VITAMIN branding agency

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Ukrsotsbank is among the top-10 banks in Ukraine regarding assets and currently undergoing a merger with another top-10 bank, Alfa-Bank Ukraine. Eventually, the two banks will become the biggest commercial bank in Ukraine.

I act as a head of communications and corporate identity in Ukrsotsbank. I am also responsible for external communications in the “united bank.”

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VITAMIN ADV?

Our bank’s approach to corporate communications can be described by its slogan: The bank with a human face. We have set an ambitious goal to involve our employees in building a unique corporate culture where employees personally participate in creating a corporate calendar, notebooks, postcards, presents for partners, and other branded materials to be used throughout the year. That is where we reached out to VITAMIN ADV. VITAMIN ADV helped us determine the main theme for our calendars each year and to make it real.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

VITAMIN ADV has come up with concepts for our bank’s corporate materials in 2014, 2015, and 2016. In 2014, following a very challenging year for Ukraine, we couldn’t stand aside of the patriotic boom and created a calendar featuring employees of the bank in Ukrainian national costumes on the background of traditional Ukrainian locales and festivities.

All the themes, costumes, make-up, settings, creative photo shoots, design, artistic tuning, and post-production was VITAMIN ADV's responsibility, which they have always excelled with.

The next year, we chose to follow the theme of literature and to transform the bankers into heroes of popular novels. VITAMIN ADV’s creative idea was to photoshoot our actors while laying on floors and later digitally transformed the photos into a picturesque artistic scenery. Fragments of decorations and tailor-made costumes were also designed, ordered, and delivered by the agency.

For 2017 the concept was to turn our employees into famous musicians, using make-up, wigs, and fake musical instruments. The “banker bands” were supposed to be depicted while performing on a typical banking background: depository, cash collectors’ car, a regular branch, even within an ATM. This all went with the slogan “We are playing for you,” meaning to show the clients that the bankers are capable of many creative things to win their loyalty.

For each, VITAMIN ADV was responsible for finalizing the concept, participated in casting, coordinated the props, conducted the photoshoots (which usually lasted from 2 to 5 days in 2 different cities), processed all photos, and finally presented the final product. This product – calendar, notebooks, and postcards in-line with the selected theme – was to be used by our bank all year long, serving as a cornerstone of corporate identity for the given year.

How did you come to work with VITAMIN ADV?

We are an international brand with a standard approach to tenders, so we went through our regular procedure. VITAMIN ADV won the tender each year by suggesting the most creative concept at a sensible price, and the quality of their final product was always greatly appreciated by our clients and partners.

How much have you invested with VITAMIN ADV?

We have spent between 10,000 to 12,000€ [approx. $10,700–$12,800].

What is the status of this engagement?

We have done three projects with VITAMIN ADV, all of them starting in mid-November and finishing in mid-December 2014, 2015, and 2016 respectively.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We measure the success of the projects by the feedback we get from clients, partners, and employees involved. All three projects were absolute successes, two of them winning the title of the “Best Corporate Calendar in Ukraine” according to the Association of Corporate Media of Ukraine. The third project is yet to participate in the same contest in October this year.

How did VITAMIN ADV perform from a project management standpoint?

VITAMIN ADV has proven itself as a reliable partner in terms of meeting deadlines and organizing the entire creative process.

There were cases when we were discussing amendments to a certain plot at 1 a.m. on Saturday via Facebook, yet the team was always friendly, understanding, and attentive to details.

What did you find most impressive about VITAMIN ADV?

The team has a unique creative approach and great ability to think out of the box.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for one of the largest dairy enterprises in Ukraine, and we employ 1,500 people. Our plant has introduced the latest technology, and we are the first company in Ukraine to produce milk with the modern German technology. As of 2015, we had 12 regional offices in Western Ukraine and Kyiv.

My duties include training and the coordination of projects, meaning coordination estimates, conditions, and obligations of the contractor. I also perform analyses of our corporate websites, content marketing, social media marketing, conducting regional and national advertising campaigns, and digital marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VITAMIN ADV?

Our challenges included building an emotional connection with consumers through common values. We wanted to be closer to customers and to convey our brand values. We hoped to generate a positive brand perception in our market as well as increase traffic to our site and followers on our Facebook page.

Thanks to our cooperation with VITAMIN ADV, and their creative approach to our video project Discover Ukraine Lviv, we received increased coverage among our target audience and increased our number of post likes on Facebook.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

VITAMIN ADV provided video concept development, video production, and filming for our campaign; Discover Ukraine Lviv. They also provided graphic and sound composition support.

The team was involved from planning to implementation, and they managed the ad campaign that pushed the video out on our channels.

How did you come to work with VITAMIN ADV?

Because I have worked in this area for quite some time, the choice of agency for filming the project in Lviv was important. VITAMIN ADV has extensive experience, performs at a high level, and is located in Lviv.

How much have you invested with VITAMIN ADV?

This information is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

Drafting began in October of 2016 and ended in early February of 2017. The terms of our engagement have been met.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Since the video was launched in early February, we have had over 30,000 unique viewers with 26,000 minutes viewed. Moreover, we’ve had almost 1,000 users share the post on Facebook, with over 1,400 likes.

How did VITAMIN ADV perform from a project management standpoint?

We are satisfied with the cooperation.

What did you find most impressive about VITAMIN ADV?

VITAMIN ADV is distinguished by their speed of taking decisions and their creative approach. I also appreciate the clear distribution of duties within their team. Most importantly, they complied with our terms and deadlines. We are more than business partners; we became friends.

Are there any areas VITAMIN ADV could improve?

I don’t have anything to add. Everything has gone very well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company works in yeasts and fermentation. We provide both manufacturing and marketing solutions for the food, healthcare, and biotechnology industries. We employ almost 10,000 people across 40 countries. I am a marketing manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VITAMIN ADV?

We needed to modernize our Ukrainian website according to corporate policy. The update needed to include both design and technology.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

VITAMIN ADV provided consulting services and helped implement several changes to our site on both design and code. The biggest request was that we migrate the site to Wordpress.

In total, we worked with three members of the VITAMIN ADV team.

How did you come to work with VITAMIN ADV?

We worked with VITAMIN ADV based on the advice of a colleague. They had a good website, and they offered a clear structure of work and appropriate costs.

How much have you invested with VITAMIN ADV?

Since the original update, we have kept working with VITAMIN ADV on other projects, including POSM design. The work will last nearly one year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the work in December of 2016, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The product meets all of our original requirements. However, we have determined some additional requirements, so we will work with VITAMIN ADV to help us fulfill these. Regarding ease of use, reliability, and functionality, the website is much better than it was before.

How did VITAMIN ADV perform from a project management standpoint?

VITAMIN ADV was easy to communicate with during the project, and they performed well regarding deadlines. We communicated rather often, sometimes several times per week.

What did you find most impressive about VITAMIN ADV?

VITAMIN ADV has a quick reaction time, and they are highly accessible. Overall, VITAMIN ADV has good communication.

Are there any areas VITAMIN ADV could improve?

I would like VITAMIN ADV to diversify the concepts and ideas that they propose. The team should also ask more questions if something is inaccurate or confusing in our tasks before they begin the work.