Hustle

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the GM of Kiwi Movers with the Kiwi Group. We offer self-storage, removals, deliveries, and cleaning, and international shipping. Additionally, we can take care of odd jobs if our customers need it.

What challenge were you trying to address with Hustle?

They take care of our website health and Google AdWords campaigns.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, he was responsible for building the majority of our site content. We consider it a living platform, so he’s always adding new features and making general updates. Before his involvement with our site, we had a simple solution that wasn’t robust enough to effectively communicate our offerings.

He was responsible for the upgrade and overhaul. At this point, he takes care of any issues we have with our websites, including malicious activity and security. He’s become an integral part of our company’s well-oiled machine. We were hacked at one point in time, which could have been detrimental to our business. However, he managed to sort everything out before it was too late. In that way, he’s been very helpful.

What is the team composition?

I work with the two partners of the company on this project.

How did you come to work with Hustle?

As far as I’m aware, our team examined reviews, portfolios, the success of past clients, and more to determine the right match for us. We also considered the cost-effectiveness of vendors. From the beginning, Hustle seemed reasonable and accommodating, offering us a fair, decent price.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$100,000 on the work, in total. 

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working with us in May 2014, and the work is ongoing. The site needs constant updates, so we still collaborate very closely with them.

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

We’re very happy with their work and have never had any problems with their deliverables. Additionally, they’ve always come through for us when we needed it. 

How did Hustle perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very accommodating, meeting our requirements and timelines. For instance, they’re currently creating code to streamline our international shipping process. We had to put the project on pause because we want to build additional interest in the solution. They were willing to stop their work for the time being. They’ve never let us down.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve never told us that they can’t do something that we ask. Instead, they try to discover creative solutions for us. Sometimes, the solution is more expensive then we planned for. However, they tell us exactly how that will affect our budgeting. They’re problem-solvers who remain transparent about their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have anything bad to say.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest about what you want from them. The clearer you are, the stronger your end result will be.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the sales director of a clothing manufacturer and wholesaler.

What challenge were you trying to address with Hustle?

We wanted to develop a website with the ability to handle direct sales around the world within key markets. It was also important that the site attracts new customers. We’re a smaller company, so I hoped to draw in a larger audience with an online presence.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Developing the website from scratch, they created a WooCommerce at our recommendation for its adaptability with plug-in and features. They built it from the ground up. That effort included running surveys on potential customers to gain insight into their needs. We also wanted to optimize the website, so that it was appealing to people in key countries. 

They employed a set of keywords to do that, leveraging SEO strategies. While our main audience engagement strategy has been SEO, we’ve recently been using them for PPC efforts through Google Shopping. There was also a PR element, where they were targeting particular key trade publications as well. Their team got us published in numerous market-leading news publications, like the BBC. They were our one-stop-shop. 

What is the team composition?

I work directly with two resources, one who focuses on web development and another who’s in charge of SEO and PR.

How did you come to work with Hustle?

We initially found them on a job board and decided to reach out. After meeting them and discussing our project, we choose them as our partner based on their background. They also offered their services at a reasonable cost to us. 

How much have you invested with them?

Each year, we spend about £10,000–£15,000 (approximately $13,000–$20,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project with them in December 2014, and our work is ongoing.

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

The number of customers we reach has increased. Online sales have been growing by about 30%–40% each year. We’ve also attracted retailers and distributors to our product. That’s had an amazing impact. I know that our improved online presence has given us credibility and opened doors for us. For instance, as a small company based in New Zealand, we have a growing presence in the United States, which we couldn’t have done without them.  

How did Hustle perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with the same two people throughout the project has allowed us continuity and stability. It also allowed them to get a good sense of our business. Their project management has been excellent. They always get back to us, making themselves available.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They went above and beyond with their services, providing a personal touch in their work. That was important to us because they were able to get a feel for our needs. They showed that they cared about the growth of our business. It was a nice feeling for us to have that kind of partnership. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I had a great experience with them. They’ve been growing a lot lately, so they’ve had to change many of their systems to accommodate their growing team. However, they’ve adapted to the challenges of being a growing business.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Rather than letting them take your project and run with it, it’s important to continue engaging them throughout the project. That way, they’ll get a better understanding of what you want out of the deliverables. It’s important that they are able to understand your goals, and that will only come through communication with your team.