Suits & Sandals

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a cofounder and CEO of a digital marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Suits & Sandals, and what were your goals?

We provide digital marketing services for various clients but don't provide website design and development. We often receive new business leads from companies first looking for a new website and then looking for marketing services post-launch. We desperately needed to find an agency to serve as our partner for website projects. The projects would then, eventually, transition into marketing clients once the new websites launched.

SOLUTION

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

Before S&S, we worked with many other freelance designers/developers and agencies. It was difficult to find a reliable, trustworthy partner with the same approach to smart design built with CRO top of mind. We kept going back to S&S for projects because they were always very communicative, always delivered on time, and clearly showed an understanding of digital marketing throughout their design builds.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Our scopes vary depending on the client's website design or redesign needs, but all projects include a level of R&D, design exploration and creation, front and backend development, pre/post launch quality assurance/testing, and in many cases, ongoing monthly website maintenance retainers.

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

We are always assigned a project manager or two. However, I have always worked very closely with one of the cofounders and CEO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The end byproduct is always high-quality and delivered on time. Websites always meet our own criteria on the marketing front (fast load time, SEO optimized, conversion tracking in place, etc.). Clients are always satisfied and impressed with the final design and performance of the websites.

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

S&S has a specific, calculated, and in-depth approach to project management practices that they follow religiously for every project. This helps us know intuitively what to expect for each and every client project that kicks off. Every website design/development experience is the same, more or less.

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

The level of accountability and communication is the best we've ever experienced in the industry. They are also very pragmatic and unbiased in developing a website. They do not simply push the client towards one solution over another because of bias. They go through a discovery phase with each client to uncover the absolute best solution to their very specific needs, then develop the site accordingly.

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

We've been working with S&S for years and have zero complaints!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and managing director of Tanj. We are a brand naming and language studio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Suits & Sandals?

We hired them to help us with a rebranding and renaming project for a healthcare technology company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Essentially, the business we were focused on had an expanded offering in terms of technology. They were reaching into new sectors, and they had a bit of an outdated image and name. Suits & Sandals and my team came to the table to help them change all of that. Their team was in charge of leading everything, including the brand insight and strategy. They also handled a bit of work on the naming side before taking over the brand design and actual implementation.

How did you come to work with Suits & Sandals?

We found them on Clutch.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on this project from January–October 2000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The brand hasn’t been launched yet, and I think it’s still pending. In spite of that, the client’s feedback was positive on all levels; everyone seemed quite pleased with Suits & Sandals’ work. We also considered this a successful partnership because of the complementary work styles, approaches, and personalities. We would want to refer and work with them again in the future.

How did Suits & Sandals perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very responsive and had their processes down. We used Slack, Zoom, and email for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In the beginning, we were very impressed with some of their strategic insights. Their CEO had a lot of really good questions and was able to get to the heart of critical matters and focus on what was important for the health of the project and for the client’s brand. Moreover, they were really collaborative and easy to work with. Together, we were able to establish a lot of credibility with the client and get their trust early on. Also, we thought very highly of their creativity — it was really interesting to see the actual creative process of how they developed and designed the brand.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of an on-demand dog training platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Suits & Sandals, and what were your goals?

We hired Suits and Sandals to build us a complicated blog and a large, flexible website that we can use in the long run. Our goals were to have something we could use right away, as well as improve upon and grow into over time.

SOLUTION

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

We were referred by another person, and the deciding factor was their proposal was very thoughtful and the team seemed to really understand what we were looking at.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Initially we scoped a shopify site with a blog, but we quickly determined (with the guidance of S+S) that we were better off building in Webflow. While this transition extended the timeline, we landed with a much better and more flexible product.

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

3, Nick the CEO was our account manager and our main point of contact, Miles their CCO led design, and Kat did project management

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We have not yet launched the site (or this business) but all of our technology advisors are incredibly happy with it.

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

We primarily talked over email and Google Meets. Timelines moved a lot but that was more due to changes in strategy. Their team was very responsive, took on a lot of questions from us, and had very clear communication.

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

Communication and understanding the goal of the product. They were great collaborators and dug deep into our business to get to "why" we needed this build, not just "what" we needed.

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

When timelines change, just an update for our team on milestones. This was a minor inconvenience given we were in constant contact with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Nationwide Coils is a company that provides heating and cooling replacement coils in the HVAC industry. I'm a director of marketing and client relations. I newly joined that team last September, but I've been familiar with the company for many years. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Suits & Sandals?

We hired Suits & Sandals to help us gradually update all our materials. They've been our marketing advisor for many years, but this year we took our partnership to the next level. They are helping us revamp all our internet marketing and are also supporting some of our side projects. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Suits & Sandals has created a very professional strategy as we've gone through this revamp. They have come up with a whole layout and plan. We hold consistent meetings to go over progress and check in to see if we're pleased with their work.

I also hold monthly meetings with them to go over feedback on our current website and see how everything's flowing. We consider what is working well and what's not. They have been highly informative and helpful for us.

What is the team composition? 

The leading team member we work with is Nick (Co-founder and CEO, Suits & Sandals).  He specifically focuses on our account. His assistant runs all our appointments and has done a great job. The main project that we're working on right now involves very intuitive work, so they assigned us a team of 4–5 people. For routine monthly tasks, we mainly interact with one account manager and the assistant.

How did you come to work with Suits & Sandals?

We know some of the members of the team on a personal level since they are local to our area. Our relationship has branched out as we've learned more about each other and how they can help us be successful. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in July of 2011 and is still ongoing. We've been clients of Suits & Sandals for many years and have worked on several different projects together. Every month, they provide routine work. Larger projects occur now and then, which I have pushed forward more since I've been on board.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The last time we redesigned the website was back in 2011. Each month, we review progress.  Along with online marketing, they also work on all our analytics and assess how the site is working based on feedback from Google AdWords, and our rankings in specific searches. 

Suits & Sandals creates spreadsheets to show our progress over time. It's interesting and useful to see this progress laid out on paper so I can go back and look over what they've accomplished every month. 

When we launch the new website we've been working on together, we look forward to seeing the changes it will make for us. When that platform is up to date with all our current marketing strategies, we should see a significant difference compared to our initial efforts back in 2011.  

How did Suits & Sandals perform from a project management standpoint?

Suits & Sandals extremely responsive. Anytime we send an email with random questions, they get back to us within a day or two. They're also very organized in setting up their strategies. For our recent large big project, they planned the entire schedule and timeframe with set deadlines to make. The assistant sets up all our appointments in a timely manner. Suits & Sandals is always right on schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Over the years, we've worked with a few similar marketing companies. Some of this work is hard when you're not familiar with doing it. Suits & Sandals' responsiveness differentiates them from the competition. They send monthly reports that prove they are staying up to date and keeping all the information together to compare, analyze, and give us feedback.

Suits & Sandals keeps us in the loop. They're always there to tell us what's happening and update us on changes and progress. Many other companies rarely do so, and it's hard to tell what's happening behind the scenes. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

In my experience, Suits & Sandals has been very professional ever since I started. They're a hardworking, enthusiastic, and skilled team.  

Their hourly rates are on the pricier end of digital marketing, but they deliver what we pay for. We might be spending more out of pocket, but we get the results we want. They consistently prove themselves worth the investment. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Suits & Sandals is very informative. They're always there to help and will guide you through the entire process. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m an associate program manager at a health nonprofit. We develop local expertise to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions to the global health security challenges we all share.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Suits & Sandals?

We originally hired Suits & Sandals to build our website after another web developer failed to deliver a satisfactory product. Recently, they’ve been making our website more secure and user-friendly and building a portal specifically for our Fellows to access materials and resources.

What were your goals for this project?

We set out to improve our web security and create a one-stop shop that contained all our resources for Fellows and Alumni. Our site also had to be accessible and fast across the world.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Suits & Sandals was selected as a vendor before I was hired. I do know that our previous web developers were sub-par and that Suits & Sandals has been an incredible find.

Describe the project in detail.

The main project was to build a private and exclusive portal on our website for our Fellows and Alumni to access. Within this portal, people will have access to resources and materials long after their Fellowship is over.

What was the team composition?

Zach (CTO, Suits & Sandals) and Nick (CEO, Suits & Sandals) are responsible for web updates, development, and maintenance. Kat (Project Manager, Suits & Sandals) is responsible for scheduling meetings and calls with the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We enjoyed their work so much we expanded their responsibilities.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have regular calls and meetings via Google Hangouts to update our website.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re incredibly responsive, professional, and organized.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not that I’ve seen.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former CMO of a private financial network that operated an online platform for co-investment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Suits & Sandals?

Our platform was set up without any UX/UI, so we engaged with Suits & Sandals for a much more user-friendly and workable website. We needed a public home page because the network is invitation-only, so only members could see the webpages. Suits & Sandals also was hired for rebranding, and working with us on our events series and that branding as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Suits & Sandals run a secure process for all of their clients. They begin with a discovery phase, then lay out what the best game plan is. After going through several revisions to see what fits the budget, their team creates a couple of drafts and gets feedback. When that is finalized, the build begins. It’s an incredibly collaborative process.

What is the team composition?

We dealt with the creative director and the head of the account team, and then we received our own account manager. I imagine they had several creative and technical people in the background, but I didn’t have exposure to them.

How did you come to work with Suits & Sandals?

A branding agency we were working with referred Suits & Sandals to me. They had used them for many website builds. Initially, the branding agency was going to do our rebrand while Suits & Sandals would work on the technical side. Because of project delays, Suits & Sandals took on the entire project.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from January 2018 to September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s hard to say because while they did their work, the business fell behind them. The rebrand was originally a huge scope of work, but everything became truncated. Their team stayed flexible with us, even when the amount of work decreased. Suits & Sandals delivered everything they promised on time. For the platform, they ended up creating an interim site. There were several management changes in the network, so it’s hard to evaluate the business outcomes. It was a positive experience, and if we had our act together, they would’ve been an excellent partner to have.

How did Suits & Sandals perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was extremely responsive. I preferred email and didn’t want to use any specific project management tools. They were willing to work with me, which I appreciated.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Suits & Sandals is full of listeners that are determined to understand challenges and suggest affordable solutions to move businesses forward. Throughout, I wasn’t sure what I wanted, and their team informed me of the best choices. Because of their input, I was able to educate my CEO on why we were making these choices. It was disappointing that we didn’t get to see the full project to fruition because they would’ve done a brilliant job. All the pieces they worked on were excellent. Suits & Sandals didn’t get the chance to unleash their power.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. If we had any hiccups during the process, they were responsive enough to fix them quickly. I was impressed that a team of young professionals had such a rigorous process and continuously stayed on message.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be candid regarding challenges. Suits & Sandals is excellent at problem-solving. They use technology that helps their clients get to the next level. Their creative process delivers impressive outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I serve as a project manager for Duggal Vision Studios. We’re a printing and graphics company that has recently expanded into the world of digital content.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Suits & Sandals?

As we grew into the new digital field, we were struggling to separate ourselves from our long-standing reputation as solely a printing and graphics company. We hired Suits & Sandals to help establish our new brand that encompasses the new services we offer.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Suits & Sandals created a complete brand for the new division of our company. From interviewing key stakeholders to producing materials, they handled the full process. Their team designed the logo, letterheads, typography, website, and brand voice. They developed everything that we use to market our business.

What is the team composition?

Nick (Co-Founder & CEO, Suits & Sandals) was our main contact for developing the marketing strategy. Miles (Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Suits & Sandals) handled most of the creative work and Kathryn (Project Manager, Suits & Sandals) was our project coordinator. Zachary (Partner & CTO, Suits & Sandals) served as the technical director, and a few others were supporting the project.

How did you come to work with Suits & Sandals?

I had worked with Suits & Sandals in the past. Although we didn’t follow through on the previous project, we knew their team was head and shoulders above other vendors, so we decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $30,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our project ran from July 2017–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Suits & Sandals’ support made a huge difference in our rebranding efforts. We’re now able to effectively explain our new services to our current and potential customer base. Our brand is more accurately representative of our business so that we can access a wider market.

How did Suits & Sandals perform from a project management standpoint?

Suits & Sandals was highly responsive. I was in contact with their team daily. Whether it was a Google Hangouts call or a screen-sharing meeting, I was kept informed throughout the process. They used TeamGantt to keep track of their progress, and we always knew what task was being worked on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were an all-around intelligent team—I’d consider them experts in their field. People on their team had won awards for everything from web design to branding. Their intellect and decision-making skills were very impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Off the top of my head, nothing stands out for Suits & Sandal to improve. They did a great job, and we’re always looking for more projects to involve them with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be upfront about your goals and business needs. Though they’re smart, they can only help you approach your problems if you’re honest in the beginning stages.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Blindcut, LLC. is a comprehensive internet privacy company with several products designed for safer internet use. Our Blindcut browser is a private browser with a built-in VPN, integrated ad-blocking and white-listing features. Seekadoo, our kid-friendly search engine, has ad-blocking, learning tools and fun incentives for kids to safely navigate the internet. To stay up-to-date on the latest challenges facing our children’s internet privacy, our Privacy Parent website features helpful articles and how to’s for everyone.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Suits & Sandals?

We needed a partner to create the branding for our websites for Blindcut, Seekadoo, Privacy Parent, and Datacappy. We wanted someone who could best present complex ideas by generating a message and tone that was easy for people to understand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One of the first things Suits & Sandals did was design the logos and look & feel for our product line. They held numerous focus groups to figure out which colors, logos, and messaging were best, and they used that to inform their branding suggestions.

We also work with them on the website layout and other app design features, such as how kids can interface with the pages to make them as enticing as possible. They created all of the designs from scratch, although we did offer a few insights. They conducted the research and gave us their findings and recommendations. We then worked with our developers to import their designs into the products.

How did you come to work with Suits & Sandals?

They were a referral. We had an initial phone call, which went great, so we hired them. From the beginning, they’ve been proactive, intelligent, and genuinely interested in our products. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re enthusiastic about our products and are personally invested in our success. Beyond that, they’re just a fun team with whom to work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t done any quantitative analysis, but the product was just approved by the App Store.

How did Suits & Sandals perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a project manager who keeps things organized and holds weekly meetings. Our communication is excellent, and they have project management software that we can log into to track their work. The team is professional and responsive, getting back to our emails within an hour.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re enthusiastic about our product and are personally invested in our success. Beyond that, they’re just a fun team to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re on the cutting edge of the field.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clearly explore your project needs and meet in person.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our organization is a not-for-profit organization located in Manhattan, New York City. We are an IRS recognized 501C3 which means we are a not-for-profit. We are an International Holocaust Foundation that honors non-Jews - mostly Christians and some Muslims who during the Holocaust and WWII risked their lives to save Jewish lives. We also have an education program through Columbia University. We teach teachers the history of the Holocaust, and within that contextual setting, we talk about the rescue of Jews by non-Jews. We talk about Christian heroes, personal choice, universe of obligation, and moral responsibility.

I am the Executive Vice President.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Suits & Sandals?

We had our graphic design firm, BorsaWallace, redesign our website and Suits & Sandals was engaged to take the design and bring it to fruition. We decided we need to update our website. I went to my design firm and they designed a new website. Through our design firm, we found Suits & Sandals and they took their design for the entire website and they implemented it wonderfully.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed an entire website. We totally gutted what we had. They updated it and made it user-friendly, and they continue to help us tweak the website to keep it current. It’s device friendly and they had five major areas to work on. In one area we have over 200 pages because we have stories about Christian and Muslim heroes who saved Jews. Suits & Sandals redesigned the whole site which included our e-commerce site that lets us receive donations. We’re also able to send e-cards out for the Jewish holidays or at Purim or Hanukkah, and they did it efficiently. They met the deadline and we were pleased.

How did you come to work with Suits & Sandals?

We got to them through our design firm, BorsaWallace, who had used them before. They are a group of young gentlemen and they are terrific.

How much have you invested with Suits & Sandals?

We are a non-profit and they gave us an appropriate rate. We went to other places and their rate was competitive. We went with them because our graphic design firm had used them and vouched for them. These guys are great.

What is the status of this engagement?

As we completed the website, we go back every six to nine month and talk about refreshing and updating it. If something doesn’t work, we call them and they fix it. We have a monthly contract with them. They’re wonderful.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We did an analytic report which we paid them for. It showed that we had increased traffic to the site. The rescue stories, the stories of Christian heroes, is was what drew people to the site as well as our education program. When my board president spoke at the Liberation of Auschwitz, it was perhaps our highest day of getting anything because it was his remarks that were carried by CNN, BBC - every major media outlet in the United States. It was well worth updating the site, and the number of people who are donating online by credit cards has gone up significantly.

How did Suits & Sandals perform from a project management standpoint?

They did what they were supposed to do. They gave reports and they’re always available and accessible. If they’re not going to be around, they let me know.

What did you find most impressive about s & Sandals?

Compared to my other people, I think they really care about their clients. We have an interactive map that came from a previous website, and they took it and made it 100-fold better. It was their work and they were concerned that it was taking six seconds for Moldova to load or Romania or Pakistan. They said, “We’ve got to make it quicker” and they worked out the backend to make things load quicker to be visible in a much better light. They care about the end product because that’s their name reflecting them.

We have a Young Associates Division and the head of it is a tech person. He thought that the website was great. One of the reasons for redoing it was to reach out to a younger audience, and if the head of our Young Associates Division thought it was good and gave it a double thumbs up, then that was another surrogate measure - we met one of our objectives which is to appeal to a younger audience.

Are there any areas Suits & Sandals could improve?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

The company is Applied Research and Consulting. We are a research firm based in New York City. We do social research, which means public opinion polling, market research, employee research, and data analytics. We've been in business for more than 21 years.

What is your position?

I'm one of the two founding partners of the firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Suits & Sandals?

That's an easy one. Like many older companies, our website had been neglected for a long time. We're a small firm, and we're very referral based, so we often forget we have a website because we don't have much functionality – it's more of a billboard for us. However, Googling a company and checking out their website has become standard before choosing to do business with them, so we knew it was important that we put our best foot forward.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

It was primarily web design. However, we also had conversations around brand strategy and how we wanted to present ourselves to potential clients. As far as the website goes, we wanted something that looked clean and contemporary, and we didn't want it to be too complicated. We wanted it to be light and clean. We wanted to let people know that, "Yes, you came to the right place. This is the kind of research and consulting firm that you were told about. We are the people, and here's how to get in touch with us." They took that assignment and did a beautiful job. They seemed to get it. The best part: they were fun to work with throughout the entire process.

How did you come to work with Suits & Sandals?

My partner was referred to them by a mutual friend. We were impressed by their mix of creativity and business acumen. We felt they could perceive what we were trying to do and the best way to make it happen.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It was in the $10,000 to $50,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

It began in the summer of 2015, and if it slowed down at all that was totally our fault because we moved our office in October, and my partner and I kind of lapsed in some of our assignments. I think the actual project didn't wrap up until January 2016. But, they were always very quick at getting back to us with everything, we were kind of crappy clients in that they were usually waiting on us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

The hits we receive are way up, but I can't tell you much in terms of new sales or anything like that because, again, we primarily utilize the website as reassurance for people who have been referred to us. However, overall, everyone is enthusiastic about the site, and I get compliments on it all the time. We're no longer nervous that we're losing people who are referred to us because they're scared off by a crappy website.

What distinguishes Suits & Sandals from other providers?

One thing that I enjoyed about working with Suits & Sandals is how much they enjoy their work. Marketing and websites should be engaging and fun to a certain extent. They were great at bringing that to the project.

Another thing I guess I can point out is that their three main guys – Nick [Dank], Miles [Roxas], and Zach [Brady] – all played their roles very clearly. There was never any confusion about who was really in charge of what function. That's very helpful. It was always clear to both my partner and I who we should be talking to about what. We knew when it was a Miles issue, when it was a Nick issue, and when it was a Zach issue. They were all instantly available to communicate with either email or text or phone, and incredibly responsive.

Is there anything Suits & Sandals could have improved or done differently?

I think they could have done a better job with some of the copywriting on the site. In some sense that's an unfair criticism because we have a highly niche business, and we're the only ones who can communicate it effectively. I guess ultimately they did a good job of pushing us to clean up some of the text, which looking back, needed to be done.