Unusual

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the co-founders of Friction Labs. We make athletic chalk products to help athletes get better grips. Until recently, we’d sold pretty much exclusively to rock climbers, but we recently expanded into more traditional weightlifting, tennis, gymnastics, and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gush?

In mid-March when the pandemic hit, we started developing a new liquid chalk product that would be a combination of chalk and hand sanitizer. We tried to follow the FDA’s guidelines in creating chalk that’s as close as possible to genuine hand sanitizer. This would help gyms as they begin to reopen. 

We created the product and realized that we needed to market it. In order to get the word out, we’ve relied on Gush for social media marketing and video production.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Gush produced videos that have now been posted on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts.

They spearheaded the full-scope of production; first, they pitched us some concepts for approaching the product from a humorous angle. We reviewed those ideas and decided which ones to pursue. They then scripted videos for three different audiences.  They similarly handled everything after that, like the actual filming and post-production effects.

On top of the videos, they came up with hundreds of conversion assets that launched alongside the video campaigns.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people. Tim (Founder), Evan (Media Specialist), who managed our social media, and Chris

How did you come to work with GUSH?

Tim is the younger brother of a very close friend of mine. He was launching his agency at the start of the pandemic, and reached out to ask about any projects I might be interested in. We happened to be developing our product, so it was just the right timing.

How much have you invested with them?

The video production cost around $9,000, and their ongoing social media management and minor content creation comes to around $3,500 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in late March, and the project is still ongoing. They’re still running the ads which have launched, and they’re now working on expanding our audience-targeting efforts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has been exceptional, and we’ve had a fantastic experience with them. They’re incredibly detail-oriented and thorough in what they’ve produced. It’s obvious that they’re putting in a tremendous effort to make this campaign as successful as it can be. They’re creatives who are professional yet fun to work with. They have a keen sense of how to combine genuine comedy with a smart business approach that’ll successfully convert.

On the quantitative side, our target ROI was two dollars for every dollar spent on our ads. So far, they’ve been able to hit that. In terms of meeting deadlines and overall communication, they’ve been very, very good.

How did Gush perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been very good. We had an aggressive timeline, and while we didn’t hit it, it was okay. We maintained constant communication, and they succeeded in churning out content quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They know funny. If you want to take a funny yet fundamentally sound approach to ads, they’ve got you covered.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’ve could’ve improved their initial communication regarding the deliverables. We went into it thinking that we were simply going to receive three marketing videos. As the process went on, they were insistent that in order for them to be successful, there had to be a variety of supporting conversion assets.

Those conversion assets significantly boosted our campaigns’ performance, but I did wish that I knew the full scope of what I would be getting, earlier on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a really clear idea of what markets you’re trying to go after, and what level of comfort you have with trying to be funny and taking risks. Communicate your expectations to them, especially regarding your ROAS.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

After 30 years in the corporate world, I left my job and began traveling, working with nonprofits, and writing a book. The book I wrote is about showing gratitude to people in your life, which has led me to a new initiative to raise awareness about extending gratitude to loved ones.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gush?

I hired Gush to develop the branding around my initiative. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Gush created a brand for my initiative. They designed and developed a brand new website and helped with social media. The team also handles public relations. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Tim (Founder), who’s my main point of contact. I’ve interfaced with a few people, but for the most part, Tim manages the team.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $25,000 so far, and expect to go up to about $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in May 2020, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Gush is very unique in the way they approach creative projects. They collaborate very well and they’re fantastic listeners. Also, the feedback on the website has been fantastic.

How did Gush perform from a project management standpoint?

Tim has handled the project excellently. I’ve noticed a lot of fragmentation with other creative firms I’ve worked with, but he always knows who to delegate tasks to. It’s made working with Gush very easy. They’ve met all deadlines. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity, speed, and affordability all come to mind. I don’t have time to waste, and I trust them to get the work done. Also, Tim’s capacity to listen, collaborate, and organize a great team is outstanding. Gush is a wonderful, capable team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The one area for growth I would like to encourage is for Gush to appreciate how good they are. If they knew how good they were, they’d be more confident. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The right person to engage Gush is the one who doesn’t want to do traditional things. They’re too creative for that. If you want to think outside the box and be a little edgy, they’d be perfect.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder of Levy Electric, a direct-to-consumer electric scooter company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GUSH?

We started working with Gush in the spring of 2019 to establish our brand presence in New York City, just as we were getting started selling and renting out our electric scooters.

What were your goals for this project?

• Increase Brand Awareness
• Free PR (by creating interesting content)
• Differentiate from other scooter companies (through funny / edgy marketing tactics)
• Get people comfortable with riding scooters when they might otherwise be apposed to being seen on a vehicle like this.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We knew Tim from earlier projects we had known him to be working on. We thought his creativity and personality he brought to companies like ours was perfect for what we were looking to do.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We started by brainstorming ideas for the overarching brand we wanted to present ourselves as. Gush came up with several concepts that we reviewed together at the start of the kickoff. Once we had a solid theme around #ScooterStigma and "Own It", Tim started working on coming up with creative concepts that would elaborate on this theme.

Mainly we were working on engaging video content that would reach thousands of people in our target market through organic sharing. We were involved in the storyboarding along the way, and Gush was responsible for directing, producing, and hiring a crew to product the content.

What was the team composition?

Myself and Tim

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Through the content we produced we amassed over 10,000 collective youtube views. We had been mentioned in 4 major publications including The Observer & Mashable. Traffic to our website increased 300% in the weeks after this was released.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very fluid and collaborative. Gush had a strong vision but was flexible in taking our feedback into consideration.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Creativity, mainly in terms of coming up with very new ideas that other companies weren't doing. The branding / adversing aspect was far from vanilla, and the content got people taking about the company. Most agencies would not be bold enough to come up and execute the ideas that GUSH had.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I believe Gush could use additional members on their team so they can expand the scope of the services they provide.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Operating Officer of Scale

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a strategic communications advisory firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Develop our overall "look and feel"
• Build our Brand Identity
• Provide a wire frame for our website

SOLUTION

How did you find Unusual?

Referral

Why did you select Unusual over others?

• High ratings
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Unusual were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• BRAND IDENTITY 
• Brand Immersion 
• Discovery Call & Brand Questionnaire 
• Logotype & mark 
• Logo animation 
• Color palette 
• Typography 
• Photography style references 
• Iconography style references 
• Illustration style references 
• Comprehensive brand book / style guide Website Design
• Homepage 
• About Us page 
• Editable figma files transferred to client

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The entire Scale team were really happy with the logo and brand design. We're looking forward to launching our website soon!

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

They were very responsive to our needs and delivered everything exactly on time. We did need to go through some edits but they were very amenable.

What was your primary form of communication with Unusual?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Great culture/super smart and really like the approach of not presenting multiple options - clear and concise.

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

We got to a great place, and we are really happy with how everything turned out!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Fujimonk. We are a Web3 production studio for the metaverse.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Unusual, and what were your goals?

We needed help with our logo, symbols, animations, posters and branding in general.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were considering around 5-7 companies but chose Unusual because of their unique portfolio

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

1. We arranged a conference call and discussed our vision for the brand. 2. Unusual shared their views and offered all the services they could provide. 3. We choose what we needed most. 4. Unusual would share the process every day in a private chat until we got exactly what we asked for.

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

3 people, a Coordinator/manager, and two founders

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We conducted an experiment and shared their work with 10 people that have great experience in the NFT space. Everyone pointed out how unique and stylish our collection looked. The project is still in the works and should be launched within a couple of months.

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

They invited us to a private chat so we could communicate every single day.

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

I was impressed with the fact that they knew what to do before we even started explaining and sharing references.

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

There is always space to improve, but I do not know what more they could have done for us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

President of a startup Healthy Energy Product Company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Unusual, and what were your goals?

Deep Creative Rebranding

SOLUTION

How did you select Unusual?

Reviewed multiple options. Found Unusual.la to hold a clear edge in graphic design, differentiated messaging and copywriting, and jaw-dropping creative content

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Complete rebranding, renaming, graphic design, packaging design, copywriting, creative content, go-to-market strategy

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

graphic design, brand strategy, copywriting, go-to-market

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Eye-popping packaging and name/tag-line(s) that connect viscerally with our target audience

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

Weekly and ad-hoc meetings with point-person who efficiently and effectively manages the project staff

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

They were deep creative thinkers with the ability to create uncanny resonance with the target audience.

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

Expensive, but worth it!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a Custom Builder located in Castle Rock. I am the Marketing Specialist and handle our social media and marketing needs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Unusual?

Our website was created back in 2013 and was very outdated. We felt that as a Custom Builder the website needed some revamping and rebranding. Our team had a vision on what we envisioned for the website, but had limited skills to make it happen.

We reach out to Unusual and they exceeded our expectations on redesigning and rebranding our website. We have gotten so many compliments on it, our leads have grown tremendously and we feel that it finally represents who we are as a builder!

SOLUTION

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

We selected this vendor due to their professionalism, industry experience, punctuality, and ability to communicate.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We initially met to run through our vision, then met again once the website started (with a check-in) to see if we liked where it was heading and then had a final review.

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

We worked with two of the vendors team members

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has increased drastically with the amount of traffic and clicks we have from month to month.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everyone was easy to communicate with and we received frequent updates. We also received everything in a timely manor.

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

We were blown away by the knowledge they had about website design, user experience, and optimization. We feel like they took our vision and exceeded our expectations. With everyone being so friendly and happy to help, we are never afraid or hesitant to ask for favors or reach out!

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

Honestly, I do not have any complaints!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner of a wine brand in an emerging category.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gush?

We hired Gush to help us distill down the value propositions of our wine into one big idea to build a brand around.

SOLUTION

How did you select Gush?

Funny is money. Smart and funny is even better.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Create a brand in a new wine category is the broadest description of their work... to do this, they learned about the wine, developed the label, and wrote the copy. They will also take the product photography, too.

What was the team composition?

Tim, Evelyn, and Javier.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work isn't in the market yet, but I'm very excited to get it there.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent. When I gave feedback, they listened and adjusted.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are dedicated to taking a long-term view of their relationships with us.

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

Nope

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the creator of the Whisper Bidet – an attachable bidet that sells online directly to consumers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gush?

Whisper Bidets hired Gush for a hilarious video to drive online sales. Gush provided creative development, video production, and post-production.

What were your goals for this project?

To make a hilarious ad about not having toilet paper that drives online sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I know the owner of Gush personally and have worked with him in the past. He is fucking hilarious and I knew we could make something great together.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

I collaborated closely with Gush throughout the entire process. I wanted an absurd hilarious video and together we made exactly that. Gush turned around edits in a timely manner and always shared their POV on what was best for the work.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

We collaborated via Google docs and slides and stayed in touch on email and on the phone.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I'm very happy with the ad and I'm in the early stages of using it for marketing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had an amazing effective workflow. Our timing was super tight and together we were able to pull it off.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The video is hilarious!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Was hard to get Gush to respond to the same email chain lol. Every piece of communication was a new email.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an investor in and partner of a "house of brands" for hemp-based wellness products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gush?

To design an "out of the box" platform and campaign to distinguish ourselves in an insanely crowded space.

What were your goals for this project?

To explore creative approaches and tones for a couple of the brands.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We wanted help understanding how we should show up and capture the attention of our target market. That meant a tagline, tone of voice, and an understanding of how it would come to life.

What was the team composition?

Founder (Tim), co-founder (Jeff) and media specialist (Evan)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Gush blew us away with a range of creative options and approaches, each different from the rest and all of which we felt could differentiate us from the thousands of hemp-based CBD health & wellness products in the market.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They came up with amazing creative rooted in strategy that we felt would make people pay attention and like the brands.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They’re incredibly passionate about their ideas and expect to be trusted when making recommendations. If you like to lead and believe you know better then they do, it may not be the best fit.