McLean

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the principal at SHR Perceptual Branding. We started in 1970 as a graphic design and corporate identity firm and then evolved into a brand strategy firm by adding consumer research to our interests. Our unique approach involves understanding and managing perceptions in the consumer’s mind. 

We’re also part owners of a high-end coffee company based in Bogota, Colombia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with McLean?

Our firm initially attracted the owner of our coffee company because of our brand strategy experience. The coffee company had never launched the product outside of Colombia, and we partnered with them to introduce the coffee in the United States. We needed help with packaging design, so we hired McLean.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

McLean started by auditing our copy. They also analyzed other brands in the high-end specialty coffee arena, including a thorough overview of the competition. Their team identified 5–6 brands that stood out, which became a point of discussion in our collaboration. 

From our branding firm's side, we offered McLean the research we'd done, what we felt was true to our coffee brand, meaningful to our customers, and what made us distinctive. We also gave them our brand story. 

From there, they came to us with brand platform tools. These tools included talking points, positioning statements, desired customer takeaway, as well as brand pillars, pyramid, voice, and manifesto. 

We expanded the program based on our discovery, adding logo and name exploration. Specifically, they helped us identify typography and the look and feel when combining the name and logo. 

Then, McLean did a package design exercise in which they presented several options for us. After we chose a design, the McLean team delivered the mechanical designs with all the necessary details. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Jeff (Business Developer), who had a team of people to help manage the process, and schedule phone calls. Ian (Founder) was also involved.

How did you come to work with McLean?

I was aware of them over the years through my brand strategy firm, and I'd always wanted to work with McLean because I admired their various solutions, so we called them. Since we're not a big brand, we weren't sure if they'd be interested in helping us or if we could afford them. As it turned out, they were interested, and their pricing was very fair.

We also got proposals from other packaging design firms, but many were too process-oriented. McLean's proposal felt purer in its creativity. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $50,000–$65,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–October 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're getting great initial reactions to the packaging McLean designed. Whenever I present the package to people, they're wowed by its exclusive look and the high quality of the copy. Since our product is expensive, we wanted to position ourselves in the high-end market and justify the cost of our coffee with our package design as well as its quality. McLean's work helps position our product with a design that has the look of exclusivity and quality we were looking for.

Additionally, internal stakeholders were really taken by the depth of McLean's exploration and their professionalism. For example, the number of package design concepts they presented to us was exceptional. We expected 4–5 options, but McLean presented around 10 design explorations, all beautifully executed. They also clarified every aspect of the designs for us.

The functionality of the packaging box was also remarkable. From the design stage, the McLean team thought ahead about the feasibility of production and whether the box could be on the shelf at a grocery store. They were always one step ahead, thinking about good choices that were functional and executable.

The final mechanical design delivery was also excellent. Packaging is complicated, and McLean communicated how the packaging was intended to be built to the manufacturer. It took us a while to produce the packaging because we wanted everything made in Colombia for brand authenticity reasons. Our goal this year is to promote the product at scale, so we'll know more about results in a year.

How did McLean perform from a project management standpoint?

They were always fully prepared for each call with us; they had a well-crafted presentation that outlined and supported their process. Each meeting we had with McLean built upon the previous session, which I appreciated for the continuity of thought. As we went, everything became clearer, more committed to what we found together, and our collaboration became more focused.

In terms of scheduling, we had to be patient and wait for them because they couldn't jump right into our project due to their client cycle. We were willing to wait for them, though. Then, the  COVID-19 pandemic started during our process and slowed down the work, which wasn't their fault.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by McLean's thoroughness and preparedness for every presentation. They were always one step ahead of us in their thinking, so we never felt anguish about where we would go next. The fact that meetings had continuity eliminated issues as they came up. Their approach took the anxiety out of the discovery phase and made it a fun experience for us. 

Clients often wonder if they'll get their money's worth from a vendor or whether the solution will work. In this regard, McLean over-delivered; they always brought something new to the table that was unexpected and helpful in decision-making. They were also very fair with pricing when we expanded the project. 

Ian's involvement was also remarkable. Many prominent providers exclude their founders, but Ian was sufficiently involved and delegated to talented people in the right way. He's passionate about his ideas, and he'll fight for them, which I appreciated. 

Additionally, they had a very thorough process that they took us through. McLean's process and brainpower distilled any fuzziness we might have had into a very sharp point of view.

At the same time, their approach is very creative. Other vendors can be too process-oriented, so clients might not get a super creative solution. McLean gave us a fresh, creative expression of our brand, with an underpinning of thoughtfulness for production and how we might display our packaging in the store. Overall, McLean delivered with excellence. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they need to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Any branding organization appreciates when clients can articulate what they have and want for their brand. Often, clients come to providers for clarification or sharpening of those ideas, though they might not know that. Giving McLean our brand perspective, story, and thoughts helped them focus on who we were as a brand. 

I recommend you come to McLean with as many thoughts as possible about what you're trying to achieve. Give them clarity about who you are, your target audience, and what's meaningful to that audience. Knowing who your competitors are and the brands you most admire is also helpful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My name is Steve and I’m the founder and CEO of RxSugar, the world’s best tasting, healthiest, natural, plant-based sugar and syrup. The company was started in May 2019.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with McLean?

McLean was brought into this project because they are the best in class relative to creating the visuals, packaging, and medium by which we can convey the message, in which we can spur adoption and accelerate traction to the masses. We feel that McLean is peerless in that regard.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

What McLean was able to do was take food as a medicine and our brand name RxSugar, to provide the packaging asset that would allow that messaging to spring forth from the variety of different products that we have.

We have two primary classes of products. We have dry products, which is a standard crystal sugar, and liquid products which are organic, liquid sugar pancake syrup. The project consists of working with three different form factors — a 16-ounce canister, stick packs in a cardboard carton, and the standard film or sleeve, that would surround a bottle full of liquid.

McLean took on all three to bring forth best-in-class visuals relative to art, photography, font style, and placement, in terms of optimizing the messaging.

What is the team composition?

I don’t have full transparency into their team of artisans, but I work closely with Ian (Founder & Creative Director), as he’s involved in every step of the way.

How did you come to work with McLean?

I was introduced to Ian years ago, as part of a former project. Because of the extraordinary insight he had, we actually rebranded the entire product based on his suggestions. I knew he was a quality person who was a subject matter expert, so when I launched this company in May 2019, he was top of mind and first in line.

How much have you invested with them?

The amount of investment is close to $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The ongoing partnership started in January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not only do we consistently, if not, unanimously get feedback on the packaging, but there’s also an inherent enthusiasm — we don’t just receive simple vernacular, it’s always over the top hyperbole. Our brand stands apart because as I’ve told Ian, my golden rule in business is that in order to be seen as best, you must first be seen as different, and that’s where McLean resonates and overachieves.

We have that perfect blend of having food as a medicine prescriptive solution to solving the world’s biggest problem, which is sugar, and doing it in a manner that conveys meaningfulness that people and consumers have resonated towards. We’re approaching 10,000 stores, we’ve sold out on QVC in eight minutes which they’re inviting us back to, and we’re in every lifetime fitness facility in the country.

The combination of retail growth, online traction, and selling out on QVC speaks volumes to just how appealing the packaging is, and that’s a direct result of Ian and his team’s work.

It’s really quite affirming as to where and how McLean works with clients. Ian is basically renowned as North America’s number one leader in this field. For him to be involved with a relatively small company like RxSugar is endearing and quite meaningful to us. Ian never disappoints — I have very high expectations and he forever exceeds those.

How did McLean perform from a project management standpoint?

The best part about Ian and his team is that they’re dedicated to delivering on time and under budget. McLean does a masterful job of understanding the requirements, and utilizing their decades of experience to gauge what resources are needed within the timeline. I’m accountable to a balance sheet and income statement, so it’s meaningful to me that I can rely on such partners to be economically rational and accountable.

They have a number of relationship managers who do an outstanding job relative to the organization of the project. They understand where the cost constraints are, and where we need to be operating within both cost and timeline.

Additionally, they do a nice job of laying out everything in PDF format. They provide me with PDF summaries, they’re constantly in touch, and they’re always showing up on time for conference calls. They’re also very good at sharing updates incrementally.

What did you find most impressive about them?

People don’t care how much you know, until you know how much they care — and McLean has an abundance of care. Ian is always on the call, appears on every video, and always so focused and enthusiastic. More than that, he’s the most transparent and straightforward person, so he’s never just trying to agree with you and go along with what might appease you.

If he has an insight that he wants to share, there’s no constraint, and there’s no better attribute than that one. No one surpasses Ian relative to being super smart and super transparent — he really is a remarkable gentleman.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nary a concern. I would literally have to dive into my cranium and concoct something because there’s not a thing I would ask for.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The best advice I could give is to recognize that Ian is a disciple of honesty, truth, candor, and transparency. It would not make sense to enter into the relationship and hold back or worry about ruffling feathers, because that’s emotive stuff that gets in the way of progress.

Just be prepared, open, honest, and lay out every card. Because the more information you provide his team, the better they are at helping you.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are  the world’s most drinkable kombucha, delicious tasting, low in sugar, loaded with probiotics, and always alcohol free. Founded in 2009 by kombucha enthusiasts, the company is one the largest, fastest growing, and beloved kombucha brands in the world.

From the company’s early days brewing in the founders’ kitchen through its movement to a full-scale brewery, Our Kombucha has remained focused on great taste, accessibility, and overall wellness because health and happiness go hand-in-hand. We can be found in stores and restaurants in all 50 States and in Canada.

Headquartered in Bend, Oregon, we created the world’s first Kombucha tap room in 2013 and welcomes visitors to grab and experience the tastiest kombucha around. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire McLean?

Hired McLean to develop evolve brand packaging design as well as develop strategy, positioning and designs for new innovation. Brand strategy: understand the competitive marketplace and developed platform and positioning work to position brand to win at shelf

Understand brand equity and how to make major changes and extend brand while leveraging what makes brand special and its true essence Designs rooted in strategy Creativity and range of designs: over-delivered on concepts with a wide range of designs Skilled Structure evaluation and design

What were your goals for this project?

• Improve brand impact and recognition on shelf
• Establish stronger visual foundation and brand block
• Create a highly flexible and identifiable flavor system
• Create line extension separation as needed
• Identification and design of new bottles and can sizes
• Appeal to the masses as the deliciously drinkable refreshing kombucha (without the vinegar bite) that is healthy and makes you feel good.
• Overcome perceived barriers that are keeping people from drinking kombucha: lack of understanding (afraid of the product), taste (think it tastes gross/bad, skeptical of the health benefits.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We hired a beverage marketing consultant to develop our brief, identify agencies with related experience, and then we sent a RFP. Upon review of portfolio, RFP responses, and understanding of the assignment, we hired McLean.

Describe the project in detail.

• Phase 1: Brand Strategy, Data intake, review and processing/distillation - Perform audits on consumers/category/competition, Kombucha brands, Healthy/mainstream beverages, Structures
• Phase 2 – Design Exploration, Brand & packaging family solutions, 5-7 concepts, 4 items (1/segment), front panel (PDP) only
• Phase 3 – Design Revision, Revisions to 1-2 selected lead concepts, 3-4 items, PDP only
• Phase 4 –Refinements & Initial Zero Extensions, Minor refinements to lead concept, Extend flavor system to 2 additional items, PDP only, Design secondary panel, 1 item
• Phase 5 – Complete Extensions and Finalization, Minor refinements to secondary panel, Finalize all 3 items, all panels
• Phase 6 – Mechanical Art
• What was the team composition?

Humm: Jamie, CEO, Matt, President, John, VP of Marketing, René, Director of Marketing, Alice, Project Manager, Travis, Designer McLean: Ian, Founder and Chief Creative, Director of Strategy, Caryn, Director of Client Services, Angela (functioned as main point of contact for the workflow), and several designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Feedback and press have been extremely positive. We met our distribution and shipping goal deadline of late March.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless. They have top notch project management and are very proactive about deliverables and deadlines. They were helpful, responsive, and respectful – true partners.

They made recommendations on how to streamline and save time given our tight timelines. We had a large team of decision makers and McLean very helpful in getting alignment from the team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Experience in the category. Responsiveness. They care about our business and success and are true partners. Even after project was complete/before started 2nd project still there for team involved with outside suppliers – glass design because McLean cares about client and doing what’s best for the brand.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager for a food company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with McLean?

We wanted to create new labels for our olive oil. We hoped to better reflect what our consumers were looking for.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided a proposal and statement of work with exact timing, the details of each phase, and pricing. We went through the process step by step, and we explored different design options. We narrowed those options and made revisions to the designs they provided. We ultimately chose one, and we iterated until we had the colors and icons solidified.

What is the team composition?

I worked with one main point of contact, and I also interacted with another team member for more difficult aspects.

How did you come to work with McLean?

We were introduced through a mutual contact, and we had a kickoff call to discuss the issue.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started around May 2019 and concluded in August 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't launched the new packaging yet, but the internal response is great. Everyone—from our marketing team to our executive level—is impressed by the design and the new look. The final result matches the rest of our brand, and we're very happy with the outcome.

How did McLean perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well, and our contacts were on top of everything. They were responsive, understanding, and friendly, and we felt comfortable approaching them with our questions. We had to move very fast in the end, and they worked very quickly in the last weeks of the project. We communicated every two or three days, depending on the phase. During the crunch at the end, we spoke a couple of times each day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very dedicated to our project, and they understood our issues and our timelines. They rolled up their sleeves and were very involved. Their professionalism, knowledge, and responsiveness are impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they should improve; they were great to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open about your project and share your constraints and concerns. Provide them as much information as possible for them to deliver a strong final product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of a bakery. We make clean label, allergen-free cookies that are sold in a variety of grocery stores.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with McLean?

We were going through a rebrand and were changing our packaging and our company name.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed a new logo and packaging while maintaining some of the existing elements. We didn't want there to be a shocking difference from our previous imagery, so they were sensitive to that. We worked together through an aggressive timeline. We gave them some of the new names we were considering, and they gave us their input. Once we selected the new name, they designed the logo and incorporated it into new design elements.

What is the team composition?

Primarily, I work with the designer and the account contact. I know there are several more people involved behind the scenes, including the founder and a photographer.

How did you come to work with McLean?

My friend used them for another rebranding project. We considered other companies, but McLean was my favorite by far. I knew I wanted to work with them based on their portfolio and the look and feel of their work.

How much have you invested with them?

I've invested around $27,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started right at the end of July 2019, and the whole timeline took place over about 30 days. I think that's atypical for their process, but we didn't want to miss important launches with grocery stores that were fast approaching.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new branding is still about two weeks away from appearing on shelves. We have all the packaging, but we don't have any performance data yet. My distributor and buyers love the look of everything, and the materials look much more professional.

How did McLean perform from a project management standpoint?

They're excellent project managers and are very organized. Over the course of about four weeks, we spoke a couple of times each week through emails or scheduled weekly calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to detail was amazing. They brought up things I hadn't thought of, and the finished product looks wonderful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they should improve. Balancing the artistic look with the information that needs to appear on the bag is tricky, but that's the case with any design firm.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate with them and be very clear about your budget or timeline constraints. They're very receptive, and they're not at all condescending.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and owner of Snowflakes Candy, which is a sugar-free confection company out of Clayton, California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with McLean?

We were primarily facing packaging concerns. There were a couple of retailers who were interested in carrying the product, but the sticking point was really our previous packaging. McLean was hired to completely redesign that element of our product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we walked into McLean, the conversation was immediately around how to communicate with our target customers. They really went above and beyond in taking our project under their wing and creating an entire brand and logo for us.

They researched our consumer psychology, who our target customer was, and how to target them. They created our sell sheets and our trade show booth. Having all of that come from one place established continuity for our entire brand.

What is the team composition?

I have one primary point of contact on their team, but it really felt like a team effort all the way down. Any time we had a meeting with their team there were 3–4 people ready to talk to us. I really appreciated having multiple points of view in that regard.

How did you come to work with McLean?

We were looking at working with a company out in Colorado but realized we wanted to have a partnership with someone close by so that it would be easier to meet in person. We found McLean online and they are only 15 minutes away from our office, so we set up a meeting just to see how things went. All of their previous work really resonated with what we wanted to do, especially in terms of simplicity, so we went with them.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, we’ve spent around $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2017 and wrapped up in May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Once we finished the design work with McLean, we called back a lot of the same companies and retail distributors, and the response was a complete 180. Within the first seven days, we sold 30,000 units and picked up a ton of new vendors and distributors.

We now have brokers and wholesalers cold calling us because they saw the packaging on social media, without even knowing what we’re selling. It has been an absolutely critical pivot for our brand.

How did McLean perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was what I was most impressed with. They work with billion-dollar brands so I was worried we might fall pretty low in the pecking order, but it actually felt like I was their only customer. They were always responsive over email, returning my messages within 24 hours. I never felt left behind or forgotten about, and the process felt very seamless the entire way.

The first day we were in there was the coolest part of the process; we went in and talked to them for hours about some of the most minute details of our business, and then they came back to us with a ton of information and a ton of visuals on our competition and customers and how we needed to differentiate ourselves.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The one thing they do incredibly well is understanding the consumer and how to gain their attention. Just because you think something is nice doesn’t mean the end consumer is going to think it’s great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can honestly say I’m thrilled with the way everything went. I don’t have anything bad to say.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is just don’t overthink it. They’re professionals in their space and they know what to do, so give them full reign in the process and you won’t regret it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the brand manager of Bake Believe, a new brand producing no-sugar-added baking chocolate. We just launched at Walmart stores across the United States. In my role, I oversee marketing and advertising initiatives as well as new product development and commercialization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with McLean?

We were looking for someone to help us with branding. Going into a crowded shelf space with some long-standing heavy hitters, our biggest challenge was standing out and engaging our audience in our value add. We wanted to grab the attention of customers passing our products in the store.

In this industry, that two or three seconds of the consumer’s attention makes all the difference in the world. Our goal was to uphold our energic, light-hearted image, but to also convey our care for creating the best possible product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We challenged McLean with communicating the brand and product image. At the time, we were mentally preparing for our launch at Walmart. When we approached McLean, they had about 8–12 weeks to complete their work.

From a product standpoint, our goal is to bake delicious chocolate. If it isn’t good chocolate, then it isn’t worth it. McLean helped us discover what else is important to our audience of health-minded individuals. Through research, we found that they tend to search out natural products. 

The ingredients make or break a product for them. To stand out, it was important for us to be fair trade, sourcing our chocolate ethically. so that we are sourcing all of those raw chocolate ingredients from small family farms who are getting fair and equitable wages for the work they’re doing. That is important to us as well as the consumer. We also pushed for recyclable packaging to foster a sustainable habit and image.

After talking through those main goals with McLean, they created a list of product attributes that were essential to our image. The next challenge was communicating all of them clearly. Ian (Founder & Creative Director, McLean) and the whole design team did additional infield research, examining the competitive landscape. They focused on getting into the consumer's mindset to inform their designs. 

The final design is fun, whimsical, and isn't being used by anyone else. They thought through our priorities, communicating all the points in a way that wouldn't intimidate the passing customer.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Ian, who operated as a strategic design thread. He brought his experience and provided direction. My main point of contact was Angela (Director of Client Services, McLean). We went through the different rounds together, and she would communicate with the design team. There were 3–4 additional designers working on different elements.

How did you come to work with McLean?

I started by looking at other brands' designs and finding out who created them. I started with a list of 7–10 vendors, narrowing it down based on their capabilities and fit for our project. It ended up being McLean's breadth of design experience and their ability to help new brands win in older categories.

Ian has much more package experience than me. When I had ideas he disagreed with, he would explain his stance. Not many partners do that, so I was convinced they would benefit us when I hired them.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $30,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project with them from April–June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've been on the shelves for 6–7 weeks, and it's been a very successful launch. So far, we're outperforming the majority of our competitors and exceeding our expectations in our Walmart partnership. Our social media following went from zero to thousands within days of being on the shelf. We credit much of that to McLean's differentiated packaging.

McLean did a great job of helping us communicate our unique offering. In fact, we're looking to expand our product selection due to the success we've achieved so far.

How did McLean perform from a project management standpoint?

Deadlines were met, and if there was an issue with the timeline, they made sure to communicate that to us. Angela regularly reached out via email and phone with updates. For the most part, we used a mixture of phone and email for basic communication. However, when we got into reviews, we held Skype conference calls to go over design elements together. Ian would walk through their entire decision-making process for us in realtime.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were able to adapt their skills to fit our exact needs, style, and desired image. When I first reached out to them, they said they didn't have their own style. It turned out to be true, which was a big positive for us. Their design chops and skills are present across their portfolio, but there aren't many stylistic similarities. They really opened themselves up to our unique setting and brand, delivering a diverse breadth of style options. McLean allowed us to underscore priorities and play a serious role in the strategic end of the design process. 

I also appreciated their problem-solving skills. When handling issues or tight deadlines, they'd come up with a plan B. That proactive attitude was valuable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'd love the opportunity for more post-launch check-ins. Otherwise, communication was clear and they were eager to help. We'll definitely be working with them again.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know your consumer and product. Even if it isn’t extremely differentiated, you need to know why your brand is for your consumer. If you go in without direction on who you are, McLean, like any design firm, will struggle to manage the project. Being able to communicate your expectations and needs is important, no matter the undertaking.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Trifecta, the nation’s largest organic meal delivery service. We operate a large e-commerce platform and a global health and fitness app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire McLean?

I hired McLean to develop an industry-leading brand in the very competitive meal delivery space. 

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted a brand that was strong and evocative.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

McLean is arguably the best boutique branding agency in the US. They’ve been my go-to branding agency for multiple companies. 

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

McLean developed the entire Trifecta brand. Their brand development process started with research and ideation. They helped us think through how we can ride the wave of different diet trends, such as Paleo and Keto. 

What was the team composition?

Ian (Founder and Creative Director, McLean) was the mastermind behind the project. He also pulled in multiple graphic designers and other branding experts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Trifecta has grown to become a dominant player in the industry, with almost $100M in annual recurring revenue after only 3.5 years in business. McLean successfully created a brand that has a “cool” cachet in the health and fitness industry. We absolutely love the brand.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team was incredibly effective. We developed a brand together in a matter of weeks. They were extremely responsive via email. Conference calls and video calls were always productive. Ian's branding process is well thought in its use of mood boards and brand guidelines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

McLean brings a depth of knowledge on brand development to the table. I've used whiteboards thousands of times across multiple companies, but it doesn’t compare to their process.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, the project was flawless.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I manage the marketing, sales strategy, and innovation practices at JPG Resources, a startup food and beverage company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with McLean Design, Inc?

As a consultant to other businesses, McLean is one of three vendors we recommend our clients choose to work with for their packaging design needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provide our clients with three vendors to choose from for product packaging design. Should they choose to work with McLean, we supply the team with a brand brief and work on the strategy separately with the client if needed. McLean's team then scopes out the work and provides at least four creative options for the client to review. After some back and forth to finalize the design, they arrange for production and printing as needed. They also help our clients with product naming should they need it.

What is the team composition?

I usually work with Ian (Founder and Creative Director, McLean Design, Inc.), Rifle (Managing Director, McLean Design, Inc.), and Angela (Senior Project Manager, McLean Design, Inc.). Others may be involved as well depending on the type of project.

How did you come to work with McLean Design, Inc?

As a consultancy company, I'm always searching for agencies that can meet our standards. I believe we came across McLean on BevNET.com—they're a pretty well-known company that's worked with some top brands. We wanted to work with them based on the quality of their work and strategic thinking, as well as their level of professionalism when working with clients, since our reputation is dependent on the vendors we refer to others.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around July 2017 and we continue to refer them to our clients.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their results are phenomenal. We've received nothing but incredibly positive reactions from both retailers and salespeople to McLean's designs.

How did McLean Design, Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team is very patient. Our clients can be difficult to work with at times, but McLean's team always handles communication with professionalism and responsiveness. They're not defensive to my own points of view either.

Despite the range of budgets our clients may have, McLean always provides the same level of quality and customer service, which I greatly admire. They stick to their scope of work and, if anything, lose money on their end by going and above and beyond for each project. They genuinely care about project success—I couldn't ask for more from them.

Typically, we collaborate a lot upfront on a project and they'll come back to us within a couple weeks with some great creative options to present. Overall, most projects take around six or so weeks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

While I greatly appreciate their customer-centric approach, the quality of their work is why we ultimately continue to work with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could probably market themselves better to reflect how talented they are.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

McLean is a great team to work with, whether you have a brand strategy or not. However, you're likely to have more success by understanding your industry, what your brand stands for, and what channels you want to compete within.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP of sales & marketing at Madhava. We produce, market, and sell natural sweeteners in Boulder, CO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with McLean?

We had some ideas on providing a different type of honey to people, so we needed to design new packaging and update our brand. We had an internal resource, but we were struggling to get satisfactory results through that internal resource. I worked with McLean before, so I reached out to them again.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We spent a couple of hours on the phone with them, discussing our challenges. Then, they came up with six initial concepts, which we reviewed. Our CEO and our internal team loved the new perspective and all of the concepts. After we decided on the final design and made some tweaks, they started working on the design.

They're our agency of record, so they're also doing our advertising and handling other small projects, such as overall company imagery.

What is the team composition?

We worked with our project manager, their founder, and a team of designers.

How did you come to work with them?

We were introduced by a third party in our industry.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them on this project for 12 weeks in 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're still in the process of getting the product out into the marketplace, but the feedback from the general public that we got so far has been fantastic. We presented the product at Expo West and everyone loved its look. We wanted to distinguish our product on the shelf and McLean helped achieve that goal.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They met all their deadlines and we never had any issues with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We held up the project because our internal resource had a hard time hitting our deadlines, but McLean has been very responsible when it came to deadlines. Also, they had different designers involved in our project and did a great job mixing up different perspectives.