Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and president of Sandler Training, a sales and sales management training company.

What challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

I wanted to set myself apart from other franchises in the market, specifically in the New York metro market. I enlisted BrandTuitive to help me with market positioning and differentiation.

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the first phase of the project, I went to meet with them and I shared some background about my organization, some of my goals, and an overview of my offerings. We also discussed what types of clients I was hoping to attract. Then they asked me for the names of five of my current or previous clients to interview.

After conducting those interviews, they came up with an overarching position and message. They presented a simple but impactful message and how they thought it should be laid out. From there, they worked with my marketing associate to change the layout of our website to reflect the new messaging.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Janine (President & Co-Founder), Todd (CSO), and Emma (Brand Marketing Specialist).

How did you come to work with BrandTuitive?

When I first started my business, I was working in a workspace, and Janine and Todd were just a few doors down from me. We became acquainted with one another just by running into each other by the coffee machine or in the break room. Janine had actually gone through our training services way back before she started her company, so she was familiar with it.

I chose to work with them because I had a chance to see them in the office and I appreciated how hard they worked for their clients. I also felt like I had a personal connection. Finally, they were familiar with the services that we delivered.   

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $9,600.  

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from March–November 2019.

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

They improved my ranking on Google results pages, and I saw a significant uptick in Google searches. I also noticed an increase in the number of people looking at my personal LinkedIn page, which in turn, drove them back to the website.

How did BrandTuitive perform from a project management standpoint?

They were exceptional. They exceeded my expectations. They were highly communicative and were good about following up with. As someone who has to manage a lot of different projects, staying on top of things can be a challenge. Occasionally, things fall through the cracks, but BrandTuitive made sure that I kept certain tasks at the top of my mind so they could proceed with their work.

We were able to meet in the office, but we also used Zoom calls to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had a really good understanding of the marketplace in New York. A lot of the other providers I considered worked with New York companies, but they weren’t physically here. It was really appealing that BrandTuitive was based in New York.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We talked about doing some ongoing work after the project, but my business changed a bit and circumstances prevented us from continuing the project. I would have liked to see that happen and am hoping that we can work on that down the line.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

While they have a great strategy in place, they can’t do all of the work. If you’re not able to provide the deliverables they need, you won’t be successful. Remember that it’s a partnership and they can only be effective as long as you provide the support they need. If you do, they will help you accomplish your goals.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product director for a logistics and supply chain company. We’re a global company, whose main focus in the Americas is logistics, warehousing, fulfillment, transportation services, and freight forwarding.

What challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

We had a new project on city delivery that is like an internal startup. It’s related to urban delivery, focused on our e-commerce type customers. There’s a relationship to the rest of our client base because it’s an extension of our logistics services, but at the same time, it’s a new product from scratch that we want to grow independently.

That’s where BrandTuitive came in. They focused on branding and product positioning. They also assisted with marketing and calendar development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They walked us through their process, which is a three-part process to determine our strategic advantages and exploitable weaknesses from a marketing perspective. Based on those criteria, they created the product positioning and a messaging presentation which gave different options for how we could proceed.

In addition, they wrote verbiage related to storylines or angles that we could implement for specific marketing exercises. We had them go through naming exercises to help us name the product — although we ultimately came up with the name in-house. They also provided us with an outline for a marketing plan for everything from digital marketing to physical trade shows, created a custom landing page for us, designed sales decks, and more.

What is the team composition?

All in all, we worked with 5–6 people throughout the project, but we had 2–3 consistent focal points.

How did you come to work with BrandTuitive?

We found them on Clutch. We knew we needed to do some positioning and gain a strategic perspective that couldn’t be done internally. We wrote up a request for services and did some research on Clutch. BrandTuitive is highly rated on Clutch so we went forward with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began work in August 2019, and most was done by January 2020. In practice, we finished up in April 2020.

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

I only have qualitative feedback because we were starting from scratch. However, the quality of their work was very high. Interpersonally, they’re collaborative and immerse themselves in our shoes to understand us.

Their three-tier process really impressed me. They excel at putting themselves in the shoes of the customer and answering the question that they’re posing. They create excellent work through their high-quality word-choice and creativity.

How did BrandTuitive perform from a project management standpoint?

They had a project manager that was assigned to me. They did a good job and I’m satisfied. They kept me well informed and hit their target dates.

What did you find most impressive about them?

From the first time I spoke with them, I felt that they really put themselves in the customers’ position. They crafted a message based on my needs and understood my needs. They operated as an extension of our team. They’re extremely collaborative and immersive, making them a really fun team to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a little pricey, but you pay for their high-quality. They’re actually right where they need to be price-wise.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be extremely open about what you’re trying to accomplish. They’re very strong at being able to couch a specific brand’s products into the marketplace. To be able to do that, they’re going to need honest feedback from internal stakeholders. You’ll get a very collaborative approach from them so let them immerse themselves in your business.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing for an electronic manufacturing company. We provide hardware and software solutions to ensure that our customers receive correctly colored workflows. For example, our products include display calibration tools that allow photographers and designers to access accurate colors throughout their work processes. We’re able to service companies from a variety of industries.

What challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

We were nearing the launch of a new product and wanted an external firm to advise our brand positioning. The goal was to refresh and enhance a product line that is familiar to our customer base.

What was the scope of their involvement?

BrandTuitive worked with us to review the 18 years of market research at our disposal. Once they understood our background and end-user persona, we asked them to develop a marketing campaign surrounding a product’s launch. They applied a unique approach to a traditional brand positioning exercise. Then, they worked with further to provide some foundational deliverables. That included a microsite and other advertising materials. We developed the microsite internally, but it’s based on their design.

What is the team composition?

Jeanine (President, BrandTuitive) and Todd (CSO, BrandTuitive) were in contact with us throughout the entire process. They introduced us to the account director working on our project, along with a brand marketing specialist, and their creative director as well. So we have access to 4–5 resources in total.

How did you come to work with BrandTuitive?

We found them by searching for agencies on Clutch.co. We’ve had success using the platform in the past, so it was a part of our initial search process this time around. We applied various filters relevant to our needs and ended up contacting six different vendors. After a few rounds of interviews, BrandTuitive rose to the top quickly.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $155,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2018. The product’s launch took place in February 2019.

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

We have specific targets set regarding sales and customer engagement; however, it’s still too early in the launch phase of the product’s lifecycle to access those metrics accurately.

That being said, we’re incredibly happy with the work BrandTuitive delivered. Their positive company culture and friendly team dynamic make them a pleasure to work alongside. They utilize a simple approach, so it’s easy to translate what they’ve done over to multiple departments within our company. According to our CEO, they’ve helped lead one of the best product launches in company history.

How did BrandTuitive perform from a project management standpoint?

They were organized enough to balance and complete multiple deliverables within an accelerated timeframe. They used a Gantt chart to provide timeline updates constantly. We appreciate their flexible and proactive approach to communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

BrandTuitive isn’t afraid to engage with their clients. They function as an extension of staff by not only completed what’s in front of them but also analyzing how they can perform better. Every member of the team is passionate about what they do. They’re one of the best agencies I’ve worked with throughout my career.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they exceeded our expectations in a lot of areas.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate how the project’s objectives fit into your company’s overall structure. That’ll give BrandTuitive the insight they need to succeed.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director of marketing at Episcopal Relief & Development, an international humanitarian agency for the Episcopal church. We work with partners to collaborate with communities worldwide, finding solutions to hunger, poverty, disaster, and disease. We focus on three signature program priorities: women, children, and climate.

What challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

Since our last brand engagement in 2008, our existing language no longer reflected the subtle, but significant changes in our program methodology. Initially, the project scope focused on refreshing core messaging and organizational positioning with external audiences. We were looking for the right partner with a proven track record in brand development, implementation, and execution.

What was the scope of their involvement?

For BrandTuitive, the goal was to “reveal” not build a new brand identity. They conducted an extensive review of all of our assets and resources. They set up individual interviews and group conversations with staff, supporters and other stakeholders. It was crucial for us to think broadly about who we are as an organization, our long-term goals, and how to make our mission and values clear and meaningful to our audiences.

Their team was responsible for creating new primary and secondary messaging in addition to developing a strategy for how to position ourselves externally. After some consideration, we moved away from a tweaking or modernizing of our visual identity and decided to engage in a full logo redesign.

During the pre-launch phase, BrandTuitive was responsible for collaborating with staff and consultants to refresh our website and help develop new promotional collateral. The team also offered guidance and direction to other consultants while they gained familiarity with the new visuals and messaging.

We continue to work with them on finalizing a few related projects.

What is the team composition?

We worked with several members of the BrandTuitive team, but my primary contact was Todd Brenard (Chief Strategy Officer). I also worked closely with the president and the associate director.

How did you come to work with BrandTuitive?

I researched the top branding firms in the New York Metropolitan area on Clutch’s website and the sites of other rating agencies. BrandTuitive was listed as one of the leading firms. Additionally, I received referrals from other colleagues as well.

We managed a closed RFP process. We identified agencies to submit proposals and interviewed them. In the end, our team selected BrandTuitive because they had a unique approach and strategy. We were intrigued by their overall approach and the specific focus on engaging audiences at an emotional level. Additionally, there was a great deal of alignment and synergy between our institutions.

What is the status of this engagement?

In April 2017, we started working with BrandTuitive. Our public launch happened in early September 2018.

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

Since the launch took place a few months ago, we only have initial results so far. That said, we have received a lot of positive feedback both internally and externally.

How did BrandTuitive perform from a project management standpoint?

BrandTuitive has a strong team of seasoned project managers and leaders. They are very organized, conscientious about deadlines and focused on results.

The team is also incredibly responsive, flexible and patient. When there are challenges, BrandTuitive works to find solutions. Throughout the engagement, they were always mindful of the needs, interests, and desires of our audiences.

In general, BrandTuitive’s insights were invaluable. And, they were supportive and open to hearing our feedback

What did you find most impressive about them?

A central part of BrandTuitive’s strategy is gaining a deeper understanding of clients. While there are firms that specialize and work exclusively with nonprofits or relief and development organizations, BrandTuitive partners with both nonprofit and corporate clients to “reveal” not build the brand. Because they work with clients from a variety of industries, they are able to provide a fresh perspective and unique insights into your core business and how to create messages that are relevant, clear and compelling.

After the devastating 2017 hurricane season, we decided to put the brand project on hold temporarily so we could focus on responding to the emergency. During this period, BrandTuitive was understanding and supportive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. Of course, it takes time for an agency to learn your organization/company’s style and develop a working healthy relationship. The team was great, and we are very excited about our new brand identity.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My organization is named Horizen Cryptocurrency. As a senior marketing manager, I was responsible for this rebranding project. 

What challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

Our previous name wasn't differentiating us from our competitors. It sounded too similar to other companies in our industry. Equally detrimental was the image it gave our customers.  It only conveyed a small fraction of what we do, which limited people's conception of our services. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our goal was to find a name that better represented our vision and the services we provide. We wanted one that differentiated us both verbally and visually. BrandTuitive took several steps to achieve these objectives. As part of the rebranding, they also helped us create a set of messaging guidelines.

First, they held a thorough meeting with our 10-person leadership team that lasted between 2–4 hours. The team helped us interview 50 of our stakeholders. Based on the responses, they compiled results to share with us. 

Lastly, they conducted one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders outside the leadership team that ranged from 30 minutes to an hour. In addition, they analyzed six of our closest competitors to determine their messaging strategy so we could differentiate ourselves. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked directly with the two owners. One of their understudies was also partially involved. 

How did you come to work with BrandTuitive?

I originally found BrandTuitive on Clutch. We decided to work with them because they were a small company. It seemed easier to develop a more personal relationship with the team and less likely they would hand off the project to someone else. 

Our prediction turned out to be precisely the case. The two owners worked with us the entire time and went above and beyond. They were very accessible and attended every meeting. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent $150,000 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started this year, in June 2018. It took about three months to complete most of the work. We still have one deliverable left, so our engagement is ongoing. 

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

Our CEO is much more comfortable pitching projects to partners with the new name BrandTuitive helped us select. Now, he takes pride in the name and the project. It's helped increase the number of people that want to work with us. The project appears much more professional and organized. Our rebranding has generated many partnerships we could never have formed otherwise. 

Our marketing team regularly uses the new messaging guidelines. That asset has dramatically streamlined the amount of time and effort it takes to get newsletters, blogs, or social media out the door. Having that in place has probably cut down our need to create new content by about 50–60%. Our new messaging is much more streamlined and seems to resonate with readers. 

How did BrandTuitive perform from a project management standpoint?

BrandTuitive has performed very well. The team is highly organized and quick to turn around deliverables. They always have the deliverables ready and are willing to accommodate our schedule whenever we need. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm most impressed by how BrandTuitive has embedded themselves within our team. They feel like a part of the family. Unlike big organizations, they genuinely care about the success of our project. We can tell that they're personally invested in every project that they take on. It feels like they give us 100% of their attention and effort all the time. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I'm happy with their work. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a large CPG [consumer packaged goods] company. I am in charge of trade marketing for the company.

What challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

The primary challenges or ongoing needs we face are around the brand and promotional communications towards our customers.

What was the scope of their involvement?

BrandTuitive has been used extensively for creative development, be it for email, direct mail and point-of-sale materials, sales collateral, radio scripts and so on. We've also used BrandTuitive for planning and strategy work, as well as secondary research and program and event execution. BrandTuitive has worked as an extension of my team, helping me drive projects at times when we needed help. They're willing to jump in and do whatever it takes to help us win.

How did you come to work with BrandTuitive?

BrandTuitive is the agency with which I began working in my current role, so they were already associated with my company when I joined.

How much have you invested with BrandTuitive?

The cost of BrandTuitive's work has been around $500,000 per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with BrandTuitive in the first quarter of 2016. The work has been growing over time.

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

There aren't many business results that we can directly point to, given the nature of our company, but we've had generally positive feedback for BrandTuitive's work, both internally and externally, from customers and consumers. They've reacted positively to the pieces produced by BrandTuitive, and to the experiences which we delivered at events. Most of our work is new, not just legacy material.

How did BrandTuitive perform from a project management standpoint?

As far as project management and client service go, BrandTuitive is in the A+ category. When it comes to proactive tracking, I would rate them an A-, but that's more to do with me wanting more than the norm in that regard. One of BrandTuitive's strengths is that they're buttoned-up on these issues.

What did you find most impressive about BrandTuitive?

BrandTuitive has stood out through flexibility. The team is good at what it does, which is being a general marketing agency. Whether I need a big or a small project, or whether I need it done fast or more strategically, BrandTuitive is on top of it. They deliver things on time, in full, without excessive revision rounds. We occasionally push BrandTuitive to the limit, but more often than not, they've been able to accommodate us. For an agency of its size, BrandTuitive is surprisingly nimble and able to adapt. Having worked in the agency space myself for 10 years, I know that setting client expectations is important. BrandTuitive does this very well.

Are there any areas BrandTuitive could improve?

I can't critique them in any way that would be fair. Everybody has developmental issues; as BrandTuitive learns about our company more, they will adapt better. I've been very happy so far, and I wish that BrandTuitive had even more capacity.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a New-York-based executive search firm dedicated to the tax profession. We recruit CPAs and MSTs for public accounting firms, and also conduct searches for banks', hedge funds', and media companies' tax departments. We were founded in 2013, and have 2 employees, in addition to myself.

I am the founder and president of the company. 

What challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

We had a lack of awareness around what branding was, and what value it could add to a startup business. We needed help getting off the ground, identifying opportunities for improvement, and benefiting from the monetary result of this. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

BrandTuitive worked with us from the beginning, adding a lot of value around the branding and marketing around our website, business cards, and so on. BrandTuitive provided website development, strategy consulting and logo redesign. BrandTuitive also conducted customer and accountant interviews and provided valuable feedback to us. The investigation revealed what was being said about us, why it was being said, and who we were as a brand. We were at the 101 position so, when it came to strategic consulting, BrandTuitive was very patient, accessible, and took our firm from the ground level, helping us push things forward. There was a lot of advising done on an hourly basis, in addition to the brand work done by BrandTuitive. Rather than a branding or marketing agency, I see BrandTuitive as business consultants. The work ended up being much bigger than I thought it would be, and BrandTuitive has remained on a shortlist of people whom I call for advice. At times, they've cared equally as much as us about our results and success. This is profound, and I haven't seen it often.

How did you come to work with BrandTuitive?

I found BrandTuitive through proximity. Their company shares office space with ours, along with other startups and small businesses on the same floor. We started building a relationship and gained an understanding around what BrandTuitive did. We developed a trust factor, and I felt more comfortable going to BrandTuitive, rather than finding someone online or asking around. It was smooth sailing from there. Trust is a big issue, and we already had it. We have a vibrant relationship, and I was attracted by the fact that BrandTuitive's people love what they do, and they're good at it.

How much have you invested with BrandTuitive?

The cost of BrandTuitive's services was between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our consulting project ran for 2-3 months in the summer of 2015. Our design project for the website and branding materials was a much larger project. It ran in 2 phases, from August to October 2016. I continue to go to BrandTuitive with questions, and use them as business advisors.  

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

The website project was wrapped up 2 weeks ago, so it's tough to say if it translated to sales. Our business cycle is longer, given that placing CPAs and MSTs into jobs takes some time.

From a business standpoint, results go to the "who we are" aspect of the brand that BrandTuitive helped reveal. BrandTuitive brought an element of pride into what we're doing, by showing us in what our clients are saying, what the keywords are, and so on. We couldn't get better than that when it comes to building a foundation for the business. We were able to integrate this into our website, business cards, and so on.

What did you find most impressive about BrandTuitive?

I expect a lot from vendors, but I give BrandTuitive a lot of credit for their patience and ability to work collaboratively with me. Their team is very detail-oriented, and they care deeply about the work. This is impactful for adding value to the clientele. I also liked the overall vibe: it was a fun project, BrandTuitive was always upbeat, positive and excited about what we were doing together, and there was never an aspect of stress or negativity. Working with an agency which operates like this is contagious.

Are there any areas BrandTuitive could improve?

I really can't think of anything. I was thrilled with how BrandTuitive revealed our brand, and with how they collaborated with us. I couldn't ask for anything more. 

Please describe your organization.

We're a luxury jewelry manufacturer and wholesaler based in New York. We also manufacture our goods in New York. We have a large wholesale business with high-end luxury accounts such as Barneys, Jeffrey, as well as smaller stores like Hirshleifers, Neapolitan, and Forty Five Ten. We have been in business five years. We launched in October of 2011.

What is your position?

I'm the Chief Executive Officer.

What business challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

We were the winners of the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund in 2014. As a result, we were paired with a mentor, John Idol, the Chairman of Michael Kors. He really had us spend a lot of time working on our brand, and figuring out who our target customer was so we would represent ourselves properly. We were going to be reworking our website, taking next steps after quite a bit of success early on. Someone introduced us to BrandTuitive, and it seemed like a good time for us to get a third-party perspective on our brand image and how we were viewed in the market.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

They did brand positioning, customer reaction, and messaging for us. They also have recently helped us redo our bio and “about us” copy on our website, as well as in our look-book. Most recently, they've helped us work on our elevator pitch, an even briefer way for us to communicate our brand.

While their work has been great for our marketing efforts, it’s also been tremendously useful for our internal team, and how we view the company.

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

It was in the $10,000 to $50,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with BrandTuitive for over a year. Most of the work happens on an as needed basis.

Could you share any results or metrics from this engagement?

Recently, we’ve been conducting more interviews in the media and we are using a lot of the language and themes that BrandTuitive developed for us. I'm not sure if there's a quantitative metric that I can use, but it's definitely helped us with the overall voice of the company. We have been told that we are very consistent within the marketplace, so it is being recognized.

How did BrandTuitive perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great. We have limited resources here, and they dove right in and continued to push us along by checking in but not being overly intrusive by any means.

What distinguishes BrandTuitive from other providers?

They're very genuine, and I definitely felt like they were fully committed to the work. I think we might be the first jewelry business they’ve worked with, but they were incredibly supportive and dove right into the industry. They took a lot of time to understand us and understand the market.

Overall, it’s been a very positive experience. We've also recommended them to other design companies that are looking for consistency across their brand.

Is there anything BrandTuitive could have improved or done differently?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Please describe your organization.

The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, is a primary provider of food and other services in central New Jersey. With our fabulous network of more than 300 partner agencies we have a combined reach of about 131,000 people. We've been around for more than 30 years and, in the last five years, our interpretation and programming of how to best address the problem of hunger in our community has evolved.

What is your position?

I have the pleasure of serving as the executive director of the FoodBank.

What business challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

Our biggest challenge is people hear "foodbank" and they immediately assume "food," but there's much more to what we do. For example, we feed the people who wait in line outside our building, but we're also working to make those lines shorter by attacking root causes of hunger through various programs we're enacting. However, it can be difficult to articulate those programs in a clear and concise way without losing the framework that is at the core of who we are.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

So far, BrandTuitive has provided a complete analysis and study of what our current brand is in our service area. They took a very methodical approach, and were exhaustive in interviewing a number of different stakeholders from donors to government partners to staff members to agency partners to board members and even our clients to get an understanding of how we are perceived in the marketplace. From that, they developed a messaging guide and gave brand recommendations. 

How did you come to work with BrandTuitive?

We had a full RFP [request for proposal] process with a number of agencies. We ended up inviting a couple of agencies who have experience doing nonprofit work, and who had worked with organizations we were familiar with. I think we originally found BrandTuitive because they were recommended by a colleague but, ultimately, we went with them because they came out on top in the bidding process.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the initiative in the late summer [2015], after our budget was passed and funding was approved for the process. We tried to wrap things up in January [2016] but, because of winter scheduling problems, we didn't end up presenting to the board of directors until March.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I would say the results were overwhelmingly positive. They were able to capture and translate the approaches of a wide range of constituents and stakeholders and distill those into a common message that resonates on both ends, externally and internally, to the point where we had board members who were close to tears after the brand reveal.

We knew messaging was key for us. From this focus on messaging, BrandTuitive ended up recommending a full change in brand, name, and logo. We're in the very early stages of the rollout, so it's hard to talk about results, but we are very hopeful and excited about the possibilities.

What distinguishes BrandTuitive from other providers?

Again I would say BrandTuitive's ability to get consensus across such a wide range of people is what stands out to me. You have board members who are more analytical, and then you have those who are very creative. They were able to zoom in on one, and then the other, in a way that created a very comprehensive experience.

Also, their ability to articulate a methodology and stick to it, but not to the point where it stifled creativity, was impressive. I always felt very well taken care of by Jeanine [Debar, president at BrandTuitive] and the rest of their team. They were very conscious about letting me know what was going on every step along the way, which made me comfortable. The project was high touch and low touch as needed, and that translated into a tremendous experience.

Is there anything BrandTuitive could have improved or done differently?

They were amazing in their ability to read the room. No matter who's speaking, you can tell that they are listening intently, and figuring out how to guide the conservation. Occasionally, that process can be a little time-consuming. That's the only feedback I have.

Please describe your organization.

BrandTuitive has worked with two of my companies. The first is ShopKeep, a software and cloud-based solutions provider for small businesses. The other company is Simply Wine, a wine delivery, and subscription company.

What is your position?

I'm a co-founder of ShopKeep, and a co-founder and CEO of Simply Wine.

What business challenge were you trying to address with BrandTuitive?

It's the same one everyone faces – how do you distinguish your company from everyone else's? Every business should use a branding agency, but many aren't willing to spend the money, which is their loss.

For example, it's very important to give your team members the correct titles, depending on the type of business you're in. At ShopKeep, BrandTuitive helped us make the decision to call our sales' people, Sales Specialists. The name fits because their work is so much more complex than a traditional sales job. Our Sales Specialists take a very consultative approach, and coming up with a name like that helps sharpen the focus on our end, and differentiate us in the eyes of our customers.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

First, they helped us come up with a tagline based on what the brand is. What I like about their approach to any branding problem is, they actually talk to customers – a lot of customers. They have a very neat method where they ask customers a range of different questions, and they look into the words that the customers use to decide what our problem was solving for them. They listen for similar words and similar ways that people are talking about it because branding is all about what other people think when they hear your business. It's a really great method because they end up with a really get a good picture of what the business is about, instead of just coming up with a plan based off what I told them I want to be.

I think brand strategy is they're best at, but they're also really strong in design. They did the logos for my new company, Simply Wine and have done some advertising work for me. They do have digital capabilities, but I don't think that's their focus as much.

How did you come to work with BrandTuitive?

I found them through some basic Internet searches. What I really liked about BrandTuitive was that they understood classic branding and classic psychology around branding. They were the only people I talked to who had read the book "Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind." They knew the book, and they lived it. That stuff hasn't changed. It seems old fashioned to most firms, but it's the core of branding strategy and they got that. What pushed me over the edge was their size and the fact that I knew they would give me the time and attention I wanted.

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

For Simply Wine, I've spent more than $100,000 so far. ShopKeep's work was probably more than that.

What is the status of this engagement?

For ShopKeep, they worked with us for two or three years. Eventually, I had a marketing team in-house who took over all of it. At Simply Wine, they've been working for me for slightly less than a year, and we're about to start ramping up even more work with them.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

BrandTuitive was with us from the beginning, before we even launched the products. ShopKeep now has 250 employees, and more than 18,000 customers. The company has been an amazing success, and is still growing quickly. In our early days, I'm not sure if we could have gotten the venture funding we did, without BrandTuitive's work. It really allowed us to stand out from our competition. A lot of tech firms can build technology, but they don't understand anything about marketing, branding, and sales. With BrandTuitive's work we looked a lot more well rounded.

What distinguishes BrandTuitive from other providers?

BrandTuitive's strength is their strategy work. They don't get tied up in the new or cool thing. Branding is not all about hot design. It's about the emotion the design evokes, and you can only get to that through a solid brand strategy. Their work is more solid, and has a long-lasting quality about it. It's not the kind of work that's going to be hot for a little while and then you're going to have to redo it.

Is there anything BrandTuitive could have improved or done differently?

I would say an opportunity for improvement on their end is beefing up their digital capabilities. They're not strong in that capacity, and I ended up using other agencies to do that work.