The Value Engineers

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Consumer & Marketing Insights of Bulk

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We sell a broad range of protein powders and other sports nutrition and health supplements. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire The Value Engineers to accomplish?

• Develop a quantitative consumer segmentation
• Provide a blueprint for rolling this segmentation out across the business

SOLUTION

How did you find The Value Engineers?

Online Search

Why did you select The Value Engineers over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Smaller firm that felt incredibly dedicated to our project

How many teammates from The Value Engineers were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

TVE were tasked with looking at the sports nutrition market across Europe (where we operate), deriving the size of the opportunity universe in the category, and pulling apart different types of consumer segments based on behavioural, attitudinal and purchasing patterns. 

Key deliverables included: 

• Delivery of the segmentation with full methodological review 
• A series of decks outlining the segments in varying levels of detail 
• A series of embedding workshops to help seed the segmentation across the business 
• A consumer typing tool to allocate people within the segmentation

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project delivered 7 consumer segments across 3 different cohorts (inner core, outer core, stretch)

Given the nature of the project as a segmentation delivery and embedding exercise, the measurables are somewhat difficult to define. I would say the biggest testament to the quality and impact of the work is that the entire business is laser focused on the consumer segments from everything to our core brand pillars, to creative briefs, to howe we approach the new product development pipeline. Our segments are in common parlance across the business every day with people referring to "focused gainers" or "active athletes" all the time. 

We include a segmentation workshop in our new employee onboarding experience that gets people up to speed on who our customers are from their first week with the company. 

The embedding workshops were an enormous success and stakeholders from entry level to the C-suite coming together to learn and workshop how best to approach different types of segments. 

We were able to type consumers within our database and subsequently analyse purchase behaviours at the segment level - this has been incredibly important in commercialising our segments. 

We are in the process of launching a CDP and our consumer segmentation will be at the heart of future personalisation efforts.  

Some work products required retooling to make more fit for purpose for different functional teams, however it was not in the SOW for TVE to provide functional materials.

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

Everything was delivered on time and within budget. 

The best thing about working with TVE was that we felt incredibly well taken care of. We were very validated in our decision to work with them, as we felt like we had a genuine partner who was invested in our success, rather than a partner who would hand us a deck at the end of 3 months and then never hear from them again. We still have open communication with the project team (who check in every once in a while to see how things are progressing with the segmentation). The TVE team seemed to enjoy the work and the collaboration with Bulk stakeholders, which was really important to feel from our, the client's, perspective. 

Whenever we had a problem or a question, there was always a genuine curiosity to try and understand our perspective - TVE didn't feel like a vendor who was coming in and telling us how to run our business, but a partner who felt like they were on our team. 

What was your primary form of communication with The Value Engineers?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

The work was incredibly high quality, but the level of service was even better. There was a scrappiness to the team that made you feel like they were in the trenches with you, always willing to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. Everyone we worked with at TVE was smart, kind, and seemed genuinely passionate about our project. 

Another really impressive element was how the segmentation work made the jump from a significant piece of big data analysis, to a really tangible and accessible strategic framework for how we approach thinking about and activating different types of customers. Their presentation materials weren't just data dumps, and while everything was intensely data driven, it felt like they nailed the human element (ultimately what a segmentation is...) and the strategic implications as well. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something The Value Engineers could have done differently?

Honestly, there aren't any major improvements I can think of - communication and delivery were both excellent.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Brand Director of a hospitality & leisure company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Creates extraordinary holidays for UK consumers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire The Value Engineers to accomplish?

• Review and reframe our brand strategy and target market to ensure they were fit for purpose
• Define market & category map
• Evolve brand ambition and vision
• Develop short - medium term strategy (incl 18mth roadmap)

SOLUTION

How did you find The Value Engineers?

Previously worked with them

Why did you select The Value Engineers over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned
• Previous experience with past company and they had also worked on this brand before

How many teammates from The Value Engineers were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Our current reality - situational analysis (Stakeholders, Brand, Product, Business, Guest & Competitors)
• Defining our future - defined market (category map), simplified target and defined ambition & vision
• Short term strategy - Must Win Battles, Jobs to be Done, 18mth Roadmap 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clear market map - where we sit in the market, who our key competitors are, and where we want to target in the future

Brand ambition, vision & positioning - a rallying cry for the business to align behind and provide clarity for all brand, marketing and product activities

18 month roadmap - to drive strategic & tactical priorities to achieve brand value growth

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

The teams always delivered on time, ensured expectations were successfully managed, and outputs clearly agreed.  They always responded promptly to any queries or questions, and were truly thought provoking and honest with their responses.

What was your primary form of communication with The Value Engineers?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Great strategic expertise, experience of working on successful brands and the ability to achieve credibility with senior stakeholders.

A combination of different team members giving valuable perspectives.

The ability of the team to present their work in an effective and also engaging manner to not only the core project team but also wider stakeholders and teams, inspiring them to believe in the outputs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Senior Manager, CPG Innovation of a retail company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

uplifts people's day through coffee and connection

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire The Value Engineers to accomplish?

• understanding an evolving CPG category and how to best compete and position ourselves in an authentic, differentiated way

SOLUTION

How did you find The Value Engineers?

Referral

Why did you select The Value Engineers over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from The Value Engineers were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

global category and consumer research in an under-served yet fast-growth category that was beginning to be selected by younger generations as their category of choice in our competitive space.  our goal was to understand the landscape, consumer perceptions and attitudes, how we could create a lasting and differentiated proposition to win with these consumers, and ultimately a story/narrative to help dispel ingrained negative beliefs about the product category and the appeal for our brand in playing in it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

we had a comprehensive and clear research report with detailed recommendations on areas we could/should focus, as well as a clear revised story to help shift key leader opinions in our organization.

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

yes very on top of the day to day management, always on time and responsive.  very collaborative.

What was your primary form of communication with The Value Engineers?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

the scale of their capabilities and level of their work for what felt like a very small boutique agency in terms of size.  felt very open, natural and conversation and meant that we could establish trust early.

Are there any areas for improvement or something The Value Engineers could have done differently?

none that I can think of

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the insight lead for financial services at M&S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Value Engineers?

We needed support conducting a research project to understand customer responses to various credit products. This was to help us understand the appeal of propositions we'd designed and how customers would use them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Value Engineers ran a qualitative and quantitative research project for the financial services part of M&S. They handled everything: survey design, recruitment, fieldwork, data analysis, focus group moderation, and a full debrief.

What is the team composition?

I dealt with four teammates from The Value Engineers over the course of the project, but there were likely other team members working in the background. We worked with a small team.

How did you come to work with The Value Engineers?

I was aware of The Value Engineers' work from a previous company I worked with. They have delivered several insight projects for M&S in the past. For this project, we did a two-agency pitch. The Value Engineers put forward a strong proposal that met our requirements well, particularly the aspect of delivering under very tight timeframes.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with The Value Engineers from July–August 2025 on this specific piece of work. Their work with M&S goes back further.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Value Engineers delivered a difficult project in a short timeframe. Their planning and communication were excellent. The team delivered on time and included the key information we needed.

How did The Value Engineers perform from a project management standpoint?

Our primary form of communication was email and Microsoft Teams meetings. The project lead also spent time in the office with us, which was particularly valuable in kicking things off well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Value Engineers took the time to understand our business and its context and represented our customers' needs really well. For this specific project, the timings were a real challenge, but they worked cleverly and flexibly to make sure it was possible. They always kept an eye on the quality of the final outcome while listening to stakeholder requirements and being flexible where possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they did a great job on this piece of work and delivered everything we set out to achieve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Faculty Marketing of an education company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

University

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire The Value Engineers to accomplish?

• Better understand our prospective student audience
• Understand our current brand positioning
• Gain insight into appeal of different positionings and communication styles

SOLUTION

How did you find The Value Engineers?

Referral

Why did you select The Value Engineers over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from The Value Engineers were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Deep dive into the university's brand perception and positioning, followed by an exercise asking key stakeholders, current and prospective students about a range of possible directions of travel. Outputs included a full research debrief and strategic recommendations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Better understanding of our own and key competitors' positioning has informed further brand development and successful new product development.

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

The team was responsive and proactive.

What was your primary form of communication with The Value Engineers?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Deep level of strategic thinking, combined with long experience of our own and adjacent sectors, and the ability to apply well-honed strategic tools to our issues.

Are there any areas for improvement or something The Value Engineers could have done differently?

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

A Healthier Earth develops and operates climate technology projects using multidisciplinary teams to deliver scalable, profitable solutions that address climate change and environmental restoration, supporting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. I’m the director of strategy and business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Value Engineers?

We needed help commercializing a new product by conducting a full go-to-market and execution strategy based on deep market research and insights.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Value Engineers provided a go-to-market and execution strategy based on deep market research and insights. Their work included market analysis, market insights (key trends, customer profiles, drivers of demand), interviews of key market participants, identification of sub-sectors we should target, messaging for key targets, and an execution strategy. The team also provided bolt-on services such as website building and brand design.

What is the team composition?

We worked with five teammates from The Value Engineers.

How did you come to work with The Value Engineers?

We found them through a personal contact; our founder had previously worked alongside Paul (Managing Partner). We chose them because we felt they gave the most complete suite of services and that their experience in commercialising global brands was unmatched by any of the other bidders.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between January–May 2025.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to identify our target customers and engage them successfully with insights derived from the deep market research conducted by The Value Engineers. We were also able to redirect our R&D team to deliver outputs that are highly relevant to our customers' needs. We successfully engaged 75% of our target market in the first three months of executing the strategy that The Value Engineers helped to define. This engagement enabled us to establish a brand and break into a new market in a meaningful way.

How did The Value Engineers perform from a project management standpoint?

The Value Engineers delivered on time. The team was flexible in how they utilized our time but also proactive in ensuring that deliverables were realized on the agreed schedule. We had face-to-face meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Value Engineers showed strong capability across all areas. The depth of their experience (particularly Paul and Sarah (Partner)) in their respective disciplines was impressive. The whole team had worked across multiple sectors and had a vast toolkit of skills to apply to new challenges. Just listening to their respective career histories was an education in itself. Their client management was exceptional, and they were fun and engaging to work alongside.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they hit the mark on both the brief and the way in which they engaged with my team and stakeholders.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the A&I Director of a retail company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Luxury audio

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire The Value Engineers to accomplish?

• U&A Research

SOLUTION

How did you find The Value Engineers?

Referral

Why did you select The Value Engineers over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from The Value Engineers were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

U&A among luxury audio consumers in 3 markets

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Timely and quality delivery

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

Great research partner

What was your primary form of communication with The Value Engineers?

Virtual Meeting

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

We appreciated their quick delivery and strong data analysis and visual storytelling skills.

Are there any areas for improvement or something The Value Engineers could have done differently?

none

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Reviewer Name: Catriona

Company Name: Unilever

Position: Consumer Insight Director

Company Description: Unilever produces and markets a wide range of leading consumer brands in food, personal care, and household products, including Lipton, Dove, and Ben & Jerry’s. The company aims to improve lives and promote sustainable, purpose-driven business practices.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Value Engineers?

We needed help understanding consumer habits in the hand and machine dish category in our key markets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of work performed?

The Value Engineers ran quantitative consumer research to understand dishwash habits in a number of countries. The team produced a high-quality report and an interactive database that allowed us to interrogate research findings after the study was complete. Further work was done on segmenting users based on attitudes to allow us to create targeted innovation and communication by segment.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a dedicated group of eight teammates from The Value Engineers.

How did you come to work with The Value Engineers?

We found The Value Engineers through a referral from another Unilever employee who had done good work with them. We did a pitch, and their solution was the best of all three agencies to whom we pitched the work.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with The Value Engineers in March 2024, and the project is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Value Engineers has delivered the research to a high standard and created outputs that are useful for our team going forward. The data has been used within our marketing and R&D departments to develop innovation and communication. This data has also been used to guide the innovation funnel, which has allowed us to develop a strong innovation pipeline.

How did The Value Engineers perform from a project management standpoint?

The Value Engineers delivers on time and in full. We primarily communicate via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We're impressed by The Value Engineers' dedicated and smart group of teammates. They have a can-do attitude.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for The Value Engineers to improve.