Paper Tiger

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the founders at a health and wellness startup. We sell supplements and vitamins.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Tiger?

As a new company, our initial business challenge was establishing a presence. We contacted Paper Tiger to help build our brand through web design and development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave Paper Tiger our logo and content, and from there Paper Tiger developed a WordPress site with WooCommerce. They used the content we provided to design each webpage, and they also developed our branded fonts and color palette.

The team recommended widgets and other features we should implement to enhance the customer experience and begin to establish different funnels throughout the site.

What is the team composition?

Jason (Partner & Creative Director, Paper Tiger) was our main point of contact, and we worked with him day-to-day. We also engaged with Mark (President, Paper Tiger).  

How did you come to work with Paper Tiger?

We found Paper Tiger on Clutch, where I looked at a lot of different agencies and their portfolios. The style of Paper Tiger’s work caught my eye; their attention to detail really brought out the brand, which is why we decided to move forward with them.

How much have you invested with them?

My company spent between $10,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together spanned April–July 2019. The site is currently live. Once our company grows, I’ll definitely re-engage them to expand the site and build in more unique functionalities to add to the user experience.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Working with Paper Tiger was a great experience. As a startup, our brand and look and feel are critical. Paper Tiger was able to bring my vision way past what I thought was possible. The feedback we’ve gotten from customers and people within our network is that the site is beautifully done, well-branded, and really sets our company apart from others in the marketplace.

How did Paper Tiger perform from a project management standpoint?

On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d give them a 10. Paper Tiger was very clear, and they were always willing to provide further clarity or walk us through a direction or approach. A line of communication was always open, and they were responsive from start to finish. They guided us on best practices and what makes a good user experience. We appreciated their due diligence, organization, and efficiency.

If I had a suggestion or wanted to change something, both Jason and Mark provided feedback on why that wasn’t necessarily the best approach. They were very articulate in explaining why they didn’t recommend something, rather than just saying no. When we had these types of conversations, I generally went with what they suggested. They helped manage our expectations and the timing of everything.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I went to Paper Tiger with an idea, and they took that idea and made it better than I expected. The entire process was smooth and seamless. We were impressed by their attention to detail, creativity, and ability to adhere to timelines. Rather than speaking in technical jargon, they made everything clear and easy to understand.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. While I was researching vendors, I read several accounts of web design and development companies that were great at design but fell short at development, or vice versa. Everything was clear-cut with Paper Tiger, and they managed our expectations throughout our experience of working together.

Any advice for potential customers?

Hire them. They’re top-notch people, and the agency is fantastic. The end product speaks for itself. I have no second thoughts about who I hired for this project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the digital sales and marketing manager for T. Edward Wines, a wine importer and wholesaler. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Paper Tiger?

We engaged Paper Tiger to develop our website for wine and spirits import and distribution.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to refresh the image of our company and provide content and information for beverage industry professionals.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found through Paper Tiger an advertisement followed by an excellent interview and demo. Our needs were complex and required a deep understanding of our business and the industry. Paper Tiger demonstrated a willingness to learn our needs and work with us to focus our concept into a concrete design.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Paper Tiger helped develop a new website from the ground up. They assisted in drafting the site design, revamped the company logo, and uploaded content. The team contributed heavily to crafting the website’s organization and aesthetics. Paper Tiger now provides ongoing maintenance, updates, and tech support.

What was the team composition?

I worked with Marc (President, Paper Tiger) and Jason (Creative Director, Paper Tiger), as well as a project manager and at least two additional developers and accounts receivable. The size of the team grew as the project developed a wider scope. We now work with one person at a time to make improvements and updates as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Information within the company is now easily accessible. But more significant is our increased search visibility. More contact with clients and consumers allows us to field inquiries, evaluate customer satisfaction, and assist consumers in finding our products. We've seen the real payoff in capturing new accounts we never had contact with or recapturing accounts we had not worked with in many years. The website has also enabled us to expand nationally with smaller distributors across the US looking to carry wines we import and finding us through internet searches.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was the most challenging aspect of web development. Paper Tiger excelled in responsiveness and managing expectations. Their ability to deliver on deadline—even when our side had delays at various points— went above and beyond. When our materials were prepared, Paper Tiger was always ready to move to the next phase. Since completion, the team remains highly responsive to queries and troubleshooting.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Paper Tiger manages a complex web of wine and spirits content that others find obscure and difficult to track. When a separate contractor couldn’t deliver an additional mapping feature, Paper Tiger found a creative solution to step in and complete it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We had significant shifts in design during the drafting process. While this ultimately was our internal shift and not reflective of Paper Tiger's work quality, we would have benefitted from outside advice. That way, their team could provide requested changes as one complete re-design rather than piecemeal.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the director of marketing communications and creative services at Coriant before it was acquired by another company. We delivered networking solutions for a fast-changing and cloud-centric business world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Paper Tiger?

We hired Paper Tiger to develop a new company website.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to produce a modern, clean, scalable website with an easy-to-use CMS for administrators. It also had to give customers and prospects intuitive access to information relevant to them. Further, we wanted the website to stand out in a crowded industry and properly showcase our refreshed brand.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We needed a vendor who was up to speed with current web development trends and applications. They also had to work with a short project timeline, stay on budget, and provide guidance through the planning and development process. This would ensure we were taking advantage of all available tools.

We selected Paper Tiger because they met all of our qualifications and stood out as a company who prided itself on building strong working relationships with its clients. They seemed like they wanted to be a part of an extended internal team before, during, and after development.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

After helping us scope the website, Paper Tiger produced wireframes and provided design comparisons. Then, they developed the solution and set up hosting for us. We continued to engage them for development enhancements post-launch. These were part of Phase two and weren’t included in the original scope.

What was the team composition?

We primarily worked with two Paper Tiger employees through the planning, design, development, and post-launch phases. They both had project management, design, and coding skills.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our senior leadership was very happy with the new site as it met the primary goal of standing out and promoting our newly revamped solution set. The site was part of an overall brand refresh that attracted more interest to the company, complementing our major tradeshow presence and related sales engagements.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had weekly status calls with the Paper Tiger team and additional email/phone communication as needed. The process itself was straightforward.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Paper Tiger was well-informed, skilled, able to meet our tight deadlines, and very easy to work with. They never seemed stressed either, despite the quick timeframe. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not that I saw.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm an owner of Qwell Meditation and Wellness, a meditation studio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Paper Tiger?

We hired Paper Tiger to develop our website and design our logo and branding.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted an impactful logo and a user-friendly website. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A friend referred us to them. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Their team designed our logo through a collaborative, lengthy process. They used a Squarespace template to design our website.

What was the team composition?

A team of four worked with us to design, implement, and support the website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our logo and website draw our target audience and accurately and consistently reflect our brand.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They managed the project capably and efficiently. We always had a point person, and the whole team was responsive and supportive.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were incredibly responsive and easy to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They should offer ongoing support strategies. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

MOOYAH is a fast-casual restaurant with burgers, fries, and shakes. I'm the director of brand creative.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Paper Tiger?

Paper Tiger is our web developer. 

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal is to have a reliable vendor that can update our website with minimal downtime.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Paper Tiger has been a reliable vendor for years. I'm not sure how we originally selected them, but would highly recommend their services. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We recently updated our menu landing pages. We provided the design files, and Paper Tiger made the changes on time and within our budget. The final product looks just like our designs.

What was the team composition?

We work with their president on an ongoing basis. He's responsive and gives us great customer service.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our new menu landing page performs well. It's the most visited page on our website. Paper Tiger does a great job with website redesigns, maintenance, and ongoing updates.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I discuss projects with their president, which is highly effective. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We're impressed with their customer service and response time. Paper Tiger is an expert in our CMS, and they're invaluable in keeping our website up-to-date. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

I'm pleased with their work and don't have any improvements to suggest.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work at a nonprofit that develops standards and offers professional development opportunities for faculty and administrators engaged in study abroad programming. I develop resources that support the implementation of standards and best practices and educate professionals in our field.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Paper Tiger?

We hired Paper Tiger to create an online curricula resource center. They also collaborated with the New York Times to incorporate articles and archives into our curricula.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted an attractive, user-friendly, highly searchable product that could grow with us as we build our content.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We took proposals from three or four companies. Paper Tiger understood our work and audience best while offering a reasonable price.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Paper Tiger designed, developed, configured, and launched our digital resource center and curriculum toolbox. The project involved extensive testing with not only our staff, but also our users. They also created our critical incident database and currently work on a variety of other projects.

What was the team composition?

One senior contact always works with us from ideation to completion. They assign additional developers and designers as needed. For the first project, which was large, we worked with two or three people. More recently, one developer has stuck with us across projects because he knows our needs well. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're pleased with our experience, and our users are happy with the product. Engagement with our database has steadily increased since we launched the new design. Users say it is clear and easy to use.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They work closely with us to understand our needs. One senior project manager handles the beginning and end of each project, and we communicate directly with developers about details. This process works well for us.

They provide multiple design options, adjust elements at our request, and respond to changes on the fly. They usually respond to our requests quickly. After delays, they are quick to admit their mistake and apologize.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They're extremely upbeat, transparent, and pleasant. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

We switched from Basecamp to other communication and project management platforms, but later returned to email. That was a bit frustrating, but not a big deal. Everything works fine now.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of Building Equity Management LLC. We’re a boutique property management firm focused mostly on buildings in Manhattan.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Paper Tiger?

We needed to redesign our website to be modern and distinct from the competition.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed fast design guidance.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Someone I knew highly recommended Squarespace as a hosting platform. I called a half-dozen firms that Squarespace recommended and chose Paper Tiger because of their design aesthetic, nearby location, and pricing.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

I supplied photos and copy to fit the layout they designed. The introduced a new theme, selected a template, and offered typography choices.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with their principal, who managed an internal team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've seen an immediate increase in new business inquiries, leading to positive social media reviews and more traffic. The three significant inquiries we’ve received in the month since launch are likely to produce six figures of recurring annual business.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Management was very straightforward with our single point of contact. It took a little time to build momentum initially, but once we were in full production, everything rolled smoothly. There was a very reasonable amount of time between revision cycles.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They lived up to my expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We moved slowly in the beginning since they had a number of projects in the pipeline. Once we were on top , however, refinements came quickly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of (a/an) Information technology

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Business intelligence for senior living

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Paper Tiger to accomplish?

• New name
• new website

SOLUTION

How did you find Paper Tiger?

Online Search

Why did you select Paper Tiger over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit

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

Paper Tiger helped us through 2 rounds of picking a new name + brand identity. After that was done they built a new website for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Name that we liked
• Awesome website

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

Great project management. Very responsive and professional. Clear communication

What was your primary form of communication with Paper Tiger?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

They were a great team to work with, and we received an awesome final product!

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

None. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My company provides music for films, TV shows, and ads. I'm the founder and manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Paper Tiger?

I hired Paper Tiger to redesign our website.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to upgrade our website with a creative, professional look.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After narrowing my search down to several design agencies, Paper Tiger's website and their strong portfolio made me feel they'd be a good fit.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

I worked with their team to conceptualize and implement a complete redesign of our website.

What was the team composition?

The team was three employees at Paper Tiger and me.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients have given us great feedback on the look and UI of our site.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Paper Tiger's process was very streamlined. They worked fast and still made it easy for me to collaborate in the design process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Paper Tiger's team was a pleasure to work with and has great design sensibilities.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing that stood out to me.