Caava Design

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and owner of Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company, a regional brewery in Montana. We are a production-focused craft brewery.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Caava Design?

My wife and I bought an existing brewery and needed help with rebranding. We had a distinct vision of the company we wanted to be.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Caava Design created the whole brand. The team delivered seven different beer can designs. They also designed boxes, t-shirts, hats, tap handles, signage and posters, coolers, and more.

What is the team composition?

We engaged with Cody (Owner & Creative Director, Caava Design) and Wayne (Director of Marketing & Strategy, Caava Design). Lauren (Graphic Designer, Caava Design) also worked on our project, but we didn’t collaborate directly.

How did you come to work with Caava Design?

We interviewed several firms with craft brewery experience, but their designs lacked originality. A friend recommended Caava Design. I called Cody and liked his refreshing design insights.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The collaboration began in July 2017. Although our contract ended in December 2018, they have done some small tasks for us in 2019, and we remain in contact. Over the next few months, we plan to reengage them in a long-term contract.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched the new brand in May 2018 and encountered immediate success. Most stores around us began carrying several of our beer lines. Within a very short time, we were one of the top-selling new breweries in the country, per supermarket scans.

My company has signed three new distributors and entered three new states. We expect to continue expanding. Our brewery is on track to double the volume of product we did before we engaged Caava Design, and we will likely triple that number over the next year.  

How did Caava Design perform from a project management standpoint?

In the crafty brewery industry, new brands must be launched by May so that the product is available in stores during the spring and summer, our busiest seasons. This meant we had quick turnaround times, but Caava Design delivered everything on schedule. Even though we were in different states and could not have in-person meetings, communication was seamless throughout the creative process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We have been amazed by their design proficiency and knowledge of what is best for a brand. For instance, they created a red banner design that my team did not initially like. However, Caava Design knew this was the optimal branding approach, even if my company did not see it at first. Now, this design is extremely identifiable and receives excellent feedback. We are grateful that instead of modifying the design to our tastes, they defended their approach. They have created a real, long-term branding platform for our business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I cannot think of any. They are extremely talented, and I would recommend them to anyone looking for high-level professional design.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Former COO / Brand & Operations Lead of a brand representation and distribution company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Brands representation and distribution, in-house brands + brand partnerships

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Caava Design to accomplish?

• Create the name, brand concept, visual identity, and product storytelling system for a new pickleball brand. The goal was to move beyond a generic product line and build a distinct, ownable brand with personality, clarity, and room to grow.

SOLUTION

How did you find Caava Design?

Referral

Why did you select Caava Design over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Caava Design were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

End to end brand strategy. Name, logo, positioning and overall behaviour and identity. We also did product and product packaging designs as part of this engagement.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project produced a complete brand foundation for launch, including the OZO name, logo direction, product line visuals, brand messaging, typography, color palette, product education system, and sales/marketing presentation materials.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We loved working with Cody and team. They took the time to understand our objective, took the time to understand the market landscape and came up with a brand that resonated with us and the market. We didnt have a strict timeline we wanted to have it done right. Cody and his team delivered beyond expectations. 

What was your primary form of communication with Caava Design?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Work ethic. Boutique, attention to detail, time to listen and understand not just the brief but the why behind the brief. We didnt feel like we hired an agency. We felt like we brought someone onboard that was equally invested in the sucess of the project. 

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

There was an element of our project where we did not accept their recommendation. Their team put in a lot of time and research and went above and beyond in gathering data, conducting customer interviews. In doing so, they demonstrated their conviction and understanding of our audience. Ultimately the business did not accept that suggestion which was a mistake from our end. Caava was fantastic in everyway. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founder and owner of an upcoming brewery in Phoenix, AZ.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Caava for a new brewery brand identity, which included primary logos, secondary badges, can designs, merchandise, business cards, and web art.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended through another agency, and after speaking with Caava I knew they were the right fit for our brand vision.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Together we met via zoom to discuss initial vision, ideas, and outlook for our brand design. After a few sessions Caava presented a design deck that included logos, colors, merchandise options, a full scope design. We then made some adjustments and Caava nailed the second presentation. We also worked together on can design and secondary logos that really brought the whole brand together.

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

There were a total of three team members that helped with our project. Creative Director, Marketing Director, and Artist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Because of our brand project and how well it went, we were able to instantly create and website, and Insta gram account to start getting the word out on our upcoming brewery. We were also able to create t-shirts that we used as marketing at a large trade show as advertisement. The project turned out so well that it helped secure investment for our business.

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

Very laid back but thorough. We had weekly interactions wither through zoom or email that helped curate and drive the project home. Timelines and weekly updates also helped us as we navigated the our own start up timeline.

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

They listened and executed professionally. Their commitment to get the project done right was huge for us. Their passion was obvious and made us feel like we were creating together rather than just them taking over and presenting a brand.

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

Overall they nailed the project and brand identity for our company. I don't have any evident improvements.