MakeBeCool

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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).

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Vintage Market - is a retail project which was started in 2012 as a store focused on vintage and elite wines.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

We needed to completely rebuild the website we had and thus we've looked for a reliable partner to do this. Among our requirements was design, front-end development, data migration, SEO optimizations and marketing.

What were your goals for this project?

The old website wasn't up to date to the new trends and most of our competitors already updated the website to meet the best customer use cases.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We’ve evaluated consultation and solutions they provided on the primary step which made us sure that they know what to do. The price and deliverables terms were pretty reasonable.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Team was provide full round services for us:

• UX design
• Front-end development
• Data migration
• Content filling
• Store structure development
• SEO optimizations
• Marketing

MakeBeCool was engaged in every step of the project production.

What was the team composition?

Depends on the project step we had about 3-5 people (project manager, designer, front back-end developers, store manager). The team worked good together and workflow was super clean.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After new project was released some indicators increased. The main goal was reached and as a result, now we have a powerful tool

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We have daily/weekly reports and calls if needed with our project manager. Also, there were arranged meetings with a team so we could discuss all directly with the designer or developer and get a transparent idea even before we could get it.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are a great team and they always could meet halfway!

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

SOLUTION

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!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

BACKGROUND

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. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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. 

SOLUTION

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. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of an e-commerce website.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

We hired MakeBeCool to provide Shopify Plus development, design, and data migration services.  

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to grow and develop our e-commerce website. To do this, we needed a reliable partner who would use cutting-edge technology to deliver a great result and then provide ongoing support.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My company discovered MakeBeCool on Upwork. We chose to partner with them based on their quick and detailed communication, clear cost calculation, and ability to drive strategic implementation.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

MakeBeCool completed data migration from our current platform to Shopify Plus. They also provided front- and backend development and UI design services.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a team of 6–8 designers and developers, including our project manager Diana (Shopify Consultant, MakeBeCool).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are pleased with the final results, especially the improved UI. Conversions increased 27% two months after the launch. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The team provided expert solutions, addressed issues or questions thoroughly, and maintained a comprehensive understanding of our project. They adhered to our timeframe and budget. Project scheduling was efficient, and our project manager met with us as needed. We communicated via Skype.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team’s technology and business expertise were helpful at every step. Costs were reasonable given the project's complexity and the high-quality end result.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We didn't experience any major issues. A minor consideration is that the internet connection could be better for Skype calls.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of Mofy.life, a startup that lets customers create photobooks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MakeBeCool?

We engaged them to build our e-commerce platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase traffic and conversions via targeting.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Several vendors submitted proposals and we narrowed those down to five agencies. Response rate, competence, and ability to understand the project were our main criteria. During this process, MakeBeCool demonstrated their productivity, identified challenges, asked questions, and proposed solutions. Also, they provided transparent and detailed pricing.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Services include design, development, and conversion rate optimization (CRO). They worked in scrum to sketch and prototype the solution before launching it. For CRO, MakeBeCool has analyzed the sales funnel, done A/B testing, and executed implementations. The team has also advised our in-house marketing team and provided their own marketing resources.

What was the team composition?

The team originally included a designer, three developers, and a project manager. We expanded the team post-launch to include a CRO specialist, one marketer, and social media marketing managers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The MVP enabled us to start earning money in the project’s early stages and cut costs. As a new business, we made mistakes with the target audience and the proposal. MakeBeCool helped us resolve these issues. Their CRO efforts increased conversions 250% compared to the solution’s first version. Surprisingly, the total number of users rose from 6,000 to 24,000 in the first year of collaboration.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project manager was immersed in the work and understand all of our specifications. We provided the list of needed functionalities and they delivered great ideas and solutions. We worked in sprints to keep the project on schedule.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team is knowledgeable, proactive, and detail-oriented. They are a great long-term partner that has made the solution reliable and cost-effective.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

We want them to be a more integrated partner. Simplified reports would also help clients understand the incoming information.

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the eCommerce Manager of Farchioni Olii S.p.A.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Since 1780, Farchioni Olii Spa has produced and marketed premium Italian extra virgin olive oil, with a strong commitment to sustainability and Umbrian tradition. In addition to our own products, we also distribute renowned partner brands such as Mastri Birrai Umbri for craft beers and Terre de la Custodia for distinctive wines from the Montefalco region, offering a diversified and authentic selection in the Food & Beverage sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Improve website speed and performance
• Internationalize the online business (multilanguage)
• Integrate the new logistics partner (3PL)
• Optimize conversion rates
• Enhance user experience (especially on mobile)

SOLUTION

How did you find MakeBeCool?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select MakeBeCool over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• shopify experts

How many teammates from MakeBeCool were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

The project involved a full migration from WooCommerce to Shopify, including the development of a custom UX/UI interface optimized for bundled sales of our bottled products. We also developed specific site sections, such as a dedicated recipes page and sensory charts to highlight the organoleptic features of olive oils, wines, and beers. Integration with the new logistics partner (3PL) was also implemented.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Just two months after launch, we've already observed a notable increase in international sales, confirming the successful transition to our new Shopify platform. Our website now conveys a fresher and more modern identity, better showcasing our products and heritage. We're especially pleased with the seamless technical integration of our new 3PL logistics partner. Additionally, performance indicators such as PageSpeed Insights scores and Core Web Vitals are excellent. While it's still early for deeper insights into abandonment or conversion rates, initial results are extremely promising.

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

MakeBeCool's project management experienced an initial phase with some challenges and longer timelines than anticipated, requiring frequent discussions and alignment efforts. However, once past this initial period, the team consistently met the agreed deadlines throughout the second phase of the project. Their responsiveness and willingness to accommodate our needs remained excellent and professional at all times.

What was your primary form of communication with MakeBeCool?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We were impressed by MakeBeCool's deep technical expertise on the Shopify platform and Liquid language, enabling them to craft a smooth, intuitive, and frictionless user experience. The team's ability to anticipate technical needs and swiftly implement effective and cohesive solutions clearly demonstrates their extensive experience in e-commerce development.

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

The briefing phase and final output quality control required significant involvement from our internal team, who frequently provided detailed feedback and guidance. However, this mutual effort ultimately led to high-quality results, making the collaboration overall positive and satisfying.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Manager of Artilab

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Artilab is the go-to custom WordPress development company and is loved by clients. We create high-quality, marketing-ready websites, allowing our clients to focus on their business goals without worrying about the technical side of the business. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Shopify store development and Cross-sell strategies for a Beauty & Personal Care Brand

SOLUTION

How did you find MakeBeCool?

Referral

Why did you select MakeBeCool over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from MakeBeCool were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We work with MakeBeCool on common projects on Shopify because it's their forte. Our client needed a store on Shopify, so we recommended working with MakeBeCool. 
The project consisted of migrating from Magento to Shopify Plus, updating the design and improving cross-sell strategies to increase AOV and overall Revenue for Beauty and Personal Care Brand

The team prepared a transparent project roadmap with a reasonable budget and timeline. The migration was executed smoothly, taking into account all SEO intricacies so that the client did not lose traffic and indexation. The updated design and developed cross-sell strategy paid off from the first days of Shopify Plus launch, increasing AOV by 35%. Communication with our side and the client was organized via Slack, all tasks and testing via ClickUp. I would like to specially mention the excellent communication, delivery on time and organization of work to keep everything under control.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to achieve a 35% increase in AOV resulting in an increase in Revenue, as well as a more flexible and extensible Shopify Plus platform, which significantly reduced our IT architecture maintenance costs

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

Their project management was outstanding.
Our communication was scheduled, they sent weekly progress reports and scheduled work. We communicated via Slack, Online calls, all tasks were in ClickUp. But most importantly their proactivity and expertise in eCommerce and Shopify. They offered solutions, shared their experience and in the end it led to results.

What was your primary form of communication with MakeBeCool?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

It's their experience in eCommerce, backed by deep Shopify ecosystem expertise. Picking the right apps that get results when they set them up, customizing all the intricacies of Shopify itself. Knowledge of Busines benchmarks and the ability to achieve them. And of course communication, organization and planning.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of an e-commerce company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Apparel company based in Switzerland selling globally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Improve Conversation Rate
• Increase Average order value
• Website look

SOLUTION

How did you find MakeBeCool?

Clutch Site

Why did you select MakeBeCool over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from MakeBeCool were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

MBC improved our website massively. Improving our Average order value with upsells. And increased conversation rate with better website adjustments. Big thanks to their whole team, everyone is working hard and delivering perfect service.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have better Average order value and better conversion rates overall.

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

They delivered on time and communication was good. Always one time and clear objectives.

What was your primary form of communication with MakeBeCool?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

How flawless they work. Everything was perfect.

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

Everything was good.