Brand & Mortar

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Corporate Vibrations is a strategic events consulting and culture building company. We help enhance our clients events by facilitating engagement and creating emotional connections. I am the founder / owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Brand & Mortar?

To refine my strategy, re-brand, bring it to life, and engage in targeted advertising. I wanted to take things to the next level, I knew what I wanted to do but needed expert consulting / direction.

What were your goals for this project?

Fully redesigned strategy & website as well as targeted advertising to increase awareness and lead generation.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Google search, reading through website, and ultimately speaking with Ian. I felt that B&M understood small business / start-ups and that they truly had my best interests at heart.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

-Initial consultation / strategy overview -Re-branding process -Website Design -Targeted Advertising collaboration -Targeted advertising execution

What was the team composition?

Initially Ian gave me the big picture and helped me streamline my thoughts, ultimately leading to my re-branded vision/concept for the company. Lael then took over to lead bringing my new vision to life with his team through a re-branded website and targeted advertising campaign. The entire team has been a pleasure to work with through this process

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My re-branded strategy allowed me to secure meetings with high potential clients like Loblaws, Shoippers Drug Mart, Royal Bank, Yogen Fruz, TJX, Morneau Shepell, and others. Too early to tell from Targeted on-line advertising.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective, no issues.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

That they truly care about start-ups and small businesses. They want to ensure you succeed so they can grow with you.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing major comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the owners of a hazardous material abatement company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Brand & Mortar?

We were looking to rebrand ourselves and get our company out there. We hired them because we wanted a marketing campaign that would allow us to reach more clients than we had previously been reaching. 

Our organization had been in business for about four and a half years when we brought Brand & Mortar on but, although we were doing well, we just weren’t reaching as many people as we wanted.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After going through a few coaching calls and sitting with us to understand our goals and clientele, Brand & Mortar redesigned and created a new logo for us. In addition to designing and building a new website, the team also set up a marketing campaign and wrote all the copy for it. 

They tailored the copy to suit our image and our services. They also helped us with our sales team and our overall branding, including how we speak to clients and how we present ourselves to the public. 

What is the team composition?

We work with a project lead and four other teammates depending on what aspect of the project we’re working on.

How did you come to work with Brand & Mortar?

We did an extensive search online and through our network to try to find the right partner. We ultimately found Brand & Mortar online and were referred to them by another business we had worked with. 

They seemed like a good fit because they had exceptional knowledge and addressed all of our questions, including those that we didn’t even have! They hit upon elements that we didn’t even know we required.

How much have you invested with them?

Initially, we spent about $24,000. This amount has since increased as they've continued to work with us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2019 and our engagement is ongoing. Although the design project was completed in September 2019, Brand & Mortar is still working on marketing campaigns and other projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before we started working with them, our online presence was virtually non-existent. Since then, our leads are now about 30% of our business, which is quite exceptional. We’re very happy about that. The outcome is a lot better than we thought it would be.

We were mostly in the commercial industrial area, but we managed to hit the residential and private areas as well, which we didn’t think we could do. Our business has really boomed. 

How did Brand & Mortar perform from a project management standpoint?

In addition to in-person meetings, we communicate via email and phone. The team really keeps us on track because our core business isn’t website development and design. They've been able to run the whole project while communicating with us, making sure that we are giving them the information that they need to keep to the schedule. They 've done a superb job overall.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What distinguishes them the most from other vendors is their people. They are extremely well-informed and great to work with. They understand the different challenges that businesses have and are willing to be flexible to make the process seamless. 

Brand & Mortar has also been quite good at pulling us back in every time we stray from the project. Their team is responsive and knowledgeable, and they adapt to our work style to ensure that the project goes smoothly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing that I can think of. They do everything very well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’ve already recommended Brand & Mortar to other people in my network and I’ve always told them that you have to follow the schedule that they give you.

The biggest impediment to the work is not Brand & Mortar; it’s always on the client’s side. It was often I who would be slowing down the project. I always advise people to follow their lead and respond quickly in order to get the project done.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO & Founder H2OMAX is a startup company marketing new hydration solutions for athletes and anyone looking for improved hydration

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Brand & Mortar?

As a start up company, we need to get everything kicked off: Brand logo, Brand usage guidelines, Packaging, website, ecommerce infrastructure, Advertising, Social media, Event materials etc...

What were your goals for this project?

Create all marketing elements for July full launch Drive Website traffic to 1,000 visitors per day Drive Facebook following of 1,000+

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked at Agencies in the USA and the Toronto area. Brandandmortar came to be the most responsive and very cost competitive

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Brand Logo: 3 weeks process with 3 reloops Packaging: 2 weeks development- ABSOLUTELY critical to finish production in Germany Ecommerce: 6 weeks process- Did not have any IS support except for the assistance of brandandmortar. Got an amazing turnkey solution Website: 6 weeks process- core website ready on time followed by bi monthly upgrades Advertising: created a billboard and a magazine campaign Social Media Campaign driving 3.5M impressions (Facebook/Instagram) Events: Created all material for booth at sports events

What was the team composition?

Account director Creative Director Social Media Director Web development director Copywriter 2 creative staffers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

- Met all our delivery goals - Met our social media objectives - Reached our website traffic objectives no missed dates to any stakeholder

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The account director we worked for was the most responsive account rep I have ever worked with, even with very large agencies such as Publicis, DDBNedham or others

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their speed of delivery cost-effectiveness stood out. Overall responsiveness Always "ready/can do" attitude

Are there any areas for improvement?

Sometimes the agency is too "Canadian polite". I am used to a little more push back from agencies

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and owner of Dereves Floral, luxury boutique floral company specializing in weddings, events and editorials.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Brand & Mortar?

Dereves Floral hired Brand & Mortar for website design and brand development.

What were your goals for this project?

We've been successful through word-of-mouth and instagram but felt it was becoming imperative to establish a stronger online presence and have a website to showcase our work and positive feedback. We were also hoping to drive traffic from third-party websites like Wedding Wire to our own website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We've selected Brand & Mortar for their thorough understanding of what sets a company apart. This has been displayed through their prompt communication and willingness to share their knowledge with us!! I felt we were in the right hands. Their proposal was also outstanding compared to competitors.

Describe the project in detail.

The process seemed very effortless - after my initial discovery call, I was then sent a proposal a few days later. Lucky for me, the company owner, Jordan, was present at the time of our first meeting and he patiently ran me through the presentation again. The project manager and the team were very knowledgable and answered all my beginner questions - from process to what website design would entail, to user experience and user interference. I had a very specific vision in mind for the website and it was important that the backend could support the way I wanted it to look. They also executed this effortlessly. After this, I was sent a wireframe and several drafts for logo, and an Ad I needed for an event that month. I communicated seemingly with the project manager, Lael, who always checked in on me!! A few pictures had to be changed around to fit the website better, but over all, it was swift and very enjoyable working with their team!

What was the team composition?

I was by chance first communicating with the owner, Jordan, who is a sea of knowledge when it comes to marketing. Once the project commenced, I was introduced to the account manager who was to be my point of contact, can't say enough great things about Lael. I also got to know the team, who are admirable to say the least, thanks Alexandra and Anh!! They worked around the clock and had no problem chiming in on emails to tackle things faster or be proactive if they thought something needed changing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our 2019 wedding season has been the most lucrative yet! We've also had the most bookings for 2020 since we started, super impressive. Also notable, we've had a considerable amount of leads from Google, which is a first!! We're currently doing a few updates to increase search result rankings even better and adding blogs to sustain this - thanks team!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

What I loved most about their communication was that they were proactive. Especially our project manager, Lael. He was very honest about deadlines and often reached out before I even looked at the updates - and we were always on the same page about changes. Such a wonderful experience.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It was certainly their knowledge and expertise, as well as the team's work ethic. It's clear why Brand & Mortar is a leader in their industry. Nothing went unanswered and there was never any uncertainty. I've dealt with freelancers before who tried convincing me to improve the brand but often felt I didn't trust their capabilities. Everyone at Brand & Mortar is also honest and transparent in their communication and I consider them an extension of our team :)

Are there any areas for improvement?

I am more than satisfied with their work!! Actually having their team take over social media management and running ads, because I am impressed with their SEO work and they've suggested this for a while.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the president and chief marketing officer for Heron Wealth, a New York City based wealth advisory business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Brand & Mortar?

We were one of the first advisory firms to have a website all the way back in 1996. Because of longevity, we had always scored well in SEO. However, we changed domain names in 2015, and fell off the rankings for standard searches like "financial planner near me" and "investment advisor NYC" We hired Brand & Mortar for a one year project starting January 2019 to get us back on top. After an initial SEO audit, Brand & Mortar's team worked through our existing website and social media channels, made small changes that vaulted us back up the the #1,2, or 3 positions in New York City for all the usual search phrases. This is no small achievement - there are 40 other wealth advisors within one block of our office, thousands across New York City. We are competing against small and medium sized advisors like ourselves, and also advisors like Fidelity and Morgan Stanley who can spend tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars per month on digital marketing. As a result our high placement, we now receive 4-10 client leads per week from Google searches. Half of the leads are not qualified - we give 20-30 minutes of free advice. The other half ARE qualified leads worth $5,000-$25,000/year in revenue to us, and we are converting half of those leads to clients.

What were your goals for this project?

Regain our top ranking in Google search after a domain change in 2015. Mission: accomplished!

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Met President Jordan Shea at a networking event, outlined our needs. Jordan gave us a presentation of what was achievable that made sense, so we jumped right in.

Describe the project in detail.

1. SEO Audit to establish existing position on key search phrases 2. Review and optimize website 3. Create backlinks within website to highlight key search terms 4. Create backlinks from our social media channels (YouTube, FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn to further enhance search 5. Monitor and adjust

What was the team composition?

Owner 2 project managers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're back to the 1,2 or 3 positions for the search phrases that matter to us. Getting 4-10 leads/seek from search, of which half are qualified, of which half are converted to clients.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Constant communication primarily, by email, phone as needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Delivered the results that we were looking for. Gains became apparent within 6 months, solidified after 9-12 months.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Could have used more time to understand the monthly reports I was getting on how our ranking were improving, but in fairness, I had limited time to spend on that. Results were more important.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own The Lab, a barbell and social club. We’re a strength conditioning gym that primarily offers small group coaching in class formats.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Brand & Mortar?

We faced some challenges in building our client base, and we wanted and team to help improve our customer acquisition.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their work goes beyond the scope of my expertise, but they rebuilt our website, improved the backend to help with organic search results on Google, managed AdWords and social media campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, and spearheaded community outreach initiatives and press releases. They examined our customer acquisition from every angle, including all the digital paid and organic marketing, our printed materials, and the brand image within the gym itself. They made suggestions to match our online presence with the color scheme and look of the gym, and they helped establish consistency across the entire brand.

What is the team composition?

We have one main point of contact, but we also work with a social media specialist, a creative lead, a strategist, and a few other team members who help with SEO and the website.

How did you come to work with Brand & Mortar?

A colleague referred them to us, so I looked over their site and their portfolio online. Their site was clear and concise, and they had a very straightforward business approach. They were very thorough, in-depth, and detailed, and their values were similar to ours. They provided a comprehensive, 25-page strategy report, and gave the best impression of any agency we considered.

How much have you invested with them?

It varies from month to month, but we spend a monthly average of about $7,000 on their work.

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working with us in January or February 2017. The collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In 2018, we doubled our business, and much of our success is thanks to the marketing work they did for us. They were responsible for a lot of the new clients who came through our doors.

How did Brand & Mortar perform from a project management standpoint?

A lot of our communication is through email, but they’re always happy to take a phone call or respond to a text. They occasionally invite me to join in team meetings at their office to strategize and get on the same page. Communication is very easy, and they’re always on time and within budget. They did whatever was necessary to meet my goals and help me acquire more clients.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their standout ability was to pinpoint specific needs at various points in the process. They never approached an issue with a preconceived, cookie cutter solution, but customized everything to suit us. They considered all of our goals and modified their strategy to match. I’ve never worked with a company who was so attuned to us. They studied my business inside and out and were attentive to our individuality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve never had an issue with them. Whenever I have a question or something comes up, they address it right away. They’re responsive to feedback, and their communication is good. I don’t have anything they should fix.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and President of Aegis Brands that owns two coffee brands and one Cannabis retail brand, Hemisphere.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Brand & Mortar?

We needed a name, logo and website for our parent company Aegis as well as some help with the cannabis brand

What were your goals for this project?

Select name, logo design, and website for both the parent company and Hemisphere

SOLUTION

How did you select Brand & Mortar?

They came highly recommended by a network of friends

Describe the project in detail.

We worked back and forth picking the names, designing the logos the websites.

What was the team composition?

Jordan Shea was my only contact. he used his team to get everything done perfectly and quickly

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were under a tight timeline and Jordan's team produced work that was flawless.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their workflow was very effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Personalized service by Jordan himself.

Are there any areas for improvement?

no.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

President of Gardner Productions Inc, Commercial and video production company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Brand & Mortar, and what were your goals?

Re-augmenting old website and updating it

SOLUTION

How did you select Brand & Mortar and what were the deciding factors?

personal experience working with this firm

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

taking existing creative and bringing it to life.

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

GM, Creative Director, and Developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

high standing on google so far

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

yes

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

updates and communication

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

none