MakeBeCool

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO and product manager at Calcurates, a zero-coding shipping SaaS that helps e-commerce not to lose money on shipping by setting up delivery methods and accurate rates displayed at the checkout. It integrates with top e-commerce platforms and major shipping carriers.

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

Our expertise in developing Shopify embedded apps was not enough, that's why we hired MakeBeCool to build a small app as a part of our major service. The goal was to distinguish the popular functionality of our SaaS into small embedded app and then check how it performs. The key requirement: develop the app fast, not longer than 1 month.

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

We have found MakeBeCool via Google search. There was a short list of 3 agencies, but MakeBeCool was the one who replied us faster. The determining factors are:

• App portfolio
• Russian-speaking developers
• Easy communication flow
• Match our budget limit

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

MakeBeCool team has developed a custom Shopify app for us.

• We have already prepared mockups for an app, so it was very easy to communicate the app workflow during the first call;
• Then they did a frontend part;
• We have adjusted our backend a bit and then they've connected the app to our API and backend;
• We did testing and QA on our side;
• The team responded quickly and fixed the bugs we've found;
• Minor out-of-scope requests were implemented quickly. The team has fully completed the project in one month.

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

There were 2 people from the MakeBeCool team communicating with us throughout the project: a project manager and a senior developer.

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

We were able to launch the project quickly and easily, which was a major achievement for us. At the moment we are starting to distribute our app to Shopify users.

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

The project management was great, proactive, and responsive. They fully met our deadlines, and we never had unexpected turnovers. We communicated through Slack, Google Meet, and GitHub. Special thanks for the fact that the vendor agreed to move to our Slack environment for more productive communication.

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

The MakeBeCool team is very friendly and professional, the communication style perfectly matches ours. Also, it was a great to meet MakeBeCool CEO in person as he recently moved to the city where our head office is located.

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

We didn't get into the budget for testing and QA from MakeBeCool. It would be great if they met us halfway and included it in the final price.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the chief marketing officer for TBI-PRO. We develop products and sell them on Amazon in the U.S. market.

What challenge were you trying to address with MakeBeCool?

We wanted to develop a Shopify site to be able to sell on more channels.

What was the scope of their involvement?

MakeBeCool designed and developed a Shopify site from scratch with us. The team integrated all of the software into one screen and created an automated process for registration of extended warranties for our products. They also recommended the technologies they felt best suited for the project.

What is the team composition?

The account manager is my main contact. There’s also a product designer and three programmers working with us.

How did you come to work with MakeBeCool?

I researched companies that had experience with Shopify on the U.S. market and interviewed several of them. I liked what this team had to offer, and decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in August 2020, and our work is ongoing.

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

The automated process for extended warranty registration is easy for customers to understand and use. The site is live on Shopify, and we’ve had had no negative feedback. The team understands our needs and offers good solutions.

How did MakeBeCool perform from a project management standpoint?

The account manager is dedicated to the project and keeps us updated. We use Telegram for regular communication, as well as Google spreadsheets and a project management tool for larger tasks. They usually finish ahead of deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

MakeBeCool is straightforward, and they understand our needs. They always work through changes to help us achieve our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to describe the project in detail, including your desires and expectations to ensure everything is fully understood.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the owners of ColorByFeliks, an art and e-commerce business.

What challenge were you trying to address with MakeBeCool?

We needed help with web development and customer experience.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned and developed our website, all while implementing new features.  We first discussed what we wanted to get out of our new website. Then they outlined how the project would go and asked us if we had any specific designs in mind.

We spoke with the designer, and he gave us a rough draft. Then we provided feedback and highlighted what we liked and what we wanted to change. Once they implemented those changes, they went into development.

What is the team composition?

There were 5–6 people working on this project.

How did you come to work with MakeBeCool?

We found them through Upwork. They stood out because of their reviews, but once we spoke to them and saw examples of their work, we knew they were the best fit. We liked how they communicated and how professional they were.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in August 2020 and the project ended in February 2021.

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

Since they upgraded our website, we’ve increased our email subscribers significantly. Our conversion rate has grown as well. They clearly were able to reach our target audience. We also haven’t found any bugs. The site hasn’t crashed at all.

How did MakeBeCool perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicated via WhatsApp, and they were always available.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were communicative and professional. They genuinely cared about the project and wanted to make sure we got the outcome we were looking for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they should have done differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We wrote down a general idea of what we wanted to accomplish, and that was really helpful for us. To give them a clear idea of what you want, I would definitely recommend that you create a rough outline or design before you meet with them.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Technical lead for a brand/manufacture of personal care products, with a focus on hair loss and restoration technologies. Founded in 2015, products are sold globally.

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

We hired MBC to develop and launch our global site structure with individual sites for local markets. Makebecool developed our Shopify store from scratch. Taking into account the complex design and quantity of mandatory applications and then optimization for speed and mobile traffic. There is still an active scope of work in place. Since the launch, we have monthly support and on-going maintenance. Currently, we are launching international markets with their assistance. The regular updates and maintenance is very important to the e-commerce team and MBC helps us with this task saving us time and efforts.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to establish a professional presence in the US market, increase sales, improve UI/UX/CX, give customers options for subscriptions and bundles.

How did you select this vendor?

From the start, MBC shows excellent communication and attention to detail. They were very straightforward and asked the right questions. When they presented changes and ideas, it was backed by logic and data.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We provided a design in Figma and Makebecool developed the whole store, advised optimized solutions, applications to plugins. The turnaround time and was highly important to complete the US site on time and within budget. We trust their expert opinion.

What was the team composition?

We utilized several of their teams. Initially, it was their Theme Development resources to buildout the primary store. We used their Virtual Assistants for translation services. The oversight was provided from Eliza the project manager who proved to be a huge asset. A total of 5-6 specialists in all. We also had direct contact with CEO - Andriy. All communication went smoothly, friendly and professional. solutions are taken quickly. The entire team demonstrated a high level of professionalism throughout the entire experience.

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

After the launch of our new store version on Shopify conversion doubled and subscription signups customers increased 3x. Due to monthly support, we are confident the performance of our store development. MBC exceeded our expectations.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We work with our personal project manager using several sources of communication like email, WhatsApp and Asana as the main task-manager. Eliza always consults us about Shopify and development process. The job was properly planned and the project was delivered as expected. They were always available for calls. They are flexible and react after their working day taking into account our time difference.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The attention to client services and satisfaction, combined with the value they brought made it clear we made the right decision.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We’re very satisfied with their job and cooperation

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative director at Ingarden, a company in the food business. We offer customers a device to help them grow microgreens, a version of vegetables that people can garden at home. We also supply the customers with the seeds needed. Our idea is to sell healthy food, sustainable living, and nutrition.

What challenge were you trying to address with MakeBeCool?

We wanted to improve our website and subsequently improve sales of our device.

What was the scope of their involvement?

MakeBeCool redesigned and is developing our website from scratch on Shopify. Our users’ ability to pause subscriptions is among the features they’ve implemented. They’ve also enabled us to bundle products and add gifts. They’ve completed most of the website and are now working with residual files.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with a project manager and communicate with some of the developers.

How did you come to work with MakeBeCool?

Our CEO found them, and we chose them because they were Shopify experts. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested more than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2022, and the engagement is ongoing.

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

Our users like the new website much better because it’s more user-friendly. Thanks to MakeBeCool, we were able to introduce features that we couldn’t earlier. Before, our users couldn’t pause their subscriptions if they went on vacation, and we couldn’t include bundles and gifts in their purchases, all of which we can do now. We launched less than two weeks ago, so we don’t have metrics yet. 

How did MakeBeCool perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Slack for day-to-day communication. Meanwhile, we use ClickUp to keep track of worked hours, tasks, and milestones. They complete tasks within their estimated timeline, if not earlier.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with MakeBeCool’s responsiveness; they’re always there to execute major and minor tasks alike. Additionally, they’re a fully dedicated team. Even though some of their teammates are based in Ukraine, they haven’t interrupted their work for a single day despite the Russian Invasion.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, our engagement has gone pretty smoothly. The only challenge has been using ClickUp because it’s new for us. However, that has nothing to do with them.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a premium natural skincare brand for men, focusing both on topical skincare products as well skin supplements, sold in the UK and with expansion plans across Europe. Our business model is e-commerce first with a strong focus on subscriptions. Personally, I am co-founder of the brand.

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

1. Shopify e-commerce development:

• E-commerce Web design
• E-commerce Web development
• App integrations
• Subscription software integration

2. Design: 

• Design e-commerce packaging based on brand book product packaging

What were your goals for this project?

Main goal to launch an e-commerce first natural skincare brand for men in the European market with an MVP approach towards subscription services in order to evaluate potential.

How did you select this vendor?

We pitched MakeBeCool together with 2 other agencies that we found on the Shopify Partner Platform. They showed strong willingness & commitment to work on our project as well as excellent price-quality ratio and some beautiful client references.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

MakeBeCool has developed the full e-commerce website for us, based on the (basic) brand book and an extensive brand presentation.

They did an amazing job translating the brand into an UX optimised, mobile-first & conversion optimised website that embrases our key values, key messages within a premium environment.

As it's a one-product website, we developed a limited set of pages, strongly focusing on conversion funnels & treating each page as a potential landing page for media campaigns. They consulted us also on subscription software integration as well as other apps (functionalities).

What was the team composition?

The project team consisted of:

• 1 Key Project Manager
• 1 Web designer
• 2 Shopify developers

There have been 2 Assistent Project Managers that have supported the Key PM as well.

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

We're very satisfied with the results and have launched a perfectly functional website within the required timeframe. First sales and web analytics are promising.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Impressive project management skills. Deadlines were met, clear and constructive communication with a desire to develop the project as much as possible. Not just waiting to receive all input but also proactively thinking with the project & brand.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

One of the best PM's I've come across in 10Y ecommerce. They have excellent design skills. It's no easy task to combine e-commerce web design with a premium environment.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Overall I'm very excited with the work of MakeBeCool. If I should give one area of improvement, it's to state whenever a specific task needs further investigation due to no prior experience before being budgeted & implemented in order to understand the full scope (e.g. integration of a very specific app).

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and founder of a UK-based web and e-commerce development firm that operates using an efficient outsourcing model. 

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

After our previous developer failed us, we hired MakeBeCool to help us complete a complicated Shopify project for a client. They continue to work with us on new projects and for ongoing maintenance and support.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a highly skilled team to resume the unfinished work, transform the UX and UI, develop various other improvements, and basically rescue the project. We also hoped to gain a long-term partner for our increasing Shopify workload. 

How did you select this vendor?

We conducted an extensive search on Clutch, filtering by requirements and location. Our previous experiences with Ukrainian development teams had been positive and first-rate, so we were keen on finding another.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The initial scope was to overhaul an existing Shopify e-commerce store with new functionalities and an improved UX/UI.  We first collaborated with the project manager to outline the plan and design solution. They then provided theme mockups of such high quality that we signed off on them with minimal changes.  The frontend theme included some complex customizations and features while integrating smoothly with the extant functionality, and they developed a bespoke companion Shopify app to handle some of the more demanding requirements. 

What was the team composition?

A project manager coordinated everything and served as our primary point of contact. The team also included a designer, a developer, and a backend developer. 

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

Despite a terrible start with our previous developer, MakeBeCool revived the project and salvaged our client relationship. We are confident that we found a talented, capable partner with whom we can entrust our future e-commerce work.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was top-notch with outstanding communication and realistic timeline and budget estimates. They resolve all issues quickly and adapt seamlessly to any type of company or project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Not only are they friendly and pleasant to work with, but their honesty and exceptional industry acumen assure me that I can trust what they tell me. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is very little they need to improve.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of 'My Happiness Journal', which is a guided self care book; people write in everyday to welcome joy daily. It's available online or through partnerships with holistic health professionals.

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

I engaged with MakeBeCool to design and build the eCommerce website where this product is primarily sold. I wanted this to be built using the Shopify platform and were well experienced using this platform.

What were your goals for this project?

1. Beautifully designed
2. Effectively built into the Shopify platform, with the necessary integrations with apps for data capture and social media
3. Flexibility and collaborative working style and cooperative with my suggestions and feedback
4. Advice / training on how to use the Shopify platform once it goes live

How did you select this vendor?

I found MakeBeCool through the Upwork website. I received 20+ applicants, but narrowed it down to 3. To help me decide, I asked the 3 vendors to create a basic landing page.

MakeBeCool's design stood out from the rest - so much thought had been put into it and they really nailed my brand and what I wanted to represent. Additionally, the communication was excellent. I instinctively knew they were caring, talented, and knowledgable hard workers.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

1. I provided a brief, which required a UX, design and recommendations around how to build in a subscription service.
2. Initial designs were provided and we went through a few rounds of amends to confirm.
3. Build of the site into the Shopify platform.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with a project manager who managed the design and build teams. I liked having just one point of contact. The team worked really hard toward the end to get this site live and I really appreciate it!

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

This website is critical to the success of this business. It's live and functioning really well. It's the central source for all of my sales, blog and email data capture.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Excellent project management - responsiveness, knowledge, turned things around quickly and very patient and accomodating with my feedback.

We mainly used the upwork messaging service. However, we also used Google slides and Google hangouts which worked well giving more detailed feedback.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Make be Cool provided excellent:

• project management. Very responsive, quick and positive.
• designs were beautiful.
• advice/suggestions to my Many questions and requests for amends!
• support in helping me update the site once it went live

Are there any areas for improvement?

Things they could work on:

• being 100% clear what is / isn't included in the initial cost.
• this could be helped by focussing on the experience / UX of the site before jumping straight into design/build.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of ZINVO. We are a watch brand that is mostly e-commerce based.

What challenge were you trying to address with MakeBeCool?

Our website wasn’t performing well. There were long loading times, we didn’t have conversion optimization, and the UX/UI experience wasn’t the best.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They immediately understood the challenges we had. They found the issues and started with the more urgent things within 10 days. They even worked on the weekend because they understood the critical situation we had.

After the immediate needs were fixed, we started working to get us exposure. They advised us on how to present our email marketing campaigns with topics that would increase our click rate for email.

They also advised us on social media posts. Our Facebook page wasn’t active, but they offered to manage it, so we’re in the process of initiating that. They reviewed all of our content and graded us from 1–10 on the engagement and analyzed our engagement on past posts.

They did a lot of research for us and then analyzed our position as well. We understand where we are in the market in terms of our user experience and how people communicate with the brand.

They launched a few new websites for us. We now have a store in Arabic, Russian, German, and French. They do the maintenance of all of those to make sure we have all of our stores under one plan. Whenever we test and make changes on our main website, we copy it over to another market to see how it adapts there. They’re also very helpful with translations.

They’re finishing up email marketing. Now, it’s a lot of marketing work and less development. They’re running A/B tests, doing more conversion optimization, and maintenance.

What is the team composition?

We work with 4–5 people from their team including a project manager.

How did you come to work with MakeBeCool?

We had a vendor in the U.S. that we weren’t satisfied with. We found 7–8 companies through an online search and had a call with each of them. MakeBeCool came through with the best approach, the best pricing, and the best flexibility. They had very good experience in UX.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2017 and the work is ongoing.

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

They performed everything we put in their scope well. It was very helpful to get an analysis and the scope of our competition. We’re very happy with their work. Our conversion rate multiplied by three; it was .17 and now it’s .5. Loading time used to be 17 seconds and now it’s 4 seconds; that was a huge improvement. Email marketing is in place now and everything is working properly. Their UX design looks much better.

How did MakeBeCool perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a Skype call every day and we agree on what will be done. We use email for larger reporting. The CEO checked in with me once a week to give me a detailed report. He also gave me reports on the hours and estimates for the invoices.

They were flexible and even worked weekends.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very hard-working and they pay a lot of attention to their clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. We’re very satisfied with everything they provided.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They have a very good success rate.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a niche retail company that operates on e-commerce. 

What challenge were you trying to address with MakeBeCool?

We wanted to revamp our website to make it more modern and fresh. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

After we sorted our logistics, we started having a lot of video calls. After they understood what I wanted, they made wireframes and suggestions for the site's best. It’s a Shopify website. My budget wouldn’t cover a fully customized website designed by them, and they suggested that I buy a preset theme. 

Their team then designed certain pages. In April, they took a few weeks to design it. There was a lot of back and forth. For example, the landing page we fully customized and there are certain features fully customized, but they did this because they knew I had a certain budget. 

After the designs were approved, the development started. When the site was done, they did a few rounds of testing before the site went live. 

What is the team composition?

I started off with the business and sales manager who worked with me for three weeks to understand what they do. He then passed me onto the project manager that was the in-between person between me, the designers, and the developers. Finally, when they needed my feedback, I met some of the website developers and designers later on. 

How did you come to work with MakeBeCool?

I found MakeBeCool on Upwork, and I explained to them what we needed. Their team gave us a proposal, and I had a short call with them. We discussed the services they could offer and then we decided to work with them.

I chose them because of their website knowledge. They design with a consumer process in mind. What I really liked is that it wasn’t just aesthetic-based. It was what would give me the best conversions. They were very upfront about what the cost would be and were willing to work within my budget. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $4,800.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March to June 2021. 
 

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

It was very straightforward. They tried their best to give me the result I wanted within my budget. I wanted the site finished in mid-May, but there were a few changes. There were things I originally wanted that the design team realized would cost more because it relies on an external app.

These apps are out of the control of the design team because they’re working on Shopify. The apps changed their prices, and a few things couldn’t work. It wasn’t the design team’s fault; it was the apps themselves. 

Because of those changes, the design process went a bit longer, and our site went live in June. We did a lot of testing back and forth. If there were any small issues, they still helped me quite a bit even though the project was over.

Since we’ve just gone live, I can’t provide any data. Our buyers that have shopped at our website have commented that they’ve seen anything like this in the Singapore space for a niche perfume. Other comments were that it looks very professional. People are in awe of our website, and they haven’t seen anything like this from any of our competitors. 

How did MakeBeCool perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly calls to see the progress. When I needed them, they were always available. They were very fast with following up. They’d send me a summary of each meeting. Sometimes I’d forget to ask for it, but the project manager would send it anyway.

We were always in contact. There was never a point I felt I didn’t know what was going on. They kept me updated with every small detail. If I needed last-minute changes, they were always very accommodating. If I requested something that wasn’t in my budget, they worked around it. 

MakeBeCool gave more than required. Our website is better because of the input they gave. They asked about my communication preference and I told them to use email and WhatsApp. We also had some Zoom calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The way they take care of their clients is impressive. The attention and help I received in the beginning of the project was the same attention to detail I got even towards the end of my project. 

Even after all the milestones were paid and the website was launched, any question I had or issues I ran into, they were always there to help me. MakeBeCool is really there for their clients. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I’d have them improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask them for their suggestions. You might know what you want, but don’t be afraid to ask the team what they think would work best for your customers. Their team is very knowledgeable, having worked on many websites. They know what they’re talking about. Don’t be afraid to give them your real budget. They will do everything they can to even be under your budget.