Flower Press Interactive

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and CEO of Jobs Nirvana, and our product is called GeekGirlCareers.com, which is a career counseling website for young women.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flower Press Creative?

I needed a partner to both provide development services and collaborate on new ideas.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flower Press designed and developed the entire platform, including frontend and backend, using a LAMP environment (Linux, Apache, mySQL, PHP) and some Javascript when necessary. They also assisted in some of the strategy discussions for the project.

What is the team dynamic?

Khaiersta [Founder & Creative Director, Flower Press Creative] has been my main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Flower Press Creative?

A friend referred Flower Press to me, and I decided to try working with them because I had been unhappy with previous development teams.

How much have you invested with them?

For the current project, we have invested about $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first started working with them in 2007 and the current project has been ongoing for about two years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Feedback on the website has generally been positive, and users have commented that it looks very professional. I've been extremely satisfied with their work.

How did Flower Press Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management earns a 10/10. They have never had a problem staying on schedule or meeting their commitments.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In addition to being responsive and staying on schedule, this team always provides thoughtful ideas and suggestions in a forward-looking manner, which is very helpful for a sole proprietor.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not that I can think of at this time.

Advice for potential customers?

Be open to working with them as a team and listening to their feedback. Khaiersta is especially productive as a team member above and beyond the development portion.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and creator of an application that was in the App Store for a few months. We made the choice to discontinue it because of personal reasons.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flower Press?

I needed help in taking my mobile app idea to full development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had the idea for an app and worked closely with Khaiersta [Founder/Creative Director, Flower Press Creative] in bringing it to fruition. She brought it from the idea phase to concept, then to design and processing it through the App Store. It was a fairly complicated process.

The app allows users to easily connect with friends and create journeys with them through a modern process. Basically, the app allows users to invite friends to a certain place, such as a coffee shop or the beach, then makes the initial user visible for a specific period of time to the private group.

The app also allows users to chat with their private group for a specific amount of time and links to different social media sites, like Facebook and Instagram. It permits users to add friends easily and pause the app if they wish to be invisible for a period of time.

Khaiersta did great work with prototyping and storyboarding the app, then bringing the idea from conversations we had into an actual flow of screens. This included the entire look-and-feel, branding, concept, and logo creation. I would tell her what colors, forms, shapes, and fonts I liked, then she’d put it all together. She provided me with options to choose from, and then we would make changes based on that.

She also figured out how to potentially connect with businesses in the future. We had the idea of adding Starbucks as a business where users could pre-order their drinks on their way to meet others they connected with through the app. She was able to thoroughly research that option and come up with a solution.

What is the team dynamic?

Khaiersta hired a team of developers for our specific app.

How did you come to work with Flower Press?

I worked with Khaiersta on prior projects with a previous company. I was the creative director, and was therefore in charge of many projects, including creating the brand for the entire company, along with different sub-brands within it and any new products that were launched.

She has always been really great at boiling down an idea and getting it into action. I knew she’d be the person to transform my idea into a reality. I reached out to other people, but ultimately decided she was the ideal person to work with.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $130,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July 2013 to October 2016. If I have any future projects, I wouldn’t hesitate to work with her.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I liked the app, and it worked, but technology has evolved since then. It kept going over budget because the new version of iOS would come out, and we’d need to update the app, which was expensive. It was costing me too much money in order to keep it current.

How did Flower Press perform from a project management standpoint?

She’s a great project manager. She’s very organized, and always keeps track of progress, what needs to be done, and who’s doing what. We easily communicated on what needed to happen next. She also provided me with screen examples, then discussed with me how they could be simplified. She’s very good at providing a visual layout of what things will look like, as well as how they will flow and work within the app, which was great. If I didn’t have to spend $130,000, I would work with her again on another app.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I love the branding, prototyping, and visual designs. She has a really nice eye for simplifying things, which is sometimes difficult for designers. Her project management was also a strong suit. She really kept track of what needed to be done, how it needed be done, and who was going to do it. She even kept me on track.

She was really good at taking my ideas and turning them into something usable. She’s easy to work with, as well as versatile. She has a way of remedying doubts clients might have about their ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing I can suggest would be for both parties to be clear about the cost of the project, which can be difficult in such a dynamic market.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to agree on a budget ahead of time. She was very good at managing the project and timeline associated with it. She does a great job, and we worked together particularly well. She’s the person to go to if a client wants their idea turned into a reality.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re Modula4, a consulting agency that provides digital asset management systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flower Press Creative Studio?

We wanted to upgrade the interface of our online database application to ensure our clients were satisfied with usability.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Flower Press to analyze our system and provide recommendations for short-term improvements, as well as a long-term roadmap. They found a number of ways to modernize the layout, many of which we’ve already implemented.

After providing initial design consultation, they built a mockup application using JavaScript.

They’ve also worked on smaller projects for us in the past, providing marketing and promotion surrounding our 10th anniversary.

What is the team dynamic?

Our main contact was Khaiersta English [Founder & Creative Director, Flower Press], and we also worked with their JavaScript developer.

How did you come to work with Flower Press Creative Studio?

I hired them to do branding when working with a prior company. I’ve always found them to be reliable and cost-effective, so I recommended them when I shifted over to Module4.

There are dozens of website design studios, but significantly fewer with a specific knowledge of web application design. We felt confident that Flower Press understood the nuances required to navigate the complex functionalities of our database.

How much have you invested with them?

Approximately $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together on smaller projects in November 2013 and completed our large-scale project in October 2015.

We now have an in-house designer who continues to implement the long-term recommendations we received from Flower Press.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our primary goal for the redesign was to maintain our existing clients. Since working with Flower Press, our retention rate has remained at 90%. Customers were pleased that we’d invested in upgrading the interface.

We were happy with their consultation, and have implemented or plan to implement most of the recommendations they provided.

How did Flower Press Creative Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very responsive and organized. Because we run a similar business, we understood that effective project management relies partially on the client, so we were able to cooperate smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Aside from their project management, it also helped that Khaiersta has a deep knowledge of web design. While we had to inform her of features unique to our application, she stays up-to-date on accepted best practices. She was able to answer any questions we had, and I attribute this to the fact that she’s doing constant research in her field.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Cost is always a consideration, but they're still an excellent value. At the end of the day, it's really about getting deliverables on time, and they’ve never let me down.

Advice for potential customers?

Keep an open mind. Even if you have a particular solution in mind, Flower Press may suggest a better alternative. You don’t have to agree with their suggestions, but you may be surprised by options you hadn't considered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an executive at a nonprofit organization that trains new analysts and offers services to the public in psychotherapy and as a treatment center.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flower Press Interactive?

We needed a major redesign of our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flower Press Interactive is working on our site's redesign, including the front page and backed development. We shared our existing website with the team to understand and work with. We've had a number of discussions in which Flower Press Interactive looked at our website and then made a proposal about what they could offer. The team has established a scope of work, and once we approved it, they provided us with an estimate of the cost. 

Flower Press Interactive has divided the project into two phases and completed the first. Flower Press Interactive uses WordPress as the architecture program for the new web design, the backbone platform of our existing site, which also uses Moodle. The team is working on streamlining the site's architecture. 

The project's second phase will consist of working with off-the-shelf learning management system (LMS) programs that can be used as plug-and-play, as well as custom work to interface the site with those plug-ins and bridge the gap to have a good custom web design. 

What is the team composition?

We interfaced with two teammates representing the design and development team, although I don't know how many teammates are on the bigger team.

How did you come to work with Flower Press Interactive?

I'm a board member at another organization to which Flower Press Interactive had previously provided web design services. I went to this organization when looking for a service provider, and they recommended that I engage with Flower Press Interactive.
How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $35,000 ballpark up to date.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with Flower Press Interactive for around 14 months, starting in the spring of 2023. Our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our three main success parameters are the site's functionality, aesthetics, and budget. Flower Press Interactive has met all our success parameters, and we're very pleased with the budget and functionality of the first page. The second phase's focus will be maximizing functionality and streamlining interfaces with these off-the-shelf programs. 

In this second phase, functionality and interfaces are the most important aspects, and we're on target with the budget. Flower Press Interactive has delivered a scope of work and proposal that is on target with our goals and has been accepted by our initial executive team. We still have to proceed with getting our membership to support the second phase's scope, but we're on track to get it done. 

How did Flower Press Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via Zoom. Flower Press Interactive is a top-flight group; they're very efficient and intelligent. The team hits every deadline and is comprehensive in the work they provide to us. We're a big group of analysts, and it's hard to get us all together, but the team has been great in staying consistent and delivering all the deadlines we need.
Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Amy (Project Manager) and Khaiersta (Founder & Product Design Lead) have been leading us and enormously helpful throughout the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Flower Press Interactive has understood our needs well. The team takes the time to ensure they understand what we need. Flower Press Interactive is judicious and respectful of our budget. Flower Press Interactive has delivered a product that we can afford and is aesthetically pleasing and functional. The team has worked with us efficiently, even though this isn't a familiar area for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't have any critique for Flower Press Interactive because we have a satisfactory relationship. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I recommend reaching out to Flower Press Interactive and taking the time to meet with them. The team is very good at leading customers through questions if web design isn't their expertise, just like us. I encourage anyone needing web design services to meet with Flower Press Interactive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a solo entrepreneur with a desire to understand the wants and needs of task-oriented people and to discover how they use existing tools to reconcile that planning with actual execution and completion.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flower Press Creative Studio, LLC?

I hired them for user research and mock-up development of a potential product. 

What were your goals for this project?

My main goals for this project were to determine the product/market fit and appropriate size of an actual minimum viable product.  

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended by a friend.

Describe the project in detail.

We conducted multiple rounds of interviews with a diverse group of productivity enthusiasts. Flower Press delivered detailed mock-ups that provided a background against which participants could respond to the solution.

What was the team composition?

The team primarily consisted of Khaiersta [English] (Founder, Flower Press Creative Studio and one additional senior designer, who was excellent. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While we ultimately did not proceed with the project, the work done provided enough insight and inspiration for me to consider other solutions and domains I have been contemplating.  

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was effective; I could not have asked for better.  

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by their very simple and straightforward bidding process, which provided clear visibility of potential times when costs may exceed the budget.  

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are none I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a Lecturer in Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flower Press Creative Studio, LLC?

We wanted to develop branding and materials for a new course called POWer: Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset from the Perspective of Women.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop a cohesive look and feel for a new class, create a set of memorable materials students could use and save, and create a flexible design template for guest speaker biographies.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had worked with them a number of times in the past and had referred them to other companies and teams, always with good results.

Describe the project in detail.

We worked with them to develop branding for the class and to print curriculum materials and templates for slide presentations.

We provided goals, objectives, and specific class curriculum and materials to them and asked them to develop a logo, color palette, and printable template for materials. We also asked her to create a Google slide deck template for use in class sessions.

What was the team composition?

I worked solely with Khaiersta (Founder, Flower Press).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received very positive feedback from students, guest speakers, and supporters of the class on the quality of the materials. It definitely helped differentiate the class and reinforced the importance of building a cohesive brand.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was very effective and fast.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their responsiveness, professionalism, and quality of the work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.