Sparkhouse

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Finance Manager of Ridgerock Tools, Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We import and sell a variety of hand tools, power tools, and automotive tools

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sparkhouse to accomplish?

• Create a Brand Video and some Product Videos

SOLUTION

How did you find Sparkhouse?

Referral

Why did you select Sparkhouse over others?

Referred to me

What was the size of Sparkhouse’s team?

6-10 Employees

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

Sparkhouse was tasked to create a brand video to showcase the brand as well as several of its key products. Key deliverables are a 30 sec video that meets Amazon's requirements for Streaming TV and 2 other videos highlighting two particular best selling products.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• An Attractive Video that attracts a high number of viewers to the brand
• A lift in sales and branded searches on Amazon.com
• More clicks and views into Brand store and detail pages of products and higher conversion rate on Amazon.com

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

Sparkhouse team members were very responsive and accommodating. They took the time to listen to questions and concerns from all stakeholders in the project. They really try to understand what the company is trying to showcase and then build their video concept around that. They really went above and beyond to accommodate even some of the oddest requests for actors, wardrobes, props, etc.

What was your primary form of communication with Sparkhouse?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

The most impressive thing is how much attention to detail is given to their craft. However, at the same time, they are open to feedback and suggestions from "non-professionals." They know how to balance drawing out the client's needs and delivering something that meets or exceeds expectations.

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

None. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Manager of Tutoring Club

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Academic assistance for students of all ages and skill levels.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sparkhouse to accomplish?

• Three separate commercials covering a variety of our services
• Film all three in one day at two separate locations
• Create 15 and 30 second edits of each

SOLUTION

How did you find Sparkhouse?

Online Search

Why did you select Sparkhouse over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

What was the size of Sparkhouse’s team?

6-10 Employees

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

We hired Sparkhouse to take our ideas for and turn them into high-quality commercials for television, YouTube, and OTT. This included reworking our initial script, casting, filming/directing, and editing. Deliverables included 15 second edits, 30 second edits, plus versions of each with a lower third displaying our website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Focus group approval
• YouTube view rates

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

I was very impressed with the management of the project from top to bottom. Their team understood the deadlines we had, and worked diligently to meet our goals. Their communication was thorough, responsive, and professional. When we made requests, they went the extra mile to accommodate us and they were great about letting us know how long things would take.

What was your primary form of communication with Sparkhouse?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

This is our second time working with Sparkhouse, and we are as impressed now as we were the first time. I think it's common to find a company that's either creative, or excellent communicators, or reasonably priced, but it's very uncommon to find a company that excels in all areas. Their team went the extra mile to truly understand our brand and our message, and elevate it.

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

We have zero complaints. We're looking forward to working with Sparkhouse again in the future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Wildfire Media

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Digital marketing for attorneys.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sparkhouse to accomplish?

• Create high quality videos for out client

SOLUTION

How did you find Sparkhouse?

Online Search

Why did you select Sparkhouse over others?

• Pricing first our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

What was the size of Sparkhouse’s team?

6-10 Employees

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

Sparkhouse took our concept and built on it enthusiastically, creating a script and ultimately shooting and editing our video. This was the third time we have worked with Sparkhouse and are consistently blown away by their professionalism and creativity. They have always delivered a polished video tailored to our needs and always go above and beyond the initial scope to make sure we are happy with the final product.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Quality of final product
• Timeliness

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

Everything Sparkhouse promises is delivered well and on time. When we had to change things at the last minute or make updates due to our error they always accommodated us.

What was your primary form of communication with Sparkhouse?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

They are so easy to get work with in terms of figuring out what our needs are and how to execute them perfectly and on time. They are incredibly flexible and talented.

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

None that we saw.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing of Vortex Doors

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A Leading Provider of Commercial-Industrial Door Repair & Replacement Services - Serving a Diverse Range of Market Segments

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sparkhouse to accomplish?

• Create an updated Field Marketing Training Video

SOLUTION

How did you find Sparkhouse?

Online Search

Why did you select Sparkhouse over others?

High ratings, Close to my geographic location, Pricing first our budget, Great culture fit, Good value for cost

What was the size of Sparkhouse’s team?

6-10 Employees

What was your primary form of communication with Sparkhouse?

Virtual Meeting

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

Sparkhouse conducted an internal company audit to identify our needs and use cases for the new video, and to understand our expectations. They assisted our team with scriptwriting and storyboarding, pulling inspiration from provided videos and best practices.

They casted our main actor for the video and visited our corporate office to work through the best locations to film each segment. Sparkhouse arrived early on site to setup their equipment and prepare our actors for the day.

They filmed, directed, and edited our video to meet our needs, and provided multiple rounds of revisions until we were satisfied.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Overall satisfaction from upper managers who have a long history with Vortex and who will be directly implementing this program.

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

Sparkhouse delivered everything on time and as promised. They responded very quickly to our needs and made sure we were satisfied in every way possible.

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

Their level of professionalism was very impressive as well as the quality of work provided.

Are there any areas for improvement or something {provider_name} could have done differently?

None. They should keep on doing things exactly the way they are now.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the content marketer at Revive. We specialize in helping agents bring turnkey homes to market through pre-sale renovations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

We were the title sponsor at a large conference and we needed a 30-second brand commercial to present. We wanted to use this video for the conference and create a longer version to use across other marketing channels.

SOLUTION

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

We reached out to multiple video production companies and the quotes ranged around the same. However, we decided to go with Sparkhouse due to their ability for quick turnaround time and the quality of their work.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started off with an in-person meeting. Torrey connected with Revive's leadership team and the relationship built from there. Soon, our teams jumped on weekly collab calls together. We received weekly updates and we were able to quickly leave notes on the edited versions through Frame.io.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

Revive worked with a handful of the Sparkhouse team, including: Torrey, Max, Camille, Jay, Keaton, and Sruthi.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We presented the commercial at the big conference and it was a hit. Agents approached us saying they loved the humor. We feel like it was a great way to help agents remember our name, especially the ones that hadn't heard of us before.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

All deliverables were presented when expected. The weekly updates helped us all stay on track.

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

Once the contract was signed we got started immediately and it was an overall easy process. The team was very professional.

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

Perhaps establishing one main point of contact. Sometimes it felt like we weren't sure who to reach out to about specific asks.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Prairie IT is a consumer electronics gadgets company. I am the Director of Media Buying, responsible for driving shopping traffic to the products we own across digital marketing platforms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

Amazon approached us to beta a new ad slot for streaming TV functionalities. We needed something to appeal to TV audiences - very different from the user-generated type content we are used to in paid social media campaigns. The video also had to incorporate a QR code effectively for the type of ad Amazon gave us, driving traffic from a TV ad to our Amazon store.

SOLUTION

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

Amazon actually partnered us up with Sparkhouse, recommending their services to us. Because we had never created a tv ad before, we relied on the creative team at Amazon to make the right recommendation, their opinion carrying a lot of weight with us.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

As soon as Max over at Sparkhouse was on the project, we moved very quickly. They gave us a creative prompt, had an intro call, ushered us through scripting (only needed one round of revisions before they got it perfectly), and then took care of everything else. We were pleased with their choices of models, set designs, voiceover talent, and overall look.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

Max was great to work with and the feedback process was painless and quick - never needing much to be altered to begin with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're into the beginning stages of testing the project, but are pleased with the beginning metrics we're seeing for the type of ad that it is.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They are responsive, true to their timelines, and quick to turn around deliverables.

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

We didn't really need to change much after they created a commercial for us. They listened and followed through.

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

Not really

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Comscore Movies is a Movie Market Research division of Comscore. I am the Senior Director of Product Management & Client Insights

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

We needed a product and brand video for our Movies Division to help roll out our new B to B online platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I did research on companies that provide Product and Corporate Brand videos. I narrowed it down to five companies and conducted phone interviews/Zooms with all of them. I really loved SparkHouse's sample videos. They had so many options and styles and they seems to really understand what we needed.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

They held several zoom meeting with me and then with my team to understand what our end goal was. I provided them with a rough outline and they worked with me to hone that. They were very collaborative and showed us what they were working on every step of the way so that me and my team could make changes and or suggestions.

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

I worked primarily with an Account Manager - who relayed everything to the Sparkhouse team of animators and the project director. I found this process worked for me.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This video has already been shown at some major movie industry conferences. We've received very good feedback and it has accomplished what we set out to do -- remind clients of the scope what we offer and introduce our new product.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

I received weekly updates. Their collaboration tools were very easy to use. Any questions were answered right away.

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

They seemed genuinely excited to work on the project. Their enthusiasm and ideas were really appreciated. I found them very easy to work with.

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

None that I can think of

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Novamex is the leader of Mexican soft drinks in the U.S. I've been with the company for over 15 years, where I'm currently the Brand Manager for Mineragua sparkling water.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

Mineragua has been in the market for 25 years, our core Hispanic consumer would identify the brand as the Jarritos sparkling water. Our challenge was to reposition the brand as Mineragua as the name and pay tribute to Jarritos. Presenting our iconic glass bottle, product attributes as the highest carbonated sparkling water, and the many ways you can enjoy it.

SOLUTION

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

This is our second project with the Spark House, also working on crafting a brand message that speaks to all Sparkling water drinkers, regardless of the cultural background while keeping the brand value and sentiment. Mineragua, life with sparkle.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

Initial request was sent to The Spark House, they responded immediately and we schedule a video call to further discuss, 1-1 session detailing my needs. Then I received 4 examples of the type of videos that the company had developed for other projects.

That helped a lot to decide on the voice, tone, and content. The process took us to a deadline and follow-up sessions were set to go over storyboard development, copy, brand assets, voice, and animation. The revisions and approval processes were a breeze, the tools the Spark House uses to select voices were super easy to use and share with my team.

Then production time came, and I was informed every week of progress until the video was completed. Two minor updates and revisions on my side and the video was completed 2 weeks sooner than expected.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I worked with MAX my project manager all the time, he was my only main point of contact. They kept it easy, sweet, and simple for me. Clear communication on what is needed from me or what was in progress.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video included a product/ bottle animation that was the bomb! Deadlines were met all the time Communication was clear on when I needed to take action and how. The video was completed ahead of time.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

I worked with MAX my project manager all the time, he was my only main point of contact. They kept things easy, sweet, and simple for me. Clear communication on what is what needed from me or what was under progress.

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

Great communication Simplified process when I needed to make a selection. The weekly milestone emails were really helpful on giving visibility on progress made.

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

Areas of improvement - I would have like to see or meet all the team. But that is just me, I like to see people's faces.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Optios is a neuroperformance/neuro-augmentation company helping individuals and organizations unlock their potential. I am responsible for our customer experience and analytics strategy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

Sparkhouse was hired to film, direct, and produce 15 videos ranging from 2 to 8 minutes in length. Consistency in production quality was one of the main goals.

SOLUTION

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

Referred internally and also compared sample works with others. Production style matched closest with what our aims were.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

Each video started with a rough script outline of VOs and on-screen visuals. This was then iterated until there was a final shot for shot script and specific on-screen actions to capture. In post, initial versions first aimed to sync up this information and then layer additional supporting elements for a cohesive story.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I first worked with Aman Suri during pre-production and at the each shoot. During post, I worked primarily with Maximilien Chaix. Feedback process had some initial bumps as we worked through how best to communicate change requests, but by the middle stages of the project, everything was flowing very smoothly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The final quality of all 15 videos exceeded our expectations. They have not yet gotten out to market, but from an internal success criteria, they were both well received and each subsequent video was produced with fewer rounds of edits - indicative of Sparkhouse's ability to adapt to our needs.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Each week, we received at least two formal communications detailing status, any needed items, etc. Responses back were typically received within a half day.

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

Sparkhouse was able to quickly learn our design preferences. Where the first few videos had a fair number of edit rounds, the final few were a handful or less.

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

Hire more AMs like Maximilien! Fantastic work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a digital marketing specialist for a community development financial institution. Our company is small, so I do all of the digital marketing management from social media to SEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sparkhouse, and what were your goals?

With vertical video becoming a major trend and algorithm hack on social media, our company did not want to miss the boat. This was our first go at animation and vertical video. As a financial institution, especially one that is so niche, it can be very difficult to find our audience, let alone speak to them and find the proper messaging. We hired Sparkhouse to help us out with dipping our toes into animation and vertical video. Our main goal was to explain what we do in short (less than 20 second) videos which is a challenge in and of itself.

SOLUTION

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

We've worked with Sparkhouse on several projects and they have always been flexible and responsive. Their work has always been high quality and we have never been disappointed.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started out by discussing with them over email what we were looking for and what our big picture idea was. They asked us several questions in order to nail down what exactly we envisioned. They sent us photos to ensure they had the right idea in mind and eventually drew up some mock-ups for us to review. There were several drafts of each video that they created for us. Once we had all of the color and typography in place, Sparkhouse sent us a dropbox link where we could download our videos and save them to our files.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

The team was robust, but we started the conversation with Torrey Tayenaka, who we have rapport with. We then spent most of the time working with Maximilien Chaix who was very responsive and great to work with. This was our first time ever designing something like this so the process on our end may have been a bit clunky with getting the appropriate parties involved at the right times, but they remained flexible and diligent in helping bring our vision to life.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have yet to utilize the videos for our purposes, but hope to see some more engagement and reach of our audience by putting these trending vertical videos out into the social world.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

While they offered to set up calls with us to further discuss our thought process, our schedules are quite complicated this time of year, so the entire process was done through email. They were always quick to respond and make adjustments when necessary. We proposed a quick turnaround time and they were eager to jump at the challenge.

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

I really appreciated how they worked with us even though we may have thrown a few wrenches in things from time to time. This was actually my first time directing and managing a major production process like this, so it was a learning experience for me especially. I know it can be frustrating to work with clients who change their mind at the tail end of things, but Sparkhouse set clear boundaries when necessary while still producing quality work that met our needs. We're looking forward to producing more content with Sparkhouse!

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

The only improvements I could see would be done on our end. We did not involve our creative specialist/graphic designer until the end of the project which was a mistake. They had several design elements they wanted to change that should have definitely been addressed at the beginning of the process. I think next time I would set up an initial brain storming call with them to go over where my mind is at so we could talk through ideas together instead of making them wait on my emails.