Thinkbound Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive of EscaLoca.com, a website that serves as a library of local activities that people can do, such as escape rooms, axe throwing, or paint nights. If users want to celebrate someone's birthday or spend a day with friends, they can search for activities by proximity or category.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkbound Inc.?

We needed a team to develop our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thinkbound Inc. has designed and developed our website and provided technology consulting. We initially discussed the project and the best way to build it. I wanted to use WordPress, but they recommended React because it was more dynamic and allowed for the features I wanted. We decided to use React.

For the design, I told them I wanted something like Netflix, but I didn’t give them any logos or colors. They came up with everything themselves. They had a designer who put something together, and we went back and forth on certain elements and key features of the website. 

The website has a feature that allows users to fill it with local activities. Users can add businesses and build up their library. Thinkbound Inc. is still editing a few things and adding additional features.

What is the team composition?

I’ve only dealt with two people from Thinkbound Inc.: Alexander and Amy, who is a designer.

How did you come to work with Thinkbound Inc.?

I found them on Google. I reached out to several companies, and Thinkbound Inc. stood out because they were based in the same city as me. I knew exactly where their office was, so I trusted them because they weren’t going to scam me.

When I had my first call with Alexander, he told me different ways we could approach the project and plug-ins we could use on WordPress. He asked the right questions to ensure he was preparing the right product for me. He sent me a review of our call, questions, and answers to ensure everything was correct.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $10,000 CAD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2024, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has only been live for five days, and I'm waiting on certain items to promote it, so I don’t have any metrics yet. I've been testing the site, going through everything, and sending notes back and forth with Thinkbound Inc. 

Thinkbound Inc. has been great at responding to each edit. It’s more of a web application than a website, and there’s been a lot of back-and-forth. They’ve been great at working with me, ensuring they’re making the best choice. Alexander will chime in with suggestions; he really wants to make sure we make the right decisions to improve the site. 

How did Thinkbound Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication has been great. I can rely on them to get back to me within 24 hours. Alexander even emails on weekends. We use email and Zoom. Additionally, when I send Thinkbound Inc. a list of notes, they get back to me within 24–48  hours, either with questions or saying they've already started implementing the changes I asked for. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Alexander and Amy are both phenomenal to work with. I would also like to give a shout-out to the whole Thinkbound Inc. team; I've had a very good overall experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality and speed at which Thinkbound Inc. performs are impressive. They had a product ready to test within a month, and then we've had a month of edits, which is really quick. Moreover, they’ve been able to take my vision and make it a reality, which is difficult to do in a project this big. They’ve asked the right questions and delivered the project of my dreams.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any constructive or negative feedback for them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend them. If someone wants to work with them and it’s not the right fit, I trust Thinkbound Inc. will let them know and tell them what they should do instead. Thinkbound Inc. is very honest and looking to do the right thing. They’re not just there to take your money. I think they can help anyone, but if they can’t, they’ll let you know. Their work ethic is honesty and integrity.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing for Pegasus Group. We have several brands that fall under the hospitality bracket.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Thinkbound Inc.?

We hired Thinkbound to work on many different projects over the years. They created menus, posters, brochures, templates and many more.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The president of our company referred them and we have been very satisfied ever since.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Typically we would brief them on upcoming projects. We would provide all the necessary components and they would in turn create beautiful pieces for us that always hit the mark.

What was the team composition?

We have worked with the owner of the company and his designers over the years. We have enjoyed working closely with Amy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Many of their creative projects have been successful in our sales data. We have received many compliments over the years and see a positive shift in sales when their pieces are used.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our engagement has been great over the years and constantly improving. If any issues were brought up between workflow, they were quick to correct it and stay on top of it.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We are very impressed with their hard work and dedication to their clients and overall needs. They are eager to please and are very professional.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

At times we would like a quicker turnaround when we are working on strong deadlines. They have been great with this and have always come through with a follow up if needed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and owner of VOD Steel Buildings.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkbound Inc.?

We needed to implement an interactive and high-functioning website. Our goal was to have smooth and seamless pages where our clients could easily find our products and services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thinkbound first designed our company logo and website layout schemes. We provided all of the photos, content, and product information. They then implemented our website and developed all of our backend services and quote sheets. We also relied on them to build out all of the interactive maps on the website as well as integrate all of the necessary plugins. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve mainly worked with Alex (Founder & Director) and Amy (Graphic Designer & Web Designer).

How did you come to work with Thinkbound Inc.?

We just found them online. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2021, and it’s an ongoing relationship. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our conversion rate and leads have gone up by around 20%–30% since the launch of our new website. 

How did Thinkbound Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re pretty good at sticking to timelines. Ninety-nine percent of the time, Thinkbound is able to deliver on the deadline, except when some aspects of the project require additional work. Overall, though, their strategies and timeframes are great, and we’re really happy with their service. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

As an entrepreneur, it’s really important for me to get a hold of the people that I work with. It becomes very frustrating when a partner doesn’t get back to you in more than 72 hours, but I’ve never had that problem with Thinkbound. They’re very professional and quick to answer back. They also provide us with updates and explain which emerging technologies we can use to help the website grow. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve a little bit on their speed, but overall, they’ve done an amazing job for us. I would give them an A++ rating. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you go with Thinkbound, you’ll be working with a professional company that will go above and beyond for you. They’re a leading company in terms of technology, implementation, and strategies. They also have a wide range of products and ideas, and you will be extremely happy with your choice.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Director of the business. It is an online auction business, selling the contents of unpaid storage units throughout the United Kingdom.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Thinkbound Inc., and what were your goals?

We hired Thinkbound to develop our online auction website from scratch. Our website needed to be able register both buyers and sellers and run live online auctions. It needed to be able to take payments (processing debit and credit cards). Furthermore, we needed our website to send automated notifications to buyers and sellers whenever auctions go live and a further email when auctions are closing in order increasing views of each and every auction. Finally, we also needed to ensure all auctions are able to provide a full audit trail of results for all our sellers.

SOLUTION

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

We selected Thinkbound based on recommendations from our similar businesses. They offered excellent communication, exceptional rates and always ensured all queries were resolved in a timely manner. I can honestly say, there was no task too big or too complicated. Thinkbound exceeded our expectations every step of the way.

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

Our website needed to be able to capture Buyer/Bidder details and ensure they could bid on all auctions. It also needed to be register sellers, while ensuring sellers could list auctions new auctions in a simple and straightforward manner. Our system had to ensure all auctions could run in a live environment, be able to take bids from buyers and process bank card payments as auctions close.

Furthermore, we needed our website to send automated notifications to buyers and sellers whenever auctions go live and a further email when auctions are closing in order increasing views of each and every auction. Finally, we also needed to ensure all auctions are able to provide a full audit trail of results for all our sellers to mitigate their seller risk at the point of sale.

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

We were assigned a team of people. Their various resources applied to our project, led by Alexander.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have registered more than 4,600 bidders and over 40 sellers. Our website gets more than 2,000 views per day. An exceptional result in a very short space of time. Furthermore, because of the automated emails and reputation the website has built, each individual auction is receiving on average 1,000 views.

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

The Thinkbound team were very responsive to any queries. Each query would result in an email ensuring we knew an appropriate resource had been assigned to the issue.

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

We had a unique set of requirements for the Thinkbound team to overcome. We also operate in a new environment where rules and user functionality are constantly changing. They were able to assist us with all our needs and come up with solutions that we hadn't considered.

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

I can honestly say, every aspect of the website, overcoming obstacles, and providing excellent feedback were best in class!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the special events coordinator at Hellenic Home for the Aged, a nonprofit organization. I’m in charge of all the fundraising events, and I raise around $750,000 per year for the home.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkbound Inc.?

I was looking for a good, reliable, and professional printer and designer — I needed the full package.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I remember the first job Thinkbound did for us. We have a gala every November, and we print a 50–75 page booklet with our sponsors’ logos, pictures, and information about the home.

For that job, we went back and forth over email, and they sent me the booklet and the logos using Dropbox. During the process, they gave me their opinion and advice on how I should do the booklet. In the end, they delivered it right to my door two days before the deadline.

Recently, I needed a poster done for a walkathon. First, I made the poster myself and sent it to the home’s CEO. He didn’t approve of it; he told me he needed something more.

I called Alex (Founder & Director) and told him that I needed a poster in 2–4 hours because it was going to be published in our newspaper the same day. I sent him the information and the pictures, and he designed the poster from scratch and sent it back within two hours. When I sent it to the CEO, he really liked it.

Now, Thinkbound designs and prints all of what I need. This includes posters for events like the walkathon, golf signs, golf booklets, gala marketing materials, gala event booklets, and all of my Christmas cards. I just give them the information and the pictures, even at the last minute, and they make it happen.

What is the team composition?

I work with Alex and Amy (Senior Graphic Designer). Amy is always on top of everything.

How did you come to work with Thinkbound Inc.?

Thinkbound was recommended to me by the Hellenic Heritage Foundation, which is one of the biggest and most respected Greek organizations in Canada. I called them to ask who they were using, and they told me about Thinkbound. I called them right away, and Alex and Amy introduced themselves.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend between $10,000–$15,000 per year. Their prices are very reasonable, which is great because we’re a nonprofit organization.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together for around eight years — I wouldn’t change them for anything.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re very reliable, even when the deadlines are tight. They’ve saved me many times with their professionalism. My CEO is very hard to please, but I just tell Thinkbound what I need, and they deliver it just the way my CEO wants it — I’m very happy with them.

Every time I call them, they always answer the phone. If they can’t answer at that moment, they text me or send me an email, and they call back within ten minutes. I don’t have to wait or panic if I have an urgent matter.

In my position here, a lot of things are done at the last minute. Thinkbound is always there. On occasions, we go back and forth with little changes, which sometimes could be tiresome for them. However, they’re always there for us.

How did Thinkbound Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Thinkbound’s communication is 100% on point. The communication I have with Amy and Alex is amazing — I wouldn’t change them for anyone.

They’re able to beat the deadline 100% of the time, even if they have to work overtime or during midnight. They stay up until they finish the job. I’m very confident that I can depend on them.

We communicate mainly via email. Sometimes, I call them when I need to talk to them instead of going back and forth with various emails — I feel more comfortable that way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m very impressed with the fact that Thinkbound’s team is very up to date with technology. For the first project, I hadn’t even met them, and everything was managed through email — I was shocked.

I met Alex until he delivered the booklet. I couldn’t believe that it was completed without me even having to talk to them on the phone. They're just amazing and professional people, and they know what they’re doing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could do differently. Their prices, deliveries, and work are all professional.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and owner of Hammer Down Auctions Inc., a live auction company. We service the self-storage community in Florida. More recently, we’ve transitioned to the online aspect of the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkbound Inc.?

We’ve had the same website for all 16 years we’ve been in business. It’s geared toward live auctions, but there were two factors that compelled us to change: one is COVID-19, which put a damper on live auctions, and the other is the technical transformation of our industry over the past three years. Four years ago, 90% of our revenue came from live auctions, but only 10% of our revenue comes from live auctions today. This is reflective of our regional industry and the international industry.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our old website contained features for both sellers and buyers, and we maintained those perspectives in building the new site. Bidders who attend live auctions have access to the information they need: location, address, date, time, and the number of units up for auction. From a seller’s point of view, we have a “Services” link page where they can browse our offerings. They can also load their units and set up sales.

It also includes a new proprietary web application for displaying and hosting our auctions in Florida and other states. The application is powered by a third-party self-storage auction website; it’s a white-label solution.

What is the team composition?

I just worked with Alex (Founder & Director) from Thinkbound Inc.

How did you come to work with Thinkbound Inc.?

My website is powered by a third-party solution, and their president had a relationship with Thinkbound.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $25,000 with Thinkbound Inc.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April­–May 2021. Thinkbound just put the finishing touches on the site yesterday.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are now a full-fledged, full-service online auction company. If you went to my website two months ago, we would have looked like a regional company, but now we look like a national company. The change in our image is incredible. I’m so impressed.

Yesterday afternoon, when the website was completed, someone from the third-party provider walked me through it, and I was very impressed by all the features. It’s easy to use, straightforward, and user-friendly.

From a business perspective, the digital format opens my business to bidders and sellers on a national level, allowing me to bring in more clients. From an aesthetic standpoint, I love the look. The website is a brand-new revenue center.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the work that Alex and his team did on the site. The only word I can come up with is amazing.

How did Thinkbound Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They were impeccable. From the very beginning, we discussed what we needed and Thinkbound made it happen. We met by Zoom every week or two weeks to continue our dialogue about what we wanted to do. Corrections and revisions happened along the way, and I received exactly what I hoped to.

Thinkbound shared their screen and explained to us exactly what they were doing. On my first go-round through the site, I noticed a few minor issues, and those were addressed by the next meeting. Whether it was verbiage or functionality, anything that wasn’t working as expected was remedied immediately.

I can’t rate Thinkbound highly enough as far as how they worked with us and made this project happen.

What did you find most impressive about them?

If I had to name one characteristic, then it would be their expertise. Alex’s technical abilities were amazing. Their customer service is a close second. The whole team was receptive, taking my concerns seriously no matter how minor they were, and Alex was receptive. He took things to heart and made them happen, rather than sit on them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I like giving constructive criticism, but I honestly can’t think of anything that Thinkbound’s team could have done differently. The whole process was perfect — that’s the only way to put it. I couldn’t ask for improvement in any process or communication. They were overwhelmingly amazing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would certainly recommend them for a similar project to mine. As it relates to website transformation and service, they are experts. Alex is a whiz.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a sales and marketing manager at Box Me Up Inc, a self-storage facility.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkbound Inc.?

We contacted Thinkbound for web development services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially contacted Thinkbound to build our WordPress website. We have merchandise on the site, so the team implemented a merchant portal on the site so people can make purchases online. There’s also a tool that allows users to browse which lockers are available at which facilities.

Currently, Thinkbound is also helping us with our marketing, specifically with monthly blogs and our social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. They work on Google Ads and SEO as well. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Alex (Founder & Director), as well as with Nick (Strategist) and one other person. I’m sure there’s a larger team working on the project, but I mainly interact with those three.

How did you come to work with Thinkbound Inc.?

They’re a Candian company, which was important to me. We’d searched for some vendors in the US, but I found that since we’re a Candian company with facilities here in Canada, we needed a team that could build a site geared towards our audience. 

Once I narrowed in, I noticed Thinkbound had done quite a bit of websites, including storage websites, in the past, so I reached out to them to help us. 

How much have you invested with them?

I believe the website was around $12,000 CAD (approximately $9,500 USD). Now, we pay a monthly fee for the social media, which is $875 CAD (approximately $700 USD) per month. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re a brand new company, and the website just launched, so it’s tough to provide metrics. However, the site is very user friendly. We’ve only gotten positive feedback: everyone seems to like the overall appearance and functionality of it. It’s working well. 

How did Thinkbound Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

With COVID-19, it was challenging. There were no in person meetings, everything was over the phone. Thinkbound was extremely organized, however. Everything was scheduled well and the team was always prompt. They’re the ones who kept us moving along throughout the project. It was a good fit.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The overall communication and feedback was great. Thinkbound is quite thorough with the information they required, but it was broken down very well and easy to share with them. The schedule they created was also organized, and it was nice to be able to follow along and know where we would be at what time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. Thinkbound checks all of our boxes and provides everything we request. We’re quite satisfied.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Thinkbound really took control of the project because we didn’t have any experience with web development. They were the ones who are the professionals in this type of business, so they showed us how to make the most of the engagement. Anyone who doesn’t have much experience in web development would be in good hands with Thinkbound.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager of a self-storage company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkbound Inc.?

We needed an e-commerce site developed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We collaborated to determine the requirements and build the functionality of the website. They presented designs to us, and we provided most of the content.

They built a customized e-commerce website, fully integrated with our property management software. They integrated location services via Google and added workflows for abandoned carts.

They are about to start website optimization services.

What is the team composition?

Alex (Technologist/Director of Marketing & Technology) was the main contact. I briefly interacted with another person regarding content.

How did you come to work with Thinkbound Inc.?

I had worked with them at my previous company. We considered a few agencies but decided to go with Thinkbound because we knew they could deliver quality service.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in March 2020, and the relationship is ongoing. The development phase ended in December 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just launched last week. Feedback from users is that they can understand what we’re offering and easily navigate the checkout process. We are one of the first in our industry to present an entire checkout process online. 

How did Thinkbound Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We handled project management for the most part and communicated with them via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are customer-oriented, accommodating, and have a great track record. Alex provided helpful suggestions and guidance during the decision-making process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t finish within the original estimated timeline, and it felt a bit rushed at the end.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set up regular calls to discuss progress and upcoming tasks. Ask about using a tool for tracking progress and providing feedback/comments to help prevent anything from falling through the cracks.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a computer sales and repair company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkbound Inc.?

We were trying to improve our online presence to increase our sales. We wanted more repair business to come in.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thinkbound Inc. revamped our website to make it more attractive to customers. Their team is working to fix our SEO to increase our search ranking. They also assisted with our email marketing strategy.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with Alex (Founder & Director) as our main contact. Nick (Strategist) works on the SEO and email marketing side. Amy (Senior Graphic Designer) helps out with the design. There might be another person, but those are the ones I’m directly familiar with.

How did you come to work with Thinkbound Inc.?

A family member referred them to me.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent under $5,000 CAD (approximately $3,900 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with their team in September 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work is definitely noticeable. Our new website quickly drove in new business. Their SEO work has improved our ranking.

How did Thinkbound Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Their entire team is very professional and easy to work with. We have Zoom meetings and telephone conferences. There have been no communication issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their professionalism. They got things done promptly within the times that they stated.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at this point. Everything is smooth right now.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would highly recommend them. They’re very good to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of operations at Storage Protectors. We provide insurance program coverage for contents contained in mobile storage containers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkbound Inc.?

Our challenge was with a monthly recording requirement that our clients need to fulfill for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thinkbound built and now facilitates the API that our clients use to do the recording to the program. The team looks at our clients point of sale system, and they customize the information extraction from that system. From that, we can see when an insurance policy was sold, how long it’s been paid for, when the next payment is, and what kind of container is being covered. 

The engagement is ongoing as Thinkbound is constantly maintaining and perfecting these APIs. 

What is the team composition?

Alex (Founder & Director) is my main point of contact. I also work with Nick (Strategist), who Alex supervises. There’s a whole team behind them depending on what we need, whether it’s graphic arts, printing, or something else. 

How did you come to work with Thinkbound Inc.?

Thinkbound was doing work for another company that the owner of our company also owns, which is how we knew of them. 

How much have you invested with them?

Our ongoing contract is for about $50,000 per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since about June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thinkbound’s contributions have allowed us to grow our business significantly because we can now work with any point of sales system within our industry. We don’t have to reject any client based on not being able to work with the technology. It’s significant.

How did Thinkbound Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform beautifully. They built us an interface to communicate with them, and gave us a project management solution which allows us to organize on a case-by-case basis, which is really important for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Anybody can use project management software. What makes Thinkbound stand out is their ability to create solutions that don’t otherwise exist. 

If a client is using a point of sales system I’ve never heard of, I have to be able to somehow extract reporting out of that technology. Thinkbound is that bridge that allows me to do that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

With any engagement, you’d always like to see better and more timely communication and updates. That being said, the team is still far better than anyone else I’ve worked with. It’s hard not to compliment them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear on what you need as well as your expectations on the timeline for fulfilling the request.