Blacksmith Agency Client Reviews

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Web design

May 26, 2020

the project

Web Dev for Technology Service Provider

"Their eye for design makes them stand out from the competition."

Web design

Confidential

Aug. 2019 - June 2020

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

Aug. 2019 - June 2020

Project summary:

Blacksmith Agency managed full stack development of a website to modernize the digital presence for a technology service provider. They built features and integrated the platform with social media profiles.

11-50 Employees

New York, New York

Marketing Director, Technology Service Provider

Verified

the reviewer

Marketing Director, Technology Service Provider

Financial Services

11-50 Employees

New York, New York

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"Their eye for design makes them stand out from the competition."

May 26, 2020

Feedback summary:

Following best practices, Blacksmith Agency delivered a superior website with exceptional code that received positive feedback. The team was accessible and provided frequent project updates to ensure transparent collaboration. Their timeliness and expertise resulted in a successful partnership.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing for a technology service provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blacksmith Agency?

We wanted to enhance our visual brand and identity. Our website needed a refresh. It was well-designed but as a technology company, we wanted to position ourselves as innovative. We wanted our brand to have an innovative look and feel.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Based on our vision, they created an entirely new website. Their team explored our ides to understand what we wanted. They showed us examples of their work. We went through a due diligence process with them to identify exactly what we wanted to convey and how we wanted to convey it. Their team implemented functions and embedded Twitter and Facebook into the platform per our request.

What is the team composition?

We worked with probably six people in total.

How did you come to work with Blacksmith Agency?

One of our founders referred us to Blacksmith and reached out to them. I put them in the tryout process and was impressed by their work. I did rigorous interviews with about 10 different design agencies. I found that Blacksmith would be able to give us the professional look that we needed to progress our brand. They did a significant amount of homework and came to us with their ideas, which aligned well with my vision for the website.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in August 2019, and it’ll wrap up in June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We wanted the site to be readable and Blacksmith created a site that people want to read more. They met the mark well.

They followed web development and coding best practices. Our engineers were impressed by their code. Blacksmith did a standup job.

How did Blacksmith Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We met weekly. The account managers sent action items for both teams after every meeting. We checked in every week to make sure that we stayed on track.

If we needed to pivot, they let us know when it could affect our timeline. They’ve been on schedule. Their team was also cost-conscious, letting us know if there was any scope creep.

It was a good experience. One of their owners was on every call, which made it easy for us to work together. Everyone who needed to be on a call was on the call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their eye for design makes them stand out from the competition. They have a skilled graphic design team. Their implementation on the UX/UI side was top notch. They took the graphic content and transformed it into a wonderful UX.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was never a time when they dropped the ball.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re looking for a topnotch website, Blacksmith’s your people. For what they charge, it’s deserved. Their price is on the higher end, but you get high-quality work. Don’t hesitate to work with them because they’re great people who do great work.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Development

May 22, 2020

the project

Web Dev & Design for Financial Services Company

"Their briefing and onboarding processes made them special."

Development

$10,000 to $49,999

Mar. - Jan. 2019

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$10,000 to $49,999

Mar. - Jan. 2019

Project summary:

Blacksmith Agency redesigned a website to fit new brand guidelines for a financial services company. They rebuilt the website to function as an information hub and implemented features to improve usability.

11-50 Employees

New York, New York

Shani Bess

Former Sr. VP of Marketing, Borro Private Finance

Verified

the reviewer

Former Sr. VP of Marketing, Borro Private Finance

Shani Bess

Financial Services

11-50 Employees

New York, New York

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"Their briefing and onboarding processes made them special."

May 22, 2020

Feedback summary:

Blacksmith Agency delivered a superior platform that received positive feedback from internal and external audiences and led to double-digit increases in new business. Their thoroughness, accessibility, and transparency led to a successful partnership. They handled project management seamlessly.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the senior vice president of marketing at a company called Borro Private Finance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blacksmith Agency?

The company underwent a rebrand. We engaged Blacksmith to revamp our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blacksmith Agency transitioned our website from our previous branding to our new branding. They worked with us to redesign and launch the platform. Their team created a new look and feel for the platform.

Their team transitioned the website from a transactional platform to an informational website. They added sleeker features, making the website more user-friendly. Their team modernized the platform. Afterward, they helped with website maintenance too.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people from Blacksmith’s team. I spent most of my time working with three individuals, but there was a supporting cast of 3–4 people too.

How did you come to work with Blacksmith Agency?

They reached out to our CEO who forwarded their email to me. At the time, we didn’t have a need for their services. As the rebrand picked up, I remembered having their information sent to me.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $35,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We engaged them in March 2018 and signed the contract in June 2018. The website launched in October 2018 and the maintenance period ended in January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got positive feedback from our employee and client bases. Our old website was an eyesore and detracted from our brand. When our business development team pitched us, they received positive feedback from existing and potential clients about the website, leading to double-digit increases in new business.

How did Blacksmith Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We granted them the contract because of our initial engagement. Their onboarding process was intense but worth it. Before we started the development, they spent time getting to know our business and goals for the website. The work upfront made the whole process easier because we didn’t have to make many changes on the fly.

I had a direct line to one of the co-founders, which was great. They kept the project on track and provided regular updates. They provided different sites for us to track their progress. By the time we worked with them on the maintenance, they took their project management to another level. We had an even greater level of access to information to keep us on track.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their efforts upfront. Their briefing and onboarding processes made them special.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Clarity around the budget and management of it was a concern early on but it was addressed quickly and wasn’t an issue again.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Put the time in to do the upfront work because it pays off. It makes the whole process much easier. It may seem daunting but stick with it to get the work you expect quickly. Use the tools they provide too. They’re helpful because if you spot an issue, you can address it immediately.

4.5

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.5 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Development

May 21, 2020

the project

Website Redesign & Redevelopment for Food Company

"Their technical expertise was notable throughout the project."

Development

Confidential

Dec. 2018 - Dec. 2019

5.0

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

Dec. 2018 - Dec. 2019

Project summary:

Blacksmith Agency redeveloped a website to improve the UX/UI for a food company. They streamlined the infrastructure to optimize the platform’s functionality. They rebuilt features and implemented new ones.

51-200 Employees

Berkeley, California

Santino Certo

Marketing Director, Rao’s Homemade

Verified

the reviewer

Marketing Director, Rao’s Homemade

Santino Certo

Food & Beverages

51-200 Employees

Berkeley, California

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"Their technical expertise was notable throughout the project."

May 21, 2020

Feedback summary:

Blacksmith Agency delivered a superior platform that spurred greater user engagement and improved conversion rates to increase sales. The team addressed challenges with solutions to ensure effective collaboration. Their level of engagement and expansive skillset led to a successful partnership.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director for Rao’s Homemade, which is part of Sovos Brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blacksmith Agency?

We wanted to relaunch the Rao’s Homemade website—frontend and backend. We wanted a complete overhaul and optimization.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blacksmith Agency completely overhauled our website. They decluttered the existing infrastructure and created backend capabilities from scratch. Their team also redeveloped existing features. For example, they rebuilt the feature that allows customers to build their own product case.

They helped to build the creative strategy around what the website should look like on the frontend. Their team provided guidance from a consumer journey point of view. They helped to optimize the UX/UI for our users. They recommended ways to make the site better, stronger, and more user-friendly.

What is the team composition?

At one time, we worked with 2–3 people. The team shifted as we got into the more technical side of the project.

How did you come to work with Blacksmith Agency?

I requested RFPs from multiple different agencies. During that process, Blacksmith Agency sent a cold email to our CEO who forwarded it to me. I threw them an RFP. From the beginning, I was impressed, so we went forward with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our work with them in December 2018 and the partnership ended in December 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After our relaunch, we looked at our bounce rate and conversion rate to sales. We saw that consumers spent a higher amount of time on our website. We saw a boost in sales, so we were happy with the results. Blacksmith Agency provided a lot of thought leadership for how to make our website better.

How did Blacksmith Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Blacksmith Agency assigned a project manager who stayed engaged with our team. They kept us up to date. If there were any obstacles, their team immediately raised it to us with recommendations for paths forward. They made sure they had their eye on the timeline. Their team was collaborative and had a ton of experts in-house.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What I enjoyed the most was that they came to the table with options for solutions. Their technical expertise was notable throughout the project. They have a team of subject matter experts who work hard, long hours.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was happy from start to finish.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t always go with the big agencies that have huge resumes. Blacksmith truly delivers what you need.

When I reviewed agencies to take on this work, I reviewed large and boutique agencies. At first, I was apprehensive because Blacksmith wasn’t a big name. They quickly put my concerns to rest through their thought leadership and creative approach.

5.0

Overall Score

4.5 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.5 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Development

May 21, 2020

the project

Development for Artesian Water Company

“Even though they take care of everything at a high level, they also make sure that the nitty-gritty gets done.”

Development

$50,000 to $199,999

Sept. 2018 - Ongoing

4.5

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$50,000 to $199,999

Sept. 2018 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Blacksmith Agency revamped an artesian water company’s website, transitioning the platform to an e-commerce site while retaining the same content. They did everything from design and wireframes to coding.

51-200 Employees

New York, New York

Social Media Manager, Artesian Water Company

Verified

the reviewer

Social Media Manager, Artesian Water Company

Food & Beverages

51-200 Employees

New York, New York

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

4.5

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“Even though they take care of everything at a high level, they also make sure that the nitty-gritty gets done.”

May 21, 2020

Feedback summary:

Blacksmith Agency was an integral part of this project and they delivered high-quality work. The team consistently delivered ahead of schedule and brought fresh ideas to the project. They’re very knowledgeable and communicate effectively.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the global social media manager for an artesian water company. We offer still, sparkling, and flavored water, including lemon, cucumber, lime, mint, strawberry, rose, and ginger flavors. Our products are available in more than 50 countries around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blacksmith Agency?

We were trying to revamp our website. In the beginning, we were strictly a content and informational website. Our challenge was to jump to an Amazon and e-commerce site, while retaining our existing content. Blacksmith Agency was able to help us make that transition.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Anything form the design, to the wireframes, to the backend, they’ve been able to handle it. We just told them what our vision was, and they executed from top to bottom. They did the coding and all the integration; they smoothed out all the details. I believe they used Java and HTML.

What is the team composition?

We worked with four people since we started working with them.

How did you come to work with Blacksmith Agency?

My colleague hired, them and I believe they found them through an agency search, potentially through LinkedIn.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in September 2018 and it has been ongoing since. It took eight months to complete the website, and they’ve been working on maintenance and optimization since it was completed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They've been a tremendous and integral part of the Web site transformation for us. They've always continued to make adjustment to the Web site, make any new content upgrades and optimize things from the back end. So it continues to be an iterative process. The updates they provide have been great. As experts, they’ve brought us fresh ideas, tips, and best practices. They’ve taught us about the latest and greatest in website development. Our integral team is very pleased with the outcome.

How did Blacksmith Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They usually deliver ahead of schedule, which is very refreshing. They’ve been very professional and they communicate very effectively. Now we use a system called Wrike for project management. All of our requests go through that, so it’s a very seamless process. It’s all about efficiency.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their vision and wealth of knowledge in this particular space. They also really pay attention to detail. Even though they take care of everything at a high level, they also make sure that the nitty-gritty gets done. They’re not afraid to roll up their sleeves and do it themselves.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At the beginning, there were some growing pains when it came to communication. They could improve their communication with the client and let them know more about the ins and outs of the process. Obviously, we’re not experts, so we had to learn too. They could help the client develop a better understanding. Of course, a lot of these issues were on our end, and we resolved them in a few weeks.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No, they’re great. I would highly recommend them.

4.5

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

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Silkroad Technology

Reviews

Reviews

the project

Web Dev for Technology Service Provider

the reviewer

the review

May 26, 2020

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

Web Dev & Design for Financial Services Company

the reviewer

the review

May 22, 2020

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

Website Redesign & Redevelopment for Food Company

the reviewer

the review

May 21, 2020

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

Development for Artesian Water Company

the reviewer

the review

May 21, 2020

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer