Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO of a craft soda startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

When we looked for a creative team, we needed a partner to help us compete because the beverage space is very cluttered. A lot of that space is dominated by major brand incumbents, so we needed a brand identity that would stand out against some of the most recognizable brands in the world and complete on coolness.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Strano + Pettigrew provides us with branding services. Initially, we came to them with a minimally functioning logo without marks to go along with it as a brand identifier or a look. I provided the exploratory work we had done with our graphic designer. Strano + Pettigrew used that to inform their designs, peeling back our vision to build something new from the ground up. 

First, Strano + Pettigrew cleaned up the logo and created an initial mock-up of our packaging design for two soda flavors that would anchor the brand going forward. Since then, Strano + Pettigrew has expanded those designs into complete brand guidelines. They've also designed other assets, such as swag items. 

We've increased our scope of work and will continue working with Strano + Pettigrew as our brand develops. 

What is the team composition?

We've only worked with Albert (Principal & Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

I also work in marketing and went to my agency's creative director with the concept for this new company because she does freelance work. She provided our initial logo but couldn't design packaging, so she gave me the names of about 14 companies that served the Greater Toronto Area. We went through her suggestions and met with two companies.

Ultimately, we chose to work with Strano + Pettigrew based on their vibe and body of work, which was in line with what we were looking for. We wanted a mature design on the simpler side of a soda can design, and Strano + Pettigrew's aesthetic was in line with that. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $5,000–$20,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2022, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Strano + Pettigrew’s work has been better than we could have imagined. One of our key KPIs is communication and whether a service provider can meet deadlines and keep a project moving. Strano + Pettigrew’s leadership level has been refreshing; they’ve driven the project forward even when my team would fall back on the communication side. We’re very busy, so I appreciate having Strano + Pettigrew’s support. 

Another thing I’ve appreciated is Albert’s willingness to revisit concepts we passed off initially and want to bring back as the project develops. We did several rounds of revisions on our first package design and then ended up going to Strano + Pettigrew’s first presentation. Albert met this decision with humor; there was no frustration. Ultimately, we couldn’t be happier with where our packaging design landed. 

How did Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate through phone calls and Zoom meetings; we haven’t met in person. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Albert has become an important voice as we continue to develop our brand voice. We’ve had other service providers handle different parts of our project, and Strano + Pettigrew has been our most beneficial and smoothest partnership.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wouldn’t change anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Move forward with Strano + Pettigrew without hesitation. Meeting creative minds this talented that aren’t limited by their egos is rare. Strano + Pettigrew has a perfect balance of creativity and knowing when to push. They let our vision shine while acting as a filter to run our ideas through and bring them to life.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the project coordinator of Rea Sign Group, a signage manufacturing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

We needed a new website to guide our clientele through a process of elimination to see what was proper for their needs. Many of our clients didn’t understand the signage terminology, so it was hard for them to determine what type of signage they needed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates created a WordPress website from scratch for us. The site has a product page that shows everything we offer, where we direct our customers so they can pinpoint what they’re looking for by scrolling through many pictures. Currently, we continue our partnership with site maintenance.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with Albert (Owner).

How did you come to work with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

One of our customers referred them to us, and we decided to reach out to them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2017, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to the site Strano that + Pettigrew Design Associates developed, we can now direct our customers more easily — we use the platform as a main focal point when we obtain new potential customers.

How did Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great with project management in terms of meeting deadlines, staying on budget, and communicating. Moreover, their team is completely committed to us, has fair costs, and treats our projects uniquely. Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates are also responsive to our emails — we get back from them within minutes. In addition, they spend a lot of time trying to help us understand our website in case we want to update it ourselves. Regarding communication, we also use phone calls and in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their most important attributes are their hands-on approach, guidance, and willingness to offer their insight for our site. Overall, they’re committed to our needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend people working with them. They’re able to make this an easy process despite it being a time-consuming task.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Vito’s Pizza and Wings, a 24-year-old pizzeria. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

We needed help with our branding. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Strano updated our branding — they created a new logo, brand assets, and boxes. They also helped us revamp our packaging and uniforms and developed a brand strategy for our restaurant. 

Strano worked on everything related to Vito’s image and marketing. They have already finished all their tasks, and right now, it’s a matter of us implementing their output. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Albert (Co-Founder & Creative Director) and Jennifer (Brand Strategist)

How did you come to work with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

I saw them on Clutch. We chose to work with them because they had high ratings and we easily connected with their team. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $24,000–$25,000.   

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from May–September 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This was the first time in our restaurant’s 24-year history that we worked on our brand. Strano went above and beyond in guiding me through the process, taking me each step of the way, and explaining everything. 

The amount of money we spent on this project is a lot considering our small business operation. Strano explained every detail about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. Overall, I feel I got my money’s worth; I learned about marketing, branding, and strategy. 

I know Strano gave their 100% for this project — they had done their best.

How did Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates perform from a project management standpoint?

Strano was excellent at project management. We communicated through email, and they were very responsive. They were on top of everything — they followed through on their timelines and commitments. In addition, they were very professional and did a good job adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I appreciate that they worked around my budget as a small business. They understood our financial situation, and they kept everything as affordable as possible. They went above and beyond in helping me out. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Strano’s work ethic and approach were impressive; they were the best. They had set a high standard for a branding company for me moving forward. 

I didn’t know much about branding, but they were very patient and answered all my questions. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

As of now, I can’t think of anything. Their work had been excellent from what I saw. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They want to help people that want to be helped, so come in with a clear and concise plan. Know precisely what you want to achieve.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Clear Media, a full-service advertising agency. We specialize in the iGaming vertical and buy media globally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

We needed their team's branding expertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates supported our branding efforts by generating strategies that leveraged our brand identity. They initially conducted market research to determine which solutions were most suitable for our company — for instance, they studied the logos of our competitors to design a unique one that best represented our business. We also tasked them with refurbishing our website to fit the color schemes and trends they came up with.

Apart from the design aspect, Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates also helped us reenvision our strategies in the realm of iGaming. They conducted a survey among our existing customers to determine our areas of strength and areas for improvement before collating the results and forming a brand strategy report.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two resources from their team, with one supporting our creative pipeline and the other resource focusing on strategy building.

How did you come to work with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

I originally found Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates through a referral. After our initial meeting, it was clear we needed their expertise.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $28,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our project ran from March–June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We witnessed how our business statistics skyrocketed upon launching the products of Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates' efforts. In fact, it's almost hard for us to keep up with the increasing demand of our participants in the iGaming space. On top of that, their team made sure to promote our business well by recommending lucrative conferences to us, which helped us secure multiple proposals. Overall, both our clients and internal staff only had great things to say about the work they did for us.

How did Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via email and had periodic Zoom meetings. Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates was an accommodating team that kept us updated throughout the process — it was an amazing experience, and I couldn’t recommend them enough.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates had evident expertise in understanding the core of our business and generating strategies that worked for us. They were a professional team that helped take our business to the next level.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we're happy with everything they delivered.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust their expertise. Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates is a reliable team that brings feasible ideas to the table.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a managing partner for Maigus Consultants, an executive L&D company. We do learning and training for executives. We run programs in mindfulness and resilience, providing our services in person and virtually.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

We engaged Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates to redesign our website and our collateral material, which we use in the programs we run like Powerpoint and our brochures. We wanted them to make a website that was more amenable to look at.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Firstly, Strano + Pettigrew came up with a brand theme for us. From there, we decided which one we wanted to go with, and they created the website and collateral material around that. Through a Divi WordPress platform, Strano + Pettigrew developed and completely redesigned our website. They made it more user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and innovative, which is what we wanted. They also made it a more interactive and less wall-of-written words kind of website, which allowed it to snap and pop the way we wanted it to. 

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Albert (Co-founder & Creative Director), who did all the key branding and design work for us. He also had a number of people that worked with him. They worked on our documents, such as our brochures, and designed them in PDF files and Word. That way, we could change anything we needed on an ongoing basis.

How did you come to work with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

We worked with them before, and they were always incredibly responsive. From a design point of view, they’ve been very innovative and always come up with great ideas.

How much have you invested with them?

For the rebrand of the website and all the collateral material, we invested around $19,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve used them before, about 5-6 years ago. However, for this particular project, we engaged throughout January–March 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been extremely happy with the website they created. They were very innovative. For example, on the website and the marketing materials, like LinkedIn, they created a poster within a poster, where people were walking on a street view, and a major poster in the picture. I thought it was such a cool look to come up with. 

We’ve also received general feedback from LinkedIn, where people commented they really liked the design and our marketing material. We’ve had very positive feedback from our clients on the website. Moreover, from an analytics point of view, we’ve had a 300% increase in our website traffic.

How did Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates perform from a project management standpoint?

When we first started the project, they set up some time frames and would reach out to us to look at the initial materials. Then, they’d help us with fine-tuning and updating changes along the way.

We mostly had routine Zoom calls, or as needed, and we also worked with Google Docs. They presented the project in a very seamless and accessible way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of the main attributes they had was the creative ideas they came up with, which were excellent. The themes they made us choose from were what we were looking for. Strano + Pettigrew delivered beautifully, and their responsiveness was something we were very happy with. If we had any questions or issues, they’d jump on it right away.

That’s why we’ve used them over the years. There’s a lot of people we’ve worked with, but not many are good at it. Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates are really good at what they do.

Another attribute we found important is how we didn’t have to spend a large amount of time going back and forth over the project. That allowed us to serve our time doing what we’re busy at. The way the ideas and the aesthetic were presented, as well as the way they conducted themselves, saved us a lot of time. It wasn’t something onerous, and it was done very quickly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. Our experience with Strano + Pettigrew was really good.

Any advice for potential customers?

Go into it with a clear idea of what you’re looking for. In any business, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. They’ll come up with the vehicle to make it possible, and they’ll do it extremely well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the partners as well as the president and CRO of Eclipse, a technology solutions reseller. We manage, install, and resell technology solutions for both the public sector and commercial businesses. We generally serve Canada but have customers in both New York and the UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

We started out as a voice telephony supplier but had evolved into a much more comprehensive IT managed services provider. To reflect that transition, we needed to establish a new image for and front face for our marketing. Our website and logo particularly needed an overhaul.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team conducted an expansive study to reconfigure our company vision and target customers. They interviewed internal stakeholders at all levels, as well as supply partners and end-customers.

Based on the insights generated from that data, they came up with three proposals based on input from stakeholders. We further refined our needs and chose a design they suggested — the first one they suggested. They formulated our visual identity in a way that captures our refreshed corporate strategy. Our website, presentation decks, and marketing collateral now all reflect this new vision.

What is the team composition?

We work mostly with Albert (Co-Founder & Creative Director) and Jennifer (Senior Executive, Brand Strategy & Development). We had a larger team supporting us with the content that goes on our website.

How did you come to work with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

Our supply partners recommended a couple of companies. We had a few competing agencies come in and pitch to us. Albert and Jennifer presented their methodology and vision, we felt that their approach really fit what we were looking for.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement started in April and wrapped up in July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s been a tough year to reap quantitative results because of COVID-19, but I can confidently say that our customers have been pleased with the evolution of our company. The Strano + Pettigrew team truly amplified our messaging through their expert use of visuals. Our branding has been received well by new customers and partners, and we’ve been very pleased, in general.

How did Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent on this front. We were challenged to meet the deadline they set; they were definitely driving the project forward. They’re flexible enough to accommodate delays on our end, but they also pushed us towards our goals.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They captured our vision artfully and accurately by condensing the messaging they received from all our stakeholders and partners.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was some back and forth on a few odds and ends when the engagement was wrapping up. In general, though, the project was very driven, and we weren’t disappointed at all.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They may look like a smaller shop, but they really have a better perspective on how to drive forward with the product you want — more so than other providers. Our major partners recommended merger firms that wouldn’t have provided the care and detail that these guys did.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We focus on mergers and acquisitions of staffing and recruitment firms. As a Marketing Specialist, I oversee all marketing and communication initiatives for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

We hired S+PDA at first to assist with renaming our company and then to help develop a new logo, brand guidelines, brand assets, and website design.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to develop a fresh, sophisticated, timeless and powerful logo to help position our company as a leader in the staffing industry. We aimed to elevate our design aesthetic and therefore visually set our brand apart from our competitors.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We identified S+PDA through online reviews and recommendations as well as our personal assessment of their work. We interviewed 4 different firms for this project. The deciding factor was the confidence and knowledge of the principals at S+PDA along with their competitively priced, thorough proposal of services. Their design aesthetic on both their own marketing materials and as evidenced in the work they've done for other companies was very impressive and aligned with our expectations.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The process was very thorough. They began with research and stakeholder interviews, producing a brand overview document to help guide our marketing initiatives. From there the project progressed to a name generation phase where S+PDA developed a handful of suggested new names for our company. Once we agreed on a name they developed 3 different logos for our consideration. Upon selecting a logo they developed the necessary brand assets and created wireframes for our website. The team at S+PDA worked quickly to meet our tight deadlines and made changes based on our feedback.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with the 2 principals of the firm throughout the entire project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't yet launched our new company name, website, or logo so I can't comment on the value of their work yet.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective. Everything was submitted on or ahead of schedule. The team at S+PDA was very easy to work with, responded to feedback and requests promptly, and provided input as necessary.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are very knowledgeable and have a lot of experience in brand strategy development behind them. Their work is sophisticated and clean.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing that comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Director of Commercial Operations at Momentum Solutions.

We supply a wide range of emergency response and support services, as well as air charter services for both cargo and people. In addition, we support the UN by supplying construction equipment and labor, as well as providing services for NATO troops and government support workers in Africa.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

As a result of growth in the company, we were looking for professional branding support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates worked in several stages. First, they helped us develop concrete branding strategies to rebuild our brand architecture. The team created a clean, new visual identity as well as all print and digital materials associated with that.

From there, they began to advise us on various social media strategies, a process they continue to support. 

The team also worked on consolidating our web presence, SEO requirements, and understanding our digital presence. Following those efforts, Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates is now developing our new website.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about four or five people from the company, but our primary points of contact were Albert (Co-Founder & Creative Director, Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates) and Jennifer (Brand Strategy & Development, Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates). 

How did you come to work with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

After conducting a great deal of research, I narrowed our list down to six companies. I visited each of their offices and collected proposals. Ultimately, Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates grasped the niche qualities of our market more effectively than any other company. We were also impressed by their visual aesthetics and the strength of their communication.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent roughly $34,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in August 2019, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While we haven’t publicly launched yet, our CEO, CFO, and senior stakeholders have been blown away by the look and feel of Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates’ work. There’s a level of excitement internally at the elegance of the new identity we’re putting forward.

How did Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates perform from a project management standpoint?

One of the main reasons for our ongoing relationship with the team is the level of transparency and communication they offer. The team provides in-depth proposals, mapping out detailed timelines and ensuring they line up with our expectations. They almost always finish work ahead of schedule, which is excellent.

We mainly use GoToMeeting, as visuals are important throughout the meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a very cohesive team. Albert has an incredible ability to merge the client with creative materials, while Jennifer provides content to back up his visuals seamlessly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Occasionally, the process was slowed down a bit because of the team’s apprehension in guiding us away from ideas that wouldn’t ultimately serve our goals. Perhaps if they explained the reasoning behind their visual choices upfront, we could’ve avoided those delays.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief marketing officer for EndoCanna Health, an endocompatibility technology platform that uses your unique genomic profile - your DNA - to match you with a personalized cannabinoid formulation that is available in your geographic area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

We were initiating a new look and feel of our brand that articulate our unique value to our target segment. It was important to differentiate ourselves from existing DNA brands, and existing cannabis and CBD products. We're focused on optimizing cannabinoid use, so we wanted a brand that was more focused on wellness than cannabis. 

We needed a creative partner to translate our positioning and value proposition in a way that would carve out some geography in the hearts and minds of our audience. We wanted to elevate the conversation into wellness solutions, rather than simply genomics, cannabis, or CBD products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started out creating the brand identity for Endo·dna, as well as the parent company, EndoCanna Health. S+PDA were instrumental in helping me define the levels of engagement for the different customers for both our  B2B and B2C strategy. 

We leveraged both their creative and strategic sides to refine our position to our customers and our key messages. We translated that into a brand identity for the parent company and the consumer-facing product and service. 

In particular, they designed our website and collateral pieces to support our marketing efforts.

They were great at providing us exactly the level of strategic insight and capability that we needed at the time we needed it. They became more of a partner — almost a full-time creative department. They added a much-needed reality check when we started going down rabbit holes.

What is the team composition?

Albert (Principal & Creative Director, Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates) is our main point of contact, and we work closely together to articulate deliverables. Jennifer (Brand Strategy & Development, Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates) was a part of our strategy conversations. 

Jennifer was instrumental in helping us simplify our position and value. She has a unique ability to go from the 30,000-foot view of the brand, while simultaneously honing in on the minutia. From the design side, Albert has a couple of people he mentored through the process to ensure their deliverables were on brand.

How did you come to work with Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates?

I found them through Clutch. I wanted to find someone who wanted to build their reputation in the cannabis space at the same time they were helping me build my brand.

I was looking for a boutique agency, and a specific type of agency that could deal with the challenges inherent in the cannabis space. I research companies in both Canada and the US, and settled on S+P.

Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates was a great fit because of the portfolio they presented online. They had been involved with some very unique campaigns for established brands and supported the growth of some new brands that were in the same position we were in.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, they've billed us for about $30,000. We have another $30k scheduled for the next six months.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in May of 2019, and the projects will be ongoing for the next 18 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team stepped up as collaborators to help me work through some of the deliverables that we needed. For example, we had to build a website rather quickly to meet a deadline. They worked me into their schedule and provided exactly what was needed to help us execute. Their ability to accommodate my needs as a design team is what I value the most. They’re coming to me with solutions instead of sticking me with problems.

How did Strano + Pettigrew Design Associates perform from a project management standpoint?

They are exceptional — unbelievable. They accomplished the tasks in record time on a strict budge. They are an extraordinary group of people who really worked hard to understand who we were. They offered a lot of opportunities for us to hone in on the value proposition to our target segment.

In terms of our process, I basically book time with them, run through the briefs, and then we settle on the timelines and budget. Then, they’ll meet my timelines and budget.

They are always willing to look at, “can we do this slightly differently to meet your deadline?” That is the value of a small, agile agency— they’re willing to work with you to execute.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It was challenging that Albert didn’t have any CX experience for the website design. That was something I had to bring to the table. But, it’s a trade-off, they can’t be all things for all people.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Their core differentiator is their agility, attention to detail, and brand ownership. If you’re looking for somebody to partner with you on your brand, and you’ve got limited resources to manage that, this is your perfect fit.