Stan Branding

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a business that sells toys and games on Amazon.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Stan Branding?

We were selling on Amazon for the last few years, and we were looking for a great designer who could help us with our photos, box designs, and more.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team's main goal was to produce the best photos and present our product with the right models. As a result, we started the project by describing our product to Stan Branding and we explained to them how they could help us be attractive on Amazon. On top of that, they had a survey so that they could understand our preferences accurately. Once they understood what we wanted, they searched for potential child models. After that, they took our product photos. In the end, their outputs were used on our product listings.

What is the team composition?

We only worked with Stan (Founder & CEO).

How did you come to work with Stan Branding?

A friend recommended Stan Branding, and we loved all of the things they did. Other sellers on Amazon also recommended their team. From that point, we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €2,000–€2,500 (approximately $2,300–$2,900 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership ran from September–October 2021. They completed our project within three weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They knew how to show our products in the most attractive way because the way they asked questions made it easier for them to understand our project. In addition, they helped our business to look more professional than our competitors.

The quality of their designs was incredible, too. More importantly, the products that they captured for us sold pretty fast. As a result, their performance was really good. We worked with many designers in the past who were from places such as the US and Israel, but Stan Branding was the best company we collaborated with.

How did Stan Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated on WhatsApp, and their project management was perfect because they were really accurate with time. For example, when they told us a certain deliverable was going to take two weeks, they delivered what we needed in that timeframe. They were better than our previous vendors that only promised to commit to our timeline, but didn’t fulfill it in the end.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their time commitment to us was important because we needed our projects to be ready as soon as we needed them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If they could offer video production services, that’d be great. Once they would be able to do that, I’d be able to assign my needs to one company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO & founder of Eat To Live, a healthy food provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Stan Branding?

I needed their branding and design expertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Stan Branding initially designed our logo before proceeding with our product packaging. They conducted market research to devise branding strategies that made our logo and label designs stand out and understand our position within the food industry. 

Upon collating the results from the discovery phase, they conceptualized the design and finalized the themes and color schemes to use for each design deliverable.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Stan (Founder).

How did you come to work with Stan Branding?

I found Stan Branding’s profile on 99designs, along with other design agencies. They interested me the most because they had impressive reviews and previous design works.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our branding project ran from June 2020–September 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Stan Branding effectively promoted our business with their on-point design work. We saw an evident increase in sales, and they also helped us gain brand recognition across our target audience. 

We knew we could count on Stan Branding’s expertise because they met our standards with every deliverable they presented — we just had to keep coming back for more.

How did Stan Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

All communication took place via email and 99designs. I would relay our project deadlines to their team, and they’d submit any final deliverable through 99designs. Stan was responsive and prompt — he remained committed to his promises, and there was just nothing negative to point out about his work ethic.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Stan Branding understood our needs and delivered those well. Their strong design and research capabilities heightened their branding expertise. They took the time to figure out which design solutions worked best for our brand — this made our business stand out among our competitors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I couldn’t say enough great things about Stan Branding’s work — there was nothing left to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Describe your branding needs in full detail and transparency — that’s the best approach to kickstarting any branding project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a partner at Troncone + Partners, an advertising and marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Stan Branding?

We needed their expertise in graphic design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have different teams and resources assigned to different pipelines, but we’ve found that we need assistance in graphic design. Stan Branding has particularly helped us accomplish a client project by designing different labels for their retail store. Our client has told us that they wanted the logo to have a retro theme, so that requirement has been relayed to Stan Branding.

Stan (Founder & CEO) has conceptualized and executed the label designs and delivered 15 iterations. Apart from these labels, Stan has also designed an email landing page and some posters for the same client, following the same theme he’s applied to the label design.

At present, I continue to work reply on their team for the same services — I normally send over the requirements to Stan, and he studies the products first before implementing any design work.

What is the team composition?

I’ve only worked and communicated with Stan.

How did you come to work with Stan Branding?

I found them on 99designs while looking for potential design agencies to onboard for this project. Stan Branding had an impressive portfolio and the skill set we needed for the project, so I decided to onboard their team.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $7,000–$10,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing collaboration with Stan Branding commenced in September 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve worked with other designers in the past, but Stan Branding is just on top of the game. Stan particularly understands our requirements, and he’s capable of conceptualizing timeless design work — we’ve used his concepts to produce other promotional materials.

Not everyone can deliver a spot-on retro design, but he’s done it with creativity. Stan Branding just delivers what we’re exactly looking for. Our clients have been extremely pleased with his work, and even our new customers have raved about the well-designed labels. We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback for Stan Branding’s work, so we’re happy to have them on our team.

How did Stan Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

Stan is efficient and proactive. He’s not the type to respond right away, but I understand that he’s a talented professional with a lot of work on his plate. Time isn’t really an issue because he’s always clear in defining what he can and can’t do within a particular period.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Stan’s work is so precise that it only needs little-to-no improvement. He gets everything done right away, so there’s no reason to send different versions back and forth.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything — Stan Branding delivers the results we need when we need them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take your time in filtering out different company portfolios to decide on the right design agency for you. 99designs is a helpful platform to make your search easier. I’ve found Stan Branding there, and I can attest that they have quality designers that keep their work fresh and relevant.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I run a retail e-commerce company that sells primarily through Amazon.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Stan Branding?

We were looking for a graphic designer to help us with our products’ branding and package designs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For every design that Stan Branding has helped me with, I first show Stan (Founder & CEO) the products that we would be selling and give him a few pointers. However, I trust him and let him have a lot of autonomy in his decisions.

He usually comes back with three different designs, and we go from there, making iterations until we get what we want.

What is the team composition?

I just work with Stan.

How did you come to work with Stan Branding?

Stan Branding was recommended to me by another Amazon seller. I was very impressed with the first design they helped me with, so I continued working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $1,300 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2021, and our engagement is ongoing. I plan to continue working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Stan Branding has saved me a lot of time and money. I’ve worked with other design companies in the past, and I hadn’t been as excited about their work as I’m now with Stan’s work. Everything that he has given me is far better than what I could have come up with on my own.

How did Stan Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via Messenger.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Stan Branding has a very creative eye, and they’re able to create designs that fit the market we’re in.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Tell them what you want, and they’ll do it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of UpHi Cannabis Emporium, a legally operating cannabis retail store in Ontario, Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We initially hired Stan to work with us to design our company's strategic branding which was to be implemented everywhere from physical signage to online marketing. Doing any design work in the highly regulated legal cannabis industry can be a major challenge with heavy restrictions on what you can depict in any of your marketing assets.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked at over 20 companies before hiring Stan based on examples of his background work and conversations about what we were looking for.

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

Stan guided the process to ensure he got the most out of us in order to get as close to what we wanted as possible. This involved mood boarding, colour palette refining, and several rounds of basic concepts before taking developed concepts and putting them in multiple contexts for us to make a confident decision on the direction we wanted to take. From there we went straight into developing a wide range of assets critical to the success of our company.

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

We worked directly with Stan at all times.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to have everything completed ahead of schedule. Our branding stands out in our industry for its simplicity while still perfectly communicating everything it needs to. We've received countless compliments on our designs and have been asked which major agency we hired to do all the work.

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

He was extremely responsive and was able to take all of our random feedback and turn it into great work. He always delivered on time, had extensive conversations when need be and kept things short and to the point otherwise to keep everyone focused.

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

Stan Branding has genuinely cared about our success and often went above and beyond what we asked of him.

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

Nothing I can think of. We've already hired Stan for two more projects, both of which were a complete success.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of a low-calorie food and sugar replacement business in the United Kingdom. We specialize in natural sugar replacements, and we distribute these all over several marketplaces, such as Europe and the United Arab Emirates. Our target audience demographic is between 25–60 years, and it’s also predominantly female.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Stan Branding?

We approached them because we need some help with the packaging; it looked extremely basic.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

With the packaging project, Stan Branding redesigned our key line. Initially, we gave them a competitor’s product and just said we wanted something similar but not the same. They went on to design it and gave us exactly what we wanted.

For advertising, we gave them an A4 brief and some points about what we wanted on the design, and they nailed them.

For research and discovery, Stan Branding showcased other brands in a similar space. They presented them and showed us how designs were in the market. They did that for the UK, EU, and the Arab Emirates to see what was going on in different markets. Then, we just picked the bits we needed off of that.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Stan (Founder & CEO) directly.

How did you come to work with Stan Branding?

We had a packaging competition on 99designs, which is a website for designers. Several other designers participated and presented for us, but Stan Branding won, so we went with the platinum package.

How much have you invested with them?

Probably less than £10,000 (approximately $14,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership with Stan Branding began around May 2016, and it’s ongoing. Stan has been designing for us ever since then. We have about 25 SKUs now, and he's designed all of the packagings for them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When we started in 2015, we had a lousy packaging design that I made on Photoshop, and our sales weren't great. As soon as Stan came back with his design, our sales went up by more than 400% in the first year. Right now, we’re one of the heads of the market. Stan Branding has exceeded our expectations and met all of our criteria.

Also, other designers won't bother to do 3–4 designs if you don’t know which direction to take. On the other hand, Stan Branding will give you 3–4 different designs so you have plenty to look at and can build a good project on the back of that.

How did Stan Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been amazing. We communicate mainly by email, and we wouldn't have kept them if their performance wasn’t great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their price is very reasonable, but also Stan’s level of detail is fun. He’s very particular. Anything you ask him to do, he’ll be very specific about what you say, and he’ll deliver based on that. He’s met every single one of our requirements, and I’m really impressed by that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wouldn't say anything, honestly. They’ve given us exactly what we’ve wanted.

Any advice for potential customers?

They wholeheartedly deserve a fantastic review. They work hard and are always time-efficient. If you have a deadline, they always have it done by that time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of ScaleO Media, a full-service agency that provides our clients with all kinds of marketing, advertising, graphic design, and branding services, as well as web development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Stan Branding?

We were working with a furniture client that wanted a completely new brand set up with new logos and brand identity to come out on the market with a bang.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Stan Branding helped us create the brand that our client was looking for. They made the logos and the whole portfolio in terms of brand identity, visuals, and so on. They did many PDF documents, a brand book, icons, full market research, social media banners, flyers, and merchandise designs.

We did the web development and marketing on our side, and they only helped us with brand development.

What is the team composition?

I only had communication with Stan (Creative CEO).

How did you come to work with Stan Branding?

I found them on Upwork and read a lot of reviews. We knew Stan was the man to do it because he had a great portfolio.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They surpassed all of our expectations with deliverables, design, and their way of thinking through the whole process. We were absolutely happy with their work. We will work together again if we have any projects in the future.

How did Stan Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was excellent, and communication was fluid. If we wanted to have readjustments and revisions, they offered them without any questions. The collaboration was a perfect partnership.

We communicated daily through WhatsApp and sent files through email. They were quick to respond.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their market research was phenomenal. The brand we wanted to scale out will be in different countries, and they nailed the job of researching it. Also, Stan Branding was able to create a logo with a completely different thought process. It has way more depth than a novice brand developer.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they surpassed all of our expectations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let them do what they do best. Don’t stress about it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the President of an E-commerce company established in 2016.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Stan Branding?

We hired Stan branding for all of the packaging designs for our company.

SOLUTION

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

We hired several designers previously before finding Stan Branding on Upwork. We looked through Stan's catalog of previous designs he had done for other companies and thought he would be a good fit for us. Once he completed the first packaging design we knew we had found the perfect designer for us. He is easy to work with at a reasonable cost, gets the job done in a timely manner and delivers an exceptional high quality design every time. Stan has delivered over 30 projects for us and we have never been disappointed. We highly recommend Stan Branding.

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

We initially filled out a form that Stan provided for us in order for him to get a sense of what we wanted him to design for us. Then he delivered 3 design options and we chose which style we liked best and give him feedback on any design changes that we wanted him to make. He would continue editing the design until we were happy with the finished product. He was very responsive and able to make the necessary changes and finish the project within a few days to a week.

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

We worked and had direct contact with only Stan. We really preferred it that way as everything was handled seamlessly with no confusion.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is difficult to quantify the success the packaging designs have had on our company, but we have continued to grow exponentially year over year and we definitely attribute some of that success to the beautiful branding and packaging designs that Stan Branding has produced for us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Working with Stan was very efficient. We used both email and Whatsapp to communicate. Even though we live in different parts of the world he made sure to accomodate us by being available during some of our hours of operation which made it convenient for us.

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

Stan was so intuitive about what we were looking to create with our brand and they accomplished it with ease.  Not to mention that he accomplished it so quickly. Usually, within a few days to a week.

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

Honestly, I can't think of any area of improvement needed. It is always a pleasure to work with Stan Branding and best of all I'm always confident he will deliver exactly what we are looking for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a sales executive for VinaPhoenix Import and Export, LLC. We import food products to sell to supermarkets, and online.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Stan Branding?

We needed help creating a brand and packaging for a new product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We briefed Stan Branding and shared designs for reference and direction, and provided product details and descriptions. They presented 4–6 options for us to choose from, and then created a brand, logo, and packaging for the product based on our choice. 

They are currently working on additional skews from the initial product — which is roughly 12 skews in total, and they also help with pre-rendering for mockups.

What is the team composition?

Stan (Creative CEO) is our point of contact, and I’m not sure how many people work on their side of the project.

How did you come to work with Stan Branding?

We found them online, and they won the bid for the first project. Based on the results, we have continued working together.

How much have you invested with them?
 
We’ve invested roughly $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in July 2019, and it’s still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work is good and can be seen on the products page on our website. Their unique designs help us stand out from our competitors — we’re satisfied with the work they’re doing with us so far.

How did Stan Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

They offer several design choices and make revisions until we’re satisfied. We mainly communicate on the 999 platform, and view the work from there — they deliver on time, every time.
 
 What did you find most impressive about them?

They are a high-end company that offers premium designs. They are the best I’ve experienced, offering more choices than other designers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t see any need for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a lot of inspiration for the design to share with them, and be detailed in describing your project. They are willing to spend time on it so the more you share, the better they can work for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an e-commerce company that deals with markets like sports, nutrition, beauty, and healthcare. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Stan Branding?

We hired them for branding tasks, such as graphic, product, and packaging designs. We also needed them to create infographics and slides. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In every project, we provide Stan Branding with paperwork that shows what we want based on different sources of inspiration. These things can change depending on the project. After receiving the paperwork, they respond to us with rough drafts. 

They give us a wide range of options in terms of first drafts, and we usually make a couple of tweaks to get things right. Their revision policy allows them to do a bit of revision here and there until we get what we want, and it doesn’t take long for us to receive well-polished final drafts. From there, we turn deliverables around. 

The final deliverables vary and may include labels and packaging for our third-party vendors to use for their online marketing campaigns. Stan Branding checks what is good for printing and whether the files have the same formats. They ensure the materials are designed within the specifications accommodated by the manufacturer we use. This way, we save time since the manufacturer doesn’t have to fiddle with the materials; it’s a one-and-done task. 

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Stan (Founder & CEO), and he has several employees who work on our projects. He either directs the projects or assigns them to one of those employees. Moreover, he’s hired several professionals who share his design outlook and proficiency. 

How did you come to work with Stan Branding?

I found Stan several years ago through various online graphics websites where he was offering services. I also tried a couple of other vendors, but I wasn’t impressed. By contrast, when I saw Stan’s portfolio, I knew that he was a next-level professional. He had the quality I was looking for, so I hired him.

How much have you invested with them?

Each of our projects costs between $250–$500, depending on what I need. Overall, we’ve probably spent between $7,000–$10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2018, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the deliverables are graphic designs, the metrics are subjective. That being said, we only take 2–3 revisions to create a design that’s closest to what I want. On top of that, our main goal is to bring ideas to life, and they do a great job of accomplishing that. Once that occurs, I know we’re done with a project. 

How did Stan Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is great. Everything has been done on time, so I have no complaints. Moreover, Stan’s team typically finishes projects one week after I schedule them, which is great given the number of revisions we do. To manage the projects, we use Asana.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Stan’s quality of work is impressive. He’s great at rendering and displaying products; they look truly nice. Overall, he’s great at what he does, and not many designers are as good as he is, especially when it comes to product design. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their company is in eastern Europe, so we have different time zones. If I want to use them, I have to be mindful of their time and mine. That being said, I know that this is something we can’t change. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Save yourself time and money by hiring Stan. I’ve been with several other designers, and the quality just isn’t there. By contrast, Stan is not only comparably priced; he also does a great job. Looking at his portfolio, you’ll see the quality of his work. He designs a lot of different things, and he’s pretty well-versed.