Parachute Design Group Inc.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Spiritleaf aims to be the most knowledgeable and trusted cannabis retailer across Canada. In my role is as a Digital Strategist, I lead and execute our digital, web and SEO strategy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Parachute Design Group Inc., and what were your goals?

Our current website had outlived its shelf life, we needed a new site that was more scalable and offered a much better user experience.

SOLUTION

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

After speaking with numerous web agencies in our area, we decided to go with Parachute based on their body of work and experience working with the technology required for our new site.

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

After defining our objectives for the new website, we went through a detailed multi-step process to begin the project. This began with a discovery phase which entailed an in-depth brand questionnaire, review of our website/search/web performance data, competitor analysis and technical audit of our existing site to identify any issues that may have needed addressing. The next step in this process was a strategy phase, this outlined the path of our users and was when they helped us create a specific conversion strategy, design of our sitemap and wireframes as well as a review of the existing content we had on the site for SEO purposes.

From there we proceeded to the web design and creative phase of the project, where Parachute designed our web and mobile user interfaces and accepted a large quantity of feedback from various stakeholders involved with the project. Once the design was approved, Parachute quickly moved into the development phase. This involved the development of a custom website built on WordPress, integration with our online menu provider and extensive work with their API. Lastly, Parachute conducted a technical SEO audit, quality assurance tests and CMS training for our team before helping us plan for our final launch.

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

We primarily worked with two people from the Parachute team. Jay is the Founder & Creative Director at Parachute and was our main point of contact. We also worked with Deepak, who is the Development Lead. He worked with us at length to navigate the integration of our online menu provider's API.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very happy with the final outcome of the site and will continue working with Parachute on various other aspects of the project post-launch.

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

Communication was clear from the very start. We received regular and detailed updates from Parachute regarding the status of the project.

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

They overcame every challenge that presented itself throughout the project, which was key to producing the high-quality end result they did.

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

We were very happy with everything Parachute provided.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the National Brand Manager for a wine and spirits company. We offer Single Malts, Vodka, and Tequila in Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We were launching a new product to an entirely new category of consumer, much removed from our traditional audience. Parachute helped to design and build a website that brought our new product to life, tell the brand story, and allow us to implement CRM and some social media integration.

SOLUTION

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

We fielded quotes from 4 suppliers for production of the website but Parachute had the most compelling design, the most attractive price and the prior experience to prove they could make our vision a reality.

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

A website was required to launch a new product in Canada for a target consumer that was not aware of the product category or have any existing knowledge of the product category. The website needed to be appealing, educational, fun and interactive.

A rough plan for layout was submitted to Parachute, along with design assets and inspiration, and they supplied a mock-up for the full site along with explanations of user experience. From that initial plan the website was fleshed out using supplied assets that Parachute modified to capture the essence of what we were aiming for.

The main page featured a number of integrated videos, a carousel of recipe features that could be shared to Pinterest, along with 2 CRM data capture features. Two subpages were created while we were well into the development process; one focused on connecting with Instagram and hosting video content that was generated by social partners.

This content could be voted upon by site visitors and would be ranked based on popularity. The voting process served as another CRM capture point, but also allowed Parachute to implement a barrier against vote-rigging through spam voting.

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

Jay and Deepak were the primary points of contact for design and updates. Another 5 people were involved in varying capacities for design, content, testing etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project is on-going but has successfully launched. Users are voting, interacting and registering their details. Parachute adapted to the demands needed of the video assets to ensure that everything looked as good as could possibly be; putting in long hours and some weekend work as we approached the launch.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Frequent zoom calls, emails and phone calls ensured that any issues were dealt with quickly and easily. Most delays were on our end as we dealt with changing demands between global needs and local implementation.

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

From the first pitch, to our first meeting, the team at Parachute has been overwhelmingly helpful and friendly. Never overstepping the mark but giving consistent feedback on how to best implement our ideas or bring strategy to life. Especially with respect to the budget, delivering a lower quote than all other bids.

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

Nothing that jumps out.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a partner at a law firm called Fosters Law LLP.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

Parachute Design Group Inc. has been our web designer for at least a decade.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Parachute Design Group Inc. team developed our website. Since then, they’ve been responsible for giving maintenance to it and applying any requests we might have.

Currently, we’re collaborating with them and another digital marketing on a rebranding project.

What is the team composition?

Jay (Founder & Creative Director) is our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

I wasn’t involved in that decision; it was long ago.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2010, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Though the rebrand is still underway, the fresh design will reflect our company’s culture perfectly. We’ve already had very positive internal and external feedback. One of Jay’s greatest strengths is his responsive customer service; we’re happy with the work he’s done.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Most of our communication is done through email exchanges.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication style is most impressive, especially when explaining complex tasks. The team is very instructive and responsive to all of our questions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice would be to trust that you’re in good hands.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a nonprofit association that represents Canadian manufacturers, dealers, and campgrounds. We exist to promote the RV and camping industries and advocate on its behalf to Canadians and anyone traveling by RV or camping in Canada.

My role is as the director of digital design and strategy. I oversee all our digital components, including our website and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We were looking to redesign our entire digital ecosystem on WordPress.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Parachute Design Group Inc. provided everything from the top-down to build our website including background research into user demographics and user surveys, development of the framework and data architecture, translation of those requirements into a design, and implementation of everything from end-to-end. They also layered in initial research into SEO. The site is available in both English and French.

We have a number of interactive tools on the site that help users find the right RV for them and plan their trip, including an entire portal that allows users to find and book campgrounds on their trip. Parachute reskinned that portion of the portal. There are a number of other integrations as well, and they all look seamless.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two main leads, but 4–6 people worked on the project in total.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

I found them on Clutch, and they turned out to be acquaintances of our president. We wanted to work with a specialized WordPress provider, as well as someone who could understand the nuances of our nonprofit status. We’re not necessarily sales-focused, but we’re consumer-focused.

From a design perspective, we needed a vendor with knowledge of web trends, practices, and technologies, which Parachute excelled at.

We went through an RFP process, and they were a finalist with one other company. While their features matched up, Parachute’s price and after-launch support set them apart.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $65,000–$75,000 CAD (approximately $53,000–$61,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on this project from July 2020–February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They came in on time and on budget. The initial impact of the work is that our KPIs are up 18%–20% already. Certain components of the site that Parachute enhanced for us are up closer to 50%.

We’re thrilled about these initial gains, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them.

They’ll be my go-to partner for any new tools or features. We entered into the project looking for a long-term partnership and we’re on the right track.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Work was being done around the clock. For most of the project, we used InVision for communication, bug fixes, and more. The main project lead, Jay (Founder & Creative Director), was managing the team. That’s how I wanted it — I wanted to deal with him primarily, while he took care of his team. Parachute was very available at all times to facilitate whatever I needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The thoroughness with which Parachute approached the strategy behind what we were doing stood out. I wanted to be challenged by the design team as to why we made certain decisions, and they did that.

Their ability to look at all the details and ensure that we were prepared for what came down the line was great as well. They took into account things that Google and other providers could do that would impact our site performance, searchability, indexability, and more. Parachute was particularly adept at considering the implications of all these areas.

I’ve worked with some companies that deliver the work and then forget everything, but Parachute has continued to recommend tools and technologies and provide insights after the engagement. This is crucial, as the digital environment is always changing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This isn’t too specific, but they could offer more bilingual support. It can be cost-prohibitive to provide those services, but it would be useful to offer as more associations across Canada are becoming more bilingual. This is more of an aside than a criticism. I’ve brought this up to Jay, and he found someone to support what we needed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very upfront with exactly what you need and what your business goals are. Additionally, trust Parachute’s experience and be open to shifting your requirements based on what they advise. Trust their approach. You’ll get so much more than expected out of the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior manager of digital content at CARAS and the JUNO Awards.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We hired Parachute to build out a commemorative website to celebrate our 50th anniversary.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with them to put together our last site, which was mainly a refresher with a few functionality updates. We refreshed the WordPress site by updating the homepage, adding an emblem for our anniversary, and performing some surface-level redesign.

We wanted it to be clear that we were celebrating a milestone. We also wanted the design to be reflective of that while balancing the traditional and edgy side. I wanted a way for younger generations to come on our website. I wanted a page that would be interactive and reflected our history.

The team is currently working on functionality changes. We have a large database of information comprised of all of our award nominees over the years. Every so often, we think of a new way to organize or show that information.

What is the team composition?

I work with Jay (Founder & Creative Director) directly. He has a smaller team that he works with, including a designer and developer.  Everything is filtered through Jay.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

I met them two years ago. I believe I saw someone else’s website, which I really liked. After that, I reached out.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $25,000–$35,000 CAD (approximately $19,000–$28,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

For this project, the work started in August 2020. We’re still in the process of launching it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website allows users to go back in time. The aesthetic is visually-appealing. I’ve received positive feedback from people regarding the look and feel of the site. I’ve been part of CARAS for eight years, and this is the most acknowledged website design we’ve done. Their work has inspired other projects, including a digital production and a TV show we’re planning with our broadcast partner. People are really happy with it.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great at communicating. I’ve never met their team in-person, but we’ve had a lot of phone calls together. They’re very decent at responding to any changes we request of them.

Our deadlines are a moving target because it’s complicated. But, for the most part, they’ve worked well. They’re responsive. One time, they worked late hours because we needed to launch something in time for a TV segment.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with their flexibility. We’ve had a lot of changes come through, and their team makes sure to accommodate those last-minute requests.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m pretty happy with them. They’re the easiest web team I’ve worked with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you have a specific vision in mind, you should be specific in your introduction. If you don’t, then you should keep it more general and have them do the heavy lifting. In our case, I just told them that I wanted the coolest technology, and they included some cool features and designs for me. You can give them direction or give them more creative control.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of communications and marketing at a surgical center and a non-surgical skin rejuvenation clinic.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We needed help re-designing our surgical clinic’s website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re redesigning our surgical clinic’s WordPress website. We had a discovery phase and learned a lot about our business. They work closely with designers on our team to create the UX. The team is also integrating a marketing automation platform.

They’re also building out a new WordPress site for the non-surgical business. We decided to not go with stock images, so they’re instrumental in guiding the photographer to take images that work well on web and mobile.

What is the team composition?

I interact with one developer and their owner.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

They were a referral from another vendor that we work with.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $50,000–$100,000 per project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2018, and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re one of the best vendors I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with many. They’re always on top of any issue that we have and they’re always there for us. They really are good at what they do.

The team develops beautiful websites and their support is really great. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with them. The sites are user-friendly and easy to navigate. Our SEO team was really impressed with how well handled the whole migration was.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc.? perform from a project management standpoint?

They hit all of their timelines and talked to us realistically about what we could achieve. Parachute was really realistic about project management on our end. Hands down, they’re one of the most responsive vendors we’ve ever worked with. I’ve never felt like they’ve lost interest in us as a client. We communicate via email and Google Docs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness stands out. Nothing ever gets missed or loss. In the past, we had to hunt down vendors who had great ideas but poor execution. Parachute never sends us anything that’s half-baked. They’re always on time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their design sensibility could be better. We prefer our in-house design team, which they work really well with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

 Don’t be afraid to share your feedback. They never take anything to heart. They want to hear what you have to say about their work. Be open to sharing your opinion. They take feedback really well and I’d encourage anyone to share their thoughts. Go into the engagement with an open attitude; you’ll find the process to be very fun and exciting.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a physiotherapy company with four locations. We provide physiotherapy, among other rehab services. I’m one of the co-owners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We needed to update our website to increase conversions. We also wanted to make the website more functional to allow our patients to have improved interactions with our company. Then, we had SEO and search-ranking goals.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had separate websites for our different locations, and Parachute Design Group combined them to make one WordPress site that addresses the whole company. They redesigned the site to be more contemporary and conversion-focused. Another deliverable was a faster site in terms of page speed. They also integrated content that we had and are looking to add in a way that was aesthetic and functional.

We did a discovery process so that Parachute could understand our needs. I’d say most of the creative and direction was from their end. We definitely guided that, but they came up with the concept.

What is the team composition?

I probably had contact with four people, but much of my work was with the owner himself.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We found them through a Google search. We did phone interviews with 15–20 companies and looked at their portfolios. We went with who we thought was the best fit, which was Parachute.

How much have you invested with them?

My company spent just over $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together officially began in early January. We officially launched three weeks ago, in July 2020. There are a few odds and ends to pull together now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

These sorts of metrics take time to collate. We’re doing a lot of other things to improve the experience, so there are various factors. However, I can say that our Google Analytics show that there is more time spent on the site and pages per session. We’ve seen an uptick in traffic and an improvement in our search ranking for a couple of our largest keywords.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They did great. That was probably one of the things that I liked most about the experience. They were very clear with the outline at the start. They kept to their schedule — we were the only thing blocking them. The team addressed issues in a way that made sense in terms of priorities, and they also addressed them quickly. I’ve worked with lots of companies that have to deal with project management, and Parachute didn’t disappoint at all.

A lot of our communication was through email. We used a Google Doc and Sheet. Our teams had Zoom meetings, as well as in-person before COVID. I think they had project management software on their end, but there wasn’t any need for me to be part of that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’d say the quality of their work and results distinguishes them. That’s the easiest way to distinguish between one provider and another — you can simply look at their portfolio and the websites they’ve developed. Parachute clearly outclassed all of the other companies that we looked at, and we considered 15–20 companies that do this work relatively well. Beyond that, their thought to design and functionality is a nice mix.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were probably among the priciest companies that we looked at, but I felt that we got what we paid for. We expected it to be a great experience, and it was.

Any advice for potential customers?

Take the designer’s advice to heart over your own biases. I think that will really help.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Content Marketing Specialist at Escher Group. Escher is a leading global software company that provides retail software for courier and postal operators.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Parachute Design Group Inc.?

Parachute was hired to overhaul our website and to create a consistent and contemporary look, feel, and concept for our brand.

What were your goals for this project?

To create a website that not only better reflected our company, but to also act as a hub for all our marketing endeavors, and be fully integrated with our CRM systems.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Parachute was recommended by a partner and was subsequently shortlisted with another two web design companies. Throughout the decision process, Parachute consistently stood out for the ability to talk simply and concisely about our needs.

Describe the project in detail.

Parachute walked us through the entire process. Initially, we went through a discovery process, where they laid the foundational concepts for the build. From there they created mock-ups based upon the discovery phase. Then a build phase, and finally delivery. We are currently being supported by them.

What was the team composition?

We had one point of contact, with specialist help when required.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At the time of writing, we have received positive feedback on the aesthetics, speed, layout, and logic of the site. It is too soon to comment on performance metrics and we are still making adjustments and tweaking, so a true picture cannot be given now. However, from what we have available at this time, all indicators are pointing towards a substantial improvement over our previous site.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Simple, clean and productive

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They made everything easy and were calm and focused throughout the entire process.

Are there any areas for improvement?

At times there may have been an assumption that we knew more than we did, which may have led to misunderstandings when we were reporting on progress. But this is being very picky.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Growers Retail. We’re a chain of recreational cannabis stores.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We hired them to build out our web platform while following brand guidelines.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built an information-based website on WordPress.. Subsequently, we implemented an e-commerce function as well. They came up with a design based on our logo, color schemes, and font.

We relied on them from a web layout. They designed something that met our needs, was modern, and user-friendly.

What is the team composition?

I had one point of contact, but there were two other individuals on the project.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We found them through an online search of local design companies. We reviewed some of the work they posted on their site and they sent us links to a few other sites they worked on. We made out final decision after our budget was put together and agreed upon.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000­–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in October 2019. They started development in January 2020, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Internally, we’ve been happy with the design of the website and how it came together. We’ve received positive feedback from customers. They like the functionality of the site and the incorporation of the e-commerce features. It’s easy to use and navigate. There have been no technical issues so far—it hasn’t crashed, there are no loading errors, and no linking issues.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, they were upfront and created a detailed timeline. They outlined deliverables on both their end and our end. For the most part, they delivered on time, and they held me accountable to deliver what they needed as well.  

We did use a project management tool that allowed me to review changes, leave comments, and edit comments in a web platform. Rather than searching through emails and asking questions, it was super helpful.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everything I’ve said so far accurately describes them. They deliver quality work and the team is reliable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Initially, we weren’t able to meet face-to-face because they don’t have a physical office. We met with them over the phone. That was challenging at first, but there was no real need to meet in person.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate consistently. Feedback is very important in any project, and it’s predicated by the project plan their team puts together.