Purpose-Led Brand Transformation
We build brands from the inside out by identifying the core identifying your beliefs, connecting it to your brand’s purpose, knowing your audience, and living it out through authentic actions.
We create strategies, identity systems, websites, and campaigns that help brands grow in a purpose-driven world.
We believe there are too many brands that live without intention. Where making a buck is more important than living your truth. Where sticking with the status quo is better than standing out. We stand for more.
We see ourselves as an agency that helps forward-thinking brands rally behind a deeper purpose. We usher in change, we champion growth, we find the white space, and we build something ownable.
We know that big problems require brave thinking. At BLVR we mix creative that pushes the needle, with strategies that connect to the heart. We sit at the same side of the table to understand what makes your organization tick, what connects you to your customers, and what problems need solutions. And we’ve done it for some of the biggest clients around.
headquarters
Focus
Recommended Providers
Portfolio
Andis, Little Beet Restaurants, DHI Telecom, Tony Robbins, At Home, Harrah's Casino Southern California, Vessel, Switchfoot, Futures Fins, Creative Planning, Bethany Hamilton, San Diego State University, WeVow, Organic Health, Globe, Nature Collective, Lolita's Mexican Food, World Vision, Section 32, Common Assembly, ISLE
Rebranding a 100 year old consumer goods brand
Services:
BRAND STRATEGY / BRAND IDENTITY / CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT / PRODUCTION / POST PRODUCTION / COLLATERAL DESIGN / RETAIL DESIGN / DIGITAL DESIGN / WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Problem: The fourth generation of family ownership, siblings Matt and Laura Andis wanted to leave their mark on the brand and modernize the Andis experience by standing for more. The brief was complex but exciting. Drive growth within their high value segments, defend against both legacy and emergent brands, and strengthen loyalty with their customer base.
Insight: Andis is a 100 year old consumer goods brand that develops high-quality clippers and trimmers for professionals and consumers. The brand had been built on a strong engineering and product focus. While their customer liked the product, they wanted more - a true understanding of who they are and the creative passions that drove them.
Solution: We repositioned Andis as a lifestyle brand and put their brand belief -- that creativity makes the world a better place -- at the heart. We reimagined every aspect of the customer experience to fit with the new beliefs defining the brand. From establishing their brand identity, creating an authentic communications strategy, and implementing that into their product portfolio and package design. This in turn created a brand experience that not only transformed the business, but rebuilt the culture of the company.
Developing a Boutique Hotel Brand for Millennials
Services:
BRAND STRATEGY / BRAND STORY / NAMING / BRAND IDENTITY / COPYWRITING / UX STRATEGY / WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT / COLLATERAL DESIGN / PACKAGING DESIGN / EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN
Problem: Joywell needed a brand that communicated its sole purpose and belief while moving millennial business travelers past the functional benefits every other boutique hotel experience offered them. The owner, Thuy Vi, was clear—she wanted a brand that brought more joy to the business traveler. But how do you do that when your customer isn’t looking for it? Or even wanting it?
Insight: Our research revealed that while travel is often the ultimate expression of freedom, there are countless friction points along the way that can hold back a trip’s potential. Portable hotspot options are scarce, there’s outrageous roaming fees and unreliable connections, and as a result, people settle for less than their ideal travel experience.
Solution: To disrupt the boutique hotel industry and solve our millennial business travelers’ emotional problem, we developed a brand that harmoniously integrate quality business conveniences with seamless experiences through thoughtful attention to detail—bringing more joy into their lives. It is a brand where alleviating stressors and elevating their emotional state lies at the center of the brand’s purpose.
Introducing a Healthcare Pioneer to a New Market
Services:
BRAND STRATEGY / BRAND IDENTITY / WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Problem: When CliniComp came to BLVR, they had a unique challenge. They wanted to branch out to serve new types of customers, but as well known as they were in the government sector, they were relatively unheard of in the private sector.
Insight: Founded over 35 years ago, CliniComp began as a one-man operation to optimize medical information systems and improve the clinical charting process in hospitals. Over the next several decades, CliniComp built their status as one of the world’s leading electronic health records (EHR) providers, with a special focus on serving government clients.
Solution: By clarifying their belief that technology should enhance the human experience, we laid the groundwork for an emotionally connective rebranding that spoke to our audience’s struggles and envisioned a world where people and technology come together to transform human capabilities in healthcare. We brought the strategy to life by crafting a logo that brought together the unity of technology and humanity.
We crafted a website experience that drove conversions by stripping back jargon-filled copy and removed category-generic stock images in favor of bold headlines, impactful imagery and captivating uses of new brand icon. We emphasized the humanity behind the brand, without sacrificing the credibility within the category.
Empowering Children to be their own Storytellers
Services:
BRAND STRATEGY / BRAND IDENTITY / COLLATERAL DEVELOPMENT / WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Problem: Brad founded Love, Light and Melody to be a force for good in the lives of these children, who didn’t deserve the hand they were dealt but also didn’t see a way out. Despite this noble mission, when Love Light + Melody came to BLVR, they found themselves in need of a stronger story and identity that clarified who they were not only to themselves but to the outside world.
Insight: Love Light + Melody is a non-profit organization started by Brad Corigan, one of the founding members of the band Dispatch. In 2007, Brad took a life-changing trip to the La Chureca trash dump in Nicaragua, during which he witnessed many children and families living amidst the trash, making impossible choices every day just to stay alive.
Solution: We positioned them around this simple belief about the world – the idea that every child deserves a chance to learn, grow, and write their own story, something that was being denied to children all over the world. And they would help carve a new path for these children through the power of education – the single biggest determinant to lifting people out of poverty. All of this was in service of making their vision a reality – a world in which every child has the opportunity to flourish.
Infusing Brand Personality into Digital Experience
Services:
WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT / COPYWRITING
Problem: Harrah’s Resort Southern California isn’t your average casino resort experience. Fun is around every corner, from the alpacas roaming the property to the swim-up bar and lazy river to the mayoral hotline. While the property may be progressive and forward-thinking, the website was not. Dating functionality, a clunky user experience, and an undifferentiated UI weren’t living up to the brand promise of fun.
Insight: A comprehensive goal-setting session established that we need to be “party in the front and business in the back.” An irreverent design system and moments of delights would need to be employed so the user saw Funner as more than a place, but a state of mind. In addition, seamless user flows, conversion-driving thinking, and an optimized site speed would ensure we got as many “heads in beds” as possible.
Solution: We were able to bring the brand to life in a new way by introducing a unique, user-friendly, engaging digital experience. We introduced new utilities and experiences within the site framework to bring the “Funner” state of mind to life, while keeping the credibility of the brand intact. The updated site draws users into Harrah’s exciting resort through the use of a refined design system, vibrant colors, custom animation, lively images, and a quirky narrative. The result is a new digital home for the brand that allows you to experience the glorious amenities of Harrah’s Resort SoCal, the #1 Resort in Funner, California.
Revamping a Internet Service into a Key for Future
Services:
BRAND STRATEGY / BRAND STORY / BRAND IDENTITY / COPYWRITING / COLLATERAL DESIGN
Problem: DHI Telecom is one of the leading global Internet service providers for emerging markets, but when they came to us, they had an incredibly complex business ecosystem for one of their flagship brands, TravelWifi, that was hindering its growth potential.
Insight: Consumer research revealed our target audiences are not the best version of themselves when traveling for business and secretly yearn for relief. Yet, when looking to stay at a boutique hotel during business travel, they solely depend on a hotel’s functional benefits to solve an emotional problem.
Solution: We crafted the new TravelWifi brand around the power of possibility, positioning TravelWifi as the brand that will help you embrace every opportunity and Go Further. This allowed us to clearly articulate how their products exist to remove the friction from traveling, which led to a more emotional connection with their diverse customer base. We built an intuitive new brand architecture structure that brought all of DHI’s acquired companies under the TravelWifi umbrella, and we crafted a beautiful new visual identity including a modern logo and typeface, a distinctive photography style, and bold colors to go along with their bold new positioning.
OH: Driving Scale And Growth To A Business At A Crossroad
Services:
Research/ Brand Strategy / Brand Story / Brand Identity / Photography & Videography / Packaging
Problem:
OH is an organic cold pressed juice bar located in San Diego. Their business was built on quality but had trouble scaling— the San Diego juice market was crowded, training customers to accept cheaper, inferior products. The quality narrative needed to shift while adding value to the OH brand.
Insight:
Consumer research identified that our target audience treated eating as a form of self respect. It reflected how they saw themselves and their world. A clean, organic, microbiome friendly diet gave their body the fuel to be the best they could be physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Solution:
Our solution was to drive value at every level of the business. We shifted our business model from a store slinging juice to a wellness company that offered a holistic range of services from juice, to food and nutritional coaching. An emphasis was placed on subscription-based memberships to drive long-term loyalty. Next, we built a brand strategy around being purpose-led. This territory elevated us above a category obsessed with ingredients and mass production. To compliment this, we created an emotional brand story around self actualization—OH helps you be the best you can possibly be thanks to uncompromising quality. Finally, we created a new brand identity and art direction along with product and lifestyle photography that elevated the brand with more premium elements.
ISLE: Revamping a stand-up paddle board brand from a commodity to the sought-after board of choice
Services:
Brand Strategy / Brand Story / Brand Identity / Copywriting / Collateral Design / Packaging Design / UX Strategy / Website Design / Website Development
Problem:
ISLE is one of the leading stand-up paddle board companies, but they operate in a competitive, commoditized category in which customers were not demonstrating strong brand affinity, They needed a better digital user experience, and they needed their brand to stand for something deeper.
Insight:
Focus groups revealed that prospective customers were turned off by the competition’s portrayal of stand-up paddle boarding as a high-intensity physical sport catering to the ultra-fit. Instead, they were drawn to stand-up paddle boarding as an exercise for the mind, body, and soul — a way to escape the daily grind of their busy lives and recharge.
Solution:
When crafting ISLE’s new brand, we leaned into the idea of balance, playing off the balance it takes to stand up on a board. We positioned ISLE and the activity of stand-up paddle boarding as the ultimate solution to modern life — not just a physical workout, but a balance of benefits for your mind, body, and soul. We updated their entire brand identity and user experience to reflect this new direction, from the soothing earth-tone color palette, to the approachable brand voice and imagery, to the new frictionless mobile-friendly website. And we carved out a disruptive new space within a sea of competitors that all look and sound the same.
Vessel: Building A Next Generation eCommerce Personalization Experience
Services:
Research/ Brand Strategy/ Brand Story/ Brand Identity/ User Experience/ Website Design and Development / Photography
Problem:
B2B brand Zonson dominated the custom golf bag market for golf brands and professional golfers. To drive meaningful growth, the brand needed to diversify into the B2C market with a new lifestyle range of bags. After creating a new website and eCommerce store, Ronnie came to us with an additional requirement—he wanted to allow his customers to customize every inch of their bag, from their zipper tag to the fabric of each panel.
Insight:
We knew that we needed to create a seamless solution that was easy to use, quick, and would ultimately drive conversions. Ultimately, users had to be in control of creating the product of their dreams.
Solution:
The BLVR team began by reviewing the current product customizers in the market and speaking to existing Vessel customers. We identified that the user felt hamstrung by glitching technology, slow lag times, and an overwhelming amount of steps and options. To combat this we created user cases to test the simplest flow to manage the complex level of customization options. We kept refining until we completed the user flow through six simple customization options. To emphasize user simplicity, we selected basic language that even a 10 year old could understand—customizable panels were labeled left, right, top, bottom, zip, etc. Once the team moved into wireframes and prototyping, we knew we needed a smart solution to visualize the bag customization. Our users were mobile-loving millennials. They needed to be able to see their customization happening right before their eyes. So we created panels for up-close visuals that would alter and shift as the user chose his or her color and fabric combinations.
Bringing Adventure Back into a Multi-Race Event
Services:
BRAND STRATEGY / BRAND IDENTITY / WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT / COLLATERAL DESIGN
Problem: Founded in 2012, the San Diego Half Marathon (SDHM) is widely known by runners as one of the best produced half marathons in the country, with all proceeds donated to local charitable causes. They had the ambitious goal of launching two new running events: The Million Mile Half Marathon, which raises funds for a new cause each year, and the EPIC Run Series, a “bucket list run” that encourages runners to visit pre-designed courses set in iconic locations across the country. The challenge was to build awareness and excitement, despite the new virtual format.
Insight: In the wake of COVID-19, the founders of SDHM saw an opportunity to translate its success and enhance their reach with national, virtual events.
Solution: For the Epic runner, it was about much more than the run itself – it was the thrill of adventure, the opportunity to visit incredible destinations around the country, and unlock achievements along the way that served as bragging rights. We took this idea to showcase it through the brand identity, website experience and race swag to embody the adventurous, trail-blazing spirit of its runners, while also allowing for customization based on the year and location of the individual race.
Finest Made: Taking Craft Beer To A New Level
Services:
Brand Strategy/ Brand Story/ Brand Identity/ Packaging/ Photography/ Videography
Problem:
Butcher’s Brewing made incredible beer, but needed a name and brand that was more palatable for Southern California’s health-conscious market.
Insight:
San Diego is at the forefront of a new food and craft beer culture in America—one that values quality, discovery and meaning. In fact, today’s drinker has been trained to shun mainstream beverages for more authentic flavors and exceptional experiences.
Solution:
We built a brand with authentic meaning baked in. We made our customer the hero and celebrated the fact that they deserved the best. From that moment, the new brand name “Finest Made” was born. Next, we built a brand story around chef and Brewmaster Rey Knight, focusing on the culinary soul he brews into every drop of Finest Made. Taking cues from the artisan food and craft beer industry, BLVR developed a new identity that smashed through the crowded beer space. Minimalistic type, a premium star lockup, a clean color palette, and an updated product-naming system elevated the newly christened brand and denoted an excellent beer worth a special journey.
Liberty Station: Ingraining a San Diego staple into the hearts and minds of the local community
Services:
Brand story, website strategy, design and development
Problem:
Established in 1923, Liberty Station is San Diego’s town square, offering a thoughtful mix of shops, dining, and entertaining experiences but footfall was becoming an issue and needed to be addressed.
Insight:
In a hyper-connected urbanized world, San Diegans were looking for a way to authentically connect in communities and spaces that bring together the things they care about.
Solution:
We began with the goal to ingrain Liberty Station into the hearts and minds of San Diegans. To do this we created a brand story which positioned Liberty Station as San Diego’s town square—a hub that transformed a large city into a village, a place where people can collect memories and enjoy their community. We matched this with a lifestyle approach that could be compared with creative magazines, websites and popular social media that our audience was already consuming. Creative, emotive visuals were featured throughout the site to shine a light on the eateries, shops and art and health studios that make Liberty Station amazing.
Futures: Reviving A Commoditized Product Into An Authentic Brand
Services:
Research/ Brand Strategy/ Brand Story/ Brand Identity/ User Experience/ Website Design and Development / eCommerce Optimizations
Problem:
Surfers, shapers, and retail staff knew fins were a necessary piece of equipment. But they had a limited understanding of just how important fins were to performance. As a result, Futures Fins were seen as a commodity product with limited differentiation versus competitors.
Insight:
Fins are a highly functional part of surfing. Done well, a fin becomes the driver of your board, a precursor for performance, and an indispensable part of the thrill that is surfing.
Solution:
We built a new brand story that coupled the heady emotions of surfing with the engineering prowess of the Futures fins. By layering in emotion and authenticity, we were able to position Futures firmly at the crosshairs of technology and stoke. Next, we worked with the client to create and communicate a ride number system. This disruptive technology story made us stand apart in the category and delivered a simple way for audiences to connect with Futures’ ground-breaking technology. Finally, we worked to modernize the brand so it had a fresh appearance that matched the new generation technology being introduced.
Results:
50X increase in online revenue | 55% increase in conversion rate | 10% increase in average order value
Quote:
“BLVR developed the Futures website and online shopping channel and provided great insight to drive our marketing efforts. We found the BLVR team to be pleasant to work with, competent, and focused on delivering projects on time. The most recent success of the BLVR team involved a cyber monday campaign which resulted in a 50X increase in online revenues for the day. We’re happy to have BLVR on our team.”
Alex Marinescu / Managing Director, Futures Fins
Common Assembly: Disrupting the crowded fast fashion category by pairing style with substance
Services:
Brand Strategy / Brand Story / Brand Identity
Website Design / Photography Art Direction
Problem:
Common Assembly was a new fast fashion retailer targeting value-conscious millennials. The company was driven to do good in the world, but they were launching into a crowded category where cause-based brands were the norm, and they needed something else to stand out.
Insight:
Consumer research identified a complex millennial woman who lived a life of duality. She made choices that both helped and hurt the world. Her identity, her values, and who she wants to be in the world were all so closely tied to her style. But fashion doesn’t always make her feel great because it often comes at the expense of those values.
Solution:
To disrupt the crowded category and transcend conventional cause-based branding, we built a strategy designed to inject more kindness into the world through fashion. We established a business model built on three pillars: kindness to the customer, kindness to women, and kindness to the world. From there, we created an elevated brand identity with customized letter-forms, a modernized color palette, and an art direction full of hand-created elements that gave a warm, personal touch. Finally, we designed a mobile-first website that matched kindly-sourced products with real, un-retouched models to tell the brand story while also driving sales.
Tony Robbins - Unshakeable : Branding A Best-Selling Book
Services:
Asset Creation/ Product Design/ Website Design and Development
Problem:
Tony Robbins, the motivational guru and New York Times best selling author was about to launch his next book - Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook - in collaboration with Peter Mallouck. With a significant PR strategy locked in, Tony needed a digital strategy to support massive buzz that was about to drop.
Insight:
Tony had a strong digital network through social media and his various network relationships. This needed to leveraged to turn his fanbase into supporters of his new endeavor.
Solution:
Together with Tony Robbins marketing team, BLVR created a new website that provided users with content teasers from the book, third-party endorsements and a seamless way to purchase. A social media shareables page was created to allow users to share Unshakeable quotes with their network via pre-written and designed Facebook and Twitter posts. We created a series of compelling graphics – incorporating brand assets and aspirational imagery – paired with poignant book quotes and links to exclusive content. Tony utilized these graphics on his personal social media accounts, resulting in a high volume of social engagement, site traffic, product equity and recognition, and sales conversions.
Bethany: Building A Modern Day Empire For One Of Surfing’s Most Beloved Figures
Services:
Research/ Brand Strategy / Brand Story / Brand Identity / Photography & Videography
Problem:
Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer, New York Times bestselling author, inductee to the Surfers Hall of Fame, and a mother of two. Yet the American public thought of her as the 13 year-old shark attack victim of Soul Surfer fame. She needed her brand to grow up, attract a broader reaching audience, and provide new financial revenue streams.
Insight:
In depth data analysis and qualitative focus groups confirmed that Bethany’s core audience was at a crossroads. She was making the transition from teenager to adult. Life was busy, fulfilling but stressful. She was afraid of not living out who she was created to be.
Solution:
We began by developing Bethany’s brand belief. We created a strategy that positioned Bethany as a modern day role model for how to live an unstoppable life. Using faith as her compass, she could show you how to live a joy-filled life and dominate any obstacle that comes your way. From there, we built a business model of high quality content, a premium website experience, and a range of new products and services that could monetize her belief. Finally, we modernized her brand identity to talk to a new generation of savvy millennials and created a mobile first digital experience that drove engagement and conversions.
Results:
450% increase in website traffic | 10 x increase in social shares
Quote:
“In early 2018, we formed a partnership with BLVR to re-imagine the Bethany Hamilton
brand. This has been a wide ranging effort that has included everything from brand strategy,
to defining our hero (i.e., customer), to figuring out our voice, to maturing the brand visuals.
We continue to work with their talented team and hope to do so for years to come.”
—Deyl Kearin / CEO, Bethany Hamilton/Soul Surfer
Hope and Her Case Study
Services:
Brand Strategy, Brand Identity, Packaging
Problem:
Hope and Her came to us as Vaginismus.com. They were a pioneer of information and at-home treatments for vaginismus, but in recent years had lost their competitive edge due to copycat products and a changing millennial customer base.
Insight:
The vaginismus category was extremely conventional - an overuse of pink, nondescript white boxes of product, cold efficacy claims, and medical diagrams were the norm. But we realized to our hero, this wasn’t just a functional or rational issue. This was a deeply personal and emotional challenge that made them feel like less of a woman at their very core. It was our role to bring hope so our hero could feel whole again.
Outcome:
We began by evolving the brand architecture and business model. Vaginimus.com remained as a educational ‘wikipedia’ resource that delivered strong SEO and funneled users into purchasing funnels. This was complemented with a new millennial-focused eCommerce offering called “Hope & Her’ that delivered new holistic treatment plans. A brand strategy was created by using emotion as a disruption tool. We weren’t just selling dilators and treatment plans, we were selling hope. Hope for healing. Hope to feel whole and confident again. Hope for a new day. This was coupled a positive tone of voice and modern graphics that stood apart from the category. When it came to packaging the aim was to take away the shame associated with receiving product in an unmarked boxed. Our hero was down, not out. So we created a packaging suite that was experiential, informative and uplifting.
Lolitas: Reimaging A Fast-Casual Staple
Services:
Brand Strategy/ Brand Story/ Brand Identity/Photography
Problem:
While Lolita’s Restaurant locations were cropping up all over town, the company was experiencing a major identity crisis. The company logo was being manipulated across each restaurant location, diminishing brand equity and the company’s ability to transition into the fast casual restaurant industry.
Insight:
We knew from research that we an intensely loyal generation of guests but the neighborhood mix was changing, with new families that had low awareness of Lolita’s.
Solution:
We started by honoring Lolita’s Restaurants’ legacy of cuisine, culture, and community, letting it serve as our North Star for brand rejuvenation. BLVR stayed true to Dolores “Lolita” Farfan’s signature and the multigenerational, family-owned history of the restaurant chain, but we added a modern twist. We updated the logo type from green to black, with softer, classic italicized lines—a design mechanism to infer forward movement. Even further, we used a heavier-weight typeface to convey boldness and strength in both the community and the industry. Working with Paula Watts and Sam Wells we created a high-quality, mouth-watering photographic approach—highlighting the fresh ingredients, food-preparation process, and overall lifestyle and atmosphere.
Nature Collective: Shifting From A Conservancy Non-Profit To An Experience Led Organization
Services:
Discovery, Brand Strategy, Naming, Brand Identity, Storytelling
Problem:
Nature Collective came to BLVR as the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy. Big things were happening for the conservancy - they were in the thick of the California’s largest watershed restoration and their programs were growing at a considerable rate, far beyond the scope of the San Elijo Lagoon. But awareness and visitation were low and they were unsure where to go next.
Insight:
After digging deep into the brand it was clear that the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy wasn’t just a conservation nonprofit. They were a people-focused, experience-led nature organization too.
Solution:
Taking cues from ‘Conservation 3.0’ a new mission was created: to drive all people to have a passion for nature. The audience set was expanded from affluent local users to welcome all San Diegans and beyond, regardless of age, location or wealth. This inclusive mentality inspired the new name, “Nature Collective”, which reflected that together we use, enjoy, protect and promote nature. A fresh brand identity and art direction were created taking cues from the Nature Collective’s core belief to connect, experience and protect nature. A simplified emblem along with modern retro typography and design cues gave the brand a distinct look that stands apart from the pack.
Keystone: Driving Audience Expansion and Comprehension
Services:
Brand Identity / Website Strategy, Design and Development / Customer Journey Planning / Collateral Design
Problem:
Keystone, is a large evangelical church in Keller, Texas. Brand comprehension work showed they had been perceived as a ‘seeker-friendly’ organization while in fact they could also cater to a ‘Bible-based’ audience looking for a deeper level of faith. Together with Dunham+Company, the church came to BLVR with a goal to engage more of the Keller population with the gospel’s message of hope and redemption.
Insight:
Their organization is built on the mission to help bring life by leading people to the life-giver Himself, Jesus Christ.
Solution:
At BLVR, we believe the brand story and design should build on each other. So we took our starting point from Dunham+Company’s “Live It Unlocked” brand positioning. From there we created a modern, sophisticated Keystone wordmark that used a broken "O" to symbolize breaking chains and living unlocked. This visual mnemonic became a powerful branding device utilized throughout the art direction across the entire customer journey - from signage, brand materials, gospel teachings, merchandise, and much more.
Truth Becomes Her: Architecting A Brand Movement
Services:
Discovery, Brand Strategy, Naming, Brand Identity, Storytelling
Problem:
Erin and Brent Weidemann came to BLVR with a complex brand ecosystem - There was Erin’s successful speaking career, a growing book series - The Adventures of Rooney Cruz, an inspiring podcast “Heroes For Her” and an expanding range of content focused on raising young daughters. Their products were top notch but each brand was not living up to its full potential.
Insight:
Audience segmentation revealed millennial mom’s were fighting every day for their daughters to be full of worth but they lacked a framework or any kind of training on how to do that. In effect they were ‘winging it’ and that created a tension that made this audience question if they were being the best mom they could be.
Solution:
We began with the goal to create a belief-led, mom-powered movement that could lift our daughters up and show them their true worth. We created a new name for our company - Truth Becomes Her - which showed the physical and emotional process of moms guiding their daughters to walk in truth. Around this, we built a modern brand identity and art direction that built on our story with a 3 fold analogy demonstrating the relationship between mom, her daughter and Christ. We developed a new business model with the Client that expanded their product stream to include education, training and experiential products that lived and breathed the new brand story.
Quote:
“As a company, they truly care and put their heart into everything. From the initial discovery meetings to the extensive research they did, the BLVR team worked diligently to prepare and execute the new brand design and all aspects of the creative. They had an excellent gauge of our business at all times, and the rebrand was a total success.
—Brent Weidemann / CEO, Co-Founder
Futures: Optimizing The eCommerce Black Friday Experience
Services:
Website/Digital Optimizations
Problem:
The fin retail environment had changed considerably. Surfers were moving away from traditional brick and mortar channels in favor of online transactions. With Black Friday looming, Futures wanted to make a concerted push to impact revenue through their eCom channel.
Insight:
Futures omni-channel ‘research online and purchase instore’ approach wasn’t going to cut it during the biggest selling period of the year. Users needed an easy and fast path to purchase directly from Futures.
Solution:
BLVR optimized the digital path to purchase to allow users to take more control of their shopping experience. Reimagined navigation, product filtering and categories allowed the user to get directly to the fins they needed, while limited time sales messaging drove the urgency to buy now. Product pages were updated to tell a deeper product and education story while the cart and checkout pages were simplified to allow for a speedier check out. But it didn’t end there - we created marketing campaigns, cart abandonment email tracks and tiered promotion stories to drive sales from Black Friday all the way through to Cyber Monday.
Results:
50X increase in online revenue | 55% increase in conversion rate | 10% increase in average order value
Command Alkon: Creating a Persona-led Web Experience to Drive a Next Generation Offering
Services:
Website strategy, design and development
Problem:
Command Alkon is one of the world’s most formidable supply chain software suppliers for the heavy building materials industry. With a 20+ year history, Command Alkon product solutions had grown organically. As a result the user was getting lost under a complicated and dated website that couldn’t scale.
Key User Insight:
From user research and analytical data, we identified that the user had a dated perception of the brand and its product offerings. In addition, they felt the brand did not understand their needs.
Solution:
We began by creating an enterprise UX approach that showcased a scalable ecosystem of products at an enterprise, business line, and individual product level. We designed user journeys through four key heavy buildings material industry personas which were used in the main navigation, page structure, and homepage selection panel. Customized messaging, white papers, lead generation offers, and calls to action completed the user centric journey. We didn’t want to clog the digital experience down with complex dry language and technical jargon. We created bite-sized snackable content blocks that gave simple and impactful information in an engaging human way. This was accompanied with modern design language like white space, human focused imagery, and brand specific vignettes.
PRI: Elevating the Digital Experience and Value
Services:
Brand Modernization, Web Design & Development
Problem:
Performance Racing Industries (PRI) the voice of performance racing across America. With a magazine and trade show offerings, their products were cutting edge but their website experience was not.
Insight:
Our user research identified that their current web solutions were dated, clunky and lacked engagement. Plus our analytics identified that while millennials and gen X’ers were the fastest growing audience, PRI wasn’t targeting them.
Outcome:
BLVR began by creating a streamlined information architecture and mobile friendly navigation that would enable a better user flow across all user groups. We reviewed our content presentation and pivoted from an old-school PDF magazine into snackable blog-style content that would would match any other editorial experience our millennial user were getting elsewhere. Then we served the use additional relevant content to deepen their user flow. Next we reimagined their trade show section to drive deeper engagement and ticket sales across the show calendar. We modernized their brand identity to provide a fresh feel and then drove that across the entire user interface.
Rylee and Cru: Creating an eCommerce Powerhouse
Sevices:
Website strategy, design (in conjunction with Client), and development
Problem:
Rylee and Cru is one of the fastest growing children’s wear brands in America. Beloved by moms and babes alike for its unique and artistic SoCal vibes, the brand had been expanding its reach exponentially in retail channels, but it had done little to grow its own direct-to-consumer channel.
Insight:
Analysis and shopper experience thinking showed that the Rylee and Cru site was challenged with multiple friction points across the eCommerce journey and a dated look and feel that was bringing down the overall value of the brand.
Solution:
Rylee and Cru is known for its “sophisticated minimal” aesthetic from founder Kelli Murray. Collaborating with the client, the BLVR team created a cohesive design language that mimicked the user’s offline experience. Expansive white space, clean typography, and organic elements ensured we maintained brand affinity through the line. Next we reviewed the entire eCommerce process for optimizations. Product imagery was made bigger and more varied to mimic an instore touch and feel. Buy CTAs were made more prominent while other necessary but distracting information was visually deprioritized. The cart page was dismantled in favor of a swipe-out cart that didn’t take the user away from the main shopping action. Form interactions and language were consolidated and updated. Lastly, upsell panels were introduced into the checkout to ensure moms could shop for the perfect look.
Results:
- 3x revenue lift
- Conversion rate increased by 20%
- Average order value increased by 25%
- Users increased by 187%
The LeClaire Group: Branding A Self-Storage Advisory Giant
Services:
Brand Identity/ User Experience/ Website Design and Development
Problem:
With over 50+ years of combined experience, The LeClaire Group was a trusted storage broker with a growing Client base. They were now serving everyone from mom-and-pop-owners through to large corporate institutions like General Electric and Wells Fargo. They needed to create a brand that could be welcoming to both ends of the spectrum.
Insight:
An extensive competitive review showed that the category was over-crowded. Functional messaging and utilitarian branding were leaving the target audience feeling underwhelmed and cold.
Solution:
BLVR built the new LeClaire Group identity from the ground up. Our goal was to create something that was both professional & crisp for institutional customers, and approachable & genuine for mom-and-pop owners. We utilized a structured yet friendly combination of typography, colors and copy that built a modern but inviting brand that could stand out in the marketplace.
Quote:
There were a multitude of competitors in the space all following the same conventions. The team at BLVR provided us with such a great end product, but it was how they skillfully managed the entire process that impressed me the most. They did a heck of a job balancing our team's need for control and high level of detail, yet they knew when to figuratively kick us out of the room so that they could create top notch branding for us.
— GINA SCHLOSSER, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Reviews
the project
Branding for Home Decor Company
"Retail changes quickly, so any time we brought a challenge forward they jumped on it."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of packaging for a major home décor retailer.
What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?
We were launching new private label brands and needed to develop a packaging system and template set to work from.
What was the scope of their involvement?
BLVR developed printed packaging and signage materials, as well as our brand identity and company values. They worked with us to understand our brand and customers, going out and performing competitor research and analysis. This information informed the scope of work and alignment strategy that we created together.
We also commissioned a follow-up project to extend all the packaging for the brand.
What is the team composition?
There were four people visible throughout the process: a senior account director, an account manager, a creative director, and an account specialist. The account manager, Alec, was our main point of contact.
How did you come to work with BLVR?
We did an RFP process, and their approach and way of working aligned with our style, which made them the frontrunner.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent around $250,000 with them.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked with them from April 2021–January 2022. The two projects ran into one another, transitioning in September.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The project is not yet in stores, so we haven’t seen that impact, but we’ve seen internally that they came in ahead of schedule. This was a huge win for us.
The other key internal metric is our overall satisfaction from the CEO on down. The quality of the name, it’s distinctiveness, and the cohesiveness of the brand as it relates to our overall family of brands is amazing. BLVR was able to layer the new property into what we already had and coordinate all the related information.
How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?
They were excellent. A lot of the communication happened over email, phone, and Microsoft Teams. We had a lot of visual collaboration over Teams and PowerPoint presentations as well.
What did you find most impressive about them?
BLVRs’ biggest strength from a strategy standpoint was their ability to understand what our needs ere and what parts of our strategy were already baked. They then worked within that system, rather than creating a whole new system.
They were also extremely flexible and adaptive to our changes and needs. Retail changes quickly, so any time we brought a challenge forward they jumped on it.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Overall, we were very happy with the work, and that’s exactly why we started a second project with them. In fact, we recently kicked off a third project as well.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Communication, collaboration, and transparency will be key.
the project
Web Development for Accounting Firm
"They have fantastic attention to detail and everyone works really well together."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of operations for an accounting firm. We work with CPAs and their clients providing financial planning services.
What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?
Our website was outdated and we needed a new one and to establish our brand. To start, we didn’t have any branding. We just had a logo that somebody made who didn’t have all that much information on how to make a logo, so nobody was thrilled with it.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The first step with BLVR was branding and they created a logo for us. They made sure that our color scheme for our website, social media, and promotional emails is all cohesive. They created a new website from scratch that included a client login page. This was the first phase because we wanted to get more information about the family office and have a web presence. Now that we do, we’ll go into some other projects with them.
What is the team composition?
Wayne (Producer) has been my main point of contact the entire time. We have a contact for branding and a contact for everything else along the way. I know there are a lot of people working behind the scenes.
How did you come to work with BLVR?
The owner of our company was at a Christian family camp and saw someone there was wearing a t-shirt that had nice branding and the person mentioned that BLVR did the branding and their website as well. We were just about to sign a contract to work with a different company when that happened and we decided to work with BLVR.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested approximately $25,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began working together in November 2019 and the partnership is still ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The website went live this week, but we have more projects in the pipeline. Currently, it’s a test launch to make sure there aren’t any bugs or glitches, then we’ll push it out next week. We have been thoroughly pleased with the work provided thus far.
How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?
Wayne and I speak pretty regularly over the phone and email. When the site was in the mockup phase, we used BugHerd which was a program that I could report and request changes, as well as monitor those changes. It was a great tool. Any delay was due to us because we took some time with getting our feedback to them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They have fantastic attention to detail and everyone works really well together. Each person does their job really well and there were so many different parts to building the website.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there is nothing.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
If they’re waiting on something from you, make it a priority because the process of building a website from scratch can take as long as you make it take. It can be a learning curve, but that’s what our team has decided we’re going to do from now on.
the project
Website Dev & Graphic Design for Nonprofit Organization
"I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a professional, efficient, and high-quality provider."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the senior program manager for human trafficking prevention at PCI & Global Communities. Specifically, I work with E3 Alliance to activate the business sector in the fight to end sex trafficking in San Diego.
What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?
We sought out a graphic designer to help build the brand for E3 Alliance, which was a new program at the time. With their larger team, we thought they could also build upon that brand through a website.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They delivered brand design elements for our new program. Following that effort, they also worked with us to build a website for the program. The site is a vital component of the program because our program aims to teach businesses how they can be part of the anti-trafficking solution. A huge part of inviting companies into that space is assuring interested parties a way to plug into the movement immediately.
For that reason, they focused on creating an interactive experience that will influence the movement in our area. We had general ideas of what we wanted to see on the site, but they put everything into practice.
What is the team composition?
We worked directly with Damon (Designer) during the brand design phase of our work. However, our main point of contact was Wayne (Producer). There was a larger team of designers, but all of our questions and communication went through Wayne. Adam (COO) has helped us adjust our plan with them as we move forward.
How did you come to work with BLVR?
We found out that the graphic designer we settled on in our selection process joined an agency. After hiring Damon for our brand’s design, we thought it would be beneficial to work with their larger team on our website.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about $20,000 on the project.
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve had about a year-long contract with them. We worked together from January 2020–2021.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They developed an incredible, well-thought-out brand design for our program. It was very professional, and all the deliverables are easy to use. We understand how to access and edit all key brand deliverables.
The website they created was excellent. It was clear that they took all of our feedback into account through several rounds of iterations. They made recommendations that improved the quality of the final site as well. They were good about hearing our voices and concerns while also adding value when we deferred to their expertise with design. We couldn’t have done any of this without their expertise.
How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?
While the site development may have taken longer than expected, they were helpful and understanding of our pace the entire project. Having a main point of contact was very valuable. We always knew where to go for assistance, and their response time for inquiries was very good.
Additionally, Adam has been patient and flexible in adjusting deadlines and plans as the project progresses. They were more than willing to work on a flexible timeline.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their focus on collective decision-making throughout the project will most certainly be beneficial in the long term for E3 Alliance. Overall, it was a great experience. I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a professional, efficient, and high-quality provider.
They listened to our wishes and concerns, always able to respond with a realistic idea of what was achievable. Their greatest asset to us with their professional expertise, which really took our program to the next level.
Are there any areas they could improve?
We didn’t have any obvious issues. They were a great partner, so we hope to stay in touch and use their services again in the future.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Take them up on their genuine offer to ask questions, make changes when needed, and hear their expertise. They guided us in the right direction for a great end result. Keep an open line of communication as well because they were willing to respond to all of our questions and concerns.
the project
Branding & Design Services for Travel Lifestyle Brand
“They’re super knowledgeable about best practices and consumer behavior.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the president of Joywell. We’re a lifestyle brand in the traveling industry, hotels, and travel products.
What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?
I brought them on to help create my brand.
What was the scope of their involvement?
I gave them my vision and desire to identify the corporate millennial’s needs and wants, particularly in the niche of travel needs. Through collaboration, we came up with the brand Joywell.
Their team helped establish my brand, mission, and values. They’re handling the web design and brand book. BLVR did a lot of studies in trying to understand my target audience. They came up with our logo, tagline, and color palette.
What is the team composition?
I work directly with 6–7 individuals.
How did you come to work with BLVR?
I heard great things about them from other businesses I deal with. A lot of those contacts said the same thing over and over again; that BLVR is very authentic and is a visionary. I interviewed several agencies and didn’t mesh with them in the way I did with BLVR. I had a great rapport with BLVR from the beginning and our values aligned.
How much have you invested with them?
So far, I’ve invested about $150,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our ongoing engagement started in November 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I reached out to several brands, including global hotel chains. Two big hotels are fighting over this brand for their hotels. We have some very big players and banks that are interested in the acquisition of the Joywell hotel based on the brand and what we believe in.
The BLVR team is extremely collaborative and communicative. They always touch base with me to make sure my needs and wants are heard and followed through. They have large extensive knowledge in the branding and marketing sectors. Their team brought my vision to life by implementing my mockups. They put my logo on t-shirts, candles, fliers, and business cards for me to visually see how my logo and brand would work against certain items.
Their team is super excited to work on my project, and I’m very grateful for that. I’ve felt their sincere enthusiasm throughout this entire project. They’re caring, thoughtful, and passionate.
How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?
We meet weekly with our account manager to go through the list of tasks that need to be accomplished. They provided benchmarks that had to be completed by certain dates. BLVR was on point on every piece of data that was scheduled. Additionally, they give me updates via email every other day.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Our values are very aligned. They’re visionaries like I am. BLVR really listens to my needs and vision as well as implements their creativity. Their president and CFO are really involved in this project so our ideation phase was extremely fruitful. They didn’t hold back and it’s clear that creativity is their strong suit. BLVR gave me a lot of ideas that I never thought of.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there aren’t any areas that need improvement.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
They’re super knowledgeable about best practices and consumer behavior. However, the great thing is that on top of their expertise, they still respect my vision and authenticity for my brand itself. You’re in good hands.
the project
UI Design & Brand Direction for Online Platform Startup
“They were a super responsive team that did high-quality work.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder of a company called Happy Goat, an online platform that allows people to connect around the things that they love the most.
What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?
As a startup with a newly launched product, I needed a team to come on board because I don’t have the expertise or experience to develop the overall design or brand direction.
What was the scope of their involvement?
BLVR handled the full architecture of the UI design. They did some basic market research to inform that design. The team contributed the entire brand direction, including the logo system, color palette, and font families. They also handled some basic copywriting for the website.
What is the team composition?
I primarily worked with three people: the COO, an account manager, and a creative director. Overall, I interfaced with a total of 6–7 people over the course of the project.
How did you come to work with BLVR?
I did preliminary research looking for a brand company on Google and LinkedIn. BLVR came recommended by three individuals who had previous experience working with them. Then, when I met with the CEO, we had a good rapport.
How much have you invested with them?
We paid $40,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project began in April 2020, and we finished in the middle of August 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
From beginning to end, I was very pleased with a few things. First, they provided great customer service. I felt really valued and cared for. I never felt like the attention wasn’t on me as the client.
Second, I’m new to this space and am not familiar with brand or art direction, but they never made me feel dumb or incompetent. Instead, they made me feel like part of the conversation.
Third, the quality of their work was great, from the first round of presentations through our reviews and iterations. I can’t imagine having another logo for my company. They were a super responsive team that did high-quality work.
How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?
They were really great about scheduling and managing deadlines. Once I gave the green light to dive into the project, they provided a full timeline map from start to finish. We stayed very close to that timeline and didn’t deviate except when I requested to. They met their deadlines, especially early on, before we really got into revisions and reviews. We were really dialed in.
We mostly communicated through email. Early on, we had some phone calls and text messages, but toward the middle of the project, we corresponded through email and zoom. If I wanted to hop on a Zoom call with the account manager at any point, she always made time to talk through a question or issue. I don’t remember a moment when a meeting I requested got pushed to the next day, which is something that really stood out to me.
What did you find most impressive about them?
My initial scope of work didn’t include market research. Once I got a clearer idea of what I was looking for, and they also understood a bit better, they included some basic market research in the initial scope. They didn’t request additional funds or open up a different scope, so that customer service was very generous.
Additionally, their design team was top-notch. All three of the presentations and proposals I got were creative and unique, and they met what I was looking for. The communication was also really good, whether I was working with the account manager or the COO. I never felt like I couldn’t reach out at any point and have a conversation. Their responsiveness was very quick.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t have a great reference point to compare this experience to. I’d say that I reached an outcome that I was very pleased with. For the first go-around for me, I was really pleased. If anything, I learned what to ask for in the future because I now understand the process.
Any advice for potential customers?
You’re in really good hands. They will walk you through each step of the process. I can’t speak enough to their communication and customer service. With any company, just have a linear design for what you want. Make sure that you come into the project educated on what a brand team does, what art direction is, and the different types of iterations, such as whether you’re going to take a linear or waterfall approach. Knowing, clarifying, and communicating your expectations helps them.
A challenge we had was on me; I was learning as I went along. They were very adaptive to me. While we didn’t deviate too far from our timelines, my learning took a few extra days here and there.
the project
Branding for Photo & Video Agency
"The designers showcased their creative abilities on this project and came up with a very stunning overarching brand."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder and creative director of a film and photography production company.
What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?
I hired them because I needed an overarching parent company brand.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They created the whole brand including the brand guidelines, which entailed a custom logo, typefaces, and a custom name. Before we finalized the branding, they put together 4–5 presentations of all of the options.
The guidelines they developed were in the form of a book, which allowed me to give them to investors, staff, marketers, content contributors, and influencers. They also created the icon and all of the ways that it can and should be used on the web, along with the color scheme.
Additionally, they designed print collateral, such as business cards and letterheads, based on the branding they had put together.
What is the team composition?
I was in contact with one teammate all the time. I also worked with two designers and Scott (CEO), who worked on the project briefly.
How did you come to work with BLVR?
I found them on Google when I was looking for branding companies. Out of the three companies I chose, I decided to stick with BLVR because of their visual presence online.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent approximately $35,000 on this specific project.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our engagement began in October 2019. Although they completed the initial scope of work in March 2020, I extended our relationship because I enjoyed working with them.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The guidelines ensure that I stay close to my branding at all times, which is helpful. BLVR is extremely professional. They don’t usually work with individuals like me who are trying to get a company off the ground, so they actually had the freedom to start from scratch.
The designers showcased their creative abilities on this project and came up with a very stunning overarching brand.
How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?
They performed very well. As I mentioned earlier, I worked mostly with one teammate, who was essentially my project manager. If anything was delayed, she made sure that I was aware of it ahead of time.
She was very easy to get a hold of, always responding within the day, if not within the hour. So, communication was always open. If I wanted anything extra or wanted to change something, she consulted with the rest of the team very quickly.
The process was really easy to follow. BLVR mapped out and graphed everything in Excel. Additionally, they were on time and followed through on everything they said they would do.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The final reveal — after we chose the name and the art direction for the branding itself — was amazing. My favorite part was receiving my business cards. I probably won’t use them, but they are honestly some of the most stunning business cards I’ve ever seen.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Even though upfront I knew how long it was going to take, it still felt too long. This isn’t really a criticism; it just speaks to how thorough they are. They did in-depth work.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
They’re expensive but they’re worth it. If your company relies heavily on visual aesthetics and presentation, BLVR is definitely worth it.
the project
Web Dev & Branding for Progressive Arts School
"The quality of their art was above and beyond."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of marketing and communications for a pre-K to eighth-grade progressive arts Christian school.
What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?
Overall, one of our business problems was that we needed to increase our enrollment. We needed to have more inquiries and increase the number of applicants to the school. We also wanted to raise the profile of the organization within the community and polish our brand. Our description was complex, so it took a long time for people to understand who we were.
What was the scope of their involvement?
BLVR rebranded us completely. A team member visited us to conduct interviews and tour the school. They looked at our assets and heard about the challenges with our collateral and asset system. They created our messaging, art, and print materials. They helped us to distill our messaging down to a progressive, arts-infused Christian school. They also created other messaging that we create change makers because we have a strong social justice piece to our organization.
Their team built our website to target our specific audience. As part of the overall process, they helped us to hone our messaging and bring that to the website so that we not only addressed the UX but also thinking about the audience that we wanted to attract. It’s a WordPress site that’s modular. We’re fairly tech-savvy over here, so they handed it to us and we maintain it, create our own pages, and update it.
What is the team composition?
I interfaced with five people but many more people from BLVR supported this project in the background.
How did you come to work with BLVR?
A consultant who we engaged to help us with admissions recommended BLVR. We looked at several different providers. We’re an urban school with a sophisticated and educated clientele. We talked to other organizations that didn’t understand us. They put us in a niche and didn’t see us for who we are. We had a conversation with Adam (Partner and COO, BLVR) and had a sense that their team got us. They understood our problems quickly and came up with stunning solutions.
How much have you invested with them?
The project cost around $40,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started the project in May 2019, and BLVR delivered the website in December 2019. We hired them again to consult on branding questions.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We feel that it shows who we are. Our inquiries went up by 200% and our applications went up by 100%. At the same time, we worked with other consultants and a marketing plan including Google Ads but BLVR was a part of the entire process that led to increases in inquiries and applications. People love the website and only say good things about the art that their team created.
How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?
We communicated via phone, email, and Zoom. When we built the website, we used BugHeard to log all of the issues or tasks that needed to be addressed so no one duplicated work. When working on our messaging, we engaged a project manager and a content manager. Then, we started to closely collaborate with a web project manager. We wanted to roll out the website quickly, but the scope was deep, so I helped to build a few pieces. BLVR felt like a part of our time. We felt like coworkers who worked together with the same goal. Working with their team was a pleasant experience. They're really compassionate.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The quality of their art was above and beyond. They didn't just create a logo but a whole system that made us feel known. Their team developed a color system that brings joy and fun, which are real parts of who we are as a school. We’re a joyful place and care about beautiful art. When we saw their first draft, we felt that it was right and had almost no revisions for them. Their team created stunning secondary elements as well that enable us to create our own work. For example, if I wanted to create a postcard, I can implement secondary elements that make the piece feel fresh.
Are there any areas they could improve?
The only issues that we had weren’t in their control. We’re on the east coast and they’re on the west coast, so the three hour time difference made the collaboration hard on occasion.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Lay it out on the line. Say everything that you want to say about your organization. Show them everything because they don’t judge. They use that as information to create.
the project
Branding & Web Design for Conscious Retail Company
"BLVR hit it out of the ballpark."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder & CEO of Common Assembly.
What challenge were you trying to address with BLVR?
Their team came on board to help build our brand from the ground up.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We began the engagement by telling their team the concept we wanted to create. We wanted a compassionate fashion e-commerce brand. From there, I had a name in mind when our teams began exploratory meetings. I’m in Houston, so I flew out to San Diego to meet with them. During the meetings, we got to the heart of the concept we were trying to build. Then, we created surveys. We tested concepts between 800–1,000 women, receiving input on where we should take the brand.
Through the process, we also recognized the name wouldn’t resonate with customers. Their team helped with that process. While they didn’t come up with the final name, they helped spark our creativity during the team-building exercise we had for naming. They were instrumental in getting our team to think of a name that people would recognize.
From there, their team built a logo, secondary logo, and other brand assets we needed. They created our topography and taglines as well. One of our taglines is “Kindness is our thread.” We kept them on board for website design.
What is the team composition?
For branding, we worked with three people. When we began designing the logos, someone came on to manage the artwork.
How did you come to work with BLVR?
I believe we found BLVR on Clutch. We were searching for authentic companies that would understand the heart of what we were trying to create. After a few phone calls with different agencies, we spoke to Scott (CEO, BLVR) and he understood the passion behind creating a kinder approach to fashion. He also has a background in charity work, which was also important to us because we have a big outreach program. It was true synergy because we both understood each other. They weren’t the most inexpensive route, but the money we would put in would be well worth it.
How much have you invested with them?
In total, we’ve invested $92,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our kickoff call was in January 2019, and everything was delivered by July.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We launched the website about a week ago. But the reaction we’re getting is positive. People are reacting at how professional, inviting and upscale everything looks. The team at BLVR came up with beautiful artwork. People are also shocked at how reminiscent it is of bigger brands.
Overall, the response has been excellent. There has been no negative feedback in terms of brand positioning. A lot of people are commenting on how much they love our messaging and how different it is. They’re also loving the taglines that BLVR created. People are coming out of the woodwork to compliment it. We’re starting online ads next week, so we’ll begin monitoring page views.
How did BLVR perform from a project management standpoint?
Their project management approach worked extremely well for us. We communicated with them very often. If not every day, it was every other day. Our account manager was constantly in contact with me. If I needed something right away, I could text her.
We had a timeline tracker that we marched towards. Their team squished timelines on their end to make the web design happen quickly. They were really honest and worked on pace with delivery dates. Throughout, we constantly gave each other feedback. It was an easy and collaborative process working with BLVR.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their approach during the brand identity process was impressive. Since this was the first time I’ve done something like this, I had many ideas. BLVR’s team was great at focusing me and bringing me back to the survey results. They’ve could’ve let me spew out ideas, but they were great at sticking to their guns while satisfying my creativity. Now that I see the final product, I’m so grateful that BLVR focused on the right direction.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Honestly, that’s a hard question because I haven’t worked with other branding agencies. I don’t have any issues at the top of mind. BLVR hit it out of the ballpark.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Clients shouldn’t be afraid of the price tag because the brand and positioning will all be worth it. It’s going to be worth it in the long run. Customers should also put their trust in Lenya (VP of Brand Development, BLVR). Make sure she understands the concept so it can be steered in the right direction. She is extremely passionate and committed to success. Overall, BLVR has a great and hardworking team.
the project
Web Dev & Design for Private School
"The workflow space they created for us was incredible."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
Covenant Classical School is a private classical and Christian school located in Naperville, IL.
For what projects/services did your company hire BLVR?
Covenant hired BLVR to help us launch an all new website.
What were your goals for this project?
We basically needed to start from scratch. Our site was outdated and didn't communicate who we had become as an organization. The BLVR team came alongside us and helped us understand how to write effective content, how to organize and place the content, and how to select and organize images.
They took the project and ran with it, implementing our feedback, which resulted in an outstanding product.
How did you select this vendor?
We researched a variety of web design and development companies. After viewing some of BLVR's work with other organizations, we felt they would deliver what we needed at the price point we needed. They also made the effort to understand our needs and made every effort to create something that would also be unique to our organization.
Describe the project in detail.
The BLVR team led us through the project. We had an idea of what we wanted to include in our site when going into the project, and the BLVR team took it from there. The Covenant team wrote the content and selected the images, and the BLVR team helped create a design that worked with our content and desires for each portion of our large website.
Prior to working with BLVR, we struggled to figure out how to write the content in an organized and effective way. Once we started working with BLVR, they quickly helped organize our thoughts and created an easy platform for us to place the content exactly where we wanted it on the site.
The BLVR team then took the site into design and development, allowing us multiple opportunities to provide feedback. From start to finish, we were able to share concerns and questions openly and created an effective give and take workflow that produced an exceptional product.
What was the team composition?
Adam helped our teams get connected and got the project rolling for us. We were then assigned to our project manager, Wayne, who utilized his whole team at BLVR to work on different aspects of the project with us.
It was wonderful to consistently have one project manager walk us through the project from start to finish. He helped communicate our needs and hopes to the rest of the team, and they did their very best to create exactly what we wanted as well as guided us to know what would be best in each situation based on the experience they brought to the table.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Our team started with a clear vision of what we wanted, but it was the BLVR team that helped our vision become reality in less than 7 months! Over a short period of time, the BLVR team helped guide us to create all new content, select appropriate images, design the website, contribute feedback to the development of the site, and celebrate the launch of an all new website which now communicates exactly who we are.
The end product was better than we anticipated, and we have seen our web traffic increase dramatically due to the new site.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
We had a strong workflow between our team and the BLVR team. Our project manager, Wayne, was an incredible help and resource to us. I was able to see firsthand through a variety of platforms how much time and effort he dedicated to our project. I greatly appreciated the time he spent answering my many questions and fielding my concerns.
Through our time working together, I came to understand Wayne's rationale for his decisions and advice, and throughout it all, I knew his heart was to help our project (and more importantly, our organization) succeed. I was convinced he absolutely knew what was best for the site and was willing to do whatever he needed to do to make it happen.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
The workflow space they created for us was incredible. A project this size seemed overwhelming at the beginning, but they walked us through it - step by step. The platforms they utilized helped us (with little tech knowledge of our own) to create a front end product which was exactly what we needed.
The site is easy for us to maintain, and we walked away with strong relationships which now serve as a resource to our organization as we continue to work with the site ourselves. Their organization and systems were excellent and allowed our teams to collaborate and come together in a unified effort to help our organization flourish.
Are there any areas for improvement?
When we encountered issues with differences of opinion on the site from our team and theirs along the way, I was thoroughly impressed with the way in which these were resolved from each member of the BLVR team.
I wish I had simply just picked up the phone sooner to communicate with them about concerns, because once I understood the rationale behind decisions, I was soon on board with the direction things were headed. Their efforts to improve their communication with us throughout the process truly had such an impact on our overall perspective of the success of the project.
By the time our project came to a close, I was so sad to no longer be working alongside the team at BLVR!
the project
Branding Strategy & Collateral for Nature Conservation Org
"It felt like they truly cared about our mission and vision and had a vested interest in our success."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the Development + Communication Director at a nonprofit. We are located in the greater San Diego area. I oversee the communications efforts as a company, including social media, public relations, messaging and branding.
For what projects/services did your company hire BLVR?
We needed help with our general branding and messaging. Our organization began as a small volunteer run organization over 30 years ago. They organization had pieced together its mission, vision and marketing tools over the years without any real direction or expertise. Without specific internal expertise, I began looking for an external provider who could look at our organization objectively and help us better communicate who we are and why we do what we do.
What were your goals for this project?
Though we are well known in our immediate area, we wanted to spread our brand awareness across San Diego County, and beyond. We also wanted to create new, fun, modern + consistent marketing materials that could better communicate our organization’s mission and vision with our internal team and our target supporters.
How did you select this vendor?
Our team searched for branding companies via partner referrals. We looked at 4 companies, taking into consideration the referral received, their portfolio, past clients and how we connected with the company. We chose BLVR because we felt like they clicked with our organizational goals, they were committed and truly excited about the challenge. They were professional and yet approachable, creative and open. After several face to face interviews with the team, our team unanimously decided to contract them for the project.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
The process began with a series of discovery sessions, where they met with our board, staff, focus groups and surveys. They spent a large amount of time asking questions and listening to us. They learned about our organizational goals and history and ultimately created an entire brand package for us including new tagline, logo, name, and messaging materials.
What was the team composition?
The organization takes a team approach to their accounts, which allows you to connect with multiple people that all bring something special to the creative process. I worked directly with the CEO, COO, VP Brand Development, Creative Director, Digital Design Director, Lead Developer, and Brand Account Manager.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Since working with BLVR, we have received many positive remarks about our new logo and image. Our newly updated website is mobile friendly and has led to a significant increase in supporter interaction. Everyone within our organization loves our new brand identity and are proud to work for an organization that made this investment in our future.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Our project manager was great to work with. She was always available by phone, text or email. She would communicate with me a at least a couple of times a week and sometimes a few times a day. She was very communicative and patient. When I had a question or concern she would find the answer and get back to me in a timely manner. We used Zoom and Google Bugherd as tools for project management.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
I was most impressed by their commitment to really learn and understand our organization before creating the brand package. It felt like they truly cared about our mission and vision and had a vested interest in our success. The team is extremely creative and took extra steps to customize our brand.
Are there any areas for improvement?
There is always room for improvement, but we are overall very satisfied with the product delivered and look forward to continuing our work with them on future branding projects.
Currently working on their third project with the same client, BLVR has pleased internal stakeholders at all levels. Their ability to work within an existing brand while also delivering innovative materials stands out. Customers can expect a partner that works quickly and accommodates changes.