Series Eight

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a company that makes child-resistant packaging and inventory management solutions for the legal cannabis industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Series Eight?

We wanted to have a beautiful and effective website that conveyed all of our different product offerings, had the ability to allow us to break into e-commerce orders, and showed off the different customizations that we’re able to create with our products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Series Eight helped us understand the tech stack that would be scalable and would allow us to integrate it with our ERP systems. They also created wireframes for all of our designs and converted our brand assets into a website that creates a cohesive journey for visitors.

We used one of our in-house graphic designers to create the initial wireframes or prototypes, and then Series Eight used one of their internal designers to turn those products into versions that work with the CMS. 

The technologies they used include InVision, Craft CMS, which allowed them to use a few different coding languages to integrate moving assets, and Craft Commerce, which allowed them to customize how we sold our product. 

What is the team composition?

We work with four teammates including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Series Eight?

After finding them through extensive research, we saw their website and liked the aesthetics and quality of their work. We were also drawn to the fact that they offered a variety of services that we might need in the future. Ultimately, the proposal they submitted led to our decision to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent about $130,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Series Eight in October 2017 and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Every single time we converted our prototypes to their CMS-compatible versions, the team was really able to get the ethos of our design language and what we were trying to achieve. 

Because of this, we never had to go back a redo any of the webpages. Once our website went live and we shared it, one of the first elements people commented on was the functionality and the aesthetics, which was a direct reflection of the work that Series Eight did. 

How did Series Eight perform from a project management standpoint?

Series Eight is excellent from a project management perspective. They are very responsive. One of the potential challenges of the project was that they are based out of the United Kingdom, and we’re in the United States, so there is a time difference.

Even so, they are very reactive and are able to get their work done on a schedule that suits us. The team also helped us schedule times for reviews early in the morning so that there was time for them to complete the objectives and get the second round of feedback going, which really accelerated our sprints.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve worked with other web developers in the past and, a lot of times, we conveyed an idea or put together a Trello card, but the end result wasn’t what we intended. 

What sets Series Eight apart from other providers is their ability to understand our specific needs and follow through, which is what has made us stick with them for the past three years now.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The time difference was one challenge that we've had to work with. Additionally, when we first engaged with them, we had to work with a partner firm because Series Eight didn’t offer SEO services. 

Because of this, we lost a little bit of the synergies since we had to onboard another partner. However, the team now offers internal SEO services, so that issue has been resolved. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear plan of what you want beforehand and consult with Series Eight on the best way to work throughout the overall project so that you can create an effective project scope and know what is and isn’t realistic.

Sign off on the road map ahead of time so you don’t get feature creep, which can happen a lot and can lead to a bloated project budget, so to speak.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager at an insurance tech company. I manage the website and oversee everything from design to functionality. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Series Eight?

I believe Series Eight was initially hired for design, but my company began working with them many years before I came on board. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Series Eight helps manage our website and interface. They migrated the site from our old CMS to Craft, which they helped create and continue to manage. The team works with my company’s in-house developers to stabilize the pipeline, including everything from our staging environment to development to production. 

Series Eight has also provided design and animation services for our website, and they’ve assisted with our pitch deck and style guide. I’m sure many other things happened before my time with the company.

What is the team composition?

We work with Mario (Owner & Creative Director, Series Eight), who acts as a liaison and manages the team that works with us on a daily basis. We also work closely with Colin (Frontend Developer, Series Eight). He collaborates with our development and operation teams on the technical side and helps with coding, integrations, design implementations, and our day-to-day to-do list. 

Laszlo (UX/UI Designer, Series Eight) does some of the animation work for us. There are a few other people that we’ve worked with, but we engage Mario and Colin every day.

How did you come to work with Series Eight?

To the best of my knowledge, I believe our former head of creative brought them on.

What is the status of this engagement?

I believe we started working together five years ago, but that’s a guess. It’s been a long journey together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We rely heavily on Series Eight for design. Our current website wouldn’t exist if we didn’t have them. I can’t provide any tangible results, but I’m very pleased with their work. The company is also pleased; otherwise we wouldn’t continue to work with them.

How did Series Eight perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve always been great to work with. They’re spot on, and there’s hardly ever any holes. The only challenge is the time zone difference, but this has nothing to do with them, and we’ve been able to work around it. If this were a big pain point, we probably wouldn’t still be working with them.

Mario joins our weekly calls and provides any emergency correspondence, as there is a time difference between us. If we make any big changes, such as when we migrated our site or converted the site from B2C to B2B, Mario acts as our main point of contact. We have 24-hour correspondence with Colin.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The hands-on attention they provide distinguishes them from other providers. As our main day-to-day person, Colin is dedicated to us. It almost feels like they work with us, not for us. Their design is also top-notch.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I had to name one area of improvement, I’d say it would be nice to have a consistent backup to communicate with because of the time zone difference. We occasionally have to wait to get something done until their business hours, so it’s not as instantaneous as we would like it to be. Sometimes, they provide backups we’re not familiar with, and they don’t make any formal introductions. This can make it awkward for reaching out or figuring out who to reach out to. However, this is a one-off situation that happens very rarely.

Any advice for potential customers?

Set up weekly calls and understand exactly what they’re responsible for from the beginning. They’re very good at open communication. If there is a time zone difference, establish realistic expectations of working hours, and determine how many hours they’ll be available during your business hours. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder and editor of Another Escape, an independent lifestyle publication that celebrates the stories of passionate people inspired by nature. We publish in the UK and distribute directly to customers and stores globally, notably in Europe and North America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Series Eight?

We engaged with Series Eight to redesign and rebuild our website since our current one didn’t represent the quality and attention to detail we put into our products. Most of our new customers discover us through social media and purchase through our web store. Therefore, it was important to have a smart, intuitive, clean website that emulated the publication's experience. 

What were your goals for this project?

We set out to help potential customers gain a better sense of our product and content. Additionally, we wanted to increase general traffic to the website, ensure a higher sales conversion rate, and make space for lighter and sponsored content.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We’d followed Series Eight work online for several years and seen them grow stronger. Their previous projects showed how innovative and creative they were—attributes we value immensely. Upon initial interaction, they were attentive and interested in our project. Sharing ideas was easy since we felt entirely at ease.

Describe the project in detail.

The project began with meetings/calls to uncover our ambitions and gripes with our current website. This led to the rough blocking of the site's structure and a plan to translate our publication’s visual identity into a web design. Series Eight was fantastic at remaining sensitive to existing design features while also integrating web-specific features that complemented the overall experience. Once we agreed on design, direction, and structure, we gave our feedback on web page drafts. From there, Series Eight focused on building our e-commerce capabilities.

What was the team composition?

Our early meetings/calls were with Mario (Founder, Series Eight) and Fran (Design Director, Series Eight). Mario remained our main point of contact throughout the project, although Fran took the lead in the design stages. John (Frontend Developer, Series Eight) engaged with us on technical issues.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site only launched recently, but we’ve already received lots of positive feedback about how intuitive and beautiful it is. We're also experiencing greater traffic and a higher sales conversion rate. This will give us the confidence necessary to approach potential partners. Moreover, it presents a better image to customers of us and our products.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We used Skype, Trello, and InVision as our main communication tools. The necessary people on our side had direct access to Mario, Fran, and John, which helped us work efficiently. As a small business, that’s an important ability.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Initially, we were amazed by their sheer knowledge of web development. They appeared to have their finger on the pulse of the digital/tech world. It always felt like they were guiding the project in ways we'd never thought of. When we got into the process, we were very happy with how fluid the feedback and design were compared to past web projects.

Something important to note is that Series Eight was patient and forgiving. As a small business, there were times we had to divert our energies away from the project and apply them to creating our product. We were extremely grateful that they understood this from the outset.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I wouldn't say there were. Overall, we were extremely satisfied with the experience and end result.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am head of Retail FX at Global Prime, a foreign exchange broker.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Series Eight?

We commissioned them to design a custom website for us.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a new website that would feel fresh and technologically advanced under the guidance of a master design team that could assist us with understanding the structure and layout.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them on Behance. After speaking with Mario (Founder, Series Eight), we knew they were the right fit.

Describe the project in detail.

They worked on the concept, strategy, and design before assisting with development and support. We provided the branding and our existing website to re-create.

What was the team composition?

Mario was our main point of contact, and we worked with two or three other people on their end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our initial feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive. The launch was seamless and Mario and the team continue to assist with any minor changes.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team suggested we use Trello and Slack to manage and communicate, and they’ve proved highly effective. We also used Invision to mockup, review, and comment on the design.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They gave a refreshing amount of personal attention to our team and our needs. They were always ready to help, and they were a pleasure to deal with throughout the process. Their concept, development, and design skills are second to none.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re very satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder and COO of Best in Grow. We’re a communication and engagement platform that connects budtenders, retail operators, and brands in the emerging legal cannabis industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Series Eight?

I turned to Series Eight to complete the visual design, informational hierarchy, and development of the website.

What were your goals for this project?

After a few poor experiences with other design agencies, I turned to Series Eight to design a beautiful and engaging informational website for Best in Grow.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I came across other work Series Eight had done while I was in the process of vetting about 10 other providers. Mario (Founder, Series Eight) was particularly attentive, flexible (important, given our 10 hour time difference) and excited about our project. The price range was in line with our budget, and Mario's expertise and communicative nature made Series Eight the clear choice.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Series Eight ingested all the existing creative assets, business information, and content we’d produced. They then proposed several creative directions for the website, designed wireframes and mockups, and created custom artwork (illustrations and animations). Moving forward they wrote custom code for the website and created an easy-to-modify CMS for me to use going forward.

What was the team composition?

I worked with Mario and Francesca (Design Director, Series Eight) along with Leo (UX/UI Designer, Series Eight) and John (Frontend Developer, Series Eight).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since launching the website less than a week ago, we’ve received countless leads and comments from customers, interested parties, and journalists. The website will allow us to elevate our brand presence in the industry and stand out from our competitors.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We used Slack and Trello to manage the project. I had easy access to all of Series Eight's team members who were working on the project. They were responsive to our feedback and direction.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Series Eight is incredibly committed to UX. They’re professional, creative, and able to distill high-level concepts into clear and concise visual experiences.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Akua, an online food producer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Series Eight?

We needed help building our Shopify and e-commerce platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re building a multi-page Shopify site with lots of revisional illustrations.

What is the team composition?

We work with a team of two people.

How did you come to work with Series Eight?

We heard of them through a friend. They had good communication, a great style of work, and a fair price, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $19,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t launched yet, but their work has been amazing. I highly recommend working with them.

How did Series Eight perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re incredibly communicative, and we mainly use Trello and Slack to stay in touch.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their original artwork is fantastic. The team is timely and sweet to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Pandable, an SEO agency serving a worldwide client base. I oversee agency growth, client partnerships, and team management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Series Eight?

We wanted a new website to reflect the growth and change in our brand.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a site that would stand out and engage with our target market. Some objectives included a qualified traffic increase, longer session time per user, and a higher conversion rate. We also wanted a site that we could update and build upon.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have been working with Series Eight for several years on projects for our customers. We came into this engagement understanding their creativity, accessibility, and the quality of work they deliver.

Describe the project in detail.

We initially provided Series Eight with a mood board, all of our content, and our desired site structure. Within a few weeks, they created mock-ups and initial designs for the site’s main pages. They also included a new style guide and color palette. We finalized the design after a few discussions and provided feedback on the remaining pages. The project then moved into the development phase.

What was the team composition?

Fran (Design Director, Series Eight) was our main point of contact throughout the design phase. We have maintained close contact with Mario (Founder, Series Eight) throughout the project, and we've most recently worked with a frontend developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Traffic has increased 56% between our November launch and now, compared to the previous period. We’ve also measured a 30% reduction in bounce rate, a 220% increase in average session duration, a 74% increase in pages per session, and a 42% increase in conversions.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We worked quite closely with the team on development to make sure various technical elements to support SEO were implemented. We've communicated through Slack and Trello.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their creativity and attention to detail stand out. The quality and user experience reflect their capabilities.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP of Marketing for Flowhub, an intuitive software provider for the cannabis industry. We provide point of sale software, inventory management, and mobile solutions for cannabis retailers in the US.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Series Eight?

We wanted to establish a stronger brand identity, clarify our positioning and highlight our differentiators on our website, remove friction to lead conversion, and create an infrastructure that's easy to maintain and build on in the future.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Series Eight provided new branding materials and designed and developed a website that included about 75 web pages on a new CMS platform. During the branding phase, they developed a new logo and branding guidelines, and helped us find an illustrator to create a custom illustration style.

They also helped us with a few projects outside of the initial scope of work, including a microsite, as well as designs for postcards for direct mail campaigns and booth signage.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Mario (Owner and Creative Director, Series Eight), but I've also worked with others on their team.

How did you come to work with Series Eight?

Our CEO is good friends with the CEO of another cannabis company that had recommended Series Eight to us. They provided a strong proposal that matched our needs, and were also able to work very quickly for an affordable price.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $40,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since July 2018 and launched the website in October, but we're still working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Series Eight's web and branding services have helped increase our inbound leads 15% month over month. We're confident that the site we just launched will lead to improved organic search rankings and enhance our overall online presence. It's a lot more professional, user-friendly, and visually appealing.

How did Series Eight perform from a project management standpoint?

They've been excellent. Mario in particular is extremely responsive and has been very helpful in coordinating and prioritizing tasks with his team, keeping track of deliverables and communications through Slack, Trello, and InVision. They're capable of turning around projects very quickly; they even finished our website within just a few months, which is half the time we'd expect from other vendors. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

It's been an incredible experience overall. Series Eight has a very efficient, high-functioning team of creative people. They push the boundaries in terms of design and provide a lot of valuable feedback.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, no. I'll continue working with them–they feel like an extension of our team at this point.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president of marketing, working to build our company’s products and perform outreach efforts, as well. We’re a software company that develops tools for healthcare practitioners and researchers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Series Eight?

We were looking to build a high-converting website for our new products. We wanted them to rebuild our website from scratch so it was more useful for our customers with the right positioning, messaging, and brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team was responsible for all frontend work, UX/UI design, and the development of the HTML and CSS code. Because we changed our company direction, they redefined a few of our sub-brands. The smaller brands they created for us included one for our CBS Health, our healthcare products, and our CBS research product. They contributed marketing help for our website, additionally. The team developed the entire branding of the site, including a brand guide for us to have. They’ve also worked on other projects for us, including designing tutorials for our products.

What is the team composition?

I worked with the founder, who led the account side of the project and the design. Their design director worked on the UI/UX design.

How did you come to work with Series Eight?

We found them through an online recruitment service for designers and developers. After looking through those portfolios, I found Series Eight to be the strongest. They had done substantial work before, which made them stand out. We also appreciated that they came as a full team, instead of providing individual designers.

How much have you invested with them?

Overall, we’ve spent  between $25,000- $30,000 CAD (approximately $19,000-$23,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project with Series Eight from February - May 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new website they created for us wasn’t comparable to anything we’d had in the past. Thanks to the work Series Eight did for us, we’ve been able to attract new customers over time. The tutorial work they performed has definitely led to an increase in conversion rates; we’ve seen more people change from trials to memberships. The work they did was infrastructure-related, so there aren’t any measurable objectives.

How did Series Eight perform from a project management standpoint?

They were fantastic in a project management respect. We used several tools to communicate, including Trello and Slack. We used Slack to discuss all details of the project, have weekly calls, and discuss the status of the task at hand. Trello was used to see the cards in place and I could create additional ones. They never missed a deadline. All the project managers were attentive and responded within a reasonable timeframe.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their flexibility. Though we’re a busy startup, they met our requirements with grace. Their openness to feedback and changes was valued. Everything they provided, from cost estimates to final products, were always aligned with our expectations. They typically stuck to their original proposals, which we appreciated because we knew what we were receiving upfront.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Though there were times when it would have been more convenient if they were located in our time zone, they were extremely communicative which made up for it. They could add more resources to their team which would make it easier to get more work done.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the finance and operations director for a hotel management company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Series Eight?

We needed an external firm to develop a custom website that represents the experience we offer as a hotel. The site needed to break away from the standard layout used by our competitors, but also be easy to modify with regular updates. The goal was to have a site that’s unique to our brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Series Eight took control of the project from beginning to end. They worked on every aspect of the design effort, walked us through the user journey, and optimized parts of the website to be showcased. Their team worked to increase direct bookings through the site by delivering a professionally crafted interface that demonstrates the unique elements of the property. In addition to the design aspects, they also helped with content creation and completed various tasks on an ad hoc basis.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Mario (Founder, Series Eight) and one other resource.

How did you come to work with Series Eight?

I’ve known Mario for many years, but we haven’t had the chance to work together until this project. Their portfolio was the deciding factor in our decision to hire them. We knew the project would be successful considering Series Eight’s previous achievements.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project took place from April–August 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This is the first year we’ve had the benefit of the new website for the entirety of the tourist season. As a result, we’ve experienced an 18% increase in booking revenue compared to the previous year. With two months left in the busy season, we’re on track to achieve a 30% increase in direct bookings from the site. Overall, Series Eight has improved our site’s ability to generate conversions.

How did Series Eight perform from a project management standpoint?

They guided us through the whole process. I appreciate their level of responsiveness and availability. If we didn’t like a particular section of the site, they’d quickly address the issue and make the necessary changes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Most design firms have a particular style or template that remains in their work regardless of the project. Mario and his team have demonstrated the ability to create products that are wholly unique to their clients. Furthermore, their approach to project management is the main reason I intend to be a returning client. They’re fantastic when it comes to communication.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They delivered everything within the timeline we set, but most elements probably could’ve been completed sooner. They were a bit costly considering our available budget at the time, but the results have more than paid off the initial expense.