Matchstic

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work directly for D&S, but we recently went through an acquisition and merged as a new brand called Cadex.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

In February 2022, we were acquired by Trivest, a private equity company. Given that we were acquired under a corporate umbrella, we were merging as a new brand, so we needed help with creating a new entity comprised of smaller companies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic helped us create a new brand with a new name and new content for our merger. We had already done our messaging work with another service provider, so we initially provided Matchstic with that content to help us develop the visual identity based on that messaging.

We went through a big ramp-up process, going over the messaging and the concept we already had, which were quite extensive. Given that another service provider had done the messaging, we were learning who we were, while Matchstic was also learning the same thing.

I thought that this process would be very beneficial in the long run because I had no biases going in. This helped us establish a very collaborative endeavor from the start.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 11 teammates from Matchstic, including Patrice (Senior Project Manager)

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

Matchstic is Trivest’s preferred service provider. Although I don’t know how that relationship started, they were recommended to me. Still, since I’ve managed marketing projects for 16 years, I asked my direct boss if I could vet a few other companies to ensure we were aligned with the budget, scope, expectations, and how the team worked.

In total, I interviewed 10 different companies, including Matchstic, because I wanted to use best practices and make sure we were a really good match. Ultimately, I still decided to work with Matchstic due to several reasons.

Firstly, their team was very clear from the beginning. They explained how the process worked, who they were, and what their team dynamic was — I really liked them. Secondly, their budget, scope, and experience in their portfolio were really impressive, so I thought they would be a very good fit.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $98,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started communicating with Matchstic in October 2022, but the actual project started in February 2023. The first phase of the project ended in May 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of Matchstic’s work was flawless. They chose fonts that were easy to download for us, created great imagery, and established a very interesting color palette.

In addition to that, Matchstic was very collaborative with my direct boss and the board of directors. Thanks to that collaboration, we came down to very interesting selections that I hadn’t visualized initially. They delivered great work due to their expertise.

Another company in Switzerland had an issue with the name we chose, so we had to pause the launch of our new website, which contains our new visual identity. We’ll launch the site on November 14, 2023, so we won’t be able to gather analytics on the effectiveness of our new branding until then.

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

Matchstic never missed a deadline. If anything, there were deadline adjustments on our side. As for budget management, the final proposal was $98,000, and we stayed within budget.

We mostly communicated via email, but we also had standing calls each week. Additionally, if we faced complex issues that wouldn’t be answered via email, we directly jumped on a call.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Patrice was fantastic. She was my right hand throughout the project, so I can’t say enough good things about her. I would also like to give a shout-out to Reid (Senior Designer).

What did you find most impressive about them?

Something that truly set Matchstic apart from other service providers was their communication. Even for little things, we were always aware of what was happening, what was coming up next, and whenever we had little hiccups. They were available when I was available. Overall, the biggest element of our project was the level of collaboration and communication.

In addition to that, it seemed like Matchstic was operating underneath a very organized approach to branding and visual identity. I had never experienced that approach with anyone else. Due to this level of organization, I was able to save email, PDFs, and other assets. From a branding perspective, that was the most valuable piece of their work after the project ended.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was nothing Matchstic could have improved on. I can’t say enough good things about them — I would recommend them to anybody. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Match their level of communication; it’s a two-way street.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Atlanta Emerging Markets Inc. We provide financing for nonprofits, social entrepreneurs, and high-impact projects in the city of Atlanta. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

We hired Matchstic for branding services. We’ve been a fairly successful company, but we knew that we couldn’t plateau and had to change the perception of our organization to get to the next level in terms of fundraising. We wanted to rebrand our organization to better tell our story, position ourselves in the market, and differentiate ourselves from our parent company. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic was responsible for naming, visual scheme messaging, and website design. They also provided creative support around the new brand identity guidelines. We started with a discovery phase, so Matchstic could get to know our company and the tools we offer. We brought together a group of 10–15 stakeholders to conduct focus groups and interviews. We went into a strategy phase after that, where we evaluated our competitors and got to know the entire landscape. 

Once we completed these phases, we started with the new name and trademarking. After several rounds of going back and forth, we found a name we loved and moved on to the visual and messaging stages. Matchstic helped choose a new color scheme and developed a logo and guidelines around photography. 

They designed our website from scratch and worked closely with our developer. We used Figma for the design and received all our deliverables through Adobe. 

What is the team composition?

We initially worked with Craig (Co-Founder & President), and then we transitioned to a dedicated project manager. We also worked with a senior designer and an individual that specialized in writing and messaging.

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

I believe we found them through a Google search. We wanted to find local experts, and Matchstic was highly recommended in our area, so we decided to move forward with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $150,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between April 2021–August 2023. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any metrics at this point, but I’m confident that some solutions Matchstic designed will save us time. They listened to our needs and developed solutions that would address them. They consistently kept our constraints as a company in mind and ensured that everything they created worked for us. 

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was fantastic from start to finish. They were organized in their approach and highly responsive. The expectations were always very clear, and they ensured we understood the next steps. We communicated via phone calls and Google Meet. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were blown away by the level of detail of each team member and the intentionality behind every choice. Matchstic always came with a concept and finished comprehensive products. They had a detail-oriented approach that stood out. This attention to detail made us trust them and feel we were in excellent hands. We enjoyed working with their team; they were professional, kind, and provided top-quality work. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing we can come up with at this point. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared and open to talking about your business and your concept. We came in with a bit of a narrow-minded approach and recommend being open-minded. Matchstic is great at what they do, so trust the process. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO for Board of Child Care, a nonprofit organization. Our national organization runs everything from foster care homes to outpatient clinics. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

We engaged Matchstic to run a renaming project for us. There was a bit of brand confusion surrounding our previous name, and it didn’t feel like it described our company, so we decided to bring in Matchstic. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic conducted interviews with our executive team and visited our campus to tour our classrooms and meet volunteers and board members for a focus group gathering. Their process included an in-house counsel that reviewed our name as well. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Blake (Co-Founder & Creative Director), Dee (Brand Strategist), and Melissa (Director Project Management). 

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

Matchstic was a referral. We conducted a competitive interview process to select a firm, and they were our best option. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $30,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between February–June 2023. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We successfully chose a name, and our key metric was getting our board of directors to support a single new name. We were pleased with their team. 

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

They deliver on budget and have followed through on all of their promises. We had a set schedule for our meetings, which were organized at the beginning of the engagement. We primarily communicated during these meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team was thoughtful and clear in their approach to naming. Matchstic listened to our goals and was a joy to work with. We were impressed with their process in general. Naming is difficult, and Matchstic had a successful process and was positive throughout the engagement. They also collaborated effectively with our agency on record, which we appreciated. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing we can come up with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set up your meeting dates as far in advance as possible. This helps everyone stay on pace for what you need. Ensure you also have enough time in the project plan to reflect on everything they’ve given you. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of Meptik. We’re a film studio that focuses on technology in film production and broadcast, referred to as virtual production and extended reality. My role at the company is commercial development and strategy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

We were looking for someone to help us refresh our brand marketing strategy because our market changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Essentially, we wanted to put a new face to our company and put a new brand message together effectively.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic created our brand identity and brand voice. Initially, we gave Matchstic our company’s information, including information about our competitors and marketplace. Matchstic then realized a brand analysis and conducted a discovery phase, where we had a few calls with Matchstic’s founders to discuss the project’s scope. Matchstic asked us what we were looking for before working on the brand identity. 

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with Craig (President & Co-Founder) and Blake (Co-Founder & Creative Director). We also worked with Patrice (Senior Project Manager) and John (Designer). 

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

I've known Matchstic for many years because their office is close to where my kids go to daycare. I was looking for a company that could design our visual identity and also create our brand voice since I knew I needed both aspects to launch a new brand. We interviewed other companies and chose Matchstic because they could do both things. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $125,000 with Matchstic. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Matchstic from November 2021–October 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our industry is deeply relational, and we were interested in improving our brand awareness and messaging. Matchstic’s team was great to work with and had a solidified working process, which impressed me. 

Overall, Matchstic’s work was impressive and delivered what we asked for — we didn’t need to ask for any changes. 

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

Matchstic was punctual and honest — they were on track with the project. Matchstic’s communication through Google Meet was excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with Matchstic’s ability to do brand design and voice messaging. Both were incredibly important pieces for this project since I knew we couldn’t have one without the other.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Matchstic to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend you make the time and headspace for your project before approaching Matchstic. You need to go into the process knowing exactly what you need from them because Matchstic can help you focus your project, but they can’t answer the question if you don’t know your project’s goal. Only you, as a client, know the importance of your service. You need to know your value proposition, and Matchstic will help you achieve what you want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of brand and marketing at Brightwild, formerly known as One of One. We’re a travel company that designs and develops hotels. We also manage vacation rental properties across Florida and will develop an online travel product.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

We needed a complete rebranding of our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic created our company’s rebranding, including naming, brand strategy, and positioning, visual and verbal identity. They started with brand strategy and positioning and delivered a strategy deck that included our target audience, the company’s keywords, positioning statement, and an analysis of our competitors. 

We then moved into naming and visual and verbal identity. Matchstic designed our logo, color schemes, and overall visual identity. They also designed marketing materials, including advertisements, merchandise, and signage. Matchstic also created our taglines and key messaging copy. They provided art direction consultancy for our website. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with seven teammates from Matchstic, including Melissa (Director of Project Management), the creative director, the design director, the director of brand strategy, a senior designer, a copywriter, and a senior brand strategist.

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

I had known about Matchstic for 7–8 years and always wanted to work with them. I contacted them for this rebranding project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $225,000 with Matchstic.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Matchstic in June 2022 and completed the project in March 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t launched our new branding to the public. However, our board members and staff were really happy with Matchstic’s work. I’m very satisfied with the project’s results, and this was the best branding project I’ve worked on in my entire career.

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

Matchstic’s team was amazing and easy to work with. They were collaborative, met deadlines, and kept within budget. Matchstic was responsible and kept everything on track. 

We had a weekly team call with Melissa through Microsoft Teams, where she outlined the project’s process status. We also communicated through email, phone calls, and Zoom and used spreadsheets to keep track of tasks. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with Matchstic’s work quality. They dedicated a lot of time to research before they designed our assets. We had a great process. Matchstic is an expert at what they do, and our company is happy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Matchstic to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to their advice and directions about the project. They’re experts in their field, and we felt confident working with them throughout our engagement. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Partner of Black Airplane

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We build digital products and experiences that solve business problems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Matchstic to accomplish?

• Conduct brand discovery
• Develop a brand strategy
• New brand messaging

SOLUTION

How did you find Matchstic?

Referral, Other

Why did you select Matchstic over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

What was the size of Matchstic’s team?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The goal of the partnership was to develop a brand story and messaging to elevate and bring clarity to the Black Airplane brand. This was accomplished through an in-depth, multi-level discovery process, the development of a brand strategy brief, and the creation of a new verbal identity. Final deliverables consisted of a Brand Strategy Brief outlining positioning, personality, target audience, and value proposition, and new messaging guidelines including brand voice, opening paragraph, key messages, headlines, and more.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Brand Strategy Brief
• Messaging Guidelines

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Outstanding project management. They had a well defined process, they were extremely intentional in their communications, and did a fantastic job setting, managing and delivering on expectations.

What was your primary form of communication with Matchstic?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Matchstic has its process down. They know what they're doing, they know what comes next, and they instill confidence in their clients through the experience.

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

We wouldn't change anything about the partnership. Outstanding experience!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former SVP of a nonprofit organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Matchstic?

We wanted to refresh our brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic provided branding services, focusing on our messaging as an organization. They created a detailed project scope, including the information we gave them, the research and interviews they conducted, and the benchmarking they did against other nonprofits. Their idea was to develop a new way of looking at our organization so new donors could feel integrated into it. It was a complex statement of work that took them about five months to create.

What was the team composition? 

We worked with two brand strategists, one content writer, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

A board member who had previously worked with them referred Matchstic to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $60,000 with them for this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June 2022–January 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our team and board members thought Matchstic’s work was superb, conscientious, organized, and responsive to our requests and needs. They even were detailed in the presentation of their work, making this an excellent experience.

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

Matchstic’s project management was excellent; they kept everything moving forward and prodded me whenever I owed them something to complete a task, which I appreciated. In addition, their team was knowledgeable and personable when it came to providing feedback. Overall, Matchstic led an excellent relationship and kept everything on time and within budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate that Matchstic was narrow and focused on their business model. Their team was also intuitive and profoundly good at brand strategy development.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn’t think there was anything they could improve on. Matchstic was great at their craft, and they listened well, which helped them learn. Their team showed me an exceptional skill set with great attention to detail and customer service, making us feel heard and considered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief of staff for a moving, storage, logistics, and transportation company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

We’ve expanded our service portfolio, so we needed someone to help us explore formal brand strategies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchstic provides us with expert guidance in the brand strategy arena. This includes internal and external research, identifying potential suppliers, conducting focus group discussions and interviews, executing client and customer surveys, and identifying and strategizing our visual and verbal identity.

The team also creates content templates for social media, such as graphic design, profile imagery, and video production. Moreover, they manage Gantt chart working sessions and are now working on a presentation for our board members.

What is the team composition?

Main point of contact throughout the project has been our project manager, Patrice, and Brand Strategist Tracy.

How did you come to work with Matchstic?

I was looking online for brand strategy experts across the country. I used a few different award recognition criterias which helped me narrow my search and ultimately select Matchstic.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in January 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve only revealed success metrics to our internal stakeholders, but Matchstic has been a responsive, effective, and remarkable team to collaborate with.

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform well from a project management standpoint, as they’re consistently communicative throughout the partnership.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Craig has been instrumental in developing appropriate brand strategies for our organization. In addition, they’re the most likeable and responsive partner I’ve ever worked with in my life.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’ve consistently met the mark regarding our requirements and delivered more than I could ever ask for, but I do wish we could have more in-person meetings.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don’t have any specific advise, except recommend them to anyone who may be in need of their services.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CMO of Bold Commerce. We're a B2B SaaS ecommerce technology company focused on the checkout experience. We're helping brands sell more, in more places with a customizable suite of checkout, subscriptions and price rules.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our origin story was routed in app development for SMB merchants -while our business and market opportunity had shifted upmarket and across multiple platform ecosystems. We needed to change how people thought of Bold. We hired Matchstic to lead us in developing clear, concise, compelling positioning - a brand strategy along with updated visual and verbal identity systems to connect with new audiences, while retaining our brand's personality.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reached out to 6 boutique branding agencies to invite discussion and proposals. We evaluated them on relevant client experience, credentials, process, fit/chemistry and value for fees. Matchstic covered all these bases and were excited to about our mission and challenge.

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

Matchstic was ultra-disciplined in their approach and process, tackling the work in 4 stages: Discovery, Strategy, Identity and Launch. The began Discovery with immersion into our business - interviewing stakeholders and conducting a competitor and brand audit. They took findings into Strategy moving through a series of workshops and activities to create direction for brand strategy and to guide us to a "radically relevant" positioning and distilling insights to craft a brand brief.

From there they explored and presented concepts for visual and verbal identity using a logical approach of foundations > concepts > solutions - ultimately refining into guidelines for all visual and messaging components. Also they helped us think through launch and implementation, applying lessons learned from others to craft a phased approach to execution. Deliverables included the brand brief, identity and messaging toolkit and guidelines.

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

We worked closely with Blake- Co-founder and Creative Director as well as a Brand Strategist and specialized visual and messaging talent from the Matchstic team. Melissa, our PM kept us on track and informed and the core team was supplemented by other talent for the development phase.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The implementation of the new brand is underway - so quantitative measures of awareness/relevance to target market is yet to be seen. The feedback internally has been great - a first measure of sentiment - and our design team has fully embraced the visual identity system in planning forward work. We have started to experiment with some of the messaging - and it is resonating well - tradeshows, collateral and ad copy - showing more engagement. The Matchstic team has given us a great foundation to get us where we need to go.

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

We had weekly sessions with the Project Manager to review progress and outline next steps. Meetings were booked well in advance and T=they were responsive to accommodate our schedules. They hit their deadlines - their time to delivery was on schedule - even with flexing to add in facilitation of additional sessions for product positioning. Over all really impressed with coming in close to our initial, somewhat aggressive timelines.

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

They really are committed to helping brands uncover their "radically relevant" position - and brought a highly collaborative approach to dig deep and challenge our thinking. The energy they brought to the project was fantastic and the final assets - both visual and messaging are great.

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

The only downside was the entire project happened virtually during pandemic travel restrictions - it would have been great to have them to our HQ in Canada. Also all our communication was via email - I do find there is a role for Slack vs email in sharing inspiration/updates.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO of a health and wellness company. We do research and sell devices around therapeutic hydration and water production.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchstic?

Our initial goal was to develop a set of brand guidelines: the identity of the company, our logo, our colors, and our global messaging. The second half of the engagement was a naming process to go with the now existing brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

All their work was from scratch, as our existing identity was very light, and we wanted them to have total freedom to do and propose whatever they wanted. It exactly the same for the naming. We started with a short brief about our company and our expectations, but it wasn’t very detailed. They quickly understood what we were going for.  They also created templates for us around messaging and positioning and copywriting.

What is the team composition?

We worked with around 6–8 people.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $50,000–$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from January–December 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any quantitative results, as our products are going to launch in about two-weeks time, but everybody is very happy with the job that Matchstic did. They love the name, the brand, the identity, and the messaging. It’s hard to compare this to what we had before, as they truly started from scratch, but we’re now nearly at a 100% satisfaction rate.

How did Matchstic perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was very good, and they were always available to us. They were highly organized. We had an account manager on their side who managed all the meetings and the schedule. Communication took place by email, and they were totally transparent. We appreciated that they had no hidden fees and didn’t surprise us with anything. The process was very smooth. We also communicated over Slack and Monday.com.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a French company, we have a very different mindset than American companies. Matchstic deeply understood our approach and were very open to our discussion-based process. We value creativity more than performance, and they offered a lot of really creative ideas that were in-line with what we were thinking.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of.