 months.

SOLUTION

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

We went over a few websites offering reviews for ecommerce website designers. They received many positive reviews and post comparing to a different vendor we chose them because of the responsivity and pricing.

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

The company was incharge of creating a brand book to start with. They offered 12 different themes we could choose from, all were very pretty and took our USP's under consideration. Once we chose a theme we started the design and development stage. We had weekly progress meetings and regular feedback and communication was done via a dedicated whatsapp group. They were very responsive and quick

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

In total, 3 people- 2 project managers and one talented designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Post 2 months we had an up an running website we could actually sell with and an amazing brand book we can use for all purposes. Current website conversion is very good! loading is great as well.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective. Communication via a dedicated WhatsApp group which included progress design updates on figma until the development stage (shopify)

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

What I liked the most was the design! We had to choose from 12 different branding guidelines and it was soooo difficult as they were all so good.

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

Content hierarchy on the website could be better. We played with it later, but overall given the costs I would definitely choose to work with them again

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a niche retail company that operates on e-commerce. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MakeBeCool?

We wanted to revamp our website to make it more modern and fresh. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After we sorted our logistics, we started having a lot of video calls. After they understood what I wanted, they made wireframes and suggestions for the site's best. It’s a Shopify website. My budget wouldn’t cover a fully customized website designed by them, and they suggested that I buy a preset theme. 

Their team then designed certain pages. In April, they took a few weeks to design it. There was a lot of back and forth. For example, the landing page we fully customized and there are certain features fully customized, but they did this because they knew I had a certain budget. 

After the designs were approved, the development started. When the site was done, they did a few rounds of testing before the site went live. 

What is the team composition?

I started off with the business and sales manager who worked with me for three weeks to understand what they do. He then passed me onto the project manager that was the in-between person between me, the designers, and the developers. Finally, when they needed my feedback, I met some of the website developers and designers later on. 

How did you come to work with MakeBeCool?

I found MakeBeCool on Upwork, and I explained to them what we needed. Their team gave us a proposal, and I had a short call with them. We discussed the services they could offer and then we decided to work with them.

I chose them because of their website knowledge. They design with a consumer process in mind. What I really liked is that it wasn’t just aesthetic-based. It was what would give me the best conversions. They were very upfront about what the cost would be and were willing to work within my budget. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $4,800.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March to June 2021. 
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was very straightforward. They tried their best to give me the result I wanted within my budget. I wanted the site finished in mid-May, but there were a few changes. There were things I originally wanted that the design team realized would cost more because it relies on an external app.

These apps are out of the control of the design team because they’re working on Shopify. The apps changed their prices, and a few things couldn’t work. It wasn’t the design team’s fault; it was the apps themselves. 

Because of those changes, the design process went a bit longer, and our site went live in June. We did a lot of testing back and forth. If there were any small issues, they still helped me quite a bit even though the project was over.

Since we’ve just gone live, I can’t provide any data. Our buyers that have shopped at our website have commented that they’ve seen anything like this in the Singapore space for a niche perfume. Other comments were that it looks very professional. People are in awe of our website, and they haven’t seen anything like this from any of our competitors. 

How did MakeBeCool perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly calls to see the progress. When I needed them, they were always available. They were very fast with following up. They’d send me a summary of each meeting. Sometimes I’d forget to ask for it, but the project manager would send it anyway.

We were always in contact. There was never a point I felt I didn’t know what was going on. They kept me updated with every small detail. If I needed last-minute changes, they were always very accommodating. If I requested something that wasn’t in my budget, they worked around it. 

MakeBeCool gave more than required. Our website is better because of the input they gave. They asked about my communication preference and I told them to use email and WhatsApp. We also had some Zoom calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The way they take care of their clients is impressive. The attention and help I received in the beginning of the project was the same attention to detail I got even towards the end of my project. 

Even after all the milestones were paid and the website was launched, any question I had or issues I ran into, they were always there to help me. MakeBeCool is really there for their clients. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I’d have them improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask them for their suggestions. You might know what you want, but don’t be afraid to ask the team what they think would work best for your customers. Their team is very knowledgeable, having worked on many websites. They know what they’re talking about. Don’t be afraid to give them your real budget. They will do everything they can to even be under your budget. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the chief marketing officer for TBI-PRO. We develop products and sell them on Amazon in the U.S. market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MakeBeCool?

We wanted to develop a Shopify site to be able to sell on more channels.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

MakeBeCool designed and developed a Shopify site from scratch with us. The team integrated all of the software into one screen and created an automated process for registration of extended warranties for our products. They also recommended the technologies they felt best suited for the project.

What is the team composition?

The account manager is my main contact. There’s also a product designer and three programmers working with us.

How did you come to work with MakeBeCool?

I researched companies that had experience with Shopify on the U.S. market and interviewed several of them. I liked what this team had to offer, and decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in August 2020, and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The automated process for extended warranty registration is easy for customers to understand and use. The site is live on Shopify, and we’ve had had no negative feedback. The team understands our needs and offers good solutions.

How did MakeBeCool perform from a project management standpoint?

The account manager is dedicated to the project and keeps us updated. We use Telegram for regular communication, as well as Google spreadsheets and a project management tool for larger tasks. They usually finish ahead of deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

MakeBeCool is straightforward, and they understand our needs. They always work through changes to help us achieve our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to describe the project in detail, including your desires and expectations to ensure everything is fully understood.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the owners of ColorByFeliks, an art and e-commerce business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MakeBeCool?

We needed help with web development and customer experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned and developed our website, all while implementing new features.  We first discussed what we wanted to get out of our new website. Then they outlined how the project would go and asked us if we had any specific designs in mind.

We spoke with the designer, and he gave us a rough draft. Then we provided feedback and highlighted what we liked and what we wanted to change. Once they implemented those changes, they went into development.

What is the team composition?

There were 5–6 people working on this project.

How did you come to work with MakeBeCool?

We found them through Upwork. They stood out because of their reviews, but once we spoke to them and saw examples of their work, we knew they were the best fit. We liked how they communicated and how professional they were.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in August 2020 and the project ended in February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since they upgraded our website, we’ve increased our email subscribers significantly. Our conversion rate has grown as well. They clearly were able to reach our target audience. We also haven’t found any bugs. The site hasn’t crashed at all.

How did MakeBeCool perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicated via WhatsApp, and they were always available.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were communicative and professional. They genuinely cared about the project and wanted to make sure we got the outcome we were looking for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they should have done differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We wrote down a general idea of what we wanted to accomplish, and that was really helpful for us. To give them a clear idea of what you want, I would definitely recommend that you create a rough outline or design before you meet with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Post Studio is a marketing automation SaaS built for e-commerce stores. I'm the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

We needed a support agent that would help us respond quickly to incoming queries from our clients.

What were your goals for this project?

• Our product had the highest rating, and we wanted to find a great agent that would be able to maintain our rating(5/5)
• Reducing the number of support tickets coming into the development team
• Getting more 5-star ratings from clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select MakeBeCool?

We used mostly Upwork to find relevant agents. We conducted about 10 interviews. Some were independent agents and some were part of an agency. We were having a hard time finding an agent that would fit the companies needs.

Then we got a recommendation for a colleague of ours, that already works with MakeBeCool. We met Kostia, their COO, and then interviews an agent he offered us. And the choice was easy.

They're well familiar with the e-commerce space. They have the know-how on how to give great support. Kostia seems like a super friendly & caring person And the agent had great communication & technical skills.

Describe the project in detail.

Once they started working with us, they've passed through the inquiry history of our product. They mapped the issues, improved our support workflows and started answering incoming inquiries almost without our help!

The agent works 7 days a week, 9:00-18:00. We're paying a monthly fee for the service.

What was the team composition?

There is currently 1 agent working with us. As we grow, we'll hire more agents to covert 24/7 support

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Our development team gets only tickets that need their attention
• We were able to maintain the app's high rating
• The customers are satisfied with the support

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We only speak when the support agent needs our help or has suggestions/bug reports.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their management and especially Kostia, are amazing. Our first agent had to leave, and Kostia invested his time in having as smooth a transition as possible and it worked perfectly. This company truly cares about its clients, and we could not be happier working with them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Any minor issue we had, we reported to them, and they learned and improved. At this stage, the flow is super smooth.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am marketing director of TSC engineering based in Kiev. We are leading distributor of fire fighting equipment in Ukraine.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

. Shopify e-commerce development: E-commerce Web design E-commerce Web development Subscription and support software integration Call Center Services

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goal to rebrand our business, increase its awarness and reputation on the market, and to convert prospective buyers to solid sales with a higher rate

SOLUTION

How did you select MakeBeCool?

We hired MakeBeCool as a Shopify expert and service provider for our mid-size business of production, sale, service of fire-fighting equipment. We were impressed with their experience and past delivered projects.

Describe the project in detail.

The MakeBeCool team did a great job starting from the analysis of competitors and the market share. According to this, they created a new brand design. Shopify frontend developers developed a theme and configured our store to meet our needs.

The project management team delivered everything according to our expectations, and even more, we are more than happy to see the result we have now. We were happy to be engaged in the development process.

Thanks to MakeBeCool they showed the great experience of team work.

What was the team composition?

We met 6 people from MakeBeCool who worked with our project. Andrei & Liza were PMs who were always in connection with us replying to all our requests. Eduard & Kate were frontend developers who made this project workable. And of course, Maxim & Anna were designers whos taste fit exactly what we wanted to do.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was major rebrand and relaunch of our store. According to our research it should increase traffic up to 30%, leads and sales up to 20%. It was very helpful to get an analysis and the scope of our competition, that allowed us to focus on our strenghts.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

As mentioned above, the MakeBeCool team showed an excellent experience of teamwork. We were happy to be engaged in the processes that were clear for us, transparent, smooth, agile, and of course effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Makebecool offers an excellent quality of service and professional skills. They are ready to work out the individual solution showing deep knowledge of Shopify platform, understanding of UI and best practices.

Are there any areas for improvement?

nothing in my opinion

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Technical lead for a brand/manufacture of personal care products, with a focus on hair loss and restoration technologies. Founded in 2015, products are sold globally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

We hired MBC to develop and launch our global site structure with individual sites for local markets. Makebecool developed our Shopify store from scratch. Taking into account the complex design and quantity of mandatory applications and then optimization for speed and mobile traffic. There is still an active scope of work in place. Since the launch, we have monthly support and on-going maintenance. Currently, we are launching international markets with their assistance. The regular updates and maintenance is very important to the e-commerce team and MBC helps us with this task saving us time and efforts.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to establish a professional presence in the US market, increase sales, improve UI/UX/CX, give customers options for subscriptions and bundles.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

From the start, MBC shows excellent communication and attention to detail. They were very straightforward and asked the right questions. When they presented changes and ideas, it was backed by logic and data.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We provided a design in Figma and Makebecool developed the whole store, advised optimized solutions, applications to plugins. The turnaround time and was highly important to complete the US site on time and within budget. We trust their expert opinion.

What was the team composition?

We utilized several of their teams. Initially, it was their Theme Development resources to buildout the primary store. We used their Virtual Assistants for translation services. The oversight was provided from Eliza the project manager who proved to be a huge asset. A total of 5-6 specialists in all. We also had direct contact with CEO - Andriy. All communication went smoothly, friendly and professional. solutions are taken quickly. The entire team demonstrated a high level of professionalism throughout the entire experience.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

After the launch of our new store version on Shopify conversion doubled and subscription signups customers increased 3x. Due to monthly support, we are confident the performance of our store development. MBC exceeded our expectations.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We work with our personal project manager using several sources of communication like email, WhatsApp and Asana as the main task-manager. Eliza always consults us about Shopify and development process. The job was properly planned and the project was delivered as expected. They were always available for calls. They are flexible and react after their working day taking into account our time difference.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The attention to client services and satisfaction, combined with the value they brought made it clear we made the right decision.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We’re very satisfied with their job and cooperation

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are company builder, where we build our own ventures and in collaboration with big corporations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

We hired MakeBeCool agency to provide design and software development services based on Webflow and Shopify.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of the project was to develop one website that describes the functionality of the platform and create a shopify store that will be multiplied in the future for different partners.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have done a clear requirements list of what is expected, defined the structure and tools needed and did multiple online calls.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

1. They have developed the design for the platform website, that was afterwards developed on Webflow platform.
2. They have developed the design of the Shopify store, that is used as template for joining partners who sell products.

What was the team composition?

• Project manager
• Designer
• Shopify Developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

As we are building startups, development of our solutions are crucial. It is matter of doing everything on time, but also with high quality. We achieved the result, but we are still fixing a lot of issues we find after deeper testing of the deliverables.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Communication was good, but our project manager changed 2 times. We talked and discussed everything in Slack and over Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their portfolio looks quite good and the price is very attractive, but our final product had some issues. Sales rep guaranteed that they can do everything that was on the list in our requirements google sheet.

Are there any areas for improvement?

1. Don't promise what you can't deliver.
2. Don't push the testing to the customer, when there are obvious bugs in the layouts and responsiveness.
3. Spend more time upfront to analyse all requirements.