Top Notch Dezigns®

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communications and outreach manager for a nonprofit organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns®?

We were looking to reboot our website. We were looking to increase our brand awareness and refresh our image. Our old website looked a bit dated, so we wanted our new site to match the standards of other nonprofits.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch Dezigns® designed and developed a new website for us on WordPress. The team used a lot of the data that was already on our old website. We started with a conversation with the marketing and development teams, where we talked about the options we had and the budget we were looking for. We gave them our old website and some credentials to access it, along with any documentation they needed. The team used a template, but most of the site was new.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Derek and another teammate. This other teammate was later replaced by Val.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns®?

We found them through a Google search. I saw their reviews on a couple of different sites, and all the reviews tended to be relatively positive. Top Notch Dezigns® specializes in nonprofits and organizations with a social betterment mission behind them, so we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2022–February 2023. The whole process took around 3–4 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We heard from funders and board members that the website was easier to navigate, and the information they were looking for was easier to find. The quality of Top Notch Dezigns®'s work met our expectations.

How did Top Notch Dezigns® perform from a project management standpoint?

Throughout the project, we had weekly calls with updates on where things stood. If they needed any additional information, they would ask, and we would deliver. Our communication was regular, and we could also reach out to them whenever we needed to. The project took longer than expected, but that was on our side as well. The team was timely and quick. The deliverables met our expectations. Moreover, everything was on budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There wasn’t much of a firewall between marketing and product development. My main point of contact was also a marketing manager. Having a project manager solely devoted to project management and not necessarily fundraising or marketing struck me as a little odd at first. However, I had no qualms with them personally.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Prepare any materials you think they’ll need for the development of a website ahead of time. Also, be ready to review project proposals quickly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re the producer and the animation supervisor of an animation studio that provides 3D animation services for video games, advertising, and feature films. We’re a 100% remote studio that has been in business since 2020 and works with different studios on different projects. We especially work with 3D animations and sometimes rigging. We started with small projects and then grew. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns®?

We were lacking a space where we could showcase our work. We contacted Top Notch Dezigns® to design and develop a website for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch Dezigns® designed and developed our WordPress website. They used our existing colors, and we already had a design deck that served as a reference, but they needed to tweak a lot of things for the new homepage design. They sent a few alternative versions, and we chose the main one. They also helped us with marketing by giving us suggestions regarding design and what to put on the website. It was a collaborative effort.

What is the team composition?

We mainly communicated with Mariana. From time to time, a senior business developer joined the calls, but it was just for supervision.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns®?

We did some research and evaluated different companies to make a website. Top Notch Dezigns® was one of the first to get back to us. They were very clear about the process and understood what we needed. We jumped on a call with them very quickly.

Mariana was also a key person in this process because she was very open to hearing about us, wanted to know everything, and was very responsive. It was quite simple because I sent 5–10 quotes to see who we could work with, but Top Notch Dezigns® answered quickly and were very open and responsive. It was an easy choice. Additionally, for what we needed, they were the best solution in terms of the pricing.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $5,000–$6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June–September 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We can already go to clients with the website, which is a relief. However, we haven’t made much use of the website yet, so it’s too soon to have metrics.

How did Top Notch Dezigns® perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was perfect. We had weekly meetings via Google Meet, and in every meeting, we had something new to talk about. We almost never waited for something, and everything went very well. We had many chances to give feedback and comments on their designs, and everything was addressed from one meeting to the other. It was a very smooth process.

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

We want to give Mariana a shout-out.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Top Notch Dezigns® was great all around. They were very open, friendly, and professional, and the combination of those three things made the experience very smooth. It was easy for us because we didn’t have to do much from our side; we just had to be there and talk to them. They understood perfectly what we needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only issue we found was that we couldn't accept their offer to host the site. They had a package that included hosting and support, but we didn't need support for the website, so the cost was a little overkill for us. There wasn’t any way to split that, and that was the only reason we weren't hosting with them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you need to build something that isn’t very big that you can get in a few months, I suggest going with Top Notch Dezigns®. If you have something pre-designed, it will help a lot. Our deck made it easier to start the website because it was something they could build from. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT director of CADCA, a nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia. Our organization trains coalitions on preventing drug abuse, overdoses, and alcohol abuse. We have over 3,000 coalitions worldwide. In my role, I’m responsible for ensuring the organization's technologies flow efficiently and effectively. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We hired them for a website design and development project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch Dezigns has designed and developed our website using WordPress. Initially, they helped us determine what we wanted for the site and designed it. We requested an area on the site for our resources and activities, such as webinars and training, and Top Notch Dezigns has built that for us. 

The team has built a contact page where users can send in requests. Top Notch Dezigns has also added a training section; since we initially didn’t know how we wanted it to look, they helped us create the design. Currently, the website is finished, and we are within the one-month support period offered by Top Notch Dezigns. 

What is the team composition?

We work directly with our project manager, Val (Business Development Manager), and her manager. Top Notch Dezigns also has a team of at least three developers working on our project. 

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

Initially, we sought company recommendations, and I did a Google search of the top 10 web designer companies; Top Notch Dezigns was on that list. We did an RFP for our project and shopped it to about 10 vendors. From there, we narrowed the list to about three vendors, including Top Notch Dezigns. We chose them because their RFP response was great, and they offered a discount for nonprofits.  

During our first meeting with Top Notch Dezigns, they felt like a warm organization. Val was very receptive and open. Moreover, we loved that Top Notch Dezigns were new, young, and innovative. Our organization has been around for a while, and we were stuck in some traditional views of what a site should look like. Some examples Top Notch Dezigns showed us were amazing — updated and trendy, which we were looking for. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $20,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2023, and the engagement is ongoing. We’re currently in the last week of our support phase.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve gotten many compliments about the site from vendors and other partners. Since we have less than a month’s worth of data, we don’t have any quantitative feedback yet. Still, I’ve been doing website launches for 25 years, and this is the best website design project I’ve ever done, including those with large companies. Top Notch Dezigns’ quality is truly top-notch; the website looks very good and is smooth, intuitive, thought-out, and creative.

Moreover, we’ve had a very interactive process with Top Notch Dezigns. They haven’t just helped us build the website; they’ve helped us develop its concept and look. We’ve given them ideas, and they’ve provided suggestions. 

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Initially, we gave them a very aggressive deadline of 90 days, and the team delivered the completed website in 87 days. We’ve used email communication, weekly meetings, and phone calls throughout the project. Currently, we have weekly meetings to address our support needs.

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

Val knocks it out of the park — she’s on top of things. Val sends us reminders before a meeting, takes excellent notes during the meeting, and then sends meeting notes five minutes after it’s over with the next steps. Moreover, she answers our questions. 

When we were discussing the website’s development and got stuck on something, she called her manager, and he jumped right in and was very helpful. He provided us with advertising and noticed additional tasks we hadn’t considered. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Top Notch Dezigns is very personable; we don’t just feel like another client with them. The team has made us feel special and gives attention to our needs. Overall, Top Notch Dezigns gives off a warm, personalized feeling.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I’d have them improve; they check every box. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hire Top Notch Dezigns right away and open a communication path with them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Mercury Control Mechanical LLC, an HVAC company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We’ve hired Top Notch Dezigns for branding services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch Dezigns created a few logo options for us to choose from. We gave them an idea of what we were looking for, and they took it from there. 

What is the team composition?

We invested around $1,500. 

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

Top Notch Dezigns was a referral. We gave them a call and liked their ideas, so we decided to move forward with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We primarily worked with three people, including a designer. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between May–June 2023. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They created a beautiful logo for us that we’re thrilled with. The result was exactly what we had in mind. We’ve had incredible external feedback about the new logo as well. We’ve also raised our professionalism with the new branding and have been able to attract bigger clients. Top Notch Dezigns provided the highest quality work. 

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

They stayed on budget and delivered everything they promised. We typically communicated via email or phone calls. 

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

We’d like to shout out Derek and Val (Business Development Managers). They were terrific to work with, and if we ever have to design another logo, we’ll work with them again. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team went above and beyond for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that we can come up with at this point. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Tell them what you want, and they’ll be able to get the job done for you. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing coordinator at DreamMaker Funding, a mortgage broker for home purchases.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We needed Top Notch Dezigns to build a website. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch Dezigns built our website by mirroring our headquarters’ website while creating our own branding and unique touch. We started off with a discovery phase and then began the process of building out the website. They used WordPress. They also provided SEO services and use a video hosting site for our video. 

We used our headquarters’ website backend coding as our basis. We built it from there by changing the content, the graphics, and adding special features including a video we recorded per their suggestion. The main feature is our endless loop video that plays anytime a user comes onto the website. We have a loan officer page where each time you click the page, it will show a different loan officer, It’s always rotating. We also have a feature where our pictures scroll rather than being stagnant. 

What is the team composition? 

We work with Val (Business Development Manager) and Derek (Senior Business Development Manager) who have their own business development team behind them. 

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

I’d like to give a shoutout to Val. She’s been great.  

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

They were referred by our headquarters. 

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost $8,000-$9,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between March–July 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re doing a call campaign for one of our efforts and have been driving a lot of traffic to our newly launched website. The quality of Top Notch Dezigns is very meticulous, precise, and detail-oriented. Everyone loves how the video on our website adds a personal touch and how it distinguishes us from our headquarters. 

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

They were really fast in responding to our inquiries and making any changes or fixes. They met deadlines and stayed on budget. We communicated via video calls, phone calls, and email. We had weekly meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed by how they went above and beyond to help us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the beginning, the communication was a little difficult but that was worked out. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Partner up with Val and Derek. They’re amazing. Ask for an update every day or every other day. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Ambassadors for Christ Network (AFCN), and we put on shows that give real meaning to various holidays we celebrate such as Christmas and Easter. We also give out toys, and we minister to children in the library.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We wanted to have a web presence so that people could easily reach and contact us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch Dezigns created a WordPress website from scratch, and they ensured that our identity was perfectly captured in our platform. They also helped us show how our work contributes to fulfilling the work of the Lord. On top of that, they enabled people to donate and contact us during events. They designed our logo and gave us many options to choose from. The team continues to support us with our needs.

What is the team composition?

We’re working with over seven people from Top Notch Dezigns, including their business manager, designer, and developer.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I found them on Google, and they seemed really nice. They listened to what I wanted and showed me how they would tackle my project. In the end, we chose to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in March 2020, and we continue to collaborate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has definitely increased our site traffic.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Top Notch Dezigns has great communication skills; they always keep me in the loop about the project’s status, and they set up weekly appointments with me. We communicate through email, phone calls, and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism and process have been impressive. They really care about my business, and they care about producing quality work that matches what I’m trying to achieve.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any complaints about Top Notch Dezigns.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest about what you need because they’ll be able to produce what you want based on what you give them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and sales operations specialist at Cassone, and we’re a leader in New York’s modular space. We sell modular buildings, office containers, office trailers, ground-level storage containers, guard booths, and anything that needs space on a construction site. 

I’m in charge of lead generation and making sure our sales team is fully supported. I also manage our IT and digital marketing efforts. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We grew from a mom-and-pop company to a five-location corporation — we were expanding rapidly. We were very fortunate that many people knew our brand, and we were relatively recognizable. 

However, we needed a website that reflected our growth and would take our business to the next level. One of our main competitors was buying up a lot of our competition, and they operated on a national level. With that, we wanted to be able to compete with them and ensure that we keep our base in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. We aimed to showcase ourselves as a significant player. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch has developed our website from the ground up. They’ve built the new site on WordPress and made it mobile-friendly, speedy, and capable of handling the amount of information that we have. 

Each of our products has 10–12 variations, and their presentation is photo-driven because there’s a lot of floor plans involved. We have a lot of different specifications and forms for our products, and all of those are necessary to create leads.

The website has taken about two years to develop because we’ve had many scope changes. Still, they’ve been able to accommodate us on that. Our website has been launched, and Top Notch currently provides us with digital marketing services. 

What is the team composition?

Derek (Founder & CEO) is my main point of contact, but I’ve touched base with at least 10 people.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I found them through Google. 

As a well-known brand, we get a lot of outreach from big digital marketing companies from California and elsewhere. However, because we started as a mom-and-pop shop, we wanted to make sure that we worked with someone local. 

There’s nothing better than seeing someone in person or being able to pick up the phone and talk to someone instead of constantly communicating through emails. Top Notch was the one that hit that mark since they were only about half an hour away from us. 

They took their time and did their research before meeting with us. They asked excellent questions — it was a complex industry to learn. They proposed a website development package with an ongoing digital marketing plan, which made sense for us, so we hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $60,000–$75,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2019, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our leads increased by 78% upon the website’s launch. That’s a considerable increase because we’ve barely received any prospects from our old site. I attribute this improvement to Top Notch. 

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is amazing. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a huge year for us because many people needed storage for classrooms and similar things. We also serviced COVID-19 sites with our units. 

Because of the increased workload and the pandemic situation, I couldn’t focus and always had to put the project on hold. However, Top Notch is always working in the background and has kept the project moving forward. 

Working with them, I know I have a partner instead of a mere vendor. Whenever we’ve had any changes or new ideas, they present us with a cost-effective and creative solution. They don’t just agree and charge us with exorbitant fees — they want to do the best option. They bring us a different perspective; we feel like Top Notch is our family. 

We communicate through emails and weekly calls. After our calls, I receive a to-do list, and I can work with that with our owners. 

Additionally, unlike other agencies, I’ve been talking to the same people from Top Notch for the past three years. That’s a nice feather in their cap because that means they’re good to their employees and have a high retention rate. I value that in an agency. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Any agency can have a great presentation, work ethic, and designs, but the analysis of whether their efforts are working is important. Ultimately, we’re here to make money and have a bigger presence. Top Notch understands all of that.

They’ve provided us with so much detailed analysis of our industry — they’ve come in and brought what our competition is doing. They are everything I’ve been looking for in an agency. 

We like that they’ve created a clear roadmap for us. We always know what step we are in throughout the website development process, and we also understand the reason and goal of each task. 

What sets them apart from other agencies is they take our problem seriously and see the project’s whole scope. They don’t just see a website development project, unlike those larger agencies we’ve spoken with who barely gave us any attention. I appreciate that Top Notch is taking us seriously. 

Lastly, they understand B2B marketing — it isn’t all about the visuals, although that’s also important. I’m more focused on conversion rate optimization and making sure that we will have the end product that we need. I also appreciate that we can springboard into digital marketing services with them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. I’m happy with their services — it’s all good. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They provide an interview in the beginning, including a competitor and company review. With that, give them as much information as possible to allow them to do research. They’ll listen to the information you provide. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re WithPride HVAC.  In addition to heating and air conditioning, we also provide plumbing services. I’m the sales manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We were looking to get online. We needed a website to be professionally built and gain social media exposure.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

 They developed a WordPress website. We provided the information they required, such as the logo, and they brought it together. Now they host and maintain the website.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Derek (Founder & CEO).

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

We’re looking online for a local developer. Top Notch Dezigns was within a 10-minute drive, so it was easy to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $800–$900 per year (approximately $2,000 in total).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2018 and we’re still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We get more exposure. Many customers have said that they got information from our website. We do link to the site on social media, so customers find us that way, and we get inquiries directly through the website.

We’re happy with their ongoing maintenance as well.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Derek made sure that development moved at a steady pace so we could meet the timeline that was promised. We met in person, but there were times when we had phone calls as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re happy with the website. It’s up and running, they maintain it, and it’s never a headache for us. It doesn’t go down and we get positive feedback.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing stands out.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You have to be ready to sit down and either meet face-to-face to express what you expect. You also need to invest your time as well so nothing gets lost in the process. Otherwise, you’ll surpass the revisions. They can’t do everything themselves.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing coordinator for a construction management company. We have subsidiaries including a development firm and an engineering firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

Our engagement with Top Notch involved two subsidiaries. As startups, both companies needed websites.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch developed both websites from scratch. Their team built the sites on WordPress.

What is the team composition?

I worked closely with Derek (Founder) and infrequently talked with a couple of other people.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I found them through a simple Google search. One factor that pushed us to choose Top Notch Dezigns was that they're a minority-owned company like us. We wanted to give back and keep it in the community.

How much have you invested with them?

For both of the websites, we spent around $8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in November 2018, and it wrapped up in September 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Top Notch developed the websites in a short timeframe, which was good. It took them less time to build two new websites than it took to revamp our other platform. Their customer service was great too.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Derek and I had weekly conversations and mostly communicated over the phone. The calls were consistent, and they rarely missed a date. As far as communication, I’d rate them a 10/10. If I had a question, they got back to us within the next few days. I never felt a disconnect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their teamwork was their most impressive quality. We could tell that they had a team behind the scenes in which everyone had their specific role and worked together well. No one was in a silo. They had group meetings to figure out the best way to implement our websites.

Are there any areas they could improve?

These were smaller websites but there could’ve been more creativity in the process. A collaborative, creative session would’ve been valuable.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared for the weekly calls. By preparing for them, they'll be more effective. Make sure to contribute to the process too.