River + Wolf

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of technology and strategy development of an engineering company. I’m responsible for new products that we’re building and general strategic direction around technology development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with River + Wolf?

We’ve just finished building a few new products and we needed River + Wolf to help us name the products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

These new products align with some of our existing products, as we’re beginning to expand our portfolio from one product. To start, they gathered as much information from us as possible through a detailed questionnaire, phone calls, and discussions after the first draft. They then spent around three weeks creating names, shortlisting them, and vetting each for trademark and legal needs. 

From there, they proposed 10 names for each product. Together we decided which names we liked best for two of our products, along with an all-encompassing name for the system of all of our products working together. 

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Margaret (Founder & Chief Creative, River + Wolf), along with two others. 

How did you come to work with River + Wolf?

I started searching for companies online and used Clutch. I came up with a list of four companies, two of which were dedicated naming companies, one of which was a local marketing team, and one was a consulting company. After seeing reviews on Clutch, I had a phone call with River + Wolf and one other naming company to hear their process. After seeing their proposal, we selected River + Wolf. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $30,000–$40,000 on this project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The whole project started and was completed in January 2020; it was quite a short project. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We went into the project without a good sense of what we wanted for these products, and we finished with three great names that we’re happy with. We’re now able to use those names as a part of our bigger story and show how everything fits together. The small part of our internal team that saw the work was pleased. 

How did River + Wolf perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well. They were pleasant to work with, giving us everything we needed quite quickly. During that first week with the questionnaire, we had some good back and forth discussions and the ball was in our court. As soon as we sent them something, they reviewed it right away and gave us further questions, so they were very responsive. Their team was quick and professional. 

When we shifted to their side of the project, I got an appropriate amount of updates from Margaret. She kept me in the loop, so I always knew about their progress—they were prompt, professional, and easy to communicate with.

Everything was right on budget and within our timeframe. It was great to hand the work off to them for a few weeks and come back to discuss it. We had the option of doing one more round, but we opted not to do it since we were happy. Overall, it was a good experience. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were able to understand our needs and our market well enough to pursue the job. We find that a lot of marketing companies don’t understand our space since it’s quite technical in nature. Understanding our customer’s needs was important and gave us confidence that they’d deliver the work successfully. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything—I was really happy overall.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use the questionnaire to explain your needs and market as exhaustively as you can. It helps them do their job better and get good results. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO of a cloud staffing and talent creation business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with River + Wolf?

We needed to rename our holding company to encompass two more divisions. One of those was our core staffing business and the other involved talent creation. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided the brand naming service. Our team needed a name that would start to rank quickly if people were searching for us. We handed over the entire project to the team, and they delivered in an incredibly short period of time.

Their team explained the difference between suggestive and descriptive names, for instance. They came to us with several naming options that we’re able to be trademarked in multiple locations across several industries to encompass everything we do as a company. 

What is the team composition?

There were 3–4 people working on our account.

How did you come to work with River + Wolf?

I found them on Clutch while looking for naming service providers with the best reviews. Afterward, I made a shortlist of US-based companies because many of our clients are in the United States. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000–$30,000 on the project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted a week in December 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were able to deliver something that I wouldn’t have thought possible given the timeframe. The name was well-received and encompassed everything that our business wants to be seen as. I’m personally happy with the outcome, and my team is as well. It’s still too early to tell how it’s working in the market, though.  

How did River + Wolf perform from a project management standpoint?

Margaret (Founder & Chief Creative, River + Wolf) moved mountains to make sure that things got done on time and to my satisfaction. I’d definitely engage with them again. They were available to us for feedback 24/7. Their team worked on an aggressive timeframe to make this work. The process was clearly explained, so our expectations were managed upfront. We communicated by phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were knowledgeable and expert in the naming industry. The names that they created resonated with me and matched our style. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. I was happy with the engagement. They delivered earlier than we expected. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Spend the time up front to listen to their processes and communicate your requirements. I liked their logical process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a fundraising product platform company that focuses on nonprofit organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with River + Wolf?

We wanted to name an app we were launching, and then eventually rename our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at River + Wolf provided naming creation services with a rationale and an initial legal review. The engagement started with a creative brief that we created. They provided clear instructions for each phase. During two rounds, 50 names were brought forward. Throughout the rounds, we commented on what we liked and didn’t like and determined specific requirements.

What is the team composition?

Margaret (Founder & Chief Creative, River + Wolf) was our primary contact. From their side, we worked with two people in total.

How did you come to work with River + Wolf?

We researched the marketplace of naming agencies. After doing an RFP, their team was chosen. The team at River + Wolf was the best fit because of their strong response time and experience. Margaret was on top of it during that entire phase.

How much have you invested with them?

The naming services cost between $35,000–$45,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Through the transparent process, we had great conversations that lead to an excellent outcome. They met our aggressive timelines.

Everybody thought that River + Wolf had a good grasp of our business. The team did a nice job of understanding what we were looking forward to, which limited any wasted time. The direction was clear throughout the efficient engagement. The team at River + Wolf brought a lot of value to the table.

How did River + Wolf perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, they were good. We didn’t have any hiccups or delays. Email was the prime form of communication. We had video conference calls, as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

River + Wolf knows the naming business, including all of the legal ramifications that go into it. They guide their clients in a way that manages expectations. We have our own lawyers, but Margaret was clear about the entire legal review, providing real-life examples to gage expectations while bringing specific ideas forward. She also provided insights on how to circumvent the system in an effort to give us what we wanted, even though there might be some trade-off involved.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I think it went well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as clear as possible upfront. Drive clarity for their team. You get out of it what you put into it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of an online pet store focused on pet health and wellness. We have a pharmacy section which carries prescription drugs and over the counter supplements as well as a specialty treats section.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with River + Wolf?

We needed to come up with a name for our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

River + Wolf provided naming services for us. First, their team asked us to go over the details of our business and what elements we wanted our name to touch on. We went over several questions and they created a scope of work document. 

Next, their team took us through two rounds of ideas for names. River + Wolf would give us presentations for each round, going over the name and what they evoked. They also took into account trademarks and made suggestions.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two members of the River + Wolf team, Margaret (Founder & Chief Creative, River + Wolf) and Elizabeth (Client Support & Research, River + Wolf).

How did you come to work with River + Wolf?

While doing research online, I came across River + Wolf on Clutch. I had a shortlist of two names and after interviewing both, we chose to work with River + Wolf.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested between $10,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with River + Wolf ran from December 2019–January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are so happy with the name River + Wolf helped us find. After speaking with Margaret, we felt very comfortable putting our company in her hands. She understood that we were starting a new venture and was very personable, going as far as taking the time to learn about our family. We felt very connected at that level, and I knew she would be willing to go the extra mile for us. 

How did River + Wolf perform from a project management standpoint?

When River + Wolf first outlined the timeline for us, I expected us to wrap up in late January, but they finished early. The whole team was regularly in touch and communication was excellent. River + Wolf produced results faster than we had documented, they were really quick.

What did you find most impressive about them?

River + Wolf combines professionalism with a personal touch to create a unique and rewarding engagement.  There are very few companies that can do this.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No,  everything went great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clearly define your expectations and requirements so they can understand your business. Be as precise as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product operations director for a game development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with River + Wolf?

We were looking for a name for an upcoming product. Since we were stuck internally, we decided to hire professionals.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave River + Wolf a full review of our upcoming product, supplying them with details and visuals. We also filled out a few questionnaires. Our team discussed the tone and background of the product, and we even let them know what we wanted to avoid.

After that, the team at River + Wolf gave our team an extended list of potential names. We chose a few that we liked, and then they came back with a final list and a presentation for each name. Because of our side, the process took a bit longer, and we ended up having 2–3 iterations.

What is the team composition?

I was in direct contact with Margaret (Founder & Chief Creative, River + Wolf). Three or five people were working with us.

How did you come to work with River + Wolf?

I searched for the top naming agencies in the US. After looking through reviews and past clients, we picked River + Wolf.

How much have you invested with them?

The services cost $36,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with River + Wolf in May or June 2019, and the entire process took between 1–2 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received positive feedback regarding the name.

How did River + Wolf perform from a project management standpoint?

A majority of the time, they excel at project management. We communicate through email or Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their approach and professionalism. It was easy to work with River + Wolf’s creative team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they need to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give as much information and details as possible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Vice President of marketing at MMI S.p.A. We offer a robotic system to overcome the challenges of microsurgery and enable surgeons to confidently perform hard to reach, micro-anastomosis.

Tremor-reducing motion scaling (7-20x) and wristed robotic microinstruments intend to improve microsurgery and expand supermicrosurgical procedures. The robotic platform is mobile and compatible with existing surgical microscopes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire River + Wolf?

MMI was looking for support while naming our new robotic platform.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to select a name that was available in numerous markets, appealing across countries and liked by the founders/employees.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found River + Wolf through word of mouth.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

MMI is bringing a new robotic platform to the market. We were looking to name the platform and register the name in several regions/countries. It was important that the name was appealing, available, could not be misconstrued in other languages, and was somehow meaningful to the solution.

What was the team composition?

As the VP of marketing, I consulted the 8 members of the MMI executive team and served as the interface between MMI and River + Wolf.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I am unable to share the name at this time, but I can assure you that the team was very pleased with the effort and happy with the outcome. We're looking forward to launching our system in Europe with a name we can all be proud of.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very easy. Margaret was a joy to work with and was very supportive and understanding during the process. We had an important stakeholder join at the end of the effort and the R&W team was instrumental in bringing him up to speed and getting him on board with the work we had done.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Naming is such a difficult exercise. They were able to quickly understand what we were looking for, delivering within a very short time frame. We had an ideal experience. The R&W team completed our project in a very timely manner.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. We had an exceptional experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a company in the process of creating a line of adaptive children’s clothes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with River + Wolf?

We hired River + Wolf to help us establish a brand name.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

River + Wolf followed a very methodical process. They spent time understanding the goal of our business and product by giving us a questionnaire and then discussing our responses with them. They dove in, really trying to analyze our responses, before developing a creative brief to work from.

We then discussed the creative brief, asked questions, and refined the outline. The process helped us hone in on specific brand attributes we wanted to highlight. They then came up with a list of numerous names and completed an initial search of the US trademark and patent office to determine the level of risk of each of those names.

Finally, they created a formal presentation to introduce the names, their meaning, and describe the level of risk associated with them.

What is the River + Wolf team composition?

We worked directly with Margaret (Founder & Chief Creative, River + Wolf) and a team of a few other individuals. However, we felt like we had the resources of the entire organization at our fingertips, with everyone pitching in.

How did you come to work with River + Wolf?

I was Googling brand naming agencies and found a Clutch Top Performer badge on a company site. I searched Clutch and found a vast amount of resources, including River + Wolf. I liked that they specialize in naming and could clearly articulate what they do. It was a great fit, and I plan to use Clutch in the future.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent between $15,000­–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from August– November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I loved every single name they presented to us. They clearly understood our brand and delivered quality creative that focused on our brand message. It was difficult to choose only one name because we had so many solid options, but I’m excited about the one we chose. From the beginning to the end of our project, I am pleased with how the project went.

How did River + Wolf perform from a project management standpoint?

Margaret is a delight to work with—she’s communicative and passionate about what she does. She knows the business very well and understands the significance of a brand name. She was incredibly responsive and would turn around a thoughtful response almost immediately. She also gave us plenty of time to complete our side of the project and didn’t rush anything. The process went really well and we were able to stay on track.

What did you find most impressive about them?

 It’s difficult to choose just one thing that makes them stand out because it was such a positive experience. The knowledge they brought to the project was on another level. They have extensive business experience and have implemented a process that clearly works for them and their clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There isn’t anything I think they need to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you’re trying to achieve, but stay open to their suggestions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Ghostery is a digital privacy company based in New York City. I am the President and the Head of Product & Marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire River + Wolf?

Ghostery hired River + Wolf to help us name a new product that we are launching in 2019.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal for the project was to choose a name and nomenclature that built on our brand and positioned our new product to enter a new market.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected this vendor because we were really impressed with our initial phone call with Margaret about the River + Wolf methodology. She was extremely knowledgeable and was clearly an expert in her field. It was also clear that her team was small enough to keep our costs down; bigger firms with bigger teams had quoted us much higher estimates for the same work.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The process began with a discovery phone call where we discussed the historical context of the company, the new product and its value proposition, as well as existing elements of the brand. This was followed by an in-depth questionnaire where we answered very specific questions to provide more detail about the product, as well as questions pertaining to what sort of names, nomenclatures, and concepts we liked and didn't like.

River + Wolf took this information and compiled a preliminary set of names, which they presented to our team for review. From here, it was an incremental process of providing feedback to River + Wolf on the names and concepts we did and did not like to narrow the list down. This shortlist of names underwent additional legal and contextual screening to further winnow the list down to a final set of names, from which we selected our ultimate choice.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with Margaret Wolfson, the Founder & Creative Director of River + Wolf, though she had a team of naming specialists as well as a legal consultant working on our project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We successfully named our new product, Ghostery Midnight, which we have announced will launch in fall of 2019.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our teams was effective. We would communicate quite frequently via email and phone call, with scheduled presentations and working sessions throughout our engagement.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found the responsiveness and thoroughness of River + Wolf very impressive. They also went above and beyond in responding to our (sometimes changing) attitudes towards names, which required that they explore quite a few concepts on our behalf.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I think it took River + Wolf a little while to really understand our product offering and triangulate our naming preferences with the brand and the product functionality. We got there in the end, but I think it took us all a little longer than we thought to get there.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

NCC is a national TV advertising and data-driven technology company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire River + Wolf?

We needed a new name.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to quickly find a new name that aligned with our values and position in the industry.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended by a friend. 

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

River + Wolf developed a comprehensive list of names according to the guidelines we gave. They subjected each name to a preliminary trademark screening and offered guidance on its risk level.

What was the team composition?

We worked with their CEO, CMO, chief of staff, creative director, and corporate communications team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're proud of our final name and excited to use it.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was great. We stuck to the timeline and they helped us stay on schedule. When we provided feedback, they adopted it and evolved the product. They were collaborative and communicative throughout, explaining the status of each deliverable at every step.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by how they pinpointed our needs and provided a list of names that hit our brief perfectly. Within two rounds, they gave us a list of names that thoroughly fulfilled our requests.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Sometimes, the explanations they gave were too redundant and lengthy.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of global category for Mayborn Group (Tommee Tippee), a multinational baby products manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with River + Wolf?

We were looking to further expand into a different market and needed a new brand name.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a few preliminary discussions to explain our needs, and we sent them a package of orientation materials. We included category insights, consumer data, brand guidelines, and other strategic content so River + Wolf could get a better understand of our business. From there, they returned with a customized naming questionnaire for our organization to fill out. They used our answers and formulated a list of potential names that could survive a trademark knockout search and cover five areas of trade.

What is the team composition?

We communicated directly with Margaret (Founder & Chief Creative, River + Wolf) as our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with River + Wolf?

Our head of branding in the UK wanted an American-based company that would know the market we were trying to enter. They looked online and read reviews of several vendors. After contacting a few teams with a proposal, River + Wolf responded quickly and was confident they could complete the project for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $24,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We completed the project under a tight timeline, so we worked together from January–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re currently identifying the final name and completing the trademark clearances, so we haven’t been able to gather feedback yet. However, it was amazing that they finished the entire exercise within our limited time restraints.

How did River + Wolf perform from a project management standpoint?

River + Wolf was excellent at managing the project. I couldn’t ask for a better partnership. They were accommodating in terms of our schedule, timezone difference, and overall needs. We found a great balance in responsibilities between our teams. They were able to work independently while keeping me informed throughout the process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their passion and authenticity stood out—we could tell they were invested and connected with our project. They were responsive and friendly during all of our communication. We liked their strong, unique methodology— I can’t say enough positive remarks about it. They also should get twice as much credit for completing the project as quickly as they did.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could have done better for us.