Cinnamon Toast Creative + Strategy

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and communications manager of a national nonprofit organization called Electricity Human Resources Canada. I’m responsible for all the marketing communications work, including the management of all vendors in the network. We support the needs of over 100 people working in Canada for the electricity sector. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Cinnamon Toast Creative + Strategy?

We have very regular graphic design needs, and we wanted to work closely with some partners that would build strength in the knowledge of our field.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We've engaged Cinnamon Toast in the development of video animation, graphic design, and strategy work. They've developed a huge variety of designs for advertising reports as well as video components. They've also guided some of the delivery of our products as well. They are very well-rounded in terms of supporting any graphic or multimedia design. 

What is the team composition?

We have been working closely with Bronwyn (Creative Director) and different members of the team: Beverley (Art Director), Andrea (Director of Content), Sara (Graphic Designer), and Aveen (Content Strategist).

How did you come to work with Cinnamon Toast Creative + Strategy?

We ran a competitive and open procurement process in Canada to find the most qualified agencies of record for our graphic design. We secured three vendors that we regularly use. Cinnamon Toast is the one that we use by far the most because they've demonstrated an amazing quality of work.  

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent around $100,000–$160,000. Cinnamon Toast is not the cheapest vendor that we have had. However, when we talk about value, I’m happy to pay because the quality is always reflective.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2019 and the partnership is ongoing.

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

It is hard to pull some exact figures because a lot of the work is about design. We've had many successful advertising campaigns, but it's not solely up to the design. I can say qualitatively, we have always been tremendously proud of the work that Cinnamon Toast has done and delivered for us. The feedback has always been positive and voluntary. People are always saying that they love the way the designs look.

We've engaged Cinnamon Toast as a graphic design partner, but they've gone so much further beyond just doing that. Their team is incredibly intelligent and savvy. They do an excellent job of expanding beyond our immediate needs and understanding the situation. They always deliver more quality and a broader impact than what we're looking for.

How did  Cinnamon Toast Creative + Strategy perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Google Suite for a lot of the review process in terms of being able to collaborate synchronously on content and visuals. The process has always been really good, but they keep fairly simple about the tools. It's mostly creative work for review and feedback like images and videos. Luckily, it's not over complicated. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Cinnamon Toast thinks through on the work being assigned, and they always look at the bigger picture rather than just the deliverables. They've given phenomenal advice about how we can even think broader about the execution of our creative work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I've worked with a lot of different vendors, and I haven’t had any problems with them. I am thrilled with Cinnamon Toast.

Any advice for potential customers?

I would say to embrace Cinnamon Toast’s vision and talent because they go so much further beyond just the creative execution.