express : impress
Evviva's a strategy-led brand agency with offices in San Francisco and Edinburgh.
We combine the power of insight with the art of identity to make people act.
headquarters
other locations
Focus
Portfolio
ABInBev, Alaska Airlines, Amazon, Atlassian, Blackrock, Chevron, City National Bank, Dignity Health, Delta Air Lines, DocuSign, E.ON, Financial Engines, Flipkart, Google Fiber, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HSBC, KLA, Lam Research, Marriott, Methanex, Microsoft, NTT, Omron, Otter.ai, The Ritz-Carlton, Tencent, Total, Twilio, Walmart
Marriott International
Marriott engaged Evviva to develop a clear, relevant, resonant global position to speak to talent in emerging markets—and fill 50,000 jobs—many in countries where brand recognition is low, barriers to entering the hospitality field are high and social media participation is ubiquitous.
SolutionWe knew people often base employer preferences on brand recognition—if it’s a good brand, people assume it must be a good place to work. But how could someone imagine what it would be like to work somewhere they couldn’t even imaging going?
ResultsAs the result of Evviva’s work, Marriott won Employer Brand of the Year (ERE) and in the following year grew their Facebook follower base from fewer than 14,000 to more than 1,000,000 to become the most-followed employer brand on the internet. Evviva’s work also resulted in significant earned media including feature stories in top global publications including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Financial Times, The Economic Times and the Times of London.
Marriott was so pleased with the work that was featured on the cover of the company’s annual report. The “Where I Belong” creative campaign Evviva developed in support of the brand line remains in use in all of the 80 countries in which Marriott hires talent and has led to dramatic improvements in hiring and retention. (Exact numbers are client confidential.)
For more on this case, visit https://www.evvivabrands.com/portfolio/marriott/
Amazon
Amazon is one of the world's most successful, complex and innovative companies. They turned to Evviva to help them understand and express their cultural DNA. We conducted global research developed a brand line that fit, and delivered a suite of creative that expressed the Amazonian spirit.
Challenge
To maintain their incredible rate of growth and innovation without loosing sight of customer obsession Amazon needs to recruit "Amazonians" who raise the bar with every hire. That means recruiting the best of the best--and winning the war for talent against the best companies in the world.
Solution
Evviva conducted primary research across a range of sources and held internal and external groups in a variety of Amazon locations. Across Amazon's lines of business, one idea best expressed the essence of Amazon: pioneer. We developed the line, "we pioneer" and expressed that line in a full suite of expressions from photography, print and digital to ambient.
Results
Results are positive but client confidential. More at: https://www.evvivabrands.com/portfolio/2081/
The Ritz-Carlton
At first glance, the Ritz-Carlton may appear a thing apart from other Marriott brands. As the sina qua non of luxury hospitality, in many ways, it is. Look closer, however, and you find the tie that binds: an authentic commitment to truly excellent service. But that common bond was getting lost in a multitude of messages and mixed vocabulary. The Ritz Carlton needed to articulate both its shared and unique values—in terms that would resonate with its Ladies and Gentlemen around the globe.
Evviva designed and conducted a series of insight investigations at locations across North America, Europe, North Africa and Asia. We captured insights from a multitude of perspectives, from upper level executives to housekeepers, inside out, and outside in.
We learned that what set apart the most impressive staff members–or Ladies and Gentlemen, as the brand calls them–were an obsessive attention to detail and the understanding that great service elevated both host and guest. Whether it was noticing a single hair on a carpet, a poorly-folded washcloth or a box of tissue at the wrong angle, the best Ladies and Gentlemen understood that it wasn’t the environment, but the obvious attention to the environment, that let guests fully relax. And along the way they learned that great service was both a gift and a dialogue, that at their best, they were a conduit between the aspirations of brand and guest.
From this positioning, Evviva built an emotionally resonant creative concept. We scouted and creative directed a photo shoot at a Ritz-Carlton property to support brand expression. And we developed a comprehensive asset guide for The Ritz-Carlton’s use in global attraction. More at: https://www.evvivabrands.com/portfolio/the-ritz-carlton/
Methanex
Methanex produces and markets methanol – a building block for countless products and applications, from fuel to the rubbing alcohol in your bathroom cabinet. As is often the case with ubiquitous products, the marketing needed polishing. The logo was poorly designed, the company had never undertaken a comprehensive look at the brand and the meaning of their brand line, “A Responsible Care Company,” had become diluted.
Research with Methanex leaders, employees, community members, public affairs officers and NGOs in Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, New Zealand, Trinidad and the United States helped Evviva discover the company’s strongest and most differentiating quality—its ability to adapt to changing conditions faster and more effectively than the competition. We shared this idea with the world via the brand line and promise The Power of Agility. Deliverables included a full creative suite from logo to livery.
Our work clarified the company’s branded differentiators around the promise The Power of Agility. We developed a new messaging platform, modernized and updated the company logo, design and type system, conducted a week-long photo shoot in Egypt and a video shoot in Punta Arenas, Chile, to deliver a completely new set of photo assets and visual identity for the brand which has subsequently been rolled out globally.
According to BrandFinance, an external auditor, Evviva’s work resulted in a year-over-year improvement from #58 to #51 in Canada’s Top 100 brands, and a positive shift in brand contribution from 14% to 16% (brand value to enterprise value). This represented an increase of brand value of more than $110 million in added brand value in 10 months post-launch.
Antioch, California
The City of Antioch, located in Northern California, was settled before the Gold Rush. In 2018, they decided it was time to rebrand. So they engaged Evviva.
Challenge
One consequence of the 2008 collapse was that the City of Antioch became closely-associated with a collapse in home values. By 2016, the City had turned several important corners. Unfortunately, this the media didn’t notice. Antioch remained a talking point, but the most common media pick-ups were related to crime, blight, homelessness and low-cost housing.
Process
Research insight led us to a new strapline for the City and as a campaign line to drive awareness about what’s best about Antioch: “Opportunity Lives Here.” The campaign targeted business and lifestyle targets. With integrated programmatic planning, we launched the new brand across a variety of digital and OOH channels.
Results
The campaign was a huge success for Antioch:
- Nearly 24 million total impressions were delivered during the initial campaign cycle.
- 51,000 clicks were generated with a .3% click through rate (CTR).
- The CTR our ads achieved is six times (6x) the industry average.
- The campaign added 40,000 new visitors to the campaign website (www.antiochisopportunity.com)
- Google Analytics showed a bounce rate of 32% to the site. (This is outstanding.)
- Arrivals results indicate 46,524 physical visits to Antioch from people who were exposed to our ads.
The City was thrilled with the creative and the campaign results and continues to invest in ongoing work.
For more, visit: https://www.evvivabrands.com/portfolio/antioch/
Atlassian
Atlassian develops software that enables developers to collaborate better. Evviva helped them connect with talent better, too.
Challenge
While their "under the radar" approach has earned Atlassian a fiercely loyal following among developers and project managers familiar with Atlassian and their products, they had an awareness challenge in the talent marketplace. Few people knew Atlassian and fewere knew what it was like to work there. So Atlassian asked Evviva to develop their first-ever employer brand position and launch it.
Solution
Collaboration is Atlassian's primary differentiator. Their products allow users to work together seamlessly across time zones, geographies and job functions. Atlassian's work culture reflects their products' focus on collaboration. Together, we built on this important differentiator to develop Atlassian's brand line and promise: "Powered by You." This line sums up what it means to work at one of the most partnership-oriented and collaborative companies on earth.
From the brandline we developed a brand style guide, launch campaign, internal communications suite and a host of supplemental materials to ensure that Atlassian is an easy target for talented people to find.
Results
Since engaging with Evviva, Atlassian has exceeded their hiring targets for three years in a row--in one of the toughest tech talent markets we can remember. See more at https://www.evvivabrands.com/portfolio/altassian-employer-brand/
Odessa | Naming & Logo Design
Philadelphia-based Odessa Technologies is a renowned global FinTech company with more than 700 employees and customers around the world.
Challenge
Founded in 1998, Odessa Technologies was an innovating pioneer in the specialized world of leasing. But as the company closed on twenty years of age, the logo and name were in sore need of an update.
Process
We conducted a competitive review of Odessa Technologies’ positioning relative to their competition, interviewed company leadership, current customers and prospects. We learned that, while the company was well-respected by users, prospects who did not know the company associated the name with the place, not the service, and that the word “technologies” added to the confusion, making people think the brand meant “technologies from the city of Odessa.” And both customers, internal resources and our design review agreed that the then-current logo looked dated—the kiss of death for tech-based brands.
Solution
Since “technologies” neither clarified nor differentiated, we advised shorting the name simply to “Odessa.” We developed a variety of sophisticated, contemporary logo treatments with fresh, attractive color palettes. Odessa was delighted with the work and has subsequently rolled out the new look across all the company’s online, print, OOH and trade applications.
E.ON - Leadership Principles
Düsseldorf-based E.ON, one of the world's largest energy companies, launched their Climate and Renewables division with a bracing mandate: grow from boutique to industrial in four years. We developed and rolled out the leadership principles they used to do just that.
Challenge
EC&R’s growth created three mission-critical challenges:
- How to transform the organization from boutique to industrial without loosing the nimble, entrepreneurial culture it required to compete successfully;
- How to align the organization’s behaviors with the marketplace’s drivers that differentiate it;
- How to use the unique leverage the brand provides to meet these objectives.
These were the questions EC&R hired Evviva Brands to address.
Solution
We knew many employees had been attracted by a desire to do something different in energy—something forward-thinking they could be proud to tell their grandchildren. about We knew that as a growth company, EC&R had attracted people seeking a career that would reward those willing to push hard and take risks. And because this was part of E.ON AG, we knew there was substantial brand equity to leverage. We also knew that the brand leadership had to come from the top, with looking at brand from a leadership perspective. So we developed a set of simple, universal leadership principles for EC&R based on the organization’s unique marketplace differentiators. These principles provided a leadership framework for the organization’s growth. Each was linked to specific sets of behaviors that leaders throughout the organization would manifest in their daily lives, be held account-able to by their leaders and one another, and be rewarded for. They were crafted to ensure that the feel of leadership—from open doors, open collars and open minds to a willingness to challenge agreed decisions—didn’t change as the organization grew and more layers were added. And they simplified and clarified the parent company’s incentive scheme ensuring the right behaviors would be properly rewarded. The principles approved, we began a year-long rollout process designed to generate discussion, gather input and deliver ownership at every organizational level.
Results
Through the entire cascade process early results were strong. The work was embraced by managers at every level as a simple, effective, honest and authentic culture capture. The principles have become a cornerstone of the organization’s decision-making process, influencing performance management, evaluations, pay practices and promotion as well as day-to-day operations at the manager and team level.
We’re pleased they’re credited with elevating “how we behave” to the same level as “what we produce.” We're proud that today, nearly four years after their debut, they’ve become ingrained in the organization’s DNA and are the litmus test for decision-making. And as a result of this work, EC&R’s performance in the parent company’s annual attitudinal survey is exceptionally strong.
And when the CEO asked us for a poster of the Principles to hang in his office? We’re not too proud to admit we called our mums.
More at: https://www.evvivabrands.com/portfolio/e-on-principles/
Energy Recovery - Product Positioning
Energy Recovery pioneered technology essential to re-capturing energy lost in the desalination process and found a way to apply the same technology to oil and gas. We helped them brand and launch their flagship product, the VorTeq.
Challenge
To diversify their offering and level revenues, the company invested substantially in R&D to develop an application of their pressure exchange (PX) technology for the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas is a conservative industry, slow to embrace change and a sector in which they were unknown. They engaged Evviva Brands to develop strategy, product positioning, messaging and design for the launch of their VorTeq and their entry into the frack market.
Insight
We carefully reviewed Energy Recovery’s sales process and targets. We learned most frack operators were small, independently-operated businesses and that growth was densely focused in Texas and Pennsylvania. We visited trade shows in Dallas, Houston, spoke to operators in Pennsylvania and the UK, and interviewed analysts, leading wildcatters, as well as representatives from supermajors who were considering re-entering the shale oil market. We learned that the informal network of operators was the only trusted source of recommendations. We found that new technologies had to be both tough and simple to be considered—trade shows often featured not models, but working examples of products--up to and including fully-loaded drill rigs (18 wheelers with multiple pumps). And we learned that a California-based company would have both to solve a real problem and demonstrate proven field trial success to gain consideration of their technology.
Solution
The product had already been named “VorTeq” but hadn’t been positioned. We focused on the proposition that the technology kept water, which was used under high pressure to crack shale, and proppants, the granules of material that keep these crack open, separate, thereby extending pump life and lowering costs. We positioned VorTeq around the brand line “pure grit,” a simple, robust line the industry immediately responded to. We developed a clear, straightforward taxonomy of messages focused on three key segments: industry analysts for water and O&G; institutional operators; and independent frack site operators. From this foundation we built out a set of key messages and hierarchy, a suite of materials ranging from blog posts we wrote for their CEO and other position pieces to sales brochures and analyst launch materials.
Results
Despite a profound reversal in global oil markets that sent the price per barrel plunging from over $100 to less than $30 and decimated the fracking industry, VorTeq was licensed to Schlumberger for $125 million in an exclusive 15-year deal, leading to headlines like, "Small fry hooks a giant."
More at: https://www.evvivabrands.com/portfolio/energy-recovery/
Smartsheet | Brand Playbook
Smartsheet approached Evviva for support in brand meaning, messaging strategy and architecture. Smartsheet’s effective pay per click (PPC) marketing funnel was leading to strong lead generation numbers in the project management arena…but Smartsheet didn’t want to be pigeon-holed as a project management tool.
The app’s spreadsheet-like interface had a host of other use cases and potential applications, but Smartsheet was unable to articulate “the whole picture” of how to think of–and describe–the app itself.
As a result, their influencers and partners also struggled to “place” Smartsheet. Smartsheet’s brand line, “coordinate everything,” further complicated matters by trapping the brand at the coordinator level in the enterprises their software supported.
After deep internal and external research, Evviva discovered there was a consistent six-step “path to passion” the most engaged Smartsheet users followed as they engaged with the app. Once users attained mastery, a surprising majority of them said they loved—not liked, but truly loved—Smartsheet.
Why? Because they loved their work. And Smartsheet helped them love it more.
This key insight unlocked strategy and positioning for the brand:
- We developed a growth flywheel that applied Yale psychologist Robert Sternberg’s triangular theory of love to building and energizing Smartsheet’s word-of-mouth community. We recommended shifting the focus of their services group to supporting partner influencers (e.g., consultancies, agencies, accountancies), and refocusing sales on enterprise closes.
- We built a multi-level “playbook,” a messaging framework and architecture that rationalized and align all organizational messaging around their six owned equities and thirteen supporting messages.
- We built a taxonomy of messages by audience segment, customer level, awareness/sales stage and developed a suite of creative expressions to launch this new look and feel.
Results
This was a strategy engagement. Results are client confidential.
Reviews
the project
Brand Positioning & Copywriting for Fintech Startup
"Evviva was instrumental in positioning our brand."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the head of client services at a fintech startup, focused on tech solutions for capital markets.
What challenge were you trying to address with Evviva Brands?
We’re in the early stages of our company and feel confident about our product and technology. However, we needed someone to help us position the solution in the market. It was important that we didn’t lose our target audience with our messaging.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They helped us with our brand positioning. When we started, we thought we wanted a logo, a website, branding guidelines, and other assets involved in branding projects. After early conversations with their team, they suggested that our money would be best spent with positioning work. So, we pivoted and focused our collaboration on consultative guidance on brand positioning. They provided us create copy to aid our team with elevator pitches.
What is the team composition?
We worked with David (CEO) and a team of copywriters and designers. Most of the time, we were collaborating with David on a consultancy basis.
How did you come to work with Evviva Brands?
We were naive with our experience in branding, and they were honest about the work they think we needed. Rather than going along with what we asked for, they provided transparent feedback that helped us find what we actually needed to succeed.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about €8,000 (approximately $9,500 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We collaborated on this project from August–September 2020. The entire project lasted about 6–8 weeks, but we still have an ongoing relationship with them.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve been impressed with their feedback, attention to detail, and straight-to-the-point quality of their work. In our industry, that’s all important in our industry. We greatly needed their guidance, and their honesty and truthfulness allowed us to get there.
How did Evviva Brands perform from a project management standpoint?
We work in very different time zones, but they’ve always been accommodating to our needs. They delivered to expectations, and we never had issues with missed deadlines.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Evviva was instrumental in positioning our brand. Without promising the world, they laid out helpful steps to improve our brand positioning. That was a key differentiator.
Are there any areas they could improve?
We required an agile development style, which is uncommon in this space. They were accommodating to that, but it made the experience more expensive. It was all well worth it, though.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be very specific with your guidelines and expectations. We spent a lot of time defining that, which was appreciated. However, others could save time by having these ideas upfront.
the project
Branding Services for Delta Air Lines Employer Brand
"Their team was incredibly thoughtful and professional."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I lead the employer brand and recruitment marketing functions for Delta Air Lines. Our team fits within Delta's HR organization.
What challenge were you trying to address with Evviva Brands?
Delta wanted to transform its talent acquisition function. Until January 2018, we outsourced all of our recruiting efforts. At that point, we hired our first VP of talent acquisition and insourced all of our recruitment. Through that process, it became apparent that our employer brand wasn’t representative of a global carrier. We hired Evviva to help us reimagine and retool our employee brand position in the marketplace.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We provided Evviva with data from employee engagement surveys, and they performed desk research. Their team facilitated a number of qualitative and quantitative stakeholder interviews as well as met with our marketing and communications team. Through a combination of their research, they put together our new employer brand.
Evviva worked on message and creative position. They essentially established stricter brand guidelines that we can leverage to tell our employer brand story and activate our recruitment message across all of our different candidate pools. Their team created a brand guide that we could use with any agency partner to ensure that everything put to market ladders back to our campaign. Their team also worked on a number of creative assets, reskinning our key recruitment channels such as LinkedIn. While they worked on a creative approach for our career site, we couldn’t activate the site due to COVID-19.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent just shy of $200,000 with Evviva.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started our engagement in May 2019 and worked together through the end of the year. Due to COVID-19, we had to press pause on additional work.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The quality of their output was fantastic. Evviva understood us at our core, translating our internal mission and vision for a national audience. Their team was incredibly thoughtful and professional. The project didn’t require a lot of iteration because they captured us as a company right out of the gate.
How did Evviva Brands perform from a project management standpoint?
At the front end of the engagement, they created a project plan in a shared system. We communicated and collaborated on shared documents. Their team essentially backed into our launch timeline, which was relatively aggressive.
They outlined everything that their team needed to facilitate their research. This ensured that Evviva was equipped for interviews and focus groups. They were responsive and came through as outlined.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Evviva respectfully pushed us to think differently and consider outside perspectives. Through their guidance, we came up with a unique campaign. Instead of showing an aircraft, we highlighted Delta employees’ shared love for connection and travel. This was the first time that we highlighted employees outside of Delta uniforms.
Are there any areas they could improve?
We had more back and forth around the career site. For that particular engagement, we needed to be clearer with our expectations for the output to not push the timeline. In that same vein of new perspectives, we went too far that way and lost a bit of time.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be honest with yourself about what’s realistic to achieve the timeline. Evviva will put together a fantastic, integrated project plan. However, if you don’t believe that you’ll be able to secure stakeholder approval in those windows, you need to give them that feedback. Their team will be as responsive as you ask them to be. Look at your project plan and schedule stakeholder reviews to ensure that you don’t lose time trying to chase down approvals during the project.
the project
Consulting for Cloud Software Company
"Every part feels very thoughtfully conducted; you can put a lot of trust into whatever they produce."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the VP of talent development for a high-growth tech company. We focus on delivering agreement cloud services through a SaaS platform.
What challenge were you trying to address with Evviva Brands?
We needed help with building out a framework that articulated what our talent development department meant when we said “great management.”
What was the scope of their involvement?
Evviva Brands started by interviewing our best managers around the world. We asked people of different demographics to get a diverse perspective of what makes a “great manager” at our company. Evviva Brands then worked with our executive team and our HR teams to put together a framework. It’s formed the foundation of a program we’re rolling out globally; it’ll train managers on the key principles that we view as critical for being great.
What is the team composition?
We worked with two people: David (Head of Strategy, Evviva Brands) and Cate (Head of Insight, Evviva Brands). Others might have done the interviews, but I interfaced with just these two.
How did you come to work with Evviva Brands?
I’ve known David for many years. I’ve worked with him many years ago when we worked at different companies and have brought him in to vet many projects. When this opportunity came up, David was the obvious choice for this particular need. Evviva Brands has particular expertise in almost anthropological research. It was a perfect fit for what we were trying to do.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about $50,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from April 2018 until April 2019. It took a full year because of delays on our end; we required a lot of iterating.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
One of our major stakeholders — a marketing team — is extremely picky about anything we put in front of them. When we finalized this framework with Evviva Brands, the marketing team had no edits. It completely aligned with what they were trying to achieve from a brand perspective. That, to me, was a huge win.
How did Evviva Brands perform from a project management standpoint?
They were amazingly nimble for a small team. They could turn around things quickly — much more so than us — and were fantastic in terms of deadlines and pushing particular components forward in the workflow.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The level of sophistication in their research. They’re almost like scientists, and yet they’re extremely flexible and practical in how they produce their work. Every part feels very thoughtfully conducted; you can put a lot of trust into whatever they produce.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There was a lot of iterating. For them, it’s tough to truly speak in the voice of the customer, so it requires extra cycles to capture that. Their first drafts weren’t necessarily in our company voice, so we had to work with them. But that was to be expected.
Any advice for potential customers?
I can’t think of anything.
the project
Branding for Automotive Supplier
"It was clear they knew what they were doing—they were the professionals when it came to branding."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
We’re a tier 1 automotive supplier that makes sunroofs, convertible tops, heating systems, and battery charging systems.
What challenge were you trying to address with Evviva Brands?
We hired Evviva Brands for employer branding support to bring more talent to our company.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Evviva Brands started with some focus groups to help figure out a message that works for our company’s brand. They also helped us come up with a slightly different message since what works for our German audience might not work as well for our US audience.
They then went full speed in delivering the branding materials for us to use and shared it on our external platforms. Their team provided a mix of onsite and offsite support. Additionally, they did a photoshoot and video shoot.
What is the team composition?
Kate (Managing Director, Evviva Brands) and David (CEO, Evviva Brands) worked with us on this project.
How did you come to work with Evviva Brands?
I wasn’t with the company when they hired Evviva Brands, so I took over once I joined. However, their team is known to be the best at what they do so we knew we wanted to work with them.
How much have you invested with them?
I believe we spent around $75,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from January 2018–December 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Their work was well received by our company.
How did Evviva Brands perform from a project management standpoint?
They were great. Sometimes, things were a little slow on our side because the person responsible for the project left the company. On Evviva Brands' side, everything was on time and calls were scheduled every week.
What did you find most impressive about them?
It was clear they knew what they were doing—they were the professionals when it came to branding.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Nothing comes to mind for them to improve. It would have been great if they gave us more ideas on how to use the deliverables. Brainstorming a plan with them, as the experts, rather than just with our internal team would have been helpful.
the project
Branding for Healthcare Employee Experience Arm
"They are flexible, highly diverse in various areas of expertise, thrive on new challenges, and care about people."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
Senior Director of Employment Brand
For what projects/services did your company hire Evviva Brands?
I have had the immense pleasure to work with David Kippen and Evviva Brands on an initiative to shape the employee experience to share with leaders and employees to further refine it.
What were your goals for this project?
Define the employee experience for the organization and create executive materials to present to leadership and employees for further refinement.
How did you select this vendor?
I have known David Kippen for 15 years having worked with him multiple times. I select Evviva Brands as my first choice of partners to connect with on opportunities as well as refer them to everyone I know because I trust Evviva Brands!
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
Defined employee experience, developed an overarching value proposition expression to resonate and align with the attributes and pillars of what employees valued. Created a story and presentation materials to share with senior leaders and employees.
What was the team composition?
David Kippen and I partnered with HR senior leaders to work nimbly and fast In order for us to meet deadlines and make thoughtful decisions at a senior level.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The senior leaders and employees loved the presentation and felt the defined employee experience was spot on.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Extremely effective. David listens very thoughtfully and has a consultative approach to understand the opportunity, learn about what is needed and consult with relevant recommendations.
They are flexible, highly diverse in various areas of expertise, thrive on new challenges and care about people. This all lends him to be a great leader and someone who is truly invested in the clients success. He sincerely acts as part of the team helping to win together.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Evviva Brands brings a depth of expertise, data based research, thoughtful and powerful storytelling capabilities and they are delightful to work with and have as partners. They helped us create a compelling experience for our organization with their brand development and experience creation work is pure mastery!
Are there any areas for improvement?
No, although Evviva Brands will truly listen if you have feedback and do everything they can to help all succeed and enjoy the work together so all are proud to be a part of team and of what is created.
the project
Marketing Research for Sustainable Energy Company
"The overall approach is very well-planned and the ultimate results are highly actionable."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the Manager of Product and Digital Marketing for ENGIE Services, one of the largest energy services companies in the world.
For what projects/services did your company hire Evviva Brands?
We hired Evviva Brands to support market research for a service offering we are developing.
What were your goals for this project?
The goal of the project was to gain a better understanding of the needs and perceptions of our offering from view point of the Public Sector.
How did you select this vendor?
I selected this vendor because I have seen the valuable work Evviva Brands has delivered for past clients. We reviewed several organizations and moved forward with Evviva because they provided guidance and feedback as we scoped the project.
Describe the project in detail.
This project entailed a set of 1:1 phone interviews for both internal and external stakeholders. My role in the project was to manage the process and facilitate communications. Evviva Brands provided discussion guide development, scheduling, and reporting.
What was the team composition?
We worked directly with David and several of his team members, who supported the outreach and scheduling, conducted interviews and drafted the summary findings report.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The ENGIE team felt the findings of this project were spot on and confirmed the viewpoints that we suspected, but previously did not have a way to confirm. Team members shared the presentation was exceptional in that it was academic, yet easy to understand and actionable. Our project is still a work in progress, so we don't have immediate results to report at this time.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Communication and overall management of the project went very well overall.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
What really distinguishes their team is the clarity of communication. The overall approach is very well-planned and the ultimate results are highly actionable.
Are there any areas for improvement?
The only item I wish would have gone smoother was beyond our control as our interview stakeholders were slow to respond to calls and emails during the scheduling process -- despite having already committed to participating in the research project. This was no fault of Evviva Brands; it's just difficult to engage participants when incentives cannot be offered for legal reasons.
the project
Branding for E-Commerce Company
"My entire team felt secure under their leadership."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the former head of branding and university relations at Flipkart, an e-commerce company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Evviva Brands?
We hired them to execute the creative expression of our brand.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Evviva performed ethnography research and developed 4 prototypes of how our brand could appear. This entailed the voice and tone, as well as a color palette that aligned to the master brand. In order to get the full scope of our brand, they toured our warehouses and met with key stakeholders to gain insight.
What is the team composition?
We worked with 3 members of their team; David (CEO, Evviva Brands) and Cate (Managing Director, Evviva Brands) worked in our first phase and a third team member joined to support the operational work.
How did you come to work with Evviva?
I met David at a conference in Prague.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested $70,0000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our work began in September 2018 and the project was completed in March 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
My entire team felt secure under their leadership. The Evviva team was extremely tenured and lent their expertise every step of the way.
How did Evviva Brands perform from a project management standpoint?
The project management was exceptional. They brought clarity to the table and they were able to lead a majority of the project independently.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They are straightforward professionals of integrity that do what is right for your business. The team showed deep insight into how employer brands work. They were able to grasp concepts quickly and give a visual point of view to make our brand global. This was especially important to us because we needed a point of reference on where an Indian company could land internationally.
Are there any areas they could improve?
At times there was a small language barrier. It would be great if they could have representation outside of the United States.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I encourage potential customers to be candid with their goals and have an open chat with the team from the beginning.
the project
Brand Strategy for Telecommunications Company
"They brought a wide, in-depth lens to the project that other vendors couldn’t."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the former senior director of marketing for an applied R&D arm of a global telecommunications conglomerate, with a significant portion of its business revolving around managed IT services and infrastructure. Our company is a small, Palo Alto-based subsidiary out of several hundred total companies.
What challenge were you trying to address with Evviva Brands?
We have been going through an internal process of redefining our strategy and product development, and articulating our message out to our stakeholders. We decided to approach an outside agency to help us strategize our pitch. We already had an idea of what we wanted to propose, but it was a matter of how to pitch it to our top leaders.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Evviva Brands faced several challenges coming into the project; not only did they have to grasp the larger business operations across the holding company, but they also had to navigate distinct cultural nuances - having headquarters in Japan with teams based in Silicon-Valley.
Furthermore, they had to work directly with key stakeholders, many of whom were Japanese expats. Evviva's team immersed themselves in our company and gained a strong understanding of our culture. This allowed them to maintain an in-depth yet wide approach when developing our proposal rather than solely using our provided information.
The collaboration resulted in an internal pitch deck and vision strategy document geared toward our top leadership. The materials gave an overview of the conglomerate company while highlighting what our Silicon-Valley teams had to offer. Together, we were able to combine broad pieces of information into a story, crafting a comprehensive business strategy and vision.
What is the team composition?
We worked directly with David (CEO, Evivva Brands) and Cate (Managing Director, Evivva Brands) who led the project on their side. They both have PhDs with backgrounds in psychology and anthropology. As such, they provided a high-level perspective that we couldn’t have seen internally due to our engineering-focused teams. The depth that they brought to the discussion helped us overcome trust barriers, and their cultural sensitivity helped bridge the gap between us.
How did you come to work with Evviva Brands?
I researched several agencies on Clutch and other websites before finding a B2B matchmaker. He introduced me to three potential candidates, including Evviva Brands. From there, I interviewed a total of five agencies.
Most of the candidates gave us the same sales pitch, which didn't have the depth and strategic thinking needed for the job. The proposals also lacked a shared thought process, relying on us to provide all the information instead. We wanted a partner that could bring a wider lens to the table, make us think, and contribute from their own experience.
Evviva Brands immediately won our trust from the first interview. David proved that not only did he understand our business, but he also saw ways we could make the pitch deck fresher and more relevant.
How much have you invested with them?
They initially quoted the project at $42,000, but we ended up spending a little less than that.
What is the status of this engagement?
The whole project took about 3–4 weeks of work, from September–October 2018. In the first week, we had long kick-off sessions and discussions so that we could get to know each other. They then interviewed several internal stakeholders before creating the preliminary iterations of the pitch deck. Once they returned to their offices, we continued to have review sessions until we completed the deck.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our internal team and VP of engineering really liked the final pitch, which was my main concern. We’ve presented the deck to HQ where it was also well-received, and the overall work has set a baseline for our company's near-term strategy.
How did Evviva Brands perform from a project management standpoint?
They were highly responsive; I don’t think I ever waited for more than an hour or so to get a reply. They also met, if not outpaced, our time frame. In fact, we pushed them to deliver a week earlier than our set deadline, and they still met our needs.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They brought a wide, in-depth lens to the project that other vendors couldn’t. Most agencies are more deliverable-driven, relying on the customer to provide all the necessary information, which didn’t suit our project. In contrast, Evviva Brands acted as a partner, helping us ideate and figure out what we wanted to say. They imparted a broader perspective that we didn’t have as a technology company with limited resources.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, not that I can think of. They were perfect for this project and met our expectations. I didn’t see any areas where they needed to improve as a company.
the project
Branding for Global Semiconductor Company
“They took the time to understand our needs and delivered above expectations.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’ve since moved on from the role, but I was the Director of Internal Communications and Employer Brand for a global semiconductor company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Evviva Brands?
The main challenge was trying to boost our employer brand in India. Being a smaller company, we needed to attract high-quality candidates but would often lose out to bigger, well-known brand names. We needed to show candidates how we could help their careers. To accomplish this, we were looking to consolidate and strengthen our brand as an employer.
What was the scope of their involvement?
In order to revamp our employer brand, we first had a comprehensive briefing session with them, in which we discussed what challenges to address in specific detail. They spoke with myself and several other executives to understand more about the type of person we were trying to attract to the company. Next, they conducted infield research locally and in areas where potential candidates might move for employment. Specifically, this research included focus-groups with people who matched our candidate profile. They also conducted an extensive ethnographic study.
After Evviva presented their findings, we worked together to develop a market positioning strategy. This included articulating our brand purpose as an employer and ensuring it meshed with the overall brand of the company. They also worked with us to design a recruitment toolset and campaign.
What is the team dynamic?
I worked with David [Cofounder, Evviva Brands], Cate [Managing Director. Evviva Brands], and members of their creative team.
How did you come to work with Evviva Brands?
We wanted a company that could specifically focus on employer branding as that can be significantly different from regular branding work. After researching and asking for recommendations, we found Evviva. Their ability to add ethnographic findings to the process made them stand out among other vendors.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project took place from January 2011– June 2011.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Their work enabled us to reduce the length of the onboarding process by 28 days. We also increased hiring from top companies by 25%. We actually got a lot of value out of the whole project because it enabled us to take a comprehensive view of everything we were doing and make improvements not just to the hiring process, but also to the office environment and experience we delivered once people were onboard. That wouldn’t have been easy to do without the thoroughness of Evviva’s approach and research.
How did Evviva Brands perform from a project management standpoint?
They were reliably clear in communicating project timelines in order to keep everything on track. Ultimately, they delivered the project within the timeframe required.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their expertise is remarkable. The ethnographic study helped us really understand the life of an interview candidate and of an employee of our company. It added another dimension to the work and one that proved extremely valuable to us as we progressed through the project.
Although they definitely have their own processes, they were also able to understand certain ways we needed to operate in order to get the project accepted, funded, and approved in-house. Other vendors can be rigid in their procedures and offer minimal negotiations to better accommodate clients. This was not our experience with Evviva. They operate like true partners and are easy to work with.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I cannot think of any because my experience was extremely positive. They’re super professional, creative, and produce great work.
the project
Branding Strategy for Waste Services Company
"Evviva is very direct as to their recommendations of what they would do and not do, and I really appreciate that."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
Enevo is a waste services company that manages retail restaurant property managers’ waste and recycling. We do that by implementing a combination of sensors at the bin level that tells you how full the waste bin is. We’re able to see if a collection has been missed or if the bins are being serviced appropriately. We also work with cities and help them manage their municipal waste. I am the VP of marketing, so I’m the brand owner.
What challenge were you trying to address with Evviva Brands?
We were making a large shift in our strategy in going from a product to a services company. Evviva was brought in to talk about how we can mature the brand and how to go from a startup to a true growth company. They helped us with the messaging and marketing tactics that go along with that branding effort.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Before they even came on board, they spent several hours with my team to understand what challenges we were facing and where we were as a company in order to put a proposal together that was tailored to our needs. We had been focused on our product and technology, and Evviva helped us shift to being client-oriented. They did a discovery session with some of our key people within Enevo and also with external customers. They asked about their experience and how they viewed the brand and where we’re going as a company. They collated all those interviews and produced a presentation and report that we reviewed internally, which consisted of findings and top recommendations. They found the key focus areas for us to look at for the next couple of quarters as we make the transition, which really helped us get our strategy set. We knew the areas we needed to concentrate on. From there, our management team did a brand discovery session with our entire management team over in the UK.
Our headquarters are in Finland but our US headquarters is in Boston, and we also have a UK entity. Evviva is able to bridge the gap between the US and UK because they have offices in San Francisco and Edinburgh which is wonderful for working with them. They did an in-person brand session with us in the UK. The next steps will be to move forward with building out our user personas, messaging, and look and feel of our new website.
How did you come to work with Evviva '?
I started in marketing six months ago, and the prior team had chosen a firm to redo the website, but it was not what we needed. We used Chameleon Group which is a group in San Francisco that matches agencies and client needs. We interviewed seven different agencies. We chose Evviva because they were the only company that we interviewed that actually brought the client into the proposal.
How much have you invested with Evviva Brands?
We have spent $20,000 so far with Evviva Brands.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Evviva Brands in November of 2016, and the work is ongoing.
Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
The day after the brand session, we began working on our strategy shift as a company, and our CTO kept reminding us to remember the client’s voice as we had learned from our session with Evviva Brands. We are a company of technologists, so we love to put technology first. That’s where our money and efforts have been spent, but Evviva has internally helped shift the conversation to the importance and value of the brand. We realize how critical it is to build brand loyalty and trust. We haven’t been able to quantify that yet since we’re still making that shift.
As a marketing leader and brand owner, I feel like I’m getting a voice at the table with technologists. There’s a raving awareness of how critical brand is. If we don’t have a brand, we’re not going to have a company. Having Evviva in the room is like having a marketing guru. David [CEO, Evviva Brands] is always reminding everyone how important this is. I feel like I have an ally and partner that I can turn to and learn from whether he’s in the room or not. David and Cate [Managing Director, Evviva Brands] both command respect the instant they walk in the room. I’m the only woman on a team of all men, and that has actually been really helpful to have that added firepower for marketing. We’ve focused on lead conversions which were very low on our website before working with Evviva. Our lead conversions have doubled since working with Evviva. While it may not be directly attributed to their work, I think it’s attributed to our continued ability to focus.
How did Evviva Brands perform from a project management standpoint?
Evviva Brands has a very well organized team. They use smart sheets that I have access to. We have shared Google calendars to schedule meetings. They’re always clear about what the next steps are and what the deliverables are.
What did you find most impressive about Evviva Brands?
The coaching aspect has been unexpected. We brought them on from a brand strategy standpoint but also to tactically execute our website eventually. But what has been the most surprising and most beneficial has been the amount of coaching we’ve received regarding how to think differently. They've taught us to think differently not only about our brand and marketing programs but even just about the human dynamics within our organization to get people on board and on the same page of where our company is going. If all of us don’t feel like we have ownership of the brand and what it stands for, we can’t expect that the clients will get that. It needs to be reflected from the inside out, and I think it's been extremely beneficial to have David coaching us through that. I also like their directness. We have had a tough time making a shift as an organization going through a growth period. It’s very dynamic, and there are lots of moving parts. Evviva is very direct as to their recommendations of what they would do and not do, and I really appreciate that.
Are there any areas Evviva Brands could improve?
When we got the proposal from them, our team gave feedback that their proposal wasn’t as visually appealing as other agencies’ proposals. That was important because we were also evaluating the firms on that. We saw some of their work and portfolio and have confidence that they will be able to provide what we need. They spend more of their time doing their research.
The team's honesty and direct project approach allowed them to redirect the project in a way that would offer the most benefit to the partner. In pivoting the project, Evviva Brands remained transparent and showed accommodating attention to detail that elevated the customer experience.