Grodas

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Product Lead of Larroudé

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sells footwear.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Provide testing services
• Develop a custom application for our Shopify store
• Develop specific features related to our website

SOLUTION

How did you find Grodas?

Referral

Why did you select Grodas over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Grodas were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We hired Grodas to work on a custom application for our Shopify store. We already had a codebase their developers would have to study and work on top of, with the first key goal to improve the base code and fix a few major bugs we were facing. From then on, Grodas became a key partner in also building new features for the existing app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

First, the developers very quickly understood the existing code and found specific areas for improvement. They fixed the initial bugs they set out to identify and solve, as well as new gaps they identified as the project unfolded. Then, they also helped our team organize our code properly in a repo and handle all of the commits and code versioning.

All of the additional feature requests they were set to handle have also been adequately and timely delivered.

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

Their team is very responsive and transparent, which has made collaboration very easy. They are always very quick to reply to Asana comments or Slack messages, and whenever they cannot be available for whatever reason, they also communicate that with as much notice as possible. 

They also adapted to our existing workflow rather seamlessly.

What was your primary form of communication with Grodas?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their high level of professionalism!

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

Not any I can currently think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Managing Director of a design studio.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Freelance textile design studio and wallpaper brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• We needed a custom cropping tool developing for our Shopify website, enabling our customers to create custom selections of our wallpaper mural designs

SOLUTION

How did you find Grodas?

Upwork

Why did you select Grodas over others?

Applied for our job posting with specific points relevant to our project

How many teammates from Grodas were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Working with the team at Grodas has been a pleasure from the offset. The team have been thorough, professional, prompt and helpful throughout. We began with a thorough discussion up front to outline our vision and to check it's feasibility before progessing, which resulted in an roadmap of how the project would be carried out.

This forward planning gave me confidence the team were prepared and understood exactly what they needed to achieve. Through weekly updates on Slack, I was always kept in the loop throughout the development process.

The team were able to share demonstrations as they progressed, which allowed for comments and fine tuning from our point of view. Overall, Grodas delivered exactly as they promised they would and within the time frame too.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to fully replace our existing complicated shopping cart system with our newly developed app created by Grodas 

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

If I received the service I received from the Grodas team with everyone I have to work with in life, I would be thrilled. They were thorough, professional, organised and communicative - everything I could have hoped for.

What was your primary form of communication with Grodas?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The whole team was extremely professional and understood our vision and needs from the offset.

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

Scratching my head, there isn't anything of substance I could suggest.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Picture It

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We help art sellers increase their Shopify sales and conversions with augmented reality and virtual showrooms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Implement innovative features to attract and retain art merchants on Shopify
• Rebuild our pricing and subscription structure

SOLUTION

How did you find Grodas?

Referral

Why did you select Grodas over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Grodas were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We hired Grodas as an ongoing development agency to build out features for our SaaS. Some key projects included rebuilding our onboarding process, getting the Built for Shopify certification, building the back-end for our email marketing, and collaborating with AR development for new features.

The developer that was assigned to me was onboarded very quickly and knew how to start work right away. Over the months, they have developed to becoming a key part of our team - offering education for non-technical members and establishing clear communication systems with leadership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our revenue grew 60% since hiring them.

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

Smaller projects were always delivered on time. More complex projects also met deadlines, and when they turned out to be more complex, the need for pushing deadlines was communicated clearly.

As a designer/founder, working with the developer was very smooth.

What was your primary form of communication with Grodas?

Email or Messaging App

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

Their understanding of the Shopify ecosystem is very impressive. When we redid our pricing and worked to get Built for Shopify, the team new how to meet the standards Shopify had set.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Executive of Kopria store

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a plant store and flower studio based in Athens, Greece since 2019. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Built our Website

SOLUTION

How did you find Grodas?

Referral

Why did you select Grodas over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Grodas were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The primary goal was to migrate the existing WordPress website to Shopify with the same design and functionality. However, we had specific deadlines, so we needed a quick and effective solution. 

Based on our specific requirements, Grodas first conducted a Discovery Phase, during which they thoroughly familiarized themselves with our website and its functionality, and as a result, decided to create a website based on the existing Public Shopify Theme, which allowed us to speed up development without losing quality. The Grodas team selected a theme with the largest number of sections we needed, which significantly reduced the development time. 

After installing the Theme, they started setting up customizing it. As a result, we received a full-functional website with an identical design, within the agreed terms, which not only met our expectations, but even exceeded them. Currently, Grodas provides ongoing support of our website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to make our deadline of a minimal viable product with their help.

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

The developer I worked closely with was very knowledgeable about the technology we were deploying and was able to get up to speed quickly.

We worked daily to fine-tune the interface and on many occasions, he was able to read ahead into what I was specifically asking for. I've had very few changes I've needed to make since they've listened closely to what I've been asking for and have executed it flawlessly.

What was your primary form of communication with Grodas?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their swift adaptation allowed us to work under the best possible conditions. They are both quick and knowledgeable, providing exactly the services we needed. 

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

We can't think of any suggestions to provide, as we are highly pleased with their work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the CEO of a beauty & cosmetics company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We're a natural cosmetics and pharmaceuticals company focused on natural extracts and actives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Build a new Shopify store.
• Optimize for speed, SEO and clean code.
• Launch store in a new market.

SOLUTION

How did you find Grodas?

• Online Search
• LinkedIn

Why did you select Grodas over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Grodas were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Based on current local store we wanted to create an enhanced and UX optimized Shopify store for the US market launch. The key aspects were to keep the code clean and accessible, loading speed low, GDPR / CCPA compliant, SEO optimised, with a few premium modifications to ensure an elegant and seamless UX. Focus was mainly on mobile users.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

working website, loading speed tests, going live. We enjoyed the open development process that included our team for immediate progress verification. After completing 80% of the project we switched from a project based coop to a service contract based on specific tasks / tickets. This proved to be very convenient as some scope and timing requirements changed over time due to external factors.

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

Yes. Everything was timely, delays were mainly on our end due to external factors and changes encountered during the dev process. We had weekly meetings and "live" Slack communication which proved to be very effective. We enjoyed the option to coop also in our local language (Polish). Any changes or modifications were delivered very quickly, not longer than within a few days. Work is billed monthly, work summaries are complete and there is no overcharging. We are now close to going live with the store and intend to extend coop to other brands and to service active stores.

What was your primary form of communication with Grodas?

Virtual Meeting

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

They are fast and knowledgeable. They like to work based on service tickets and time / material, we were a bit hesitant at first for cost control reasons, however this proved to be a very effective system since they are very honest and realistic when it comes to actual hours billed. We feel everything is possible with their help and are confident they'll always be there in the future if we need upgrades, servicing and store modifications (this is not always the case with dev companies).

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

Grodas guys are modest about their capabilities, they allow the client to lead which is great, however sometimes I think they can be more decisive in suggesting better ways of doing things. In our opinion knowledge and solution-based thinking are great assets of this company. We spent a few weeks on the legal aspects of our contract, I think they can probably fix this as not many clients may want to work based on the Ukraine legal system currently, a better contract template may be a solution. However they were very open to negotiate the terms and we fixed this promptly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm founder of Shopify apps developer company. Our apps are working on hundreds of thousands Shopify stores all over the World

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We have our development team, but at a certain time, we decided to strengthen our team to speed up work on apps. So we found and hired the Grodas team. At first, it was one developer from the Grodas team. We gradually increased the scope of work, expanded cooperation to 10+ projects, and involved more and more developers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We looked for React JS developers through various channels, including acquaintances and the different development communities, so in this way, we found Grodas, Which had React JS developers with experience in e-commerce. The most important things for us were: the opportunity to work directly with the developer, cultural appropriateness, a clear understanding of business goals, and good programming skills. Regarding the process of choosing, we did an interview and the technical testing of the first developer and then decided to start collaboration. After a year worked for more than a year, we expanded cooperation from one developer to the team without any micromanagement.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

At first, we worked with one Front-end developer working on several Shopify applications using React JS. Gradually, we expanded the stack and involved several back-end developers working on applications using PHP, Laravel, and Vanilla JS, and we keep continuously working and growing our relationships.

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

We have worked with 8 team members, but the team is growing. 4 back-end, 3 front-end developers, and the delivery manager. Also, we plan to involve Grodas devs in technical support for our Shopify apps.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The Grodas team helped us build and/or update several apps that are used on thousands live Shopify stores. They have been doing a great job so far, and their contribution was continuously helping us to scale the business.

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

They use Agile methodology with weekly sprints. Every Monday, they send a weekly report on projects, what was done, the time they spent the previous week, and plans for the next week. During the week, we communicate and discuss tasks using Slack and make online meetings to discuss key points in projects.

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

They have their team management system and were ready to use our project management system and workspaces, so we found a golden middle with our existing development process and its optimizations. They always offer and provide architectural, programming, or other recommendations for product implementation, which significantly helped us achieve the results faster with better metrics.

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

We have gone through various projects and challenges for more than two years of working with the Grodas team. We are constantly working on optimization processes in our collaboration. These guys are always ready to listen and accept our wishes regarding improving certain points in the work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a Shopify App. We help Shopify merchants earn more with their stores through our Shopify Apps. We currently have 2 apps with more than 2400 total users.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to build a second Shopify App but didn't have the internal resources to do it ourselves. We hired Grodas to help us on this mission. This was for an ongoing project where the devs would manage new features and technical support.

SOLUTION

How did you select Grodas and what were the deciding factors?

We searched online for developers and made a lot of interviews. After the interview we did a technical test job and a technical interview and decided to finally go with Grodas.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We did a meeting to discuss the scopes and the languages. We decided to go with PHP Laravel and a custom design we already had for the dashboard. We then started to create an MVP of the product to start onboarding people and then slowly added more features to this project.

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

There are 2 developers, one for frontend and one for backend with a manager but our main point of contact are the developers which is important for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We went from 10 to 200+ customers on this app since we started

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

We have a weekly call on Monday with the developers to talk about the past week, the challenges faced and the problems. Then we prepare the coming week with the features we'll work on.

Then we talk on a daily basis through Slack to discuss problems or answer questions. We also use Notion for the roadmap of the project in order to track the time, the bugs, etc.

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

They are flexible. We had a lot of processes we already use and a management system and they agreed to use all of them. They've quickly adapted so we could work in the best conditions possible.

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

It took some time in the beginning to find our best workflow management where we were not that productive and we finally found it and everything is now perfect

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an eCommerce company located in the United States that started in 2022. I serve as the Director of Operations of this company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Grodas?

We had a website created by a different designer that did not meet our needs. We hired Grodas Group to revamp our website, allow it to be editable and customizable in the future, and provide feedback along the way of how we can do things better.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

The Grodas Group had an excellent portfolio of previous clients they've worked with. Their history and experience ensured me that they would be someone I can trust.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

After our initial call, Grodas Group was given access to our Shopify store. The entire project was broken down into tasks and monitored on Trello, to ensure completion. As each task was completed, I reviewed it and moved them to the completed section.

Any questions or ideas were communicated in real time via Trello. Once the project was near completion, we uploaded all the changes onto the new theme and maintained communication via Slack.

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

We worked with two individuals, and they were the Director and Developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Sure. The website initially was not customizable unless you knew liquid code on Shopify. The Grodas Group ensured that the pages were adjusted to have blocks that can be editable on the Shopify Theme section. They did this for all our pages and made the whole process seamless.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. The communication was in real time. Messages and video recordings were used to ensure proper communication.

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

They were very organized and had a system in place.

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

At this time, none that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at Cookeys Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Cookeys Inc. is a Toronto-based bakery and coffee brand specializing in artisanal cookies, specialty coffee, and unique dessert experiences.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Develop a modern, user-friendly Shopify website to showcase and sell our cookies online.
• Create a strong brand identity, including design elements and visual storytelling, to reflect our concept “The keys to your heart.”
• Implement digital marketing strategies to reach new customers and grow our presence in Toronto’s dessert and coffee market.

SOLUTION

How did you find Grodas?

Online Search

Why did you select Grodas over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from Grodas were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The developer I worked closely with was very knowledgeable about the technology we were deploying and was able to get up to speed quickly.

We worked daily to fine-tune the interface and on many occasions, he was able to read ahead into what I was specifically asking for. I had very little changes that I needed to make since he listened closely to what I was asking for and executed it flawlessly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although our Shopify website has not yet launched, the collaboration with Grodas has already shown clear progress. Their team responded quickly to our requests, made adjustments exactly as we asked, and consistently delivered useful results during each stage of the project. We appreciated their efficiency, attention to detail, and ability to adapt the work to our needs.

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

Grodas managed the project very efficiently. They delivered all tasks on time and kept us updated throughout the process. Their team was highly responsive, always quick to answer questions and make adjustments based on our feedback. We felt that they truly listened to our needs and adapted their work to ensure we were fully satisfied.

What was your primary form of communication with Grodas?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

 What impressed us most about Grodas was their ability to combine creativity with technical expertise. They not only delivered exactly what we asked for but also suggested ideas that made the project even stronger. Their attention to detail and genuine interest in our brand made them stand out from other vendors.

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

Overall, we were very satisfied with the collaboration and do not see any major areas for improvement. If anything, having even more proactive suggestions during the early planning stage could have been helpful, but their responsiveness and flexibility more than made up for it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of clay kyiv

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

clay kyiv - brand of hand-crafted vases

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• moving a website from one platform to the Shopify platform
• improve the functioning and conversion of the website

SOLUTION

How did you find Grodas?

recommendation

Why did you select Grodas over others?

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

How many teammates from Grodas were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Our goal was to find a reliable development agency that would help us migrate our store to Shopify and then provide ongoing support for the website to ensure the smooth operation of the business. The key aspect was to develop a SEO-optimized website with improved UI and UX, and it had to be done in a fairly short time frame.

Since we had no design for the new website, Grodas conducted a Discovery Phase, gathering all the requirements to determine the solution for the project, after which Grodas offered a clear solution that met our expectations.

The development of the new website was based on the Public Theme, which significantly accelerated the development time.

After completing the pages, Grodas helped us to install and set up the necessary services such as delivery, payment, marketing tools... . After that, they also helped us to solve problems with the old domain, purchase a new one and connect it to the new site.

As a result, we got a wonderful, fully functional, optimized website that fully met our expectations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Unfortunately, the result depends not only on Grodas, but on the synergy of many processes, including the convenience of the platform for the region and customers. But thanks Grodas we have amazing website

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

They are great! Fast feedback and completion of all tasks!

What was your primary form of communication with Grodas?

Virtual Meeting

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

they were not interested in extra tasks to earn more money, on the contrary, they suggested what could be optimized

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

no