Herman-Scheer

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Lensabl is an online optometry solution that’s direct-to-consumer that allows customers to get new prescription lenses and frames. I’m the CEO and co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Herman-Scheer?

We had a very basic design of consumer experience online, so we employed Herman-Scheer to redesign our entire web experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a previous existing design before Herman-Scheer, but it wasn’t live to the public. They did the frontend of the website. They designed anything the consumer saw, and we had our own development team build the site.

They essentially conceptualized and designed our entire consumer experience—everything from the tone and feeling of the site to the actual design of the pages and the order tool to the design and branding of our external fetching assets, packaging, logos, and marketing materials.

I primarily worked with John and Chapin initially for the feel and structure, and then they placed a team below them onto our project. On the day-to-day, we worked with Tessa (Project Manager) and Danny (Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Herman-Scheer?

I had seen a friend of mine, who has another startup, put out the marketing video for his site on his Facebook page. I thought it was really well done, so I reached out to him to find out who created it. He told me about Herman-Scheer and put me in contact with them. Separately, they happen to be a client of my brother’s. It was those two small-world ways that we ended up finding them, and that’s how we ended up starting to work with them.

I’ve worked with other agencies for one-off, smaller projects, but this is the first engagement of this size.

How much have you invested with Herman-Scheer?

So far, it’s probably under $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May or June 2016. The initial project completed in October.

As of this month, we brought them back onboard to do newer content and some updates to the site. We’ve added some additional pieces to our business that require additional pages built onto the site, along with doing site experience and more ads. Again, it’s all user experience and external marketing-related assets.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We don’t have any numbers specifically. That wouldn’t really exist since they’re a branding agency.

We get rave reviews from every customer and investor that is either invested in our business to date or has looked at our business as a potential investment on how good the website, packaging, and consumer experience looks.

How did Herman-Scheer perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great. They’re totally on top of it. We share a Slack channel with them. We do a minimum of once-a-week calls for check-ins, but oftentimes I'm speaking with them throughout the day. They assign a project manager as part of the core team. There are lots of moving pieces, reviews necessary, and deadlines, so it’s really important that that person is there, and they have a good one in Tessa.

What did you find most impressive about Herman-Scheer?

They’re the perfect kind of branding and visual design agency for millennial brands because that actually is who their employees and founders are. They take the approach of being the customer at least in commerce businesses. Before we ever started working with them, they used our service as a customer. Based on that, they were able to formulate a lot of opinions on what customers would want. That seems to be the approach they take.

Everybody has their own opinions about things. As a designer, you may think that what you make is the best, but after thinking from a customer’s perspective, you may understand that that might not be the best way to approach things. I don’t know if that’s totally dissimilar from others, but what stood out about them to me was that, and it’s paid great dividends for us so far.

Are there any areas Herman-Scheer could improve?

I don’t really have anything negative to say about them. If anything, they’ve been quite good. We continue to use them and have not really run into anything. The only thing that I think would ever cause us to question it would be cost. So far, they’ve been affordable. I wouldn’t say cheap, but they weren’t a big, 100-person, New York branding agency that wouldn’t even talk to us for anything under $150,000. Herman-Scheer runs their business like a startup. They understand the idea of sometimes taking some marketing hits or marketing dollars in the form of lower costs to secure the business because they understand the long-term opportunity.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder and CEO of Elude. Elude allows users to search travel packages based on their budget with no destination required.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Herman-Scheer?

We hired Herman-Scheer for our re-branding efforts.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goal was to create a brand identity that we can launch with as well as remake our website, UX/UI to match.

SOLUTION

How did you select Herman-Scheer?

We were introduced to Herman-Scheer through another founder who. worked with them.

Describe the project in detail.

We completely overhauled our brand and worked closely with Herman-Scheer team to design, implement and execute a new website, UX/UI to our mobile app and help create email templates to launch the brand.

What was the team composition?

Not only did we have a project manager who helped make things smooth, but the overall team was certainly energetic!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're in the final phases now, but eager to share!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective, we had weekly, and bi-weekly calls and videos to make sure all developments were on time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their attention to detail

Are there any areas for improvement?

N/A - If you have the opportunity to work with a marketing agency- Herman-Scheer should be on your top list!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner and president of a business financial and strategic consulting company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Herman-Scheer?

I hired Herman-Scheer to develop my website and digital marketing strategy. I also needed help with blog management and social media support.

What were your goals for this project?

My goal was to use my website and blog to market my services.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A mutual service provider introduced me to Herman-Scheer. I saw their work, and I loved it.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Herman-Scheer started by designing my logo, building my website, and setting up my blog and social media. They continue to use digital media to manage my brand, expand my messaging, and build my network.

What was the team composition?

The company partners are my main contacts, but the entire company provides support as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have begun receiving inbound inquiries for my services. That means the message is getting out.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It is quite effective. The Herman-Scheer team is always available and prompt to follow up. They're great people, and it’s easy to work with them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They offer a combination of expertise and accessibility.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Honestly, I see no areas for improvement from Herman-Scheer’s team. The improvement is needed on my end—I need to provide content more frequently, as I'm usually the bottleneck.