Gohan Strategy

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am managing director of the company. zenrooms is a leading hospitality technology player in Southeast Asia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gohan Strategy, and what were your goals?

We have pivoted the business from hotel management to technology and needed to realign our brand to denote the pivot, reduce the association with old business models and make our story play to our advantage.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found a number of companies based in the Philippines specializing in branding through simple google search and recommendations. From the start it was clear that Gohan team understood the challenges we were facing, as they did a good research to prepare to our first meeting and asked all the right questions.

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

Gohan organized weekly meetings between our management and their team to align everyone on what our company is, what are the challenges, what is our vision, who are our clients etc They facilitated multiple brand strategy sessions, that were helpful to define what story do we want to tell, how do we want to be perceived both internally and externally, what our brand messaging should be. Based on the above they developed multiple stylescapes for us to choose from, which then were used to build brand guidelines.

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

2 people, company founders.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The design created is loved by the team and clients, making them proud to be associated with the company. Brand messaging helped align our internal and external communication.

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

• Regular meetings (weekly/every 2 weeks), scheduled in advance. As all exercises are time consuming it was helpful to have the schedule ahead of time, to help the management organize their time.
• Excellent use of Mural boards that helped to keep every meeting very structured.
• Communication primarily via email or whatsapp for quick questions.

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

• We felt that Gohan team was fully invested in the project, understood our history and challenges very well 
• They have definitely put extra efforts and time to adjust the designs to ensure we all loved it ( and we do!) 
• Overall the entire project was very well structured, and the team was experienced and professional. Was a pleasure to work with them

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

The initial stage of strategy workshops took a bit too long. Some exercises could be removed for time- efficiency purposes. All the rest was excellent.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a German startup reviving a 123 year old watch brand. I am one of 2 managing directors of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gohan Concepts?

We hired Gohan as sparring partners for brand design and marketing in general. Since we (re-) introduced our products to the market via a Kickstarter campaign, the focus in the beginning of the project was on helping to make the Kickstarter Campaign a success (which it was) and now on worldwide brand building and marketing activities in general.

What were your goals for this project?

raise >200.000 EUR via Kickstarter re-establish the brand

SOLUTION

How did you select Gohan Concepts?

We knew Gohan Concepts from previous projects so they have been part of the idea from the very first stages on and where our logical choice.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

At the start of the cooperation we had several workshops together to define the values of the brand, the general strategy, etc. - in daily work, we communicate via Slack and have weekly Zoom-Calls to discuss the current status of the project. Gohan Concepts helps us to develop and execute state of the art digital branding in all areas belonging to it.

What was the team composition?

We work closely with the founders of the company, who are handling our project personally and manage it in a very professional way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We successfully reintroduced our products to the market and raised over 200.000 EUR via Kickstarter. Gohan Concepts has been our 360° partner for all our online marketing during this campaign and has thereby been a huge factor in our success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective, we used Slack for daily communications and Zoom meetings for weekly update calls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team at Gohan Concepts can work on both levels: The detailled work of brand design, as well as the birds-perspective requiring world of strategy. They are excellent partners for all aspects of digital marketing.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Honestly don't see any

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

NEO is a developer and operator of office buildings in the Bonifacio Global City in the Philippines. I am the marketing Officer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gohan Concepts?

We hired Gohan for Branding strategy, and also for revamping our logos.

What were your goals for this project?

Since the company has undergone a rebrand, our goal was to be able establish our branding and to properly translate the company's identity through our visual elements and logos.

SOLUTION

How did you select Gohan Concepts?

We searched for branding agencies online and came across 4. Amongst all Gohan seemed to be more professional and they immediately responded and was quite specific with their questions with regards to our needs.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We started with discovery workshops, Gohan really took time to get to know who we are and what we do and what we aim to be. Department heads was asked to join and participate in the workshops. Gohan really took time to understand the nature of the business and our operations.

They also helped us really dive deep as to who we really are and understand our identity. After the workshops, they created our entire branding from our stylescapes to our logos. Gave us ideas for our social media templates and presentations.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with their Co-founder/ CDO and his team. We were also in contact with the account manager and their finance and operations head.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After working with Gohan Concepts our team has been able to really understand and curate visuals properly reflecting the brand. People are starting be more familiar of the rebrand. Currently our logos are being registered hence we are still not able to fully utilize this.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow with Gohan, was easy and efficient. We were in direct contact with their heads. Every question or request we had was quickly address. Every after workshops or meeting, they send us updates within the week or even just in a few days.

They give us a timeline for the deliverables and are able to meet the deadline or often times are ahead of their deadlines. Their team has been great to work with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our team was very impressed on how they really took the time to get to know our company. They really helped us to have a clear grasp and define our brand identity. Working with Gohan was breeze and was fun and was even educational at the same. They were very professional and very efficient.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None at the top of my head, because we were very happy working with Gohan Concepts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I founded a fund management company. We have public security offerings to invest in cryptocurrency efforts in Japan. We went through an intensive regulatory process to get our product to the market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gohan Concepts?

We wanted our media, website, and PR to look professional, so we turned to Gohan Concepts to help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created the logo, image, and brand concept, and they were very helpful with all the design elements of the website. We started from scratch. We discussed colors, concepts, and ideas, then they created a mood board. We narrowed down our options through a guided process.

They used Squarespace, which is fast and efficient. The site has a home page, a company overview, about us page, and a services overview. For another project, they also helped with all our financial information. That project needed to be updated on a monthly basis, so they gave us the ability to make changes on our own. They also help us track inquiries and site traffic.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three or four people throughout this process, including a project manager and a designer.

How did you come to work with Gohan Concepts?

I've known one of their principals for a long time. When he started at Gohan Concepts, I reached out to work with them on a project. They've built several websites for me with other businesses.

How much have you invested with them?

The websites are very cost-effective. On average, most of our projects run between $750-$2,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our collaboration started in 2016, and they still work with us. We just started work on the logo and branding for a real estate investment company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They're very up-to-date, and they have a good idea of what websites should look like in the market. The sites they create resemble those of industry leaders, and their work is clean and modern.

How did Gohan Concepts perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is very good. Some of our deadlines are very short, and they recently completed a project within a week. They give clear guidelines, and they're always upfront about requirements.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Every team member did very well, and their principal got involved on occasion to make sure expectations were met. Their whole process is very good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They are very competent, and there's nothing I can think of that they could improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear idea of what you want. Ask them for advice at the beginning, and get an understanding of the frameworks they use. Their work is customizable, but be willing to work within the parameters of a Squarespace site, if you plan to complete projects like the ones we use them for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former VP of sales and partnership for SnippetMedia, an app that delivers personalized news and rewards for users.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gohan Concepts?

We were seeking the complete digital rebrand of our application. Specifically, we wanted to increase the number of user-contributed articles as we strive to be a user-generated content app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we launched the app’s rewards system in 2018, we attracted the wrong kind of readers for the app. We wanted to attract an audience based on the quality of our creative content, not on the basis of our rewards.

Gohan Concepts completely redesigned and redeveloped the app as well as all of our online assets. They also executed new online campaigns.

What is the team composition?

There were about 6–7 people from their team working on the app. While we met with different teammates depending on the stage of the project, we mostly coordinated with the project manager, who oversaw everything.

How did you come to work with Gohan Concepts?

We had initially reached out to other agencies and had worked with another team that helped us launch the app. We weren’t that happy with the results, though, so we terminated that contract after a year.

Gohan Concepts actually belongs to the larger organization that we’re also a part of. While we sought work outside of our own network, we found them to be perfect for us.

This wasn’t solely because they were a pre-existing partner, but because they had been familiar with the brand from the beginning. Since we had worked closely with one of their designers during the conception of the app, it made sense to do the rebranding work with them as well.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent approximately $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This particular engagement lasted from June–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to their rebranding work, we saw an increase in user engagement for our articles. We were also able to attract our target demographic. As our goal is for our content to become user-generated, we were successfully able to increase community contributions. All in all, we achieved the milestones we were looking to hit.  

How did Gohan Concepts perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was excellent. In the beginning, there were too many decision-makers, which is why we had to change things from time to time. Their team proved to be exceptionally flexible. While there were several decision and process changes, Gohan Concepts proved to be understanding and accommodating of any changes we needed to make.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked with several local agencies, but most of them have had trouble complying with tight deadlines. But with Gohan Concepts, we could always trust them to deliver a high-quality product in a timely manner. They really made it easier for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing. We were very happy with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Try them out!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Special Assistant to the Chairman and help decide what moves the company will make.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gohan Concepts?

They helped us from head to toe to establish our online identity and currently still ongoing.

What were your goals for this project?

To create an awareness about Kho Capital online that we did not have.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked at 4 different agencies and compared price and track record before we chose Gohan. They were clearly the winner when we looked at these main 2 factors.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The Process began with a few discoveries but by the 4th meeting our direction was clear and ready to pull the trigger. Gohan gave us variations of what they recommended based on our budget and made it simple for us to track where our money was going to be spent.

What was the team composition?

We are dealing with Jason and Yohji the 2 founders for the discoveries and the day to day with Mia who is informative and fast to respond. Mia also makes herself available for explanation to help my staff learn the purpose behind any or all moves Gohan is making with the Kho Capital Brand.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My favorite outcome is the learning factor, by this I mean Gohan teaches us as we go not to keep us on the hook for years to come with paid services we can eventually handle in house.

The Chairman's favorite effect is that when people google Kho Capital it is easy to find out that we are the real deal and also how to submit a request for consideration.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We meet them on a weekly basis but I find Mia is responsive very quickly between meetings if I do need that attention.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The complete understanding of not just branding but how, when and why to execute said branding in a world that it is hard to stand out in. I feel I can ask any question big or small and not be treated like I am asking something useless even if it is maybe a small factor answer.

Are there any areas for improvement?

So far for what we are paying I feel the value is exceeds what we are spending and that rare if not impossible these days. I only hope we can extend our contract and keep the same price as I am sure Gohan will be getting new and return business.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

UAA Kinming Group is a property development company that engages in large scale land reclamation projects and city developments in the Asian region. Our current project New Manila Bay - City of Pearl is our largest current ongoing project and will be the first smart city in South East Asia. I currently serve as the Vice President of Operations and am involved in all aspects of the development and planning for the City of Pearl.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gohan Concepts?

Been that the City of Pearl will be a landmark development in the Philippines, our team was eager to have our branding across the board to be something that can connect with the people of the Philippines and also communicate our mission and vision at the same time.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goal was to create the identity for the City of Pearl. This unique project required the talents of people who understood who we are and who we want to become. We are building not only a city but a future community, it all starts with the base. Gohan Concepts contributions were integral to us achieving our goal while they walked us through this process.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We initially narrowed our potential vendor down to 5 potential partners. This alone took some due diligence on our part since we were looking for a working relationship, but a long term partnership with a team that understood our philosophy but also would continue to grow with us as our project evolved.

We had multiple workshops with our potential vendors that lasted a period of 3 months. In the end, it was a very close call with some serious competition, the team at Gohan Concepts was identified as our partner and the project was awarded much elation.

Our partnership has continued to prosper until this day and will continue so into the future.

Describe the project in detail.

The project involved creating our logo and also the brand identity from conception to our launch.

What was the team composition?

For the most part, I dealt with the founders of the company. One who specialized in design and the other whose specialization was across the board marketing and branding. They were always accessible as we continue to work around each other's schedules.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Gohan created convincing decks and educational videos that helped us push the project through the Philippine government approvals. The project was approved and together with Gohan’s strategy and visuals.

To coincide with this our online profile increased by 12000% engagement and likes. Our social media accounts had hundreds of people commenting and debating about the project online. Any publicly is good publicly after all. All of this helped win over the public perception of our project which is vital to our future.

Investors and partners all had very positive feedback to the branding works done by Gohan team. Especially the logo design and brand identity which will resonate with our project for years to come. It was a transcendent experience that we hope to repeat in the coming years.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Thus far I cannot flaw the synergy on our partnership. The standard that has been set will be hard to top. Reach out to me again in 5 years for an update, if history does tend to repeat itself then I'm confident that the results will continue to speak for themselves.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The small touches (attention to detail) really stood out and the team who were always willing to go that extra mile. I'm a big believer in actions speaking louder than words, the Gohan team epitomize this.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is always room for improvement. I would recommended that Gohan continually stay abreast with industry trends and at the same time continue to be innovative in an industry that is reliant on innovation.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief Financial Officer at Pretty Huge Obstacles headquartered in the Philippines. I oversee the Accounting and Financial operations of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gohan Concepts?

General branding and digital marketing.

What were your goals for this project?

To spread our brand awareness across the Philippines and Southeast Asia. To create new, fun, out-of-box marketing materials that could communicate our company’s identity effectively with our team and target customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Highly recommended from our business partners in Hong Kong and United States. Case studies were polished, professional, and creative. Ideas were impressively outside the box. Proven cultural fit compared to the other local companies.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Began with a series of discovery sessions with the majority of our C-Level executives where they took the time to learn about our company, concept, and core values. After very thorough discovery sessions, they created multiple brand package options for us to include our logo, analysis of client demographic, with various marketing strategies depending on our needs.

What was the team composition?

I work directly with both Co-Founders.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received very positive remarks on our new logo and brand image. We experience significant increase in visitor traffic with over 150% growth in our social media engagements. Our team, customers, as well as investors all love and understand our brand identity better.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We receive weekly updates and reports that show us their deliverables, next on the to-do list, and what was needed from us to keep the project moving smoothly. They were always receptive and available to our ideas and requests. Communication channels included Slack, Skype, Zoom, and G-Suite.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They have a commitment to learn and understand our company's values. They provide us with well-established communication channels all our team members can confidently rely on.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is always room for improvement. They are still a young, hungry, and growing company. We look forward to seeing them grow, and will highly recommend them to our friends, colleagues, and business partners.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the VP of Music at a livestreaming community platform made for Filipinos by Filipinos.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gohan Strategy, and what were your goals?

My team and I were focused on growing the music category and in order to that, needed to appeal to a specific sub-market of the total addressable market -- music industry professionals and aspiring artists. For this, we needed a branding strategy and design that would stand out in the intersection of music, social media, and tech.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The company had already worked with Gohan Concepts on the overall branding, so we knew that they already had a good understanding of our core business, core brand, and needs. We were very happy with the work they did before, so it was not a difficult decision.

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

We worked on a rebrand, including design elements, templates, and guidelines.

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

We worked directly with 3 people, including the founder.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The lead time between briefing and creating new visuals was greatly reduced after working with Gohan. The music and marketing team were much more aligned on the sub-brand overall.

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

They were very hands on and timely considering how many individual stakeholders were involved on our end.

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

They made us feel like one team and were very open to honest and constructive discussions.

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

Can't think of anything right now.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the business development and marketing officer at Asticom Group of Companies. I handle the overall marketing of its subsidiaries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gohan Concepts, and what were your goals?

Our company needed someone who can help us strengthen the corporate & employer branding proposition of our 3rd subsidiary, FINSI.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found 3 vendors but we selected Gohan because they do well in strategy.

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

They worked above and beyond to really get to know us and the company we're launching.

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

2 - Yohji and Jason (Consultants)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Because of them, we were able to launch our FINSI brand to the public the way we want it to be.

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

We had cadences and they remind us in a timely manner. No matter how busy we are, they try to adjust based on our schedules.

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

Their commitment to delivering our goals.

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

None.