Borenstein Group, Inc.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the program manager for The Rendon Group, Inc. We’re a small boutique PR firm that does consulting work for various commercial and government clients.

What challenge were you trying to address with Borenstein Group, Inc.?

We brought them on to redesign our website. The engagement was tied to our business development goals; we wanted to attract more business.

What was the scope of their involvement?

It had been some time since our website had been spruced up. Borenstein Group, Inc. handled a total redesign. They also provided some branding strategy and guided us through the whole process. Their team gave a lot of insight on how to brand including design, look and feel, images, colors, and how to communicate to our target audience which is primarily the federal government.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Gal (Founder & CEO) and Connie (General Manager), his project manager. There were a number of other individuals behind the scenes who also worked on the project.

How did you come to work with Borenstein Group, Inc.?

We had already talked to a couple of other vendors when Borenstein Group, Inc. sent out a solicitation offering their work. Our CFO received it via email and liked what she saw. We called them and had them come in. We ultimately chose them because Gal had the greatest grasp of our needs related to targeting the federal government for business, more so than other designers.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $22,000.

What is the status of this engagement?
The project ran from November 2019–August 2020. We launched the website in the middle of August.

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

In the long term, we’ll be looking at how much traffic the site receives and how much of that results in inquires for services and new business. Since we just launched, we don’t have any metrics quite yet.

How did Borenstein Group, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They were fabulous with project management and always met deadlines. One of the best qualities of their team was their flexibility. We had some setbacks on our side and had to change the scope of the project several times. They were extremely accommodating to our change requests that were disruptive to the project calendar.

Their team took on these new changes and made sure we got the website we wanted in the end. What’s more, they never gave us any trouble about it at all, despite it being outside the scope.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In addition to their flexibility, it’s their expertise. Gal is an expert on branding; He’s not a “yes” man either. We approached him a couple of times with different ideas and he had no problem telling us if something wouldn’t work or help us reach our goals. I was really impressed by their flexibility, expertise, and proactiveness in keeping us on the right track.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we worked together really well and there were no areas that needed improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We were more productive toward the end as our internal team became more familiar with web design. We could’ve been more productive from the start had we understood our own goals and asserted ourselves. Instead, it unfolded over time.

Any preplanning and strategizing before engaging with Borenstein Group, Inc. will be helpful. They’re wonderful. They’ll guide you completely but if you have a better understanding of what you want from the get-go, it’ll be a more productive project.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a large government services provider, primarily for the United States Department of Defense and the United States Department of Energy, as well as a host of other agencies.

What challenge were you trying to address with Borenstein Group, Inc.?

Our former company sold its government services division to another entity. Over the last four months, we’ve been working on branding the new company.

We had a short window of time when we knew our company was going to be acquired. So, we had to do everything from A to Z to brand the new company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team helped us through our launch, doing everything from a branding perspective. This involved developing the tag line, identifying our values and our messaging, creating an advertising campaign, building our website, and providing creative graphics. They helped us launch the branding materials.

At first, they required us to do a lot of “homework” (e.g. a two-day off-site session with our executive leadership team and our new owners). We identified the values of the company (e.g. what is important to our stakeholders) to help us develop the rest of the branding materials.

Also, they researched our clients and employees to identify what was important and the strengths and weaknesses of the company. That analysis fed into the brand development initiatives.

After that, they put together the project management plan from A to Z to launch the company. This involved content development, graphics support, the development of brand guidelines, and the development of advertising. They also helped us negotiate media buys with DC film media. 

We had to start from scratch on our website. This involved highlighting information from our old company’s site and bringing it into the new site. Key features include a lot of graphics and video.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Gal (CEO, Borenstein Group, Inc). We interfaced with him primarily, but also with three others on his team. He had a lot of support on his team that we did not communicate with.

How did you come to work with Borenstein Group, Inc.?

A consultant gave me their name. We were considering about 10 others. We researched their website and then cold-called them. Based on that call, we had several interactions with them for proposal development. Then, they came in to do their oral presentation for about 15 of us. We narrowed it down and made the selection.

Our decision was primarily based on their written and oral proposal. They did a very good job expressing what they could do to help brand our company. More importantly, they connected to our business line and our markets. Basically, this wasn’t their first rodeo in our market.

How much have you invested with them?

The initial investment was around $350,000, but it’s ongoing. Those numbers are still being negotiated.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with the team in November of 2019, and the partnership is ongoing.

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

We could not have been successful without their partnership mentality and devotion. We worked as a team, with phone calls and deliverables every day. They bent over backward to make sure we were ready to launch our new company in such a short window. 

How did Borenstein Group, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

I think they performed very well. There were a lot of last-minute changes, and we had a lot of cooks in the kitchen. Based on these difficulties that we brought to the engagement, they did a lot of heavy lifting. They worked over-time, and they were devoted to us as a partner over the last three months to make sure we were successful with our launch.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They stood out because of their connection to our market. Other firms may be equally as creative, but there aren’t many firms that know our market as well. They were able to take their expertise and apply it to help us. We didn’t have to walk them through everything or hold their hand. They knew what was needed.

The most impressive aspect of this partnership is that they went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure they were meeting our needs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their CEO is extremely smart, experienced, and helpful. However, I think sometimes he was overworked. He should have asked some of his key members to help him more than they were at the end. His devotion was a good attribute, but I think he should have pulled his support team in a little bit more to help him.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As always, make sure you’re asking many questions so you select the right partner. While they are very devoted to their client-customer relationship and know the market, you should also check their creative staff and creative capabilities. Their creative support staff could be a little stronger.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing partner of a full-service boat sales company called Fairwinds Marina, LLC.

What challenge were you trying to address with Borenstein Group, Inc.?

Our previous site was about two years old, so we wanted to do a refresher. The goal was to get an efficient, effective, and beautiful new site.

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Based on our outline, Borenstein Group, Inc. developed a fast-loading WordPress site, which involved a few key steps.

They first connected my boat inventory to BoatTrader so that I could get real-time updates. Then, they set up the phone and email trees within our system, which had been a hard task for other providers I’ve worked with. 

Finally, they handled all of the embedding and analytics, making sure that the site was optimized for search engines.

What is the team composition? 

My main point of contact is Gal (CEO, Borenstein Group, Inc.), who takes care of everything quickly. There are several others working behind the scenes, too.

How did you come to work with Borenstein Group, Inc.?

I’ve actually worked with them since the ‘90s. Back then, they helped put together a state-of-the-art website and developed a marketing tagline for my self-storage company.

When it came time to update my marina website, I wasn’t satisfied with my previous designer, so I reached out to Gal. We talked, and I made sure that his team could do all of the various things that needed to be done.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent between $10,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started this project in October 2019 and planned to go live January 2020, though Borenstein Group, Inc. managed to deliver ahead of schedule. We’re still working together for SEO tasks, and they stay on top of our tech updates.

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

It’s been a first-class operation. People have been delighted with the new site because they can now find the information they’re looking for. The number of leads from the website alone from January to the beginning of February has been in line with the numbers we hit during the previous summer.

How did Borenstein Group, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

For both of my engagements, I’ve been pleased that they’re on time as promised. I communicate first and foremost with over the phone because I prefer hearing information and reading the tone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their overall professionalism and on-time delivery stand out. We also don’t need to have a lot of back-and-forths. I have every confidence that if I bring up an issue, they’ll solve it for me efficiently. The team is adept at messaging, designing, and implementation, and they’ve met all of my expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve been incredibly pleased with the process and am thankful that I decided to switch back to them as my web designer.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
 
When you’re dealing with any consultant, it’s best to come prepared. Have an idea of what you’re trying to get done so that their team can deliver something that you want.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our federal contracting companies provide a full spectrum of IT services, including management, consulting, medical, technology, and professional services. We also offer management and support of programs, projects, professionals, and technical staff. I manage B2G marketing and branding, supporting the revenue generation through government contracts.

For what projects/services did your company hire Borenstein Group, Inc.?

We hired them to conduct market research and develop a go-to-market strategy for a specific service.

What were your goals for this project?

Through market research, we wanted to validate the need for the service, dollars appropriated by government agency for the service, and the appropriate messaging that would resonate with government program managers and contracting officers. We hoped to generate greater awareness and ultimately win contracts.

How did you select this vendor?

My team researched local B2G agencies with specific expertise in market research, go-to-market strategy execution, and marketing and advertising expertise. We researched a few firms and selected Borenstein Group, Inc. based on their credibility and past outcomes.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After selecting Borenstein Group, Inc., we had discovery sessions with management, subject matter experts, and the marketing team. We identified objectives, conducted internal research about our expertise, and determined the scope of work, timing, and deliverables. They conducted external market research to validate our internal research, then developed a research report and a go-to-market strategy that detailed messaging and target markets. They recommended next steps on how to execute the plan through specific tactics, including a white paper, digital media, advertising, social media, email marketing, and a lead generation platform.

What was the team composition?

I’ve worked closely with the principal of the agency and their team. They’ve also been open to collaborating with our subject matter experts, management, and marketing team.

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

The campaign is still underway, but six weeks after the launch we've generated 40 leads, positive feedback from existing and prospective customers, and greater visibility as a thought leader in our industry.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It's easy to communicate with Borenstein Group, Inc. They provide regular updates, and we connect with them by phone weekly and through email regularly. They don't miss deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their knowledge of how Washington operates is unmatched. We've learned more than we thought we would. As a result, we've engaged them on a broader project with a similar scope.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No firm is perfect. They could improve their artwork a bit, but we're pleased with their knowledge, web development abilities, and outcomes.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing communications specialist for IntelliDyne, a government consulting firm. We primarily work in the IT sector for the Department of Defense, but we also work with civilian agencies. We focus on enterprise infrastructure management, data analytics, and network security.

What challenge were you trying to address with Borenstein Group?

We hired Borenstein Group to support our PR efforts and thought leadership campaigns to increase awareness for our company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

During our first engagement, Borenstein Group helped us with a complete rebranding process. They created new templates, tag lines, logo, and social media presence. They would develop content to post and established a YouTube channel for us.

During this most recent engagement, they handle our PR efforts while staying in line with the brand they created for us. They help us create and launch press releases to announce activities our company is working on. In addition, we’re working with them on white papers that we post. Together, we secure speaking engagements for our staff and work to raise the visibility of our company.

What is the team composition?

Gal (Owner, Borenstein Group) has been my main point of contact, along with a dedicated project manager.

How did you come to work with Borenstein Group?

Before starting our first engagement, we considered five different marketing companies but ultimately chose Borenstein Group. After that collaboration, we knew they were the right choice for our PR project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $25,000–$50,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

For the most recent project, we began working with them in October 2018 and it’s ongoing.

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

They’ve been a tremendous help in getting attention for our press releases. An example of this came recently when we had a fundraising event to benefit workers affected by the government shutdown. We put together a press release and published it across social media platforms and used Gal’s network. It was picked up by several local DC publications and we received positive feedback from the general public.

Whenever we do something newsworthy, Borenstein Group develops materials for us and is able to immediately launch it into the public. We receive thousands of hits on the content they help us create. Working with them has elevated our standing in our industry.

How did Borenstein Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re willing to meet with us onsite and provide assistance, even when we’re not working on a specific project. After our first engagement finished, we could still reach out to them for support and materials. They’re responsive and organized—every deadline is hit and the work is done under budget. We have a loose schedule of milestones every month and they accomplish everything on time.

We communicate through Skype, email, and phone calls. Within 24 hours, we typically have a response from their team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Choosing them for a second engagement speaks to the strength of the relationship we have. They’re a hands-on team with creative ideas—I’m delighted to be working with them again. Gal’s sense of humor makes the process lighter and fun, which we also appreciate.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing negative that I can think of—they were accommodating during both engagements.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate your goals and expectations to Borenstein Group and be open to their suggestions. Gal is great at understanding the needs of the project and giving great feedback based on his experience in the industry. Don’t be afraid to listen to their ideas and incorporate them with your vision.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the national sales and marketing manager at The Outreach Program.

What challenge were you trying to address with Borenstein Group, Inc.?

We hired Borenstein Group for SEO and marketing support for our website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Borenstein Group has helped us create a comprehensive marketing plan for our organization. They made key coding changes within our website and developed our online store on Facebook, as well.

For the SEO side of the project, Borenstein Group established and manages our Google Ads and other PPC campaigns. Their team creates keywords for us, as well.

What is the team composition?

I work with four members of their team on a regular basis. The president of the company and the rest of the staff have been very helpful.

How did you come to work with Borenstein Group, Inc.?

My company had worked with Borenstein Group in the past, so we considered them for the project. After going through several proposals, we felt they were the best option.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$25,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began this collaboration in August 2018 and it is ongoing.

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

The performance of the keywords has been outstanding. Every month, our ranking steadily improves and we’re one of the top search results in our industry. The storefront they helped us create works well with the new marketing plan. Working with Borenstein Group helps us phenomenally.

How did Borenstein Group, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great at communicating with us. No matter what day of the week or time of day, they respond quickly and help solve any issues. Within five minutes, we almost always have an answer from their team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their skilled, customer-service oriented staff is unparalleled within the marketing industry. The services they provide combined with their strong team make them stand out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they could do better for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Once you start working with them, keep going and listen to their input.

Please describe your organization.

My company is a government contractor.

What is your position?

I'm a marketing manager.

What business challenge were you trying to address with Borenstein Group?

My company was going through a rebrand, which included a new name, colors, brand guide, website, everything. We wanted to partner with someone who was familiar with our industry and the rebranding process.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The Borenstein Group handled everything from logo design to website development. They created a new brand guide, banners, graphics, cut sheets, and other marketing materials for us. They also assisted with our press release writing and the rolling out of our brand both in the news and on social media. They did anything and everything you could think of for the rebrand.

How did you come to work with Borenstein Group?

We were looking for providers in the D.C. area that had worked with people in our industry before and had narrowed it down to about five contenders. We then went through an interview process, asked for references, and eventually awarded the Borenstein Group the contract.

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

It falls in the bracket of $50,000 to $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project kicked off right after the 2015 holidays. It began in early January 2016, and we rolled out the rebrand the first week of April.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We've had overwhelmingly positive feedback, particularly on the website. The Borenstein Group definitely helped us simplify and clean up our website, which elevated our appearance to a higher level.

How did Borenstein Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well. We were assigned a project manager, who I spoke with either every day or every other day. We were on a tight schedule, so we were constantly engaged with each other. She managed the writing of the press releases, creation of the graphics, and the website design. She also looped in support staff to answer technical questions on some of our calls, which worked really well.

What distinguishes Borenstein Group from other providers?

I like how engaged they were throughout the whole process. I could tell that they wanted to make us happy, it was a very positive experience with them. Communication was very easy as well, and they helped elevate our brand to the next level.

Is there anything Borenstein Group could have improved or done differently?

Not that I can think of.

Please describe your organization.

Our organization provides communication, marketing, and design support for our government clients.

What is your position?

I am the vice president of our federal efforts.

What business challenge were you trying to address with Borenstein Group?

My company wanted to put more focus on expanding our government footprint, and we needed to develop a strategy to do so.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The Borenstein Group provided everything from research to website redesign. They polled our current clients to determine how we could expand what we were doing into the government sector. They also helped us with our commercial business as well and helped us design our perception. From there, we took a much closer look at our branding and messaging and determined what we wanted to rework and how.

How did you come to work with Borenstein Group?

I was referred to Borenstein Group by another one of our vendors.

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

The total cost fell between $50,000 and $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project is completed, but Gal [Borenstein, CEO of Borenstein Group] is my go-to.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I don't have a specific number, but I can tell you that our branding has been noticed. We have won a lot of business utilizing the account list that Borenstein Group created for us, and the image that they have rebranded for us has opened up doors in the government space. We are now taken more seriously and have demonstrated a level of professionalism that surpasses our competition.

How did Borenstein Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We ended up working with two project managers, a man and a woman, and they were both phenomenal. Borenstein Group has the ability to pick good people, so I'm sure that it would've turned out quite well, no matter who we would've worked with.

What distinguishes Borenstein Group from other providers?

They have extensive knowledge about the government, technology, and understanding the pain points that technology in government causes. Gal stays highly informed and passes his insight freely and willingly to his customers. It really is a partnership with Borenstein Group. There is much more of a conversation and a sharing of insights and knowledge that help the relationship flourish.

Is there anything Borenstein Group could have improved or done differently?

Nothing stands out right now. The good news is that if there were any questions or problems, they're so easy to work with. You just pick up the phone, and whatever the question is, it's resolved.

Please describe your organization.

InQuisient is an advanced data management platform software tool that enables organizations to create order from their chaotic mess of data.

What is your position?

I serve as our chief executive officer.

What business challenge were you trying to address with Borenstein Group?

We have been in business for more than 10 years and started initially as Enterprise Elements. We came to a point with both our software and collateral pieces and realized there was an opportunity to rebrand and take the company to the next level.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They provided everything from soup to nuts. We had a few roundtable discussions with them and told them we were looking for a new company name, tagline, colors, look, and feel. We also wanted to give our software a new look and feel as well. They looked at our current designs, got an understanding of our tool and customer pool, and brought back various suggestions. In time, we worked together to fine tune and reach a consensus. Not only did we rebrand the company and the software, but we redesigned our website and social media platforms.

How did you come to work with Borenstein Group?

We were introduced to Borenstein Group through our press folks. As we went through the interviewing process, it was very obvious that Borenstein Group had everything we were looking for all in one.

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

Total cost is $50,000 to $200,000. We will be engaging again to go the next level.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have an ongoing partnership with the Borenstein Group. They serve as a part of our marketing team and will help us to continue to stay ahead of the pack.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

The overall reaction to our web design and to our rebranding was beyond positive and brilliant. We were one of the winners of the Davies Award [HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Award of Excellence], and we are seeing an increase each month in the number of visitors to our site. We are very pleased overall and could not have asked for anything better.

How did Borenstein Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an excellent job for us. They prioritized their activities based on what our needs were, and then helped us redefine those needs as we headed towards the launch. They did a fantastic job staying on top of the action items that we needed to complete and met with us on a regular basis to discuss all of the activities. We felt as though it wasn't them and us, but that we were a collective team working together. It was a great process.

What distinguishes Borenstein Group from other providers?

The Borenstein Group comes in and takes ownership of the deliverables not as an outside vendor, but more as an addition to your organization. They have a very unique set up, and I appreciate everything that Gal [Borenstein, CEO of Borenstein Group, Inc.] and his team continue to do. He truly sets the benchmark as a business partner. Beyond the deliverables, he stays very actively engaged and is always way ahead of the curve.

Is there anything Borenstein Group could have improved or done differently?

If we had more people, we could have tackled more projects, but where we were and where they were, we were able to do what we needed to do. We broke it up into various projects, and it was very successful.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a private equity firm specializing in:

• Aerospace
• Defense & Government Services
• Space
• Power Generation
• Specialty Industrial markets

For what projects/services did your company hire Borenstein Group, Inc.?

• Digital Branding
• Website design, and development
• Corporate Naming
• Content Marketing

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

As a leading Mergers & Acquisitions firm in Industrial, Aerospace, and Defense, choosing the right creative agency was critical to our success. The marketing challenge was to incorporate multiple Fire and life safety service integrator companies that we acquired to create a new holding company with an online digital destination. The end goal was to build a highly credible and professional website and brand so we could meet our strategic growth objectives.

The decision factors for selecting the Borenstein Group:

1. Knowledge of the Security Industry and B2B market space.
2. Comprehensive evaluation interviews
3. Industry reputation.
4. Competitive Pricing.

The Borenstein Group was the clear winner because they were highly responsive and showed us how they would integrate creative messaging, solid marketing strategy, and effective web design.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Over the course of 60 days, we’ve worked hand in hand with The Borenstein Group from discovery sessions with our stakeholders, industry research, to approving designs and ideation to quality assurance to launch.

This included designing our holding company’s brand strategy, new web site, new corporate name, tagline, corporate identity logo and content marketing. The project was initiated in late 2021 and launched just a few weeks later, on time, within budget, and within schedule. The project was successfully launched in February 2022.

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

The agency’s team included Borenstein Group:

• CEO and Chief Strategist
• Account Director
• Digital Creative Director
• Digital Visual Designer
• Content Marketing Writer
• Web Developer

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

We received strong feedback from our clients and industry peers about the brand professionalism of our new website and digital presence.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We worked together as partners to process ideas, information, and iterations. We feel that we work with a responsive and caring agency that knows what we need.

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

Because our requirements were complex and involved multiple decision-makers. We were especially impressed with the level of communication and their dedication to ensuring we were happy customers. Ultimately, that’s what makes the difference.

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

None