Prototype MKTG

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Events Marketing Manager of Shopware

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Shopware is an API-first, open-source E-commerce platform that provides a wide range of features to help businesses build and manage online stores.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Prototype MKTG to accomplish?

• Brand Activation for our inaugural WE (Women in Ecommerce) Event

SOLUTION

How did you find Prototype MKTG?

Online Search

Why did you select Prototype MKTG over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Prototype MKTG were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

 Ideate, design and execute on event activation development 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Draw recognition to our inaugural event. 

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

Phaon, project management style was outstanding. He was incredibly responsive and kept everything running smoothly. 

What was your primary form of communication with Prototype MKTG?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Prototype MKTG was an incredible partner for our first WE (Women in eCommerce) event. From start to finish, their team was creative, collaborative, and an absolute joy to work with. They brought fresh, innovative ideas to the table—things we haven’t seen at other industry events—that really elevated the experience. Our guests had a fantastic time, and we continue to hear positive feedback about the activation. We couldn’t have asked for a better team to help bring our vision to life!

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

We were satisfied with the outcome and look forward to working with them again. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director of College Beyond, a nonprofit that helps low-income college students enroll and complete college.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Prototype MKTG?

We didn’t have an internal marketing expert, so we needed someone to help with our fundraising strategy for a significant local giving day.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Prototype MKTG outlined a marketing plan of action for us. First, the team took a needs assessment and gave us some advice on what we could do to promote giving days. They gave us ideas on improving our website and increasing our followers on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. The team also showed us how to optimize our newsletters and blogs in terms of timing, content, and frequency by creating a 90-day calendar of what we could do leading up to a giving day.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Phaon (President & Chief Experience Officer) and a nonprofit consultant familiar with local nonprofits.

How did you come to work with Prototype MKTG?

Phaon was a colleague and close friend, so I trusted him with my marketing and PR. After college, he became my go-to marketing expert because I trusted his expertise.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $2,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from January–May 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The plan they outlined was clear and explicit — anyone in the organization could follow it easily, so we started using it as a guide for our daily efforts. It has prevented us from feeling overwhelmed, so we’ve continued to use the calendar to help us plan for giving days throughout the year to boost our donations.

Furthermore, their efforts allowed us to increase our mailing list and our visibility on LinkedIn and Facebook. Thanks to Prototype MKTG, we raised 10–12 times more money than we usually did. The ROI has been excellent, so we continue to follow their strategies.

How did Prototype MKTG perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was fantastic — they set realistic deadlines and were always on time. To communicate, we used email, text messaging, and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Prototype MKTG gave us more than we expected, and they really understood what we were looking for. Everything was customized and tailored to our specific needs, budget, and human capital. They were great at problem-solving and working with what we had. There’s a reason why they’re my go-to marketing team — I would definitely work with them again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could’ve improved off the top of my head.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Put all your needs and limitations to the table and let the team solve your problem. I would recommend them to anyone, especially nonprofits.