Tanj

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company. 

I run a Web design agency located in Washington, D.C.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Tanj?

We've worked on a number of different projects with Tanj around branding, naming, and creative copywriting.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

I’ve worked with Tanj on a number of different projects in the past. They don't just do naming, but everything having to do with branding. They’ll come up with a slogan, help frame the message, and build the foundation of how clients would represent themselves online.

One of our projects was a startup where we raised more than a million dollars to build an online game. I worked closely with Tanj, and they came up with a new name for the company and product. They helped us craft our values and helped us build messages around the main idea. Tanj came up with a bunch of different name options and worked with us through several ideation sessions, during a couple months, to hone in on a specific name. When I started another company, Tanj helped me come up with the name for that company and ultimately named our first product.

What was your process in selecting Tanj with which to work?

I looked at a few different companies in New York and Los Angeles. The reason I picked Tanj was simply that they have quite a track record with their names. They’ve come up with some amazing names in the past, so I knew they had the experience to do the job I wanted. What ultimately sold them to me was their owner [Scott Milano]. He’s just a one-of-a-kind, fantastic person to work with. He’s so easy to talk to, really listens, smart, and has a lot of creative ideas. For me, Tanj is the total package.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

The most recent project was about $10,000. The other projects were a little bigger, around $20,000 each.

What was the timeline for their work?

The first project we did lasted about six weeks, and the other two projects took three or four months. That included everything from the initial creative ideas, three rounds of names, a couple rounds of taglines and polishing the brand.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you speak a little about the results of the project? 

Everything we've done with Tanj has worked out great. We've had a lot of positive feedback on the names, the brands, and how we're representing ourselves. Tanj is just a pleasure to work with, and they have knocked it out of the park on a number of projects. I've been blown away with the level of service that Tanj offers.

In general, the names were very well received, very on point and quite recognizable. I got a lot of great feedback on that. A few other companies working in the space noticed what I was doing, and I got some very unique business opportunities out of that.

Tanj does such a good job of focusing on what matters and then creating a concise representation. Tanj really condensed the ideas of every product that we’ve worked on into a simple, shareable message. They were very effective each time I worked with them.

Is there anything unique about Tanj that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

They really add a lot of polish to their work. They’re very clear about setting expectations for the project at the beginning. Tanj always overdelivers. One glance at their work, and it’s clear that they know what they are doing.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

My only regret is I can't afford to have Tanj on a retainer because we always have ongoing needs, and they can do a lot more than just naming, including copywriting and the overall brand picture. Tanj is great, and I plan on hiring them for all my future projects.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company.

Waggener Edstrom is a large, globally integrated communications firm.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I lead the North American health care practice.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Tanj?

We've worked together on several projects. The most recent project focused on differentiating a company’s brand and products across several different markets.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

We were facing several different challenges. We needed to rebrand a diagnostics lab company that was being dragged down by an old negative reputation. We needed to name a new surgical product for a large medical device company, We needed to develop a naming system for a new family of products. Finally, we needed a name for the launch of a new wellness service offered by a health insurance plan.

Tanj provided full-service naming including research, creative concept development, linguistic verification and some basic trademark and viability evaluation. In addition, their team provided significant expertise in helping clients through the naming process within organizational hierarchies and constraints.

What was your process in selecting Tanj with which to work?

Tanj was initially recommended by a former client and friend. We did our first project, and I was hooked on the service and quality of their work. I couldn’t find that kind of quality at that price anywhere else.

Can you provide a ballpark figure for the size of the work they’ve done for you?

We’ve spent somewhere between $35,000 and $70,000 working with Tanj.

When did the project begin, and when was it completed?

We’ve completed multiple projects with Tanj, usually lasting from three to six months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics, metrics, or general feedback to show the quality of their work?

Their work is of the highest quality. Deadlines are met on or ahead of schedule. Their work product is concise, sharp, and creative. Tanj consistently exceeds expectations. They deliver the quality of the large global agencies at the price of a small boutique.

Is there anything unique about Tanj that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

I appreciate Tanj’s client service. Their team is adept at uniting disparate views and helping create alignment on naming approaches. They are able to keep clients on task and are very responsive and collaborative as ideas build during a discussion. They enjoy their work and always bring a positive energy to assignments and fresh insights that matter.

Looking back on their work, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

I rarely find a team who exceeds in all parameters, but Tanj does. They are an excellent and trusted partner for me. So, no, I don’t think there is anything either of us would do differently.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company. 

We are an online ordering platform connecting restaurants with distributors, enabling restaurants to manage all of their supply chain logistics online.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I’m the co-founder and chief executive officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Tanj?

We knew that we wanted to make sure that everything about us – our business model, our platform, our name – was done right from the beginning. When it came to naming, we knew that was something we absolutely had to get right at the start.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

The first project we worked on was the actual name of the company. We brainstormed on our own, and then had some brainstorming sessions with Tanj. We explained our concept and our mission, and Tanj presented us with a range of options and were great about explaining the various types of names we could have. We ultimately picked TradingTable, a name that we’ve really grown into. 

The naming was the most important project, but we've worked with them in several other areas as well, including taglines and copywriting.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

We spent $10,000 for the naming. The tagline and copywriting were in the $2,000 to $5,000 range.

What was the timeline of the project?

The naming project took about three to four weeks. The time needed for the tagline was a little bit shorter than that. We also worked on brochures and website copy, which did not take much time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Is there anything unique about Tanj that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

Anything to do with words, we go to Tanj. What's great about Tanj is we can come into a meeting with them and be discombobulated and disjointed, throwing out half-formed thoughts about where our business is and where we want it to be, and they're able to take those thoughts and turn them into beautifully formed words and ideas. 

Another thing was when we started looking at companies, we came across some that were charging as much as $50,000 for a name. Once those companies start working with major brands, they don’t even want to talk to little guys like us. I definitely did not get that feeling from Tanj. They treated us like we were their number one client, and you don’t find that too often.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

No. Tanj has been awesome.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company.

Studio Sanderson is a branding agency that works with growing companies, who are looking to tell a more effective story. We begin on a strategic level, and then ensure that the brand identity is consistent across all a company's touch points.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I'm the creative director and principal.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Please describe the scope of their work.

I've brought in Tanj on a consulting basis for a number of my projects. The scope of their work depends on the project. I've often brought them in for their naming services. The clients have varied from startups to established corporations looking to name a new product.

I've also worked with Tanj on writing the articulation of a brand story. In some instances, the scope of their work is very specific, and I just need Scott's [Milano, Managing Director of Tanj] skill as a wordsmith on a few particular items. Other times, we will fully collaborate on the brand story together as a team. 

SOLUTION

What was your process for selecting Tanj with which to work?

I've known Scott personally for a long time now. We both had backgrounds in the brand consultancy world before we created our own companies. 

As far as why we choose to work with them, I would say there are lots of writers around, but it's a unique combination to find a team of writers, who understand brands the way Tanj does. There are plenty of writers in advertising, who can write some great lines of copy but, with branding, you’re coming from the center of the business as opposed to just creating an ad. It requires a deep understanding of a business, and that's why I definitely try and use Scott and his team as much as possible.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

Our yearly spend is probably somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000.

When did the projects with Tanj begin, and are they ongoing?

We’ve been working together for about three years now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics, metrics, or general feedback to show the success of a project?

Our most effective collaboration has probably been on a luxury home development in upstate New York. While the development was very nice, there was very little to distinguish it from hundreds of other similar sites. We worked together to build a vision and a story about why this development was unique.

The project has been extremely successful. Out of 26 lots, they sold 15 within a year, which is a lot better than many of their competitors. It's been featured in The New York Times, the New York Observer, and the Wall Street Journal. The story we crafted tapped into the zeitgeist of the times where people, especially in New York City the primary market, are very interested in locally sourced products, farm-to-table restaurants, and so on. All these things are very much a part of the culture of upstate New York, and we were very pleased with how the whole story came together. 

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

The number one thing, as I stated earlier, is their deep understanding of branding from a business perspective. In addition, Scott has a great manner for this business. He's very curious and adept at getting to the bottom of things. As you can imagine, in this environment half the challenge is being able to ask the tough questions and get answers out of the clients or stakeholders in order to get to the real essence of the problem. Scott is great at that. There are not many people who have the ability to mix the research and creative aspects of branding, as well as Scott does.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

No. My only regret is that we don't work with them more.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Few & Far

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sells luxury outdoor travel experiences around the world and operates luxury eco-lodging

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Name Sarah & her co-founder's new travel venture

SOLUTION

How did you find Tanj?

Referral

Why did you select Tanj over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Tanj were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

They worked with us to develop a trademarkable name for our new travel business. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Successful launch and build up of a brand to begin scaling

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

Yes they did - we ended up with a great name, and the process was really fun! 

What was your primary form of communication with Tanj?

Virtual Meeting

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

They came up with a variety of names for us to review and choose from and review. 

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

Not that I can think of. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP Design of Chestnut

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Enterprise insurance software

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Company naming

SOLUTION

How did you find Tanj?

Referral

Why did you select Tanj over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Tanj were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Our engagement started with discovery calls during which Tanj learned about our business and goals. They moved into a generative phase where they came up with many names using a powerful and intuitive framework for evaluating the proposed names. We went through a few rounds of this before doing more deep evaluation around URL and trademark viability. They then connected us with a trademark lawyer and domain broker at the end of the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Co-founder approval of the name

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

They were very responsive to our feedback and delivered high quality work according to the project timeline.

What was your primary form of communication with Tanj?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their level of taste and rigorous approach to a subjective challenge was impressive.

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

N/A