DEKSIA

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-founder of a management consulting firm based in Grand Rapids, MI. Our current name is Auditrax but we are rolling out a new name, Finix, which was the project we outsourced to Deksia. We specialize in working with manufacturers and health care systems to identify and capture lost funds.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Deksia?

We had received feedback that our name did not make any sense in terms of what we do as a company. I contacted Aaron [VanderGalien, Senior Partner at Deksia] to help us come up with a new name, Finix, that will be rolled out in the next couple of weeks.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Deksia helped us to create a new name for our organization. They do a process that starts with what Aaron calls the "Big Idea" which we then hone in on to create naming options that make the most sense for our company. Deksia has also helped us with our branding efforts, including a new logo, website, messaging, and marketing campaigns.

How did you come to work with Deksia?

Aaron and I are both members of the Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC), an invite-only community for entrepreneurs. We were both the only ones from Grand Rapids. We approached each other and decided that we should probably get to know one another. Once we had gotten the feedback that our name didn't make sense for our organization, I reached out to Aaron to get his help and manage our naming strategy.

How much have you invested with Deksia?

We have spent $75,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January of 2017 and the relationship is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Quantitatively we don't have any metrics, but qualitatively we've gotten great feedback from people who see our name and now see the connection between our name and our organization.

How did Deksia perform from a project management standpoint?

They are excellent at project management. Aaron is the main guy who serves as their project manager, and he is always available by phone, email, or text, and will respond to you within the hour. Corey was another team member who we worked with directly, and he was also incredibly helpful.

What did you find most impressive about Deksia?

What sets them apart is Aaron's deep knowledge of our business. What our company does is not something that an everyday person has common knowledge of, for instance running a restaurant or a similar business, but Aaron takes the time to really understand us and the intricacies of our company which we really appreciate and had led us to a successful outcome with our new name and branding campaign.

Are there any areas Deksia could improve?

I don't think there's anything they can improve upon at this point.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

John Grace Home Restoration handles insurance claims, dry-outs, rebuilding and cleanups after fires and floods. I am the owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Deksia?

I needed to make my business look more professional and get more jobs from the people we were marketing to. We obtain new business and handle marketing differently from other industries.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Deksia provided a simple brand package for my company, including business cards, a simple website, and marketing material like shirts, hats, and printouts that we could go door-to-door with. 

We get most of our business through direct referrals, so we're not trying to market to the public. Deksia did set up a Facebook page for us, but we haven't actively tried to continue its growth.

How did you come to work with Deksia?

I knew Deksia's owners, and they had a good reputation in their field. I met with them and explained my needs. We began working together after that meeting, and I didn't consider any other companies.

How much have you invested with Deksia?

We paid $5,000 upfront for the initial simple development of our brand. On a yearly basis, we write checks of $3,000 or more to Deksia, for additional material.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Deksia 4 or 5 years ago [2011 or 2012], and we have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I had a meeting with Deksia about branding before even setting up my business. After this, I continued to use Deksia for marketing for 3 years. I have a professional brand, for which I give Deksia a lot of credit. Most people think that we're a franchise, even though we're only a small company in Grand Rapids [Michigan]. We've doubled in size every year since I started using Deksia.

How did Deksia perform from a project management standpoint?

I think that it's difficult for Deksia to place an exact budget on our work. Many times, we've opened up cans of worms and had to work much more than initially anticipated, but Deksia stuck to the budgets quoted to me. When I first started using Deksia, they weren't using any collaboration software. This may have changed since then.

What did you find most impressive about Deksia?

Deksia's owners are very confident. Once I sit down with them, I will trust that they know what they're talking about. Even if I have a vision for the work, it will typically change through the process. Right from our first meeting, Deksia told me what I needed done, and how much to spend. I ended that meeting in total agreement with them. Deksia has a good understanding of what it takes to grow a business.

Are there any areas Deksia could improve?

Deksia should learn to work with other companies. They have a take-it-or-leave-it mentality, which sometimes works against them. It hasn't happened in my case, but with people I've referred to Deksia. Some people need a bit of hand-holding on the front-end in order to come to an understanding.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Deksia?

I advise clients to be open-minded during the initial meetings. Many people growing a business think that they know what's best, but it's not always the case. Having an open mind will let them take a lot away from a discussion.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Hurricane Inc. is a manufacturing company. I am the operations manager of the company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Deksia?

We needed help with marketing and branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Deksia is currently building a new website for our company as well as promotional, branding, and trade show items. Deksia brought in some new elements to our brand and many innovative uses of products for our trade show. Deksia set up our trade show booth in a preview facility before taking it to the final location.

We've worked with anywhere between 12 and 24 people from Deksia's team. Most of our conversations were with Deksia's owners, and they also assigned a project manager to us.

How did you come to work with Deksia?

I received a referral from a client of Deksia.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Deksia at the beginning of June 2016 and have an ongoing contract. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're planning to attend a trade show this month [October 2016], and most of our metrics will come as a result of it. The website is planned to launch on the same day as our new product. Personally, I find that Deksia has hit 95 percent of the work out of the park.

How did Deksia perform from a project management standpoint?

Deksia stuck to our budget and timeline. We mainly communicated through email, phone, and personal visits.

What did you find most impressive about Deksia?

Deksia will go over and above in order to deliver what was promised.

Are there any areas Deksia could improve?

They're not without fault, but I can't think of anything to improve on Deksia's side. A piece of our project was not delivered at the specified time, so Deksia's team flew out personally in order to bring it to us.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Deksia?

The only advice I can give is for clients to work with Deksia.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an insurance agency. I am the vice president in charge of outside sales for the company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Deksia?

We needed to grow our presence with customers. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Deksia has developed our WordPress website, designed our company logo, business cards, envelopes and other print material, and helped setup our Facebook page. I know that Deksia offers SEO [search engine optimization] services, but we haven't set up anything specific for our website.

How did you come to work with Deksia?

I'd known Deksia's owners for more than 30 years and knew that this job would be perfect for them. They have a lot of passion, which is the main reason for continuing to work with Deksia.

How much have you invested with Deksia?

The cost of Deksia's services has been between $1,200 and $1,500 per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Deksia 6 years ago [in 2012] and have an ongoing relationship. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Deksia has been understanding of our particular needs and very flexible. We receive a lot positive of feedback for our business cards and logo. Our new website isn't live yet, but I think that it will be a big hit.

How did Deksia perform from a project management standpoint?

Our account manager has been very thorough and responded quickly.

What did you find most impressive about Deksia?

I appreciate the passion that Deksia's owners have for creative work and for making customers happy.

Are there any areas Deksia could improve?

It has been hard to understand Deksia's invoices at times.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Deksia?

Clients should take in the advice provided by Deksia. They have a good grasp for what people like. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Falcon Custom Homes is responsible for building homes in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area. I am the principal, responsible for all construction-related activities from contract signing to turning the keys over to the client.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Deksia?

We needed help creating marketing and branding material for our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Deksia was hired to create all of the marketing and branding for Falcon Custom Homes, e.g., business cards, letterheads, uniforms, truck logos, the layout and design of the estimates that we provide to clients, and QuickBooks invoices. Deksia has also worked on our website and provided anything else related to marketing and branding for the company.

How did you come to work with Deksia?

I've known Deksia's owners as friends for a while. We went in that direction because I had faith in Deksia's ability to do what we needed to do to reach our goals.

How much have you invested with Deksia?

The total cost of Deksia's services has been above $200,000 over many years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Deksia shortly after they were formed as a company. We have signed a contract recently for material to be completed by the end of 2016, and are also working with Deksia on a marketing plan for 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All of our material is consistent, and Deksia has worked on the entirety of our branding. If we publish a magazine article, for example, Deksia will put it together using the same colors, fonts, and details. They're cutting edge on what they do and how they do it and have kept us reeled into our brand identity, making sure that the information that we put out is consistent. We can thus be recognized just by our logo, instead of having to go through the details of what our company is.

I can't state particular examples of what Deksia has done for us. Marketing is a non-tangible resource. We can spend many dollars, and not know where our business is coming from. We have seen an increased workload in the past few years, but we can't know if this is because the housing market is better, because of our efforts in creating a consistent brand, or a combination of the two.

How did Deksia perform from a project management standpoint?

Deksia typically met our expectations and the set deadlines, as long as we were able to provide the information that we promised. Deksia is readily available when they're needed, be it answering invoice concerns or reworking some material based on our requests. Deksia took time to explain what they're doing and why and have the backend research to support their claims.

I'm sure that Deksia uses an in-house collaboration software, but I wasn't privy to it. We simply communicate through phone calls, emails, and text messages.

What did you find most impressive about Deksia?

I appreciated Deksia's ability to come up with creative, outside-the-box ideas relating to our specific product that I would not have thought of on my own. Deksia created unique materials with a sense of character that, at the same time, still stick to our branding and identity.

Are there any areas Deksia could improve?

In my line of business, I am responsible for any mistakes made, so this is the mindset that I've gained over the years. Deksia is a time and materials company, so if they make a clerical or grammatical mistake or something doesn't pass the inspection process, we will get billed on the backend. I'm also not paying for the fluff factor, though, and there hasn't been anything else so detrimental as to make us stop using Deksia.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Deksia?

Clients should just sit back and let Deksia use its creativity and expertise in what it does, instead of stifling the team by throwing too much of their two-cents-worth.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are Procure Landscape and Chop Tree Service. We have two different companies. We are in the commercial landscape management business as well as full-scale tree removal and tree care. Between the two companies, we can do everything on the outside grounds for a commercial property.

What are your position and responsibilities, please?

My role at the company is general manager. My responsibilities are sales, marketing, and making sure my team continues to excel at their positions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Deksia?

We didn't have any real understanding of marketing or a real marketing plan. Our tree company had the same name as our landscape company, so we had some confusion in the marketplace about whether we were a landscape company or a tree company. We needed someone to help us out with all that.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

We rebranded and renamed our tree company and started rebranding our landscape company. We've had the same brand for 25 years and decided to do something different. Deksia also helped us with getting the tree company more visible on the Internet. They improved our SEO [search engine optimization] capabilities and developed different strategies to bring in more leads and more business. They redesigned both of our websites for both companies.

How did you come to work with Deksia?

I think the owners of Deksia ran into us some time in the past; I honestly don't remember when. We set up a meeting with them. They came in, proposed some ideas, and we started to explore working together. One thing led to another. We felt comfortable with them and their team and decided to move forward.

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

We have spent between $10,000 and $50,000 working with Deksia.

What is the status of this engagement?

The initial project took probably a year, but we continue to use their services. I think this is our fourth year with Deksia. They continue to be our go-to agency for everything on the marketing side of things.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics, metrics or other feedback from this engagement?

I don't have exact numbers, but what I can say is that the quality of their work has been exceptional. We get many calls, emails and comments from both clients and nonclients on the rebranding and the website development. Often, we win jobs just based on our brand and logo because they are unique, different, and stylish.

Deksia has also definitely increased our presence on the Internet, keeping us at the top of our category. We recently did a three-month study on the leads we were getting from the Internet through our website. We've seen a substantial increase over the last couple of years with that as well.

What distinguishes Deksia from other providers?

I think the biggest thing that sets Deksia apart is their team. They're all engaged and dive right into our company as if it was their own. They enjoy working with us, and we feel like they're a part of our company.

Is there anything Deksia could have improved or done differently?

Right now, we're pretty happy. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a nonprofit organization. We empower women in Tanzania, teaching them job skills as well as offering information about employment, healthcare, money management, and business management. Through this, they can go out and become self-sustaining.

What is your position?

I am the founder and director of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Deksia?

Deksia is helping us get the word out, letting new people hear about us in order for our organization to grow a database. I feel that the best way to do this is to create a professional and powerful video to draw into people's emotions.

Deksia agreed with our plan and prioritized finding a pro bono video producer. I am confident that the video along with a website that allows donations will be a gamechanger for us.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They've also offered branding services, targeting the portions of the market that we desire. This included a new logo, business cards, and so on. They've helped us with presentations and web design. They've also produced a video for us pro bono. Deksia made a survey in order to determine how the public wanted to share their charitable dollars.

How did you come to work with Deksia?

I heard about them from a personal referral. We decided to work with them because they could work within our budget. They also share our vision for the organization and were willing to help because they agree with our principles.

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

We expect to spend around $20,000 to $30,000 for their services within our first year. Obviously, our budget is limited because we are a small, new non-profit. The value of the services rendered is much higher than our costs.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Deksia in November 2015. The work is ongoing. Even though we're still in the beginning stages, they've done a lot for us. We'll soon be launching our new branding.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Deksia is always there to answer our questions, and they move as fast as we can move. We've greatly appreciated the effort they made to get a video producer for us.

How did Deksia perform from a project management standpoint?

Deksia is very connected in the industry and is able to make things happen quickly and smoothly. I am very impressed they could get our video produced without cost on time with such high quality. Deksia is fantastic for our needs.

What distinguishes Deksia from other providers?

They're personable and treat everyone with a unique touch, no matter how many clients they have. We've always felt that we're their only concern.

Is there anything Deksia could have improved or done differently?

We're still in the beginning of our work. I have no complaints so far.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

My company is Veenstra's Garage Incorporated. We are a third-generation family auto repair business in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I'm president of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Deksia?

We're an old business, and we felt we were falling behind our competitors in terms of look and curb appeal. Our logo and brand were outdated, and we had little-to-no online presence.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They had a very concrete process that we went through. It started with an evaluation of our current brand and the way we were perceived in the community. After that, they began working on a brand guide with a new logo and other marketing materials. The strategy behind the brand guide was to leverage the company's history and local appeal with a clean and modern look that customers are looking for in an auto shop. The last step was to revamp our online presence.

How did you come to work with Deksia?

They actually reached out to me and their marketing was good enough to get my attention. I think the main thing that impressed me was they showcased previous work that they had completed for companies that I knew and respected. We set up a meeting, and I was impressed with the look and feel of the other brands Deksia had created. I was also impressed with how comprehensive their process was.

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

We've spent between $50,000 and $100,000 with Deksia through the course of several projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've worked with Deksia for close to three years [as of December 2015]. The work has come in fits and starts. It began with the rebrand and logo. It continued with the website, and now we are beginning work on some different marketing efforts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Obviously, the subjective feedback has been very positive. Everyone loves our new look. It's hard to give you hard metrics – 2014 was our best year ever, but we're down a little in 2015. Personally, I don't look at it as much as how much business we've gained by the new look, but more how much business have we not lost because of the updates.

The one area I can give you hard metrics for is SEO [search engine optimization]. Before Deksia's work, we were not showing up at all in Google searches and so on. Now, I'm consistently showing up well on the first page.

What distinguishes Deksia from other providers?

You can find many people out there to work on your brand, and help you with SEO. However, it's difficult to find someone that you can actually believe in. I have complete trust and confidence in Deksia.

Is there anything Deksia could have improved or done differently?

That's a hard one. I think that he has kept in touch with me well and even done some unique things. He knows some of the things I enjoy doing, so we've done some meetings in nontraditional ways like kayaking down the Rogue River here together while talking through some things. I don't have anything negative. Of course, I'd like it to cost a lot less, but that's just the way it is.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Yello Dumpster is a roll-off Dumpster company.

What is your role at the company?

I am the operations manager

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Deksia?  

We had recently acquired another Dumpster company. My company needed a complete brand overhaul to facilitate the merger of the two companies. We wanted to establish ourselves as a new company with an easy, approachable process for the customer.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The rebranding process included an intense research stage where Deksia interviewed me and the other shareholders within my company, talked to current and potential clients, and audited our competitors.

From there, Deksia laid the foundation for my company's brand, including the name "Yello Dumpster," the tagline, tone of voice, fonts, and colors.

From there, we have used Deksia consistently for our advertising needs: direct mail pieces, brochures, business cards, online digital advertising, and more.

The technologies they used include, but are not limited to, online surveys, AdWords, Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

How did you come to work with Deksia?

Deksia came highly referred by a trusted colleague.

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

It was between $50,000 and $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The main branding work began in January 2013, but we continue to work with Deksia for various advertising and marketing needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We have seen many results from our work with Deksia. Our brand has a credible foundation, and the company has gone from being an unknown name to one of the leading and trusted waste disposal companies within the Greater West Michigan area.

To get into specific metrics, on a monthly basis, we receive approximately 25 to 30 qualified leads from online advertising, which is managed by Deksia.

In addition, an important part of the brand they built for us, and the way we run our business today is about ease of use and friendly customer service. Because of that, we receive many referrals throughout the community.

What distinguishes Deksia from other providers?

Deksia has a unique focus on business intelligence that you don't often come across. As entrepreneurs themselves, they understand the challenges of owning a company, and I felt like they were on my side as a small business owner.

In hindsight, are there areas in which they could improve, or things you might do differently?

They could improve on communication - at times, I wish they would've reached out more often to give me updates on the status of projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Partner of a wine company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Farm grapes, produce and sell wine. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DEKSIA to accomplish?

• Marketing management

SOLUTION

How did you find DEKSIA?

• Referral
• acquired previous marketing company we worked with

Why did you select DEKSIA over others?

acquired previous company

How many teammates from DEKSIA were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Provide monthly journal / blog, handles all digital and social media advertisement and management of each platform. Email and sales marketing design as well as deisgn of collateral for the needs of the tasting room sales supply.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far it has been consistent .There was always proper follow up on each campaign outcome to understand what worked and what hasn't.

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

They have. 

What was your primary form of communication with DEKSIA?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

There is consistency on the team that handles your account and works with you to execute each project. 

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

They are working towards the understanding of the wine industry which isn't an easy task. While it might be a new territory for them they are showing their willingness to improve and be better each time.