## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of digital products and operations for Marquee Brands, a company that owns multiple brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

We were sunsetting one of our e-commerce sites, so we needed custom development work on our Shopify Plus website. We also needed an overview and analysis of one of our other businesses to get some insights and recommendations on how to optimize it and reduce tech stack costs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC provides us with e-commerce development and optimization consulting. Initially, we talked with them about our needs and created a multi-tasked project for them to address. We also created a project timeline and a deadline.

## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC’s work has included making custom development work on our existing site, which encompassed making changes to our existing UI/UX. As the project has evolved, we’ve added some audits as part of our project requirements so that they can provide us with recommendations.

What is the team composition?

This was a very small project, so we just worked with one teammate from ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC: Mark (Partner).

How did you come to work with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

Someone I had been working with referred us to them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around October 2023, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve been working with a lot of different development agencies, so I have a lot of experience in that regard. ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC has immersed themselves in areas other agencies don’t take the time to immerse themselves in, which has been a nice surprise. Thanks to that approach, they’ve provided us with great feedback and nice recommendations based on their findings.

How did ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Since working with Mark, I’ve noticed that he has worked quicker than some of the other agencies while delivering high-quality work within budget. Everything has been delivered in a timely manner, meeting my expectations and established deadlines.

We collaborate using multiple platforms. ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC manages the project using Teamwork. As for communication, we have biweekly calls over Zoom, and they provide us with updates and meeting agendas via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

This has been a very small project, so I would need more time to give a better assessment of ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC’s strengths. Still, I’m now actually considering working with them for the next year and replacing all the development agencies I’m currently working with. Next year, we’ll be working on a much bigger project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing  ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC could improve on. Overall, they’ve exceeded my expectations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Knowing what you want to achieve and laying out a plan is very important. Go into the project having some expectations and knowing what you want to work on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President and CEO of Cobex Construction Group

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We replace roofs and exteriors on homes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC to accomplish?

• Conversion Rate Optimization on website
• Website desgin and functionality
• Coprywriting and storybranding

SOLUTION

How did you find ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

Referral

Why did you select ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Project Objective: 
  • Provide recommendations to increase conversions based on experience, industry best practices, research and proven methodologies. 
• Methodology & Approach:
  • Review and evaluate the existing landing page 
  • Consider user activity 
  • Employ best practices for single-page form conversion 
  • Apply results from previous client successes 
  • Research and evaluate content and recommendations provided by industry experts 
  • Aggregate and filter through industry-specific expectations and findings 
  • Provide initial wireframes

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Improved CRO by 30% 
• Created a more seamless website 
• Improved website speed and overall design

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

Mark was very focused and efficient with his time. He directed the projects with all the different contributors effectively. He was very organized and had great communication the whole way through. The management of the whole process was very impressive.

What was your primary form of communication with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

Email or Messaging App

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

The high-level skill of the people working on the projects and the great communication

Are there any areas for improvement or something ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC could have done differently?

I could not think of any areas that needed improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an online gift shop.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

We needed help integrating our business with an add-on for our e-commerce platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC helped us develop a feature for our Shopify platform based on a brief overview of what we needed. The project was an integration of a third-party service.

What was the team composition? 

We worked with one member of ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC’s team.

How did you come to work with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

Our software provider referred ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC to us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together throughout February 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC delivered according to our expectations, and the add-on they built for the site worked as we needed.

How did ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC delivered everything on time and within the expected budget. Regarding communication, we used Zoom, email, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC’s responsiveness and thoughtfulness were outstanding. In addition, they were very comprehensive with their results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn’t think there was anything they could improve on because they did an excellent job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust them because they’ll do a great job.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the eCommerce and Development Manager of Neurogan

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Neurogan is a CBD brand that specializes in selling high-quality CBD products online.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC to accomplish?

• BigCommerce implementation and support. Custom theme development.
• Performance and conversation rate optimization implementation.
• B2B Wholesaling, white labeling. International sales implementation.

SOLUTION

How did you find ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

Referral

Why did you select ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC over others?

Referred to me

What was the size of ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Whirlwind was instrumental in helping us plan, strategize, implement, and provide ongoing support for our projects. They effectively translated our business strategy into technical instructions and skillfully managed and organized the implementation process. We relied on their expertise for various initiatives, including the initial implementation of our BigCommerce platform, the migration to Shopify, and the subsequent implementation of a new Shopify platform.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Whirlwind provided high-quality work.
• They consistently exceeded our expectations in task delivery.
• We were kept well-informed about project progress, including completed and outstanding tasks.

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

Whirlwind conducted bi-weekly cadence meetings that covered completed, ongoing, upcoming, and outstanding tasks. They utilized the Teamwork Project Management portal to organize and manage projects and tasks. We consistently had a clear understanding of the status of our projects.

What was your primary form of communication with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

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

Our experience with them has been a breath of fresh air compared to previous development experiences. They are undoubtedly the most organized and professional team we've worked with so far. We appreciate their growth mindset and proactive approach to seeking feedback on both their processes and results. Their willingness to adapt and improve to provide a better service has been impressive and has helped us feel confident that we are in good hands. Overall, we are grateful for their commitment to excellence and their dedication to providing us with the best possible experience.

Are there any areas for improvement or something  ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC could have done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner and founder of a distribution company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC, and what were your goals?

We needed some outsourced support for our BigCommerce storefront that could help with ongoing maintenance, troubleshooting, and coversion optimization.

SOLUTION

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

Mark was referred to us by another company we knew and it was obvious from the outset that he and his staff were proficent and worked quickly.

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

We use Whirlwind for ongoing support so the projects vary however we've worked on product page design, funnel optimization, home page layout, payment options at checkout, and compliance with disability requirements.

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

Mark is our primary contact but we've also interacted with his staff of developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Mark always takes the time to make sure all projects are completed to our satisfaction.

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

We meet every other week to discuss the status of current projects, closed items, and whatever else comes up in the meantime. Mark keeps the calls tight and on schedule which is great.

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

Mark continuously asks for feedback so its easy to let him know if things aren't going well (which isn't usually the case). They're genuinely interested in how our business is performing, which makes us feel good about having them on our side.

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

I'll update this review if I think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-CEO of a wine company. We sell boxed wine to 41 states in the US.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

We wanted to build an affiliate platform to drive traffic and sales to our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC has built our portal from scratch. They’ve migrated the site from Squarespace to Shopify and integrated Vinoshipper, a wine platform. Since we didn’t have time for design exploration, the team has improved the design based on a similar theme on Shopify and adapted it to our design language.

Additionally, they’ve done some SEO work. ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC has introduced us to a digital marketing person, so the next phase of our relationship will be integrating some campaigns.

What is the team composition?

We only work with Mark (Partner).

How did you come to work with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

Vinoshipper recommended them; they provided Mark’s contact information, and I reached out. ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC was efficient and willing to work together on our clear scope of work and aggressive timeline.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2022, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their service has been fantastic; they’re excellent partners.

How did ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is one of their strengths. They work well with third parties and remind us what we need to deliver. Overall, we couldn’t be happier.

We mainly communicate through email and Zoom. Additionally, they use Google Workspace for project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve been impressed by how they’ve outlined and completed tasks. They’ve been speedy and responsible with our ambitious timeline.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s hard to say where we’d like some improvements because they’ve stuck to our budget and timing. Everything works well, and we haven’t had any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know your budget and timing; make sure you have everything ready to go.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a consumer products e-commerce & mail order catalog company that specializes in Home Decor and Gift products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC, and what were your goals?

I have worked with Whirlwind eCommerce for over 15 years. Scope of work includes website development, ongoing maintenance and strategy/consulting. Whirlwind has built and maintained numerous sites for me, across several platforms. Our goal was to build to a user friendly, highly functional website that would drive online sales across many channels.

SOLUTION

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

The owner of Whirlwind, Mark was referred to me by a colleague many years ago. Selecting Mark's company was one of the best decisions we ever made. When you work with Whirlwind you are working directly with the owner and the main developer not an account team that is continually changing. Mark has great business sense, works together with you as part of your company's team, is highly organized, cost-effective, communicates well, and his technical skills and understanding of e-commerce platforms is exceptional.

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

Scope of work over 15 years includes: Development of several e-commerce websites Website re-design and updates Migration of e-commerce websites to new versions, platforms Ongoing development and enhancement of site features - too numerous to list over 15 years - all facets from user experience improvements, conversion optimization, search engine optimization, admin console enhancements, payments, integrations with third party systems and apps and much more.

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

Our primary point of contact has always been the owner Mark. Over the years Mark has brought various specialists into the fold depending on the particular project - this included consultants, other developers, and various other resources who serve as extension of his team as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have built a highly successful e-commerce business that performs well above standard metrics for comparable sites.

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

Depending on current project status we have weekly or bi-weekly meeting with Whirlwind via video or phone. All projects and tasks are meticulously maintained in a ticket system that allows us to track progress and get updates on projects via email or thru logging into ticket system. Whirlwind team is highly responsive to any urgent matters and is available outside of normally scheduled meetings if required.

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

Personal service and quality of product - I consider Whirlwind to be an extension of my company. They take pride in all deliverables and will work to ensure any and all issues are resolved to your satisfaction.

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

Developing and e-commerce site with integration into various systems will inevitably result in some bugs and unexpected issues - we've had our share. The important thing is that Whirlwind takes ownership and works to resolve problems quickly and efficiently. Otherwise, the process and quality of work has been A+

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I head ecommerce for two websites in the retail sporting goods space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC, and what were your goals?

We've engaged with Whirlwind to help with custom development projects on the Shopify Plus platform.

SOLUTION

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

I had the opportunity to work with Whirldwind while I was with a previous employer which shaped my decision to hire them again based on prior experience.

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

I've had Whirlwind do custom work on the Shopify Plus platform in several areas, including theme development, metafields, style sheets, and javascript.

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

I've worked directly with Mark from Whirlwind.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A major challenge in my business was migrating from a custom built, outdated Shopify theme to a modern Shopify 2.0 theme that is more easily maintainable and future-proof. Whirlwind was an important partner in rolling out these changes.

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

Whirldwind uses a website/app called Teamwork for tracking development projects, bugs, and issues. It allows me to set deadlines and priorities while tracking each open task. In addition, we also meet over Zoom every two weeks to review open tasks, and explore new topics.

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

I've found Whirlwind to be a valuable partner and sounding board that complements my own knowledge and expertise. It's valuable to talk through new ideas and get perspective on various approaches or strategies.

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

None at this time

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of an online wine store called Franzese Wine LLC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

We hired them to optimize our online store.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC made sure that all the tags and analytics were installed on our website. They then let it run and analyzed all the data that came out. From there, they recommended some changes based on the data. For instance, we had customers adding items to their cart, but they were not finalizing their purchase — we found out that this was because of the shipping price. Hence, ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC added a feature to inform customers that ordering more products would lessen the shipping fee. Key technologies used for this project were Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two people from their side, including Mark (Partner).

How did you come to work with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

They were recommended to us by another vendor that we were working with.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $4,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on this project from July–September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started getting more orders, along with a higher conversion rate. Overall, we were satisfied with their work.

How did ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent from a project management standpoint; everything was delivered on time and within budget. They also constantly followed up on us. We use Teamwork for project management and communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We love how ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC kept track of everything — all tasks were getting completed on time.

Are there any areas they could improve on?

I honestly can’t think of anything that ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC could’ve improved on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the DTC Manager of Virtue Cider

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We make and sell traditional hard apple cider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC to accomplish?

• Build a new website with a Shopify template.
• Simplify and integrate our online store to be used with Vinoshipper and Shopify

SOLUTION

How did you find ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

Referral

Why did you select ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

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

We needed to simplify our e-commerce approach that was too complex and expensive for the size of our company. Mark and Whirlwind designed and then transitioned us to a new website through Shopify with Vinoshipper integration that achieved this goal.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Mark and his team designed and built our new website with a Shopify template; they integrated the shopping platforms (Shopify and Vinoshipper).

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

Mark was very organized and professional. Our touchpoints were quick, to the point and productive. He delivered when he said he would and clearly communicated throughout the process. The initial design didn't quite fit our brand, but he quickly took our feedback, asked appropriate questions to discern what we were looking for, and delivered a design that hit the mark.

What was your primary form of communication with ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC was very experienced in the world of e-commerce, specifically with our need to work in the worlds of Shopify and Vinoshipper. He led the process with expertise and efficiency.

Are there any areas for improvement or something ## Whirlwind eCommerce LLC could have done differently?

Nothing comes to mind.