Kona Made

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Marketing Manager at a B2B digital transformation services company.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kona Made?

We are a newer company and had just started to build out our marketing team. Our original website lacked forward-thinking branding and was difficult to update without coding knowledge. We were seeking a fresh look-and-feel that could stand next to competitors with an easy-to-update interface so that our internal marketing team could be self sufficient.

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

We were seeking a web savvy designer who could create something modern and fresh, while standing out from other competitors. Being in a tech heavy industry, we did not want something cliché or overdone with the same old stock photos. We were intrigued by Kona Made because Christine brought a different point of view and background than your standard consultative branding.

We felt her previous clients would help apply something unique while still maintaining a polished visual design.

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

We worked closely with Christine to explain our company and the brand we wanted to communicate. We also supplied a number of competitors to show the kind of legacy companies we were up against, and shared feedback from a branding agency who was helping us in crafting our brand messaging. Christine then drafted a simple wireframe based on our collaborative site navigation.

Our team supplied the copy of each page, and Christine worked to build the site pages with unique look-and-feel and visual branding that included an updated color palette, font selection and photography style. Once created and approved, Christine managed turning on the new site, and held a session to train us on how to update it moving forward.

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

We worked exclusively with the owner, Christine. She was a very positive, kind and easy person to work with.

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

Our webpage is built on a modern platform that allows our team to quickly make updates or create brand new pages. Our website has delivered consistent traffic and with zero security or online issues.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Christine was a pleasure to engage with. She was and continues to be a great resource. She responds quickly to emails or calls, and offers a lot of flexibility for our global team as needed.

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

I appreciated Christine's collaborative nature. She really wanted to work to deliver something different in the industry, to stand out and be bold while still maintaining a professional, simply brand.

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

We were very pleased with the outcome of our website and its ability to take us forward as we grow. I might suggest the opportunity to build greater functionality in needed web development/coding that goes beyond what is available in widgets, but it was not something we required in our engagement either.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a nutritional supplement company using an e-commerce business model. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Kona Made?

We hired Kona Made to do a complete rebrand of our business.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our firm needed a complete brand makeover, so Kona Made developed a new logo, packaging, and labeling for us. We already had a color scheme, and that didn’t change. However, they changed our overall brand strategy. They didn’t do any printed materials. 

At present, Christine (Owner & Creative Lead) continues to offer her firsthand knowledge on what will best work for our brand. She’s also in charge of any new products we release every few months or so. The main parts of the rebranding engagement have been completed, but there’s always work to be done in terms of packaging. 

What is the team composition?

Apart from Christine, we also work with Logan (Senior Designer). I mainly work with Christine, but Logan has also worked on our logo, color schemes, and font. Christine handles the packaging side of things. 

How did you come to work with Kona Made?

I found Kona Made through Clutch. In my hiring process, I signed five companies for a specific project. I reached out to all of them to get a feel of who’d be the best fit for us. Right off the bat, we knew that we wanted to work with Christine and Kona Made. Simply put, we used Clutch to narrow our choices down, and Christine sealed the deal.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested over $25,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

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

We’ve been getting excellent feedback from our customers — that speaks for itself. Our site’s conversion rate has also increased. 

How did Kona Made perform from a project management standpoint?

Kona Made’s project management is excellent. Christine adheres to all of our deadlines, and the team’s communication is great. In fact, they’re ahead of schedule many times. I have no complaints about their work; Christine does a great job. To communicate, we use emails, Zoom, and Asana.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They care about our project and want to make it succeed; they’re willing to keep making revisions until everything is perfect. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. It’s rare for me to say that, but Christine has been excellent right from the beginning. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared. A lot of time, people go into projects thinking that everything is going to be done for them. However, a creative agency can only do as well as you guide them. It’s your company, so you should know it better than everybody else. As a result, be ready to give them as much information as possible to get the best results. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing for a manufacturing company.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kona Made?

Our branding, website, email templates, and print brochures needed to be updated and applied across all channels for a cohesive experience. Our website the biggest piece of the project and needed to be completely overhauled and relaunched. It was no longer possible to manage updating elements of the site and it wasn't optimized for the best customer experience.

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

Our company had worked with Kona Made on a previous branding project. I scoped out a few agencies for our website development project but none of them compared to the quality of work I saw with Kona Made from the branding concepts to the UX of the live sites.

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

The process began with discovery meetings and a branding questionnaire to help Kona Made understand our existing brand, our gaps, needs, and desired outcome. Christine put together a few options for our brand colors, fonts, iconography, styling, and use cases of display ads, and website mock-up with all elements in place to help us visualize all branding elements together. Once we finalized our branding we then moved on to finalizing the display ads. Christine then began developing email templates built in a modular layout that could be used in a plug-and-play format. Christine then started working on the website and we reviewed what the main issues were with the existing website and what I wanted to get out of the new website.

We then began reviewing pages that were no longer relevant, outlining new pages to be added, and developing the site map. Christine then began developing wireframes and layouts and we reviewed what options would be best for our use case. I provided the copy and images and Christine then began building out the pages. Christine was extremely helpful in troubleshooting and exploring options for different functions I was looking to include on the site. Once we were in the QA portion of the site Christine started working on the 32-page product brochure and was extremely accommodating to last-minute product adds, spec changes, and formatting needs. Christine then launched the website and coordinated efforts with my outside SEO agency to make sure there was a smooth transition moving forward.

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

From start to finish Christine, the Owner and Creative Lead of Kona Made, was my point of contact and I talked through all elements of the project with her and she then worked with her resources behind the scenes.

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

Our projects just wrapped and the website just launched but it has been very well received internally. Our company is excited to have cohesive branding across all channels in print and digital. The website relaunch has allowed us to provide a better customer experience, be a valuable resource for our sales team, and easily manage updates.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was extremely easy to work with Kona Made and schedule time for one-off calls or zoom meetings. The project timeline was outlined and went as expected and even ahead of schedule at times. It was a pleasure working with Christine to brainstorm, discuss ideas, and see the project come to life.

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

The work and portfolio of Kona Made stood out when selecting a partner. Christine's positivity, communication, knowledge, and work ethic to find the right solutions, were impressive throughout the entire process.

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

No. It was a very positive and enjoyable experience working with Kona Made.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a new Medical Aesthetics Spa in Downtown Austin.

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

I hired Kona made to help me with branding/logo and Website Development. for my new medspa in Austin. I am a healthcare provider and I have never owned a business before. Kona made helped me to create a vision for the brand and developed a gorgeous website that mirrored exactly what I wanted.

How did you select Kona Made and what were the deciding factors?

I really liked the owner Christine's aesthetics of her own website- it was along the lines of what I was looking for. Upon meeting her via zoom she seemed down to earth, knowledgeable and skilled in areas that I was clueless and needed that exact guidance to execute my goals.

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

After having 2-3 zoom meetings and filling out an initial questionnaire for branding visions- Christine issued 3 options to start with. She was very on point from the start and I loved how she explained in the slides how she came up with and executed the vision.

We chose a direction and she issued another round of more focused branding with different color pallets and different plays on the brand. She issued me a full set of Logo assets in different formats to work with for future growth.

(More than I was expecting) She really took the time to listen to me as a client and heard the changes of what I wanted and once again hit it out of the park with her professional artistry. Christine also had a questionnaire regarding the website and we discussed over zoom what the vision was for the project.

She delivered some gorgeous files just to make sure it was what I wanted- and she sent a beautiful few pages with the content I created along with her help. She was timely, flexible in her approach, always available to answer questions as they came up- and anything that she was unsure about she figured out within that day and communicated effectively.

She created my website on WP engine and promptly build me an ecommerce through woo commerce to sell on my website- which was not part of the plan. She created how-to videos on loom for my and my office manager to view and learn how to make changes ourselves for our monthly specials.

She went above and beyond and was one of the most professional people I have worked with in a long time. Very talented and efficient.

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

I believe that she did 99% of the leg work herself. She did bring in someone to help with content design that i ultimately decided to do myself. She also has helped me to interview some marketing teams for different marketing approaches that she will hopefully collaborate on the digital media design for future things. But ultimately Christine was my only point of contact with Kona Made

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

Kona Made by far met my expectations. She rendered the deliverables onetime in multiple formats, She gave us access to all accounts on how to make changes ourselves. She created an ecommerce for us by an earlier due date then expected.

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

organized and direct email, zoom, Loom, phone, and in person. timely, professional, communicative,

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

I hired Kona Made to put her own spin on my vision and I am in love with what she created. She kept things simple, worked with us through hickups of a new company, made sure that we were taken care of and truly was our first advocate from a professional standpoint. I couldnt be happier with my decision to hire Kona Made

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

honestly no and I am fairly critical and have high expectations of people. She was very professional, heard my requests and made changes appropriately, and timely- what more could an owner want?

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive for a premium confectionary brand.

What challenge were you trying to address with Kona Made?

We needed a new website because we changed our name. Once we changed all of our collateral, we decided to redo our website. The site needed to be malleable, meaning we needed to be able to change it ourselves.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kona Made created a brand new website for us based on our specifications. We had a framework in mind, but Christine (Owner & Designer) also gave us cool options and helped to design the platform. She built a robust e-commerce piece because we sell our products online as well as in retail stores. Christine made the site vibrant and easily searched. She also made sure that both the frontend and backend of the website were user-friendly.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Christine.

How did you come to work with Kona Made?

We worked with an agency that knew and worked with Christine. We asked them for a recommendation, and they connected us with Konda Made. We talked over the project together. Their team submitted a proposal and we decided to use them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent approximately $15,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project between January–February 2020.

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

Christine created a vibrant, information-packed e-commerce website that’s easy for the consumer to navigate. The site’s also easy for us to update on our own. In a nutshell, they did a great job.

How did Kona Made perform from a project management standpoint?

All of the milestones were met. Like normal projects, we started, stopped, and changed direction. For example, about half-way through the project, our founder decided that he wanted to manipulate a template that Christine created for one section and use it for another section. She handled all of those changes professionally.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Kona Made rolled with our changes easily. She never complained or said our requests weren’t in the scope. We didn’t change everything such that it would be a disaster. However, our requests were a little outside the scope. Christine just rolled with it and did it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, Christine handled the challenges well. I’ve worked with agencies in the past that said changes weren’t in the original scope of work, but the changes weren’t that far outside the scope. In the true sense of partnership, we all have to grow in the same direction.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would feel good about working with Kona Made. If you’re choosing them, you’re choosing someone who knows how to work in that space. You can feel confident that they’ll get the job done for you.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Perfect Keto is a supplement and nutrition company developing products that support a ketogenic lifestyle. I am the Creative Director for Perfect Keto, overseeing all creative and ensuring brand standards are met.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kona Made?

We hired Kona Made to help us with graphic design support. Kona Made has worked with us for almost a year designing everything from ads to emails that support product launches, campaigns, and everyday asset needs.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal is to consistently ensure we have a solid visual library and system in place to optimize creative assets.

How did you select this vendor?

I selected Kona Made because I saw the design skill and passion for health and wellness from the owner of Kona Made, Christine Goodrich.

Describe the project in detail.

Kona Made can not only take direction and create incredible assets that support our various channels but also bring new ideas to the table. This support includes creating assets for marketing, paid ads, email, affiliates, packaging, social media, and more.

What was the team composition?

Christine of Kona Made works directly with me, the Creative Director on all assets made. I am her primary point of contact. Kona Made also communicates with the channel owners of our entire team through a project management system called Asana and Slack.

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

Over the past year, Kona Made has helped us build a library of active brand resources, supported us on various product launches and campaigns, delivered high-quality work continuously, and has met all deadlines in a timely manner. Her work is praised by me, but also the Perfect Keto team.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent. Christine at Kona Made goes above and beyond to communicate effectively, develop new design concepts, and deliver on time, every time. She is so professional and respectful and a joy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Kona Made's company attitude, design skill, and professionalism exceed the highest of expectations in the industry. The project management and creative knowledge that Kona Made has made them THE BEST to work with. I trust Kona Made to deliver and deliver the best.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Kona Made is constantly improving and strives to please, but also betters us a company. Feedback is taken graciously and I wouldn't change a thing!

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner/Founder. Head Endurance Sports Coach

For what projects/services did your company hire Kona Made?

Brand logo design and website build

What were your goals for this project?

Create a cool, up to date, trendy logo and website for our endurance sports coaching company.

How did you select this vendor?

Christine is a personal friend of my girlfriend so I saw some of her past work.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Christine designed our logo basically from scratch as we knew roughly what we wanted but had no concept of the design. She also built our website from scratch using Squarespace, complete with an Ecom section.

What was the team composition?

Christine- Kona Made Ben Rotherham- Mission Multisport Spencer Davis- MIssion Multisport

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Christine consistency hit the nail on the head! She gave us a logo that subtly kept all the aspects we wanted and scream Mission Multisport. The colors were vibrant and the design is flawless! The website is also top notch. Easy to use, visually pleasing and again screams MIssion Multisport! We could not have created and launched our brand without her. Christine did not just impact our business she was a key component in launching our business!

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Christine kept our team on task and gave us benchmark goals. She quickly answered any questions we had and guided us through anything we did not understand.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Christine at Kona Made has the ability to gather information from a 10 minute conversation and quickly understand what you want out of your brand. I never thought my logo would have a "feel" as it's just a design, but I can honestly say when I see the color pallet, our sub-logos, or the website it "feels" like our brand!

Are there any areas for improvement?

As someone who isn't artistic and has built a website I can't imagine this process going any smoother.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and Executive Chef of Fibonacci Food. We are a boutique upscale catering and personalized chef service. We are also starting to produce ready made foods for retail sales.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kona Made?

Kona Made was hire to develop our entire Branding Strategy and design an whole new website.

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

I was looking for a designer that could bring our company to life in a very specific Austin way. I was referred to Kona Made by a mutual friend and instantly knew this was who I wanted to work with. I have another project coming up in the next year and I will definitely use Kona Made.

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

I was sent a project brief with very specific and detailed questions. While working on the branding strategy, Christine brought 2 well developed ideas and once I chose the direction. She quickly made the edits I requested and turned over all branding assets. She then went to work on the web design. The project would have gone more quickly, but my business had a big restructure. Kona Made quickly went to work on the changes and was EXTREMELY helpful through a difficult change of direction. The website went live 2/10. It is beautiful, and is already converting.

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

I personally worked with Christine Goodrich, owner and lead designer.

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

I have already started to receive catering leads from the website. Customers are more responsive when researching my company with this very professional new face of my business.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project was very organized and the communication through Asana was straight forward. They never missed a deadline.

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

I was really surprised that some one could take the brief that I submitted and put this gorgeous branding together. I wasn't even really sure what I wanted, but I am so incredibly pleased with all of it. One of the most impressive and helpful parts were the Loom videos sent to me to show me exactly how to make changes and edits on my own. They were personalized and demonstrated with my own material, so I am able to look at them when I have questions. Super helpful for a non-tech savvy client

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

I can't think of anything....as I mentioned, I will definitely use them again for future projects.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of Story Changes Culture Media & Consulting. We provide PR/comms consulting services and produce independent media projects that advance an inclusive culture.

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

We needed to create/develop our brand, which needed to appeal both to buyers and our community/followers.

How did you select this vendor?

Kona Made had a great portfolio of work that represented our general direction and came highly recommended.

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

We met to discuss the project. Kona Made followed up promptly with the proposal and we were able to review and sign electronically. They were extremely prompt and never deviated from our timeline. We meet weekly to review deliverables and they often would send video tutorials or reviews that were easy to watch and interactive.

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

One.

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

Our brand is just getting off the ground but so far the feedback has been 100% positive, we couldn't be happier.

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

Their project management skills were superior.

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

Christine is extremely responsive and a real partner. She feels like an extension of our team. She was great at following our direction/vision but pushed back respectfully when her expertise warranted it. Her design skills are beautiful, amazing. Coupled with timely project management and great use of tools to share concepts for review, we couldn't be happier.

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

Not a thing.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Culturati, the leading conference and media company on corporate culture. I am head of marketing and steering committee member.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kona Made?

We had established a brand and logo 6 years ago when we starter. However, as we moved to the virtual conference world we need to refresh our look and appeal to a larger and more vibrant audience.

The new conference brand needed to work across the website, social media channels, sponsorship materials, and our new immersive experience conference platform. It was a tall order, in a short time frame.

What were your goals for this project?

Grab C-level attention and broader audience. To build trust and appeal as a progressive event and community. Massively increase registration, reach and sponsorship support. Yet, maintain our intimate and real brand ethos.

How did you select Kona Made?

By referral. We know someone that had worked with Christine and her team. Checked out their impressive portfolio and experience. Then met Christine and instantly saw her creative mind and methodical approach to out project charter.

We really clicked. Of course we vetted several agencies, but Kona Made came out on top based on our criteria.

Describe the project in detail.

Rebrand the conference, website, social media, promotional campaigns and new immersive conference experience platform.

What was the team composition?

Our team is lead by Christine, creative lead and owner and Logan Kees, senior design.

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

The new brand has been impactful and captured interest. You know you have something special when your keynote celebrities positively comment on your design, as well as anonymous registrants and board members.

We are driving toward record registration, sponsorship support, web traffic and social engagement. Now design is only a contributing factor to our increase, but it matters. And we're proud of our new look.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

How the Kona teams works is what makes them special. We are a fast moving, multi-headed leadership team. It was not only that they can keep with up with us, but more importantly how they guided us to the right direction.

Every curve ball was received with thoughtful response and new thinking.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their work style and design sensibility are impressive. It was beautifully creative ideas that made business sense. Always appreciated.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Only wish out budget was bigger so I use them full time.