Pen & Mug

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Live On The Green Music Festival is locally produced by WRLT Lightning 100.1 FM, Nashville local radio station. Live On The Green is a free outdoor music festival held at Public Square Park in Nashville, TN. The festival showcases the city’s emerging musical talent and highlights well-known national acts. Since its inception in 2009, over 800,000 fans from all 50 states and 15 countries have attended the event. My position is in sponsorship sales & fulfillment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pen & Mug?

We needed an all purpose company that can produce digital assets for multiple platforms from our website, social media platforms to on-site signage, merchandise design and visual graphics.

SOLUTION

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

We got connected with Pen & Mug through a mutual contact. The deciding factors were they are local, have an amazing creative portfolio, the ability to carry out multiple tasks simultaneously and to understand our direction through words & then put it into graphic form.

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

Pen & Mug worked closely with our team since 2018 as our dedicated partner for all things graphic design and web management, including our marketing communications, sponsorship materials, event signage, social media graphics, animations, and day-of support. In 2019 we needed to rebrand LOTG. Pen & Mug collaborated with us on designing our new LOTG brand identity, and completely redesigned and recreated the liveonthegreen.com website from scratch. In 2022 Pen & Mug added another item to the list as well, leading design for the 2022 lineup of festival merchandise.

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

We worked with 4 Pen & Mug team members:

• creative director/project manager
• designer
• developer
• illustrator

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Pen & Mug helped us create a LOTG overview booklet and other communications that played a major role in landing some major sponsorships. The Live On The Green website has a cleaner, more custom look with a simplified user experience that is optimized for mobile screens (more than 80% of our traffic for this site is mobile). It's also MUCH more organized and simplified for admins to manage on the backend.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our workflow with Pen & Mug was extremely effective and a whole lotta of fun. A lot of the communication was through email, however, if we needed to speak on the phone, they were available. Also, when it was time for both of our teams to get together to go over all the details, we did that too. All deadlines were met, no problem. There are times we need items to be tweaked, completely designed, or redesigned on the fly, and they get it done.

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

What I loved about Pen & Mug was they became about of our team, our family. Our mission became their mission. They are fun, creative, & have a great work ethic.

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

No, I don't have anything on this one. I just hope we can continue to work with them. The more we do, the better we become.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Sylvan Health brings affordable medical nutrition therapy to patients through the power of telehealth to treat, manage, and prevent chronic disease, I oversee all operations at Sylvan Health across our relationships with providers, patients, and investors, as well as our marketing and product development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pen & Mug, and what were your goals?

We hired Pen and Mug to build and launch our new website, as well as to design our print and digital marketing materials, including social media, clinical content, and internal business documents like pitch decks.

Our goal has been to share high-quality branding and marketing materials that reflect our mission and company values to prospective customers, partners, and the world at large.

SOLUTION

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

Our team had connections who had used Pen & Mug before. We had a couple of conversations with the team and knew they were the perfect fit as it is their model to act as an extension of our team.

They had experience across all channels of marketing that we needed, and it was a plus they were local to Nashville where Sylvan Health is based.

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

5 hours/week dedicated to miscellaneous projects as needed. These include building and maintaining the Sylvan website, launching and managing our company blog (the Sylvan Digest), generating print and digital designs for marketing materials and clinical content, creating QR codes and HIPAA-compliant intake forms, and more.

Additionally, we partnered with Pen and Mug to update our team’s headshots. The Pen & Mug team will be coming to our office to take individual and group pictures that will be edited to align with our branding. Tools used have included, but are not limited to, Notion, Dropbox, Adobe Photoshop, and more. We wouldn’t want to work with anyone else!

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

Three primary team members worked with us. They included Austin, the company founder, and Morgan, a designer on the team. Jeremy, a web developer, also worked on our website. They have been terrific!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within the first couple of weeks of launching brand-new print and digital materials, we generated new leads from potential patient clients, partners, and dietitians interested in working for our company. We have also seen strong engagement on our social media channels as we’ve shared the content that Pen & Mug designed.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our team and Pen & Mug has been fantastic! In addition to weekly meetings with Austin and Morgan, Pen & Mug is very timely and responsive to all of our emails. They always meet deadlines or turn deliverables in early. They are very quick to seek our feedback and implement any changes we request.

They also offer great suggestions and insights to help our marketing efforts be the best they can be, from creating a sample catalog of icons and graphics to serve as inspiration for our ongoing content creation to recommending local print companies. The Pen & Mug team communicated deadlines by intentionally assessing how much time they would need to complete a certain deliverable and then communicating when they could return drafts/mock-ups to us.

When we sent feedback their way, they promptly responded with another estimate of when they could get it back to us, typically within a day or two depending on the edits. For ongoing projects (e.g., publishing to the blog), they make us aware of exactly how long it would typically take them to create each post, which allows us to know how many days in advance we should submit the copy for a blog article to them that we want to have published on a certain date. Pen and Mug has been very communicative of deadlines, always delivering on time or early.

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

What I’ve found most impressive about Pen & Mug is their ability to deliver what we ask for according to our specifications and requests, while also integrating their own creativity. In each of our calls, I not only share what we want, but always look forward to hearing their thoughts, insights, and creative expertise.

Their ability to create high-quality content on such quick turnarounds has continually impressed us and we frequently receive positive feedback on our website, social media, and print materials created by Pen & Mug. The team is so positive and professional - we have loved working with them!

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

Pen & Mug has truly been great to work with and they have been very quick to respond to feedback. It’s tough to pinpoint an area for improvement!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a co-founder of a small consulting firm focused on leadership team effectiveness. My 2 partners and I launched our new consulting practice earlier this year.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pen & Mug?

We engaged with Pen & Mug for design of a number of new collateral pieces, leveraging a style sheet and design guide from our web agency. Pen & Mug designed several pieces: Proposal, Contract and Handout Templates, Core Presentation Deck, Services Overview, and LinkedIn Post Graphics.

SOLUTION

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

We were referred to Pen & Mug by a mutual friend. After interviewing them as well as a few other vendors, we chose P&M based on the quality of their work product, our affinity for their design style, the value of the referral, and their personal style and approach (very relational, client-focused, easygoing and personable).

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

After an initial call with our team and theirs to get to know one another, understand the process, and share our project objectives, we agreed on the scope of the project and the way we would work together, and got started. We set up weekly meetings to check in on progress and provide feedback. The P&M team was very responsive and timely, and we would provide feedback on drafts in an asynchronous manner as needed between our weekly calls.

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

We worked with 2 resources - the owner/founder/primary POC as well as another designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The collateral pieces they delivered were exceptional. High quality, high design, templatized when possible, easy for us to use and customize. We are posting regularly to LinkedIn and leverage the graphics they designed in our bi-weekly posts. We're also using the collateral they designed everyday with our clients.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our team and theirs was exceptional. We met weekly as a touchpoint, and also exchanged frequently via email in between weekly meetings. We leveraged Google drive and Dropbox for file sharing.

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

I was particularly impressed by Pen & Mug's unique combination of design talent, flexibility and fun. Austin and Morgan were truly a joy to work with, extremely client-focused, and collaborative. They sought feedback and input, were responsive and friendly, and made the entire project fun and interesting; all while delivering exceptional work product that met our design style and objectives.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a member of the pop rock duo Young in a Million and over see all the branding and graphics for the band.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pen & Mug?

We hired Pen & Mug to re brand our band and give us a fresh appeal. We also hired them to not only for great a logo & fonts, but to fully design all our album artwork for CD's, Vinyl, Shirts, Pins, and multiple forms of merchandise.

SOLUTION

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

We chose them because I had recently worked with them in the past an had an awesome experience. Their work also appeals to what is fresh and relevant in our culture with an original creative edge.

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

After multiple meetings and going back and forth on branding and designs we finally settled on a unified brand. We wanted to have a nostalgic 80's edge (which is very current in popularity) over our logos, band font, vinyl inserts, and album artwork. They were so kind to try multiple ideas and we ended up going away from our original design. The value in Pen & Mug is their creativity and taking your vision and making it become something even better than your original idea. Overall we were so happy with the results, they made us absolutely smile when we saw the designs!

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

In total we worked with 2 designers, both equally did the graphic designing and were present for all the meetings.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The album artwork for our vinyl and CD's are absolutely stunning and everyone we have shown is eager to purchase our album! There is something to say in appearance makes people excited to buy something. Pen & Mug took our ideas for a logo and made it a reality. Their creativity was able to bring to life what exactly we were looking to achieve and beyond!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team was so friendly and always delivered everything on time. We had revisions emailed, but would meet in person for the presentation of the major designs. They went the extra mile and totally went with a separate design we thought was the strongest and beyond our imagination! Creativity is their strongest force!

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

Their creativity was beyond anything we could imagine! It was an absolute joy to see them take our vision and make it a come to life in ways we couldn't see. They have an eye for branding and graphic design that will leave you smiling and excited, not to mention you will stand out among competitors!

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

Honestly I don't think there was anything we would have done differently. Creativity is a process and joy for us to discover the greatest designs and see them brought to life!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder of a tech start-up called the better MENU. Our platform provides our partners with picture based QR menus for in-house dining and website use. Our platform allows restaurants to show off their food & cocktails before they order, so guests know what to expect every time.

We provide our restaurant partners with analytics of how guests digitally interact with their menus, allowing they to gain valuable insights for marketing and menu engineering.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pen & Mug?

We needed an entire new brand design (identity, logos, colors, fonts), website landing page and sales leave behinds.

SOLUTION

How did you select Pen & Mug and what were the deciding factors?

Pen & Mug was recommended by a friend and I was evaluating a few different designers at the time. There were 2 deciding factors for choosing to work with Pen & Mug. 1st, their quality of work on their portfolio was very impressive and matched the style of design I was looking for with our brand. 2nd, they embodied the same whit and whimsy in their own brand & company culture that was exactly what we were looking to have embodied in our company brand.

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

It was a very thorough process from beginning to end with constant communications that allowed us to hit our predetermined deadlines. The project started with an initial scoping session and brand identity review to allow Austin and the Pen & Mug team to full understand who our company is, where we are going and how we want that reflected in our branding.

The project was broken up into 2 stages. Stage 1 was working through brand concepts, logo designs and color pallets. It started with rough sketches of different logo concepts and designs to help us work together to find the style that worked best for us. Once we had the logo style and design narrowed down, we fine tuned our favorite designs to get to a final set of logos. After that, we picked a color pallet (we really liked orange and purple) and the Pen & Mug team came up with brand colors that were perfect. The logos were colorized and signed-off on.

Stage 2 was the website landing page and sales materials design. We already had the content we needed for the website (via our old landing page) but needed help refining the layout of the page and incorporating the new brand identity. This process moved fairly quickly because we had all the copy ready, and the tweaks along the way were made fast.

From here, we wrapped up by creating our necessary sales leave behinds (stickers, business cards and flyers) In the middle of the project, we felt that we could benefit from some graphical illustrations in the form of a "comic" strip to help tell the story behind why we created our project. This was added to our scope of work (for an additional fee that was very fair) and the end result blew us away! Such a talented graphic design firm!

How many resources from the Pen & Mug team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Since we had the development team in-house we did not need to leverage their development services. Austin was the lead on our project and we worked directly with him.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our new brand identity launch has coincided with us taking the platform out of beta as we begin scaling our sales efforts. In the past few weeks since the project has gone live, we have started to see massive traction on the sales side brining in 5 new partners in the first few weeks since the launch.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication was amazing. Couldn't have been better!

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

Their graphic design ability is obviously very impressive to me (as a non-design person) but what was most impressive about the entire process was Austin's ability to understand our product, our partners and our brand vision and help us create a brand identity that hit the nail squarely on the head!

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

Cannot think of anything that could have been better! It was an amazing process that hit all our deadlines and targets.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Director of Content Marketing responsible for the brand and the stories we are telling in market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pen & Mug?

• Event theme
• Brand elevation
• Case studies
• eBooks
• Ad sets
• Social series

SOLUTION

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

I had budget to hire a full-time designer for my content team; however after interviewing Austin I changed my mind. From my first conversation with Austin, I knew he was equal parts strategy and creative. As part of my hiring process, I asked all candidates to do a design exercise and Austin's submission blew everyone else's out of the water - from smart ideas, great design, to strategic rationale. This further validated I needed Pen & Mug instead of an in-house designer.

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

Austin is my go-to for all design needs. We partner on everything from conceptual work for the brand to tactical needs like an email banner. He is a true extension of my team. We utilize Asana to track projects and have weekly meetings over zoom to discuss details, upcoming work, and check-in on what's in motion.

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

We've only worked with Austin.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Over the last six months, Austin and I have been laser focused on elevating the Ambition brand. The new graphic elements Austin created have compounded to help tell our story and better position Ambition as the enterprise-grade, de facto software solution for our customers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Working with Austin is magic. He's smart, fast, and talented. He understands that successful design is functional and beautiful. Austin is truly an extension of our internal marketing team and what makes him an even better partner is he truly cares about success of the business. No matter where my career takes me, Pen & Mug will come along.

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

Austin is the most intuitive and collaborative designer I have ever worked with. He understands that project scopes can change. He welcomes critique and always strives to find the best solution. If the work is not 100% on target, he'll figure out a way to get it there. You get what you pay for--and every dollar you spend with Pen & Mug you'll see incredible ROI.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a historical bed and breakfast, but we operate like an Airbnb. I’m the managing partner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pen & Mug?

Our establishment is a historic home that was built in 1932, but it’s been completely remodeled with the music industry in mind. We needed a logo, name, and mission statements that could be inviting to travelers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We sat down with Austin (Founder) to outline possible names that are in line with our brand. He also came up with options for the logo and tagline. We put together the house guidelines as well as a book that outlined everything regarding our brand and establishment. Everything that’s creative or has to do with our brand, Austin took care of. He even set up our website and  designed all of our merchandise and souvenirs

Austin also helped us reach out to the music industry to let them know that our historic home is available for occupancy. While we want to cater to people who’re coming in from out of town, we also wanted to serve people from the music industry. We have two demo rooms in the basement, and Austin incorporated that information into our website. 

What is the team composition?

We just work with Austin.

How did you come to work with Pen & Mug?

Our partners in California referred Pen & Mug to us. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2020, and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re very happy with their services. Thanks to Pen & Mug’s help, we now have a website whose monthly visits have been going up consistently for two years. More than anything, they’ve been instrumental in marketing our establishment. Even with COVID-19, the results have exceeded our expectations. 

How did Pen & Mug perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent on this front. Austin is always on time and always follows up. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really care about the client and are very passionate about what they do. Austin really puts in the time to understand our vision and bring it to paper. That’s hard to do, but he throws himself wholly into it. He’s also really open to constructive criticism; if we don’t like something, he’ll take it back to the drawing board, which is what I appreciate about him most. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any criticisms. They’re just really good at what they do.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to communicate your vision. It’s the way Pen & Mug works; they’ll really want to hear what you have in mind because it helps them do their job better. Be open to their ideas as well and be patient about the process. Encourage your creativity rather than stifling it. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a pizza restaurant called ZZA Pizza + Salad.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pen & Mug?

We had an old-fashioned digital web experience, so we wanted to renew our platforms to give customers a more fresh look at our brand's origins and concept with an immersive experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Pen & Mug did web development for us from scratch on WordPress to help us compete in a QSR space in light of the COVID-10 pandemic. They came up with a few designs, and we were thrilled with their proposals, so we decided to move forward with their work.

In addition to that, they did all the backend development work with our delivery partners, like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Overall, it was end-to-end work from their side, passing through the project's ideation, creation, and execution of the project with zero hiccups.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three members of the team, including Austin and Jeremy (Developers).

How did you come to work with Pen & Mug?

I’ve known them from a personal relationship. After talking to them, I saw their work for other local projects, and we liked what they did, so we decided to give them our project.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $5,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March–June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to their work, our bounce rates went down and our visits, time on site, and conversion rates increased.

How did Pen & Mug perform from a project management standpoint?

They took over project management from start to finish, and I couldn’t be happier. Pen & Mug coached us on every detail needed, even on things that we didn’t consider — their team always knew what they were doing because they had the expertise across the spectrum of what they were doing with a very straightforward plan. 

They were also super patient with our delays on the tasks we were responsible for, so they were gentle and professional, trying to keep us on track throughout the process.

In terms of communication, we used video calls and phone calls — we never had to be physically present due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel distances.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The personality and creativity of their leadership team were outstanding. Additionally, their customer service was great from start to finish; they were communicative and delivered on target. Overall, they checked all the boxes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — we had a good experience working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Every project like this requires time investment from both ends, so I recommend listening to their team’s coaching and expertise. Also, be as involved and engaged as possible to have great results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief Marketing Officer at Mployer Advisor. We connect employer benefit buyers to high quality, reputable health insurance brokers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pen & Mug?

As a startup, we have had the need for various marketing and sales collateral. Additionally, we have needed help with brand guides, social ads, and UI/UX.

SOLUTION

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

We like to partner with firms who will be with us long-term, and where we feel like they are a part of the team.

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

Austin worked with us to set up a project plan and reviewed the necessary deliverables. He would send comp with an explanation prior to the meeting for us to review and provide feedback. We then would discuss during our regularly scheduled weekly meeting or have a special meeting depending on when the deliverable was needed. Austin is careful to turn things around before when he says he can have them and allows us plenty of time to review.

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

We primarily worked with Austin. He ran point on the various projects we had/have going on with Pen & Mug.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From our brand guide, top consultants logo, ebook designs, landing page designs, we have been extremely pleased with Pen & Mug's work.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Besides the pure talent of Pen & Mug's team, this is my favorite aspect of working with them. Communication and workflow are seamless. Austin has always been very conscious about ensuring communication has happened.

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

Two things:

1. speed
2. kindness

The team was highly responsive to emails and always amiable to every call.

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

No improvements from my perspective.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of the nonprofit Corner to Corner and founder of The IEP Mom, which provides help for exceptional-education students and their families.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pen & Mug?

I needed help with branding, especially logo design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I hired Pen & Mug independently for The IEP Mom. Initially, they sent me a couple of questionnaires to see the root of what I wanted. I was starting from scratch, so I realized what I wanted the brand to be through those assessments. The team helped me nail down the logo, and they delivered it along with a banner for the website.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Austin (Director).

How did you come to work with Pen & Mug?

I’d met Austin before because Pen & Mug had worked with my nonprofit. I liked Austin’s positivity, and he was very quick and responsive.

How much have you invested with them?

We probably spent about $800.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February–March 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They gave me a polished, professional look — I’ve actually had to turn stuff down because I got too much work. Also, I’ve used the logo on social media and awesome branding products.

How did Pen & Mug perform from a project management standpoint?

They exceeded my expectations. It went way faster than I was expecting. When they’d tell me they’d have something for me, they’d have it early or by then.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I wasn’t expecting it, but it was more of a partnership. I thought I’d just tell them what I wanted and they’d give me the product, but there were more steps along the way in terms of feedback and changes. Nonetheless, I was almost immediately happy with what they delivered.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was exceedingly pleased with them. They blew it out of the water.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re going to hire them, trust the process. They know what they’re doing, and the team is capable of delivering.