Paragraphs, LLC

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive director of Dr. Geissler's Hearing Center.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paragraphs, LLC?

I wanted to rebrand our print products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial phone call to talk about redesigning the brochures we give to our referring physicians in Northwest Indiana. We sent them our existing materials and they started putting new brochures together. They asked me if I loved our logo. I actually had been wanting to change it, so we took their recommendation to refresh the logo as well.

What is the team composition?

My main contact is Rachel (President, Paragraphs, LLC).

How did you come to work with Paragraphs, LLC?

I previously worked with Paragraphs when I was at a previous job in Chicago. It was a big project, so I already knew a lot about the team there. When the Hearing Center started thinking about changing our branding, I knew I wanted to work with them based on the great experience I had in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $20,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2018 and it’s an ongoing engagement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We sent out the updated brochures to our referring physicians, and they absolutely love them. Probably 25% of our new patients are coming in based on the brochures that we've sent out to those physician offices. We've also been going to local health fairs and doing a sponsorship through a Minor League Baseball in Indiana. People frequently tell us how much they like our logo. The logo is starting to be recognized locally, and good word of mouth is spreading through the region.

How did Paragraphs, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re so responsive. Every email is answered within half an hour, and every phone call is returned within five minutes. I never have to really push them because whenever I send out a request, it's done. While we mostly communicate by phone and email, I look for opportunities to go to Chicago and meet with them in person. Rachel has a great personal touch. During the meat of the project, we spoke every two weeks. She still calls me regularly to check in and see how we’re doing. I love that because she keeps me thinking about our brand and ways to promote our business.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Along with their great customer service, they deliver a great product. We told them what we wanted and they came back with a product that wowed us. Their creativity and attention to detail is phenomenal. Plus, they're just great people to work with. I love that they are a woman-owned business, as are we.

Any advice for potential customers?

When you meet with them, be honest about what you want and what products you're looking for. If you're willing to be open to something innovative, they will definitely create that for you.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder and Director of the Weiss Scholarship Foundation. We provide scholarships to children in Dago, Kenya.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Paragraphs, LLC?

We needed services for branding, logo and tagline creation, web site development and marketing content.

What were your goals for this project?

We have wanted to create a professional image of our foundation in order to attract both more and larger donations.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I received multiple references from associates who said that Paragraphs was the best to work with.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They provide web development, logo, tagline, and marketing content services.

What was the team composition?

We are working with five people from Paragraphs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While it is very early on in the process, we are already having a fantastic response. We have a much more professional image now that will attract both more and larger donations.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had an initial meeting with the Paragraph's staff to put together the project. Since then we have communicated many times via email, phone, and in-person meetings. This has been very effective, in part because the experience they bring is incredibly helpful. They make us feel that we are in really good hands.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They immediately showed us they knew a lot about what we needed to do. Each person is incredibly professional in every part of their job. When there is a question they respond very quickly. It is easy to see the passion they put into their work and the pride they take in the final product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the global director of environmental health and safety for a large printing manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paragraphs?

Environmental health and safety is a core value of our company. We take pride in protecting our employees and working within applicable regulations to minimize our impact on the environment. We required proper branding and video production to communicate our environmental sustainability programs across multiple markets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a video, pamphlet, and PowerPoint presentation detailing our green initiatives. They transcribed these marketing materials into 13 different languages, as they were released internationally.

What is the team composition?

I generally worked with Rachael [Senior VP and Partner, Paragraphs] and Dora [Senior Designer, Paragraphs].

How did you come to work with Paragraphs?

They were recommended by our marketing group. I communicated the project expectations and they sent back some concepts. We decided to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

The initial project cost roughly a couple $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2015. This project has since been completed, but we continue to use them periodically for translation and graphic design work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were instrumental in communicating our green initiatives in a quick and professional manner. The video turned out fantastic and so did the other materials. In response, people were excited about being environmentally safe. We’ve experienced increased participation in the program by all associates, which has allowed us to recycle more and continue to approach processes like packaging and waste from an environmental standpoint.

How did Paragraphs perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated by email or phone and they performed excellently.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re incredibly dependable in terms of correspondence and delivering results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve no criticisms, they were excellent to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d encourage customers to work with them because they’re a great company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a Senior Manager of Marketing Communications at a global healthcare organization. I support the marketing teams in their promotional campaigns, branding initiatives, convention programs, and product launches, and have worked in a variety of medical product areas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paragraphs?

The first time we hired Paragraphs we needed branding of a new business venture. When we hired them the second time, the goal was to rebrand and revamp an existing but struggling product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

On the first job, Paragraphs did the branding and product definition for a new business venture in pharmacy automation. Later, they rebranded an existing product in lieu of competitive threat, changing its perception from quite stodgy to fresh, dynamic, and exciting. As a result of the success of that project, Paragraph's work broadened in scope as they worked on branding our entire business, including our corporate branding. Their creativity really lends itself to photoshoots that completely change the perception of a product.

What is the team dynamic?

I've generally interacted with the President, VP, and Creative Director. It is a small team, but you get the top people, which I appreciate.

How did you come to work with Paragraphs?

We did a capabilities presentation, and Paragraph was one of the companies that came in. Something just clicked, which is often how it goes with agencies. One of the most important aspects of working with an agency is communication, and sometimes if you feel that an agency will be easy to work with and suitable for your needs, it just clicks.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, I would estimate that we've spent about $200,000 with Paragraphs.

What is the status of this engagement?

We originally started working with Paragraph about 16 years ago, with a significant hiatus between the first and second engagements, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Unfortunately, I don’t have any hard data, but they very much meet my expectations and have a good impact on our business.

How did Paragraphs perform from a project management standpoint?

Excellent. They don't drop the ball. Working with agencies can be difficult at times if you aren’t on the same page, but I have never had that issue with Paragraphs. They understand the importance of using creative briefs to ensure that our expectations are in line and to give us confidence that they understand our needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They make the job fun. They genuinely enjoy what they're doing and it comes through in their work. Their clients get an authentic and enjoyable experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing really comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It's important that you establish the relationship and how it's going work as far as processes and communication. Face-to-face meetings can be critical for that. And I think if you're authentic and honest with them you're going to have a really good experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m CEO and owner of a manufacturing company. We make faucets and valves for science laboratories. There’s also a sister business that manufactures safety products such as emergency eyewashes and showers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paragraphs LLC?

We realized our public persona and image were obsolete. We needed updated branding and messaging for both businesses.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initial engagement focused on branding our company and its constituent units. Our products needed to convey our corporate identity and history. They created logos, graphics, signage, and product catalogs to achieve that goal.

Currently, the goal is to present our two businesses as market leaders in their respective niches. To that end, the team continues to make branding materials.

We use in-house talent for web development. Our developers created a format in consultation with Paragraphs and send new literature or website postings to them for review and approval. We upload the content their team produces.

What is the team dynamic?

There are 2- two-person teams. We interface with Rachel [President/Co-Owner, Paragraphs] and one developer for each of the two businesses.

How did you come to work with Paragraphs LLC?

The wife of one our employees worked at the firm. We met the team, reviewed their past work, and discussed our goals. We looked at other companies concurrently, but only proceeded to the proposal stage with Paragraphs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked together for approximately 10 years. Collaboration is on-going.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Graphics are visually pleasing and convey quality and professionalism. We hold ourselves as experts and leaders in our field; these designs reflect that position.

The designs also communicated our story as a third-generation family business in downtown Chicago. The team energized our history, which is integral to our identity

How did Paragraphs LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Turnaround is very prompt and contains minimal mistakes. The team is responsive and detailed-oriented as well.

Our offices are near, so we meet in person regularly in addition to email and phone exchanges.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a boutique firm with an identical structure to ours. That similarity helped us understand each other’s work cultures. As a result, they provided great customer service.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, they do a really good job addressing our needs.