blend

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I lead the Digital Marketing team at a vacuum brand

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Blend to help with the creative concept and execution for our latest vacuum products. We need to increase awareness, and set ourselves apart form competitors.

SOLUTION

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

We selected Blend because of their strong portfolio of work, as well as their unique and flexible business model that can easily scale to match the needs of project.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

Blend managed this project from concept through post-production. They managed every aspect with the utmost professionalism, while also hiring great creatives to challenge and exceed our expectations.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with Matt and Patrick. They kept everything on schedule and provided very fast turnarounds on the creative reviews. They provide clear input and feedback while be very open and flexible to client feedback. It truly felt like a creative partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This project is too new to have empirical data, but the response internally and by consumers who have seen these videos has been excellent.

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

Patrick keeps the project very organized and is very fast to respond. We communicated mostly via email and zoom, but the video approval/review process is conducted using a video platform where we can leave feedback and a timestamp. We also shared the final video content via Google Drive which was our request.

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

We were amazed by the network of talent and creators they work with. Matt and his Blend team assign creative directors and writers that truly match the project, which meant we were working with the best-qualified creatives.

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

Not really. I think the full experience was just great. We plan to work with them again.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of content and partner marketing at Brex, an all-in-one financial software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with blend?

We needed help with filming a series of customer case studies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

blend provided video production services. First, we worked with them on building the interview process and identified some of the clients we wanted to interview. The team traveled with us around the country to conduct interviews with some of our customers. Afterward, they handled the postproduction. We used these assets in our digital marketing campaigns.

What is the team composition?

We worked with four teammates: an executive producer, a director, a videographer, and a producer.

How did you come to work with blend?

We found them through another agency. blend had a strong portfolio, so we chose them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from October 2020–May 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered high-quality videos that definitely contributed to an increase in our brand awareness.

How did blend perform from a project management standpoint?

blend did a great job. We communicated through email and text messages.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had a great attitude — they were a fantastic partner who was enjoyable to work with. Furthermore, the team was committed to delivering high-quality work and went above and beyond what was necessary.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any constructive feedback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Define your requirements clearly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm CEO and Founder of a social technology company that aims to shift today's social networking paradigm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Blend to develop and execute on an end-to-end strategy to launch our brand, which has been in stealth mode for over 3 years.

SOLUTION

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

We got in touch with Blend after seeing positive reviews on Clutch. We spoke with Blend's founder and the team he brought on, which looked good, so we committed to a sizable contract.

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

The scope of work included market research, brand assessment, content creation, creative direction for a high-impact video, production, exclusive with press, and launch of our brand via an experiential marketing strategy.

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

Zero. Blend is comprised of just the Founder and all work is outsourced. They all acted like they were employees. We discovered later on that this was all a pretense.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did not deliver to any measurable goals and failed across all facets of the project. So much so that we canceled the contract.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The Founder only looked for ways to siphon or increase budget. We took control of the project and did not include him in any communication after we fired the company.

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

There was nothing impressive about Blend. When we engaged with them, their company was defunct and administratively dissolved. The content on their website is false advertising as it was not made by them. After we had taken over the creatives and produced an amazing product, they launched it to the web before we did. This is what's prompting this negative Clutch review.

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

They need to learn how to build a proper business.

Company Responses

The vendor responded on July 22, 2021. 

We were hired by this not-yet-launched social media product client to create a messaging strategy, brand film, launch party, and press and influencer management for the launch event.  We delivered a messaging strategy that was approved with great fanfare by the client.  Our messaging strategy was then turned into a client-approved creative brief and then into an enthusiastically approved client script and storyboards.  This followed with the execution and delivery of their brand film, which, again, the client absolutely loves.

We had to cancel the last fourth of the contract including the launch event and the press event and the influencer management simply because the product is not operational.  What we were told was ‘stealth mode’ seemed more like a fundraising mode, because the product only has UX and design, but very little working development.  Press and influencers don’t react well to social media products that don’t work as advertised.  We had no choice but to cancel the back portion of the contract.

Blend has a small full-time staff of 3 and subcontracts truly world-class subject matter experts on a project-based model.  We celebrate that fact and it allows us to eliminate middlemen and charge a lower fee, while maintaining quality. Our creatives and director were world-class.  This client didn’t fire us or “take over the creatives”. 

Our subcontractors remained under our direction, and finished the film per our specifications. They were paid by us.  We wish this former client well on his launch.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the chief production officer for DDB New York, an advertising agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with blend?

I’ve worked with blend at several companies and in various capacities. They handle video posts, experiential productions, and any overflow production work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The most recent project was primarily video production for a client’s social presence. They were involved in the conceptual aspects of this project, and primarily delivered lightweight content and production-related support. Most of that included live-action shoots, production, and post-production.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two or three individuals, all of whom are producers.

How did you come to work with blend?

I've worked with them in several capacities, and they’re consistently great collaborators. They’re flexible and always find creative solutions to help with challenging budgets, especially when creating some of our lightweight social content.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $300,000 in total for production.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project ran from October 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't released the product yet, so we don't have any results as of now. blend's access to talent and their flexibility are reasons I continue to go back to them. They’re always willing to go the extra mile to accommodate challenging client concerns.

How did blend perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is great, and that’s often half the battle with this kind of collaboration. We encounter daily challenges when clients aren’t willing to bend. That often trickles down to the production company, but they deliver under any circumstance.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their strength lies in their flexibility. They’re nimble and accommodating in all their activations, big or small. They do well with lightweight content, but they can tackle any size job. One project we worked on together was a million-dollar overseas project with about 20 pieces of content, and they did a terrific job.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any recommendations for them; they’re great to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They are a small to mid-range production company. They don’t always offer the highest directorial talent, but they provide executional fidelity. Choose them for exceptional service, creative value, and solid production.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing for Carey International, a chauffeur ground transportation and logistics management company. We’re the leader in transportation for F500 executives, foreign dignitaries, and high-end travel industry logistical services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with blend?

We hired blend to help us update our brand to be more diverse, digital, accessible, and all-around more modern. Our primary engagement with them was for the UI/UX design of our new mobile applications and websites.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a third-party development team that created our infrastructure. blend augmented that team to create user stories and oversee the UI/UX design of our apps and websites. Later on, they also helped us produce or execute brand assets like images, video, and promotional materials. Our various departments would communicate our goals, and they would ideate, recommend, and execute the solution.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with seven members of their team and have a primary contact for each aspect of a project. For example, I often worked with two copywriters, a principal, their graphics department, and a continuity manager.

How did you come to work with blend?

We hired blend through a consulting firm we had retained. We continued to work with them even after we stopped partnering with that firm.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in from 2013–2016. We're about to reengage with them in March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They modernized our brand. They knew that we didn’t simply need new images, they worked to understand our business as a whole, where we’ve been, and where we want to go. They transformed our brand into the unique, digital, accessible experience we wanted and did a seriously amazing job.

How did blend perform from a project management standpoint?

blend was very easy to work with. They met all their deadlines and were even pushing our other partners and stakeholders to work faster. The team was often ahead of schedule, especially during sprints, and we had a member of theirs in our office for meetings every 2–3 weeks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They put time into understanding what we do, something that's hard to find in a vendor of that scale. They helped us map out how to reach our long-term goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It was crucial that we lay bare our business, blemishes and all. We were honest so they could help us craft our positioning. If all we needed was a superficial graphic design firm to come in and follow directions, I’m sure they could do it. But their strength is in embracing the brand, the product, and achieving goals with the highest level of communication.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Genie is a food company. My role is chief operating officer and chief marketing officer for the U.S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with blend?

I’ve worked with members of the blend team for 10 years in various companies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have future projects planned for them at Genie for consumer-facing and internal app development. One product we manufacture is an IoT smart oven that is compatible with our prepackaged, clean label foods. Our goal is to build a consumer-facing app to control the device that jointly operates as a community management tool for the internal tech team. We just launched U.S. operations, so are looking forward to the project once we’ve settled.

Historically, most of our work together was project based. I've engaged blend to develop B2B corporate sites for a private equity firm and consulting firm, consumer-facing marketing sites and related apps in the transportation/livery space, and an e-commerce site for a juvenile products company that manufactured strollers and other equipment.

What is the team composition?

I interact primarily with Matt (CEO & Founder, blend). My team has also worked with other project managers and developers in his group.

How did you come to work with blend?

Many years ago, before Matt created blend, he was the head of production for a firm we both worked for. We worked on various projects together, so I knew his work. I trust his reliability, his network, and his expertise. He is also willing to work within smaller budgets and offer appropriate prices.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the course of all our working relationships, we’ve probably spent around $2.5 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in the spring of 2012. Our relationship is project-based and we have future projects in mind.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Working with private equity owners, we developed the first e-commerce platform for the juvenile products company together. We successfully transitioned them from purely third-party brick and mortar sales retailers to a hybrid sales channel. The company later sold at a very high multiple, thanks in part to our work on the e-commerce platform.

How did blend perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very good at breaking down the project into terms that are understandable to a layperson. That really helps us when there are stakeholders involved in decision making that are not intimately familiar with digital development. From a communication standpoint, they can speak with all our constituents and tailor their style to suit the audience. When development timelines change, they accommodate us and shift the work so the deadlines are still met.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I can call on them at the last minute to help with a project that has a tight budget and a very short time frame and know that they can deliver. They’ve built a business structure that can accommodate aggressive lead times and inconsistent budgets. No other company I’ve encountered can scale up or down as seamlessly or is as nimble as blend.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They do their best work when the assignment has clear goals already, so I tend to partner them with in-house creative resources or a creative agency. The initial ideation phase would be an opportunity for enhancement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a group account director for R/GA, an integrated advertising agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with blend?

We hired blend to develop content for an advertising campaign for our client. We met a variety of challenges with the campaign. For example, we were directed to produce 15 digital videos, but we had a budget that we’d normally use for just one film. So we had to rethink our internal approach and blend had to work with us to push through those challenges.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

blend helped us develop produce a photo shoot and film shoot which led to an integrated campaign across Print, Digital and film outputs. Matt (Founder & CEO, blend) and his team came in and worked alongside our creatives and production team.

What is the team composition?

I worked primarily with Matt, who utilized a team of producers, line producers, and other staff.

How did you come to work with blend?

We spoke to a variety of production agencies, but none were able to move as quickly as we wanted or to produce high-quality content within our budget. blend was more than up to the challenge, so we ultimately hired them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

blend's campaign applied to global markets where it was well-received. Some of the digital videos even reached TV audiences in certain countries. Even HQ-developed content is not guaranteed to reach wide approval so this was a significant achievement.

How did blend perform from a project management standpoint?

The team worked with us as a true partner. They cooperated with us as we adapted to a new way of production and creative collaboration. They bore with us as the brief flipped, the budget changed, and time pressures arose. I’ve never had as good an experience working on a large-scale production as I’ve had with blend.

What did you find most impressive about them?

blend put our agency and the project first. They prioritized our business and communication objectives over any of their own. The team was available 24/7 and was more flexible and agile than any other production company I’ve known or worked with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve only worked them on one project, and they delivered on it perfectly. I’d be happy to work with them again on future endeavors.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Vigilance Risk Solutions, a security and risk firm that specializes in workplace violence mitigation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with blend?

We wanted to enter the web-based training space, so we needed a partner to create the content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We took all of our in-person training courses and created scripts based on those materials, as per blend’s request. They wanted us to put on paper exactly what it looks like when we teach our courses in person. After we gave the scripts and all the other supplementary training material to blend, they took over production.

They lead the casting for talent and both produced and directed the videos. We guided them on the vision for the courses, making sure the videos met our requirements. Once filming was completed, blend edited everything and delivered the final product. We then took those files and added our own content (like quizzes) before finishing out the project. We currently have plans to create another set of course videos.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people.

How did you come to work with blend?

We met through a mutual friend.

How much have you invested with them?

Including the down payment on the new project, we’ve spent around $88,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the first set of web-based training videos from October­–December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our courses are in the marketplace and are selling well. We just closed a deal with a publicly-traded cloud communications company, which alone is worth about $121,000. Everyone who sees the videos is highly impressed and says they’re Hollywood quality.

How did blend perform from a project management standpoint?

They have outstanding project management skills. I had three main points of contact, with one overseeing the overall project. We mainly communicated over phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their quality of work is phenomenal. When we first wanted to enter the web-based market, we looked at our competitors and realized they weren’t putting in nearly enough resources to create high-quality products. Combined with our expertise, blend was able to make some of the best web-based training out there.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they were great.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

PUB Creative is a creative studio in Los Angeles that does brand marketing. I am the executive producer and CFO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blend?

We needed help with a website for a client.

SOLUTION

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Blend coded the front-end and made sure the artwork that we created was correct. They worked with the client and us on the database on the backend to make sure it was constructed properly to gather the right metrics. Blend continues to do maintenance work on the project. We’ve also used them for app work as well.

How did you come to work with Blend?

We did a search for a vendor that had the capabilities and Blend seemed to have the right speak and tone. When we met with Jesse, the relationship felt good for both of us. He’s been a reliable resource for us when we’ve needed help with development.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The project has cost more than $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in February 2011, 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 engagement with them has been great. The client has also been happy with the work. Jesse is a key component of the work. He makes sure that we can get the metrics we need from the project. 

How did Blend perform from a project management standpoint?

Whenever there’s an issue, Jesse’s eager and willing to help us find a solution. He’s very solid on the timeline and makes sure I’m driving the client for the information he needs to keep on schedule.

What did you find most impressive about Blend?

Comparing Blend to other providers, I would say Jesse pays more attention to detail. The quality of work is better. The people Blend hires are solid. They can look at the big picture but also look at the more detailed side of things as well.

Are there any areas Blend could improve?

We haven’t had any issues working with them. He’s never missed a deadline.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at a company that sells consumer goods. I’m a technical project manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blend?

Blend was maintaining a website my company acquired 2 years ago. We needed to make changes after the acquisition.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They perform maintenance on the site. Part of the reason Blend is maintaining this site is because we don’t have developers that are familiar with PHP. Blend makes changes we need. They did some work on our car seat registration page and integrated to our SAP [System Applications Products] system by incorporating the feed and updating the catalog. Our consumer services group uses Salesforce.com, so Blend helped us integrate with Salesforce. We added address validation across the website. At my company, we use Paymentech, so we needed to link up with that system. They updated the whole checkout to consider our new credit card model.

How did you come to work with Blend?

We found them when our company bought the company that ran the site we had them help with. We were given a short timeline to get everything converted to Newell. They seemed very thorough. Alex has great knowledge of the website. He's helped by giving feedback on additional changes we can make.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’re currently working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I'm very happy with their quality of work. 

How did Blend perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re organized, and they’ve been able to meet deadlines. Any delays have been because of our team.

What did you find most impressive about Blend?

We’ve had a great experience. They’ve been able to help us with any issues we’ve had.

Are there any areas Blend could improve?

There have been times when we’ve needed changes, and the question has come up whether it’s warranty or new scope. I think that would be the case with any firm.