Emery.com – An Awakening Company.™

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Executive Director of Aging Forward

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Aging Forward is a national alliance of 55 dedicated affiliate organizations serving more than 165,000 older adults by providing meaningful opportunities to take on new challenges, learn new skills, feel supported, and serve others.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Emery.com – An Awakening Company.™ to accomplish?

• The goal of this project was to develop a new and memorable brand for Shepherd's Centers of America

SOLUTION

How did you find Emery.com – An Awakening Company.™?

Clutch Site

Why did you select Emery.com – An Awakening Company.™ over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Emery.com – An Awakening Company.™ were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Emery provided a holistic approach to rebranding our organization as we celebrated our 50th Anniversary. The focus was to ensure the organization had the right name, image, and messaging to  strengthen our connection with our audience, positioning us for growth and long-term success. The project was a comprehensive rebranding strategy and execution, to enhance our organizational  presence and identity.

Awakening Sessions
The process began with Awakening Sessions, where guided leadership discussions engaged all visionaries and decision-makers within Shepherd's Centers of America (SCA/previous name). These sessions included a two-hour engagement with a subcommittee of the Board, ensuring that strategic insights were drawn from key stakeholders.

Research
To understand the culture, the base of consumers, donors, and volunteers, and the category within which SCA operates, an in-depth research phase was conducted. This included an audit of existing brand strategy documents and design styles.

Brand Strategy
This phase focused on crafting the foundation of SCA's identity:

Brand Purpose: Articulating the reason for the organization’s existence.
Brand Personality: Defining the unique character of the brand.
Brand Values: Pinpointing the guiding principles that drive the organization.
Brand Voice: Establishing a consistent tone and style of communication.

A key deliverable was a new name that reflected the organization's reimagined strategy. Three distinct naming options are presented, with two rounds of revisions included along with research on domain availability and trademark status. We had considerable pushback from 2 individuals while the majority of leadership supported the proposed new options for a new name. But given the pushback, we took a few steps back and repeated some of the steps above with a larger group. 

At the end of the process, there was overwhelming consensus on a new name and that this step was the right step to move forward. The name is Aging Forward. 

Visual Identity
The next phase expressed the brand’s personality visually. This included creating a memorable logo and building consensus through mood boards and design rounds. Typography, color psychology, and imagery styles were carefully selected to ensure the brand identity supports its underlying strategy. The final deliverable was variations of the logo, as well as a brand usage guide detailing color schemes and typography for consistent brand application. Our group easily agreed on one option. 

Website Design & Development
A fully customized WordPress website was developed, featuring new design styles, including typography, image styles, and color schemes. The site includes up to 12 unique pages with the ability for us to add more. The development package included three rounds of revisions, copywriting, SEO optimization, and a Google Analytics setup. A training video was also provided to help maintain the website, with the option for additional features and services like hosting and security.

Launch Strategy & Ongoing Support
Finally, a Re-launch Strategy was developed to guide the organization through a successful rollout of the new brand. This included communications planning and creative direction for marketing.

We are very satisfied with the outcome and received lots of positive feedback about the new brand. Emery was a partner in this process, coaching us through challenges and helping us overcome internal obstacles. As a result, the public launch was very smooth. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Leadership and affiliate partner satisfaction with the new brand. 

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

Timelines were met, or agreed upon changes were made. We faced a huge barrier with two leaders disrupting the process and Emery walked us through options for getting unstuck. This resulted in our needing to add 3 more months to the project but the end result was that we had a smooth rollout and information for potentially addressing any pushback. 

What was your primary form of communication with Emery.com – An Awakening Company.™?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

All team members were personable and took it upon themselves to learn our strengths and weaknesses to help guide us through the process. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Emery.com – An Awakening Company.™ could have done differently?

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of True Access. We do vendor credentialing for hospitals and hospital vendors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Emery Agency?
We hired Emery Agency for their branding services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
Emery Agency redid our logo, created a branding style guide, built our website, and delivered some sales and marketing collateral. For marketing, we asked them to help us with our trade show strategies.
What is the team composition?
We worked with 6–8 teammates from Emery Agency, namely their founder, director of strategy, account manager, creative director, visual identity designer, UX strategist and web developer, director of copy, and project manager. I also worked with Andrew (Brand Strategy Consultant).
How did you come to work with Emery Agency?
Another agency recommended Emery Agency. When we looked at their website, they looked proficient in marketing. Given that, I spoke with John (Founder & CEO) to discuss a game plan and a strategy, and everything made sense. We decided to go with them from there.
How much have you invested with them?
We invested around $10,000–$50,000 in this project.
What is the status of this engagement?
This project lasted from December 2022–April 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our brand reputation was validated. Our initial marketing and branding didn’t present us as an innovative company. However, after working with Emery Agency, we were able to present ourselves in the way we wanted. Everyone on the team delivered high-quality work. They were focused, organized, and proficient in their category of work.
How did Emery Agency perform from a project management standpoint?
Emery Agency stayed on budget and met our timelines. For communication, we used phone calls, emails, and Zoom. We had a two-day in-person initial meeting in San Diego. We also used Google Forms and other digital submission tools.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They had specialists in every category in which we needed their help. They weren’t a jack of all trades — there was a specialized teammate for each component of the process.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there weren’t any. They did a good job overall.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Follow Emery Agency’s process and use the tools they provide. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) Game2Give. JDRF is the largest global research and advocacy organization committed to treating and ultimately finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes. My specific role involves a program within JDRF that utilizes video games to foster community, fundraise, and raise awareness for Type 1 diabetes. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Emery Agency?

We’ve hired Emery Agency to develop a standalone website for our program. We wanted the site to be interactive and innovative to differentiate ourselves from the overall JDRF website presentation. Our goal was to showcase our program differently and align better with our target audience. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we first started, Emery Agency kicked off with a discovery phase to understand our brand and the story we want to tell. The website was built from scratch with WordPress. The site also has various WordPress plug-ins, and Emery Agency was responsible for the design. Their team is offering maintenance services and updating the website as needed. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 7–8 individuals from Emery Agency. We have two primary contacts and have worked with an account manager; we’ve also collaborated with a designer and a developer who has been responsible for assembling the code. 

How did you come to work with Emery Agency?

We found Emery Agency through a referral from another nonprofit. We really liked Emery Agency’s portfolio and their overall approach. We also appreciated that they understood our work because one of their executives has a child with Type 1 diabetes. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $25,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2023, and the website launched in August 2023. We consider the engagement ongoing because Emery Agency is providing maintenance services. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have many concrete metrics because the website just launched. Still, the site has allowed us to effectively organize and promote a specific event in a way that we haven’t been able to do previously.  

Regarding functionality and presentation, we’ve been really happy with the website. The quality of work from Emery Agency is very strong, and it is evident that they are incredibly talented. 

How did Emery Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Emery Agency hits deadlines and stays within budget. We’ve had a few alignment issues, but this has been addressed. We communicate via Zoom and use different options within the Google Workspace to keep updated. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciate their strategy and willingness to learn about our brand and how it differentiates from other organizations. We feel like they have been able to represent us effectively because they’ve taken the time to understand our story. We’ve also been impressed with their ability to portray our organization compellingly. 

When things start to get complicated regarding plug-ins or custom coding, Emery Agency keeps us apprised of where they are. Their team is also transparent about when something is out of their expertise. 

Our program can be complicated to describe, and Emery Agency has done a good job of simplifying and explaining what we do and matching the website to that. The site is clear, and they’ve integrated our original design elements. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We would have appreciated having one consistent contact throughout the process. Sometimes, it felt like earlier conversations we had with different team members from Emery Agency were not always communicated. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have good definitions and objectives of the scope and articulate that effectively. If you’re looking for a vendor that can understand your brand and how you want it represented through design elements, Emery Agency is a great choice. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Firm Financial Partners Inc

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We bring peace by helping companies and people organize their financial lives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Emery Agency to accomplish?

• Develop a brand.
• Develop a new name for our company.
• Develop a logo and icon.

SOLUTION

How did you find Emery Agency?

Referral

Why did you select Emery Agency over others?

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

How many teammates from Emery Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

A new compelling, distinctive, memorable organization name reflecting the refined Brand Strategy for our company. A new compelling, distinctive, memorable organization name reflecting the refined Brand Strategy for our company. Basic guide for our new brand standards, colors and typography. New design styles for your website, including home page, and sub-page styles. Includes UI/UX considerations, typography, image styles and colors.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

New name and website functioning and announced.

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

Emery was very responsive and timely. They set expectations well.

What was your primary form of communication with Emery Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Creative, good clean design, and well organized.

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

The fonts we selected with Emery's help haven't worked well with Adobe. We did not anticipate this pitfall. For what it's worth, Emery should consider testing recommended fonts by "printing to PDF" using Adobe's virtual print tool on a PC. I love Macs, but too many people use PCs to ignore.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a former volunteer at a nonprofit organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Emery Agency?

I was looking for an innovative, scrappy, creative agency to help with branding. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Emery Agency provided rebranding services. First, they led a creative discovery process that took stakeholders through brand values. That led to the development of brand language. From there, the team moved into the design phase, where they delivered the new brand identity and a brand positioning package. Our requirements for design included being inclusive of the organization’s past while being forward-focused. 

We ended the project with the web design phase; Emery Agency delivered social templates and a website design. Overall, the team created everything needed for a nonprofit organization to launch a new brand. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with five teammates from Emery Agency: John (Founder & CEO), Danielle (Creative Director), a writer, a project manager, and a web designer. 

How did you come to work with Emery Agency?

Emery Agency came highly recommended by a large agency I’ve previously worked with that takes on large clients. I asked if this agency would be interested in the project, but since the scope of work was smaller than their usual projects, they recommended Emery Agency. 

We went through an RFP process with multiple agencies, and Emery Agency bid on the project. The team put together a very thorough pitch presentation about how they could serve the organization. Based on the scope of the project and the budget, Emery Agency’s proposal was robust and solved many problems for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $10,000–$50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–July 2022. After the project ended, we continued engaging Emery Agency for additional services. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Emery Agency delivered world-class branding and creative solutions that met the organization’s needs. The organization’s brand awareness and organic social presence grew thanks to the rebrand. User adoption and professional positioning of the organization also increased significantly. 

Moreover, Emery Agency listened to the organization’s needs. We went through an organic, well-led, and structured creative process that gave guidance to the organization’s leaders. Although it was a delicate project because stakeholders had many opinions, Emery Agency found a path forward while honoring the past. 

How did Emery Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

The project stayed within the scope and fit our budget. Emery Agency’s project management communicated clearly and effectively and kept us engaged throughout the process. We used Zoom meetings and emails for communication.

Moreover, they were open to feedback along the way to ensure they found the solutions that served the brand well and made the organization’s leadership comfortable and excited. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

John led us through the process in an incredible way — he made everyone feel heard. Meanwhile, Danielle was a remarkable talent who delivered beautiful designs. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by Emery Agency’s ability to work with leaders not familiar with the branding process. The team was able to educate stakeholders and bring them along the process. As a result, I would trust them to work with any company, whether the leadership had experience with branding projects or not. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They didn’t need to improve anything — they were great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Emery Agency has a process they take stakeholders through; my advice is to trust and engage with it fully. The more you put into this process, the more you’ll get out of it. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at a patient education and community support platform. We help caregivers give better care to their loved ones and family members who stay at home. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Emery Agency?

We hired Emery Agency to refine our brand identity and organize our messaging. These were the two main goals of our brand evolution. Our goals were focused on brand refinement and alignment; it was about setting a clear direction for our brand. For context, our brand had gotten loose over the years, so we wanted to know where it was going. 

We were about caregivers, so it was easy to get bogged down by sadness and depressing care scenarios. That was our old brand, and we wanted to move away from it and show a more positive side to our audience. However, I didn’t want to change the brand so much that we had to throw away our old assets. I wanted Emergy Agency to provide a new definable brand for us; we were hanging on to everything we’d done in the past while bringing something new to the table. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially had two discovery calls with Emergy Agency. They worked on understanding what we did, and they then started drafting our brand’s high-level messaging. In conjunction with that, they started working on rebranding, giving us samples and ideas upon which we could iterate. 

For more specific tasks, Emery Agency helped us add a color to our color scheme, and they didn’t change our logo. They gave us a series of elevator pitches on positioning ourselves to our clients and users. On top of that, they provided us with templates for PowerPoint presentations, print booklets, and fliers. The team also created a light version of a brand guide, though all of the templates were used as brand guides, too. 

We had a lot of illustrations in our brand style, so Emergy Agency helped expand our illustration library. They even helped us identify our brand in relation to stock photography — they helped us find around 20 stock photos that defined us, and we used them as a rule to follow. 

What is the team composition?

Danielle (Creative Director) did the design work, while John (Founder & CEO) led the discovery sessions.

How did you come to work with Emery Agency?

We found Emery Agency through a referral. I was looking for a local company in Maine and came across a big local agency. They thought we might be too small for them, so they referred us to Emery Agency. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from March–August 2023. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new brand was implemented, and it was super successful because we met all of my goals. It was balanced in the sense that nothing was so new that it trashed everything we’d done in the past. At the same time, it provided clarity for the future, which was absolutely fantastic. Internally, we received lots of positive feedback; people who found flaws in the new brand were minimal. 

How did Emery Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

The Emery Agency team was good at meeting deadlines and staying on budget. I was the one who was bad at following deadlines. To communicate, we mainly used emails and phone calls; we also used either Zoom or Google Meet. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Emergy Agency listened better than any other branding agency I knew. They understood us better than anybody and could truly empathize with us as a company. I’d never seen this kind of alignment before we worked with them. Everybody did everything they said they’d do, and I was truly impressed with that. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was a disconnect between our high-level messaging and the actual messaging on their part. It seemed like they had an internal turnover process that affected the transfer of information, but they addressed this issue and ultimately fixed it. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communication is key. Emery Agency is great at listening and asking questions. Even if you don’t know the answer yourself — even if you’re talking about it in circles — just continue communicating with them. Allow them to navigate your thoughts. They’ll communicate back to you to know if everything’s accurate. That’s part of their strength, so laying a sound foundation in the discovery sessions is key to success. Trust the process; they have a good system. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director and general manager of a transportation company called Chebeague Transportation Co. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Emery Agency?

Our website was around 12 years old, and we needed to update and modernize it. We needed it to be easier to use, and prioritize communication and the information that people were seeing first.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the website from scratch. Emery Agency used our existing website as a reference point, but they used an entirely new web platform to create it. We had been using Homestead, and they rebuilt the website on Squarespace. The website is also hosted on Squarespace, and they gave us the tools to manage it ourselves. When there are issues that we can’t solve ourselves, they offer support. 

They also helped us set up a text alert service through SlickText, which sends out alerts for cancellations. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with between 5–6 people in total. This included the CEO, a general manager, and web developers. 

How did you come to work with Emery Agency?

They were referred to us by other businesses in our area. They’re a local business, and we were impressed with their portfolio, so we decided to move forward with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $5,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between March–May 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback on the website.

How did Emery Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was delivered on time and within budget. Emery Agency was great about laying everything out for us, and was very direct about asking for things they needed. They were quick to make any adjustments when we received feedback.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were able to work with their entire team, and that made the project pretty special. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We don’t have any suggestions for improvement. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared to put in the time necessary to provide information to them. What you put into it is what you’ll get out of the project, so be ready to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of two companies; one is a school where we train leaders, and the other is a mortgage bank.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Emery Agency?

We wanted to raise awareness of what we offered and generate leads.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve done several projects with Emery Agency. First, we started from the ground up, building a WordPress website and our brand and strategy to spread out. Then, they wrote some blog posts to generate traffic. A couple of years later, they built another platform for the school. They’ve helped us find the right platform for a course and created the whole structure for it.

Additionally, they’ve done brochures, a logo, and merchandise designs for t-shirts, beanies, and so on.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with John (Founder & Brand Strategist), and he’s connected us with several project managers and designers. He supervises everything, and the team handles the execution.

How did you come to work with Emery Agency?

John came to our school about 10 years ago, and he loved it.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2014, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen an increase in web traffic, but we don’t pay much attention to it.

How did Emery Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is excellent. We use Slack and Asana for project management and communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ideas are outstanding. However, my favorite thing about them is their responsiveness. The team takes care of things quickly, and they usually wait for us, not the other way around.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything they could improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use them as soon as you can and let them do their job.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Executive Director of a nonprofit Worship School (now) called 10KFAM.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Emery Agency?

The original name of our nonprofit was 10,000 Fathers, but in 2021 it became clear that we needed to rebrand and change the name to 10,000 Fathers & Mothers, or 10KFAM for short. The ministry had expanded since the original name given to it 10 years prior, and needed an updated brand identity and logo.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The founder of our nonprofit has known John Emery for years - John actually came through the 10KFAM program as a student years ago, so we knew he was the perfect person to help us rethink our branding, but also retain our core values and be true to ourselves.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

I was not in the Executive Director role when Emery Agency was hired for this particular project, but being involved in the marketing end of things beforehand had meant I'd worked with them on several other projects. They've done everything from redesign our logo/set brand guidelines, to design year-end mailers, to design our student content (not a small project!).

What was the team composition?

Me and the founder of the nonprofit have worked with both John himself (to kick off projects), and then been handed off to the project lead for Emery Agency.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our branding now feels true to who we are. Our student content and notebooks carry a consistent look and feel, which enriches the student experience (one of our highest priorities). The 10KFAM logo has been so easy to incorporate onto merch items, our website, and written correspondence.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very! I always knew that if I emailed on Friday, I'd get an automated response reminding me that they guard Fridays for uninterrupted work. In general, they were extremely responsible.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I appreciate that they value dedicated work time (without interruption) and rest time just as much as they value responding to emails. I think in the long run it makes them more effective.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

Nope!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder of a Women’s active apparel brand that is manufactured in the USA. We are gearing up for our launch date in the new year and will offer a small capsule collection of active base layers for Women.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Emery Agency, and what were your goals?

We were not liking any of the branding options we were getting from our current partner and needed a solution and quickly. We found Emery Agency through a trusted referral and they were able to respond to our project in a matter of weeks.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Emery through a colleague referral.

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

Emery scheduled a call to review brand discovery and our brand book, provided initial feedback and got to work on the creative process right away. They sent us first round ideas in a matter of days, and there was no need for second rounds, we loved what they delivered the first time around.

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

I worked directly with John, who is the Founder & CEO of Emery.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have not launched as a brand yet but with the quick and creative work provided by Emery, we were able to continue to move forward with developing our brand, and were no longer stuck on the brand story. We were very happy with the results the first time around which in my eyes, means success.

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

Emery Agency gave us exactly what we were looking for within a week; we went back and forth for months with the initial branding partners we started with. I wish I had found Emery sooner!

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

The honesty, kindness and generosity that was displayed throughout the project is unmatched. You don’t always find that in business, but with Emery you will.

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

No. Nothing but positive vibes.