MonogramGroup

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of investor relations for Estancia Capital Partners, a private equity firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with MonogramGroup?

We had an outdated website, so we hired them to design a new site.

What was the scope of their involvement?

MonogramGroup started with a discovery phase, interviewing a wide variety of stakeholders. They researched to understand our firm and strategy, approaching the project from a brand perspective. The team helped us reimagine our brand’s voice and its look and feel. From there, they created a UX that matched our brand. 

Our website contains information about who we are, what we do, and how. MonogramGroup got to know our team to reflect our values in the content — cohesiveness, collegiality, and an intellectual backdrop. Additionally, they were involved in training us to make changes to the site, such as updates or adding a new team member. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Scott (President), Chip (Partner & Creative Director), and Charlotte (Account Executive), who kept everything going. Other folks were involved with the copy, wordsmithing, and design. 

How did you come to work with MonogramGroup?

We heard about MonogramGroup and other providers through word of mouth. We did our due diligence, interviewed dozens of providers, and landed on MonogramGroup due to their research-driven approach and consistently excellent previous work. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July–March 2022.

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

MonogramGroup succeeded in creating a substantial website that’s also visually stunning. We’ve gotten excellent feedback on the site’s look and feel and the content. The team didn’t take a cookie-cutter approach; they listened to what was important to us and found creative ways to represent our strategy and team.

Moreover, they were very thorough in their discovery phase. They educated us, and the site is unique as a result. We’re keeping the site live for a few months before putting out a press release to ensure everything is running smoothly. We'll have more metrics when we’re in the market with a new product. Still, if we ever need their services again, MonogramGroup will be my first call. 

How did MonogramGroup perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent at staying on budget, and they were very good at meeting deadlines. We used Basecamp for project management and had regular Zoom calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by how cerebral MonogramGroup was. They took the time to research and understand our goals and who we were, both individually and collectively. Moreover, they did a fantastic job approaching the project from a brand perspective. The team was very helpful regarding how to represent ourselves across marketing content. 

There are a lot of other website designers that might make something really splashy. However, MonogramGroup didn’t just build a fancy site; they used their insight to create a substantial product. Chip was particularly good at combining the substance with a strong visual experience. Overall, MonogramGroup was a true partner, thoughtful and research-driven.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn’t have any constructive feedback for them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as open as you possibly can. MonogramGroup is there to find the best in your product and help you enhance your brand. Listen to them, because they have really good ideas, and they’re very smart people.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the senior VP of business development at Zietlman Partners, a financial services firm that invests in real estate and operating businesses. 

What challenge were you trying to address with MonogramGroup?

We wanted to expand our company's reach into the Philadelphia market, but our marketing campaigns fell short and we weren't connecting with consumers. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

MonogramGroup developed a marketing strategy that connected our business to consumers in the Philadelphia market. At the start of the engagement, we provided existing marketing collateral that explained our business and a copy of our website. The MonogramGroup team researched the market and conducted interviews with key company stakeholders. MonogramGroup then started revamping our branding, laying out the company's history, legacy, and achievements. Using that information, we updated our name and MonogramGroup designed a brand new logo and website to tie into the new marketing strategy. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Michael (Account Executive), Scott (President), Chip (Partner and Creative Director), and a web designer. 

How did you come to work with MonogramGroup?

We hired MonogramGroup because of their expertise working with over 55 other financial service firms. We liked that their group had expertise in our industry and a basis of comparison when creating our brand statement.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $30,000–$35,000 with MonogramGroup. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with MonogramGroup was from March–September 2021. 

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

We launched the website in December 2021, but I haven't been tracking any metrics to measure success yet. However, we've gotten a lot of positive feedback on our new branding from existing investors, operators, and industry colleagues. Everyone we've interacted with loves the new logo and name. 

How did MonogramGroup perform from a project management standpoint?

MonogramGroup kept us on track with the deliverables. At the beginning of the project, we used Basecamp to share documents, but we eventually phased it out. They provided us with the information we needed to review ahead of time and were responsive to feedback in those meetings. Besides Zoom meetings, we communicated regularly with MonogramGroup via phone calls and email. MonogramGroup worked quickly and any delays were on our side of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I've worked with many different branding and marketing companies before, and we didn't get to have a lot of input into the project's direction. However, MonogramGroup was extremely open and collaborative during the project. We asked them to take our company's legacy and success and represent it aesthetically and professionally, and MonogramGroup really rose to the occasion. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

MonogramGroup always wanted to ensure that the work they presented was well-polished, but I would've appreciated being involved earlier in the design process. That way, we could've achieved our desired results a little faster because we wouldn't have had to go back when they took our branding in a direction we didn't want to go. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise customers to provide MonogramGroup with as much information about their company as possible. Also, customers shouldn't hesitate to ask questions, request clarification, or push back on MonogramGroup's work. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of a market research and consulting firm. 

What challenge were you trying to address with MonogramGroup?  

After a transition of ownership, they helped us with a full rebrand, including creating a new name, logo, website, and marketing materials.

What was the scope of their involvement?

MonogramGroup took three months and came up with hundreds of different designs and color combinations. They were very detailed and delivered 40–50 complete logos and designs. We chose what we felt was marketable and would have good staying power.

We were looking for a monosyllabic or two-syllable name. This was a challenging process, as they had to go through a trademark analysis. The website itself was given a new UX/UI, color scheme, and layout as well. MonogramGroup also developed a two-minute-long video for us to post on the site.

Regarding branding, I delivered referenced material, and they spent nearly one month interviewing both our employees and our clients to gain an understanding of who we are, who the market things we are, and where we want to go in the future. Then, they delivered a brand bible including messaging, font size, and a discussion of our value proposition. Other marketing products included PowerPoint and Word presentation templates.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 5–6 core people, including a project manager and one other point of contact.

How did you come to work with MonogramGroup?

We were referred to them by a mutual client of ours. I asked this party for a group with private equity experience.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $60,000–$70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June–December 2021.

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

It’s hard to pinpoint exact ROI in marketing, but we’ve announced the changes to our current clients and other professional colleagues, and their response has been overwhelmingly positive.

We have contacts that do web development for startups and other business, they’ve been very impressed with MonogramGroup’s work. this gave us a lot of validation. They’ve exceeded our expectations.

How did MonogramGroup perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great, communicating through email, weekly Zoom check-ins, and frequent calls.

There were small extras we asked for that went outside our Scope, and MonogramGroup was upfront about that creep. They were flexible in making changes and reallocating resources to stay within budget as we progressed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Monogram Group excels at the pre-work that goes into rebranding. They spent one month getting to know us with internal interviews, as well as interviews with our clients to understand what the market’s perception of us was. Their team was able to craft a brand and logo that aligned with this information really well. The work never felt like a one-size-fits-all exercise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The talent lives very much at the top levels of the organization. It’s hard to replicate that all the way down the business, so when interacting with their top two people, they had noticeable prowess that didn’t carry through in the same expertise throughout the lower level.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide them with as much access as you can upfront, allowing them to understand your business and speak to your clients. This will result in the best possible project.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of The Saranac Group, a consulting firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with MonogramGroup?

I’d been away from business for four years, working as a global leader at a big company. I wanted to relaunch the entire practice, but the website was ten years old. Therefore, I needed somebody to come in and advise me on how to optimize the site — I wanted a straightforward website with clear, consistent messages and easy navigation.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially gave MonogramGroup detailed feedback, and they started by looking at the old website and hearing my vision for the new one. We were a very hands-on client; we researched competitor websites and sites within the space to give them the most concrete guidance, and we think they appreciated that.

The team was intellectually nimble. As soon as they had a sense of what we thought would be compelling, they took that ball and ran down the field with it. It was the same with the aesthetic — once we gave them concrete parameters, they took over and had the first iteration ready for review.

We requested some features, but they also suggested others, which was really important for us. MonogramGroup developed their own point of view about what we should include, and in more than 50% of the cases, they were spot on and gave us ideas we wouldn’t have thought of on our own. For example, after they learned what we do, they strongly suggested that the website include case studies. If you look at the venture capital and private equity world, the higher quality websites have case studies.

During development, we took a break for almost two full months because I was tied up with board work, so I wanted to be fair to them and put it on the back burner until I could dive back. If we hadn’t taken a break, the website would’ve been up and running by July.

What is the team composition?

Four people were involved in the project. We worked with Charlotte (Account Executive) and Samantha (Graphic Designer), who ran the technology piece. We also had someone on creative, and they had a junior associate helping at one point.

How did you come to work with MonogramGroup?

They were referred by a very successful private equity firm that had used them for their website. I initially considered two firms: one on the East Coast and MonogramGroup. I interviewed them both at length, but when I looked at the sites that MonogramGroup had developed before, it was clear that they understood the space of investors. Since I knew that audience would be visiting my website, MonogramGroup had the right touch and tone in all aspects.

On the other hand, MonogramGroup’s pricing was a bit higher, but I decided it was worth it due to the caliber of people I met. Their staffing included a couple of incredible people on the creative side, and the people on the technology side owned the project and kept it moving.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2021, and we rolled the website in September 2021. However, we’re still in touch in case I need anything.

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

We can’t share metrics, but the reaction from the people who visit the site has been uniformly positive.

How did MonogramGroup perform from a project management standpoint?

They did very well. We had virtual meetings, which were always very productive. We’d arrange them according to the phase of the project at whatever cadence it was needed.

For communication, we emailed on an ongoing basis.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Some of the highest value we derived from the engagement was that they understood our competitive terrain and developed their own perspective. They learned quickly about what we did and the vision we had for the new website.

Also, the project was staffed leanly, so it had the right number of people with the ideal expertise and qualifications. Creative firms can put too many people on the project or rotate people in and out, making it more challenging to get to the finish line. However, MonogramGroup had consistent staffing; they all stuck from beginning to end.

It was equally important how careful they were at listening. The team was smart and perceptive, and they demonstrated they’d paid attention when they came back with suggestions.

Nonetheless, they remained flexible if we said we needed to work in a different direction. Sometimes creative folks can get very dogmatic and lock into their idea, but it was nothing like that in this case. They took or feedback and then took it to another level.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Perhaps they could’ve figured out more quickly what we did, but that didn’t slow down the project at all. Any time MonogramGroup has to ramp up on any business, it takes them a while to know what their client does.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

First, I’d ask them to commit to who will be on the project and what role each person would play. Also, I’d want to know whether any or all of the proposed professionals had worked on similar projects, including my industry or something analogous to it, as well as concrete examples to assess the quality of the work.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing partner of a private equity fund that targets industrial family-owned businesses in the Midwest.

What challenge were you trying to address with MonogramGroup?

We needed help with branding, a website, a name, and a logo.

What was the scope of their involvement?

MonogramGroup helped us with development, design, messaging, logo design, and selecting the name of our company. The team also helped with our brand image. We started with a lot of educational diligence where we helped them get to know us and what our goals as a company were.

Next, we moved onto the naming stage to determine a name that would encapsulate our image the best. Afterward, we gave that name a logo. Then, we built a PowerPoint presentation so we can help prospects easily learn what our mission is. Lastly, we created a Squarespace website to communicate our vision.

What is the team composition?

We worked with their founders. There were a number of subordinates that also assisted.

How did you come to work with MonogramGroup?

I found them online. They’re a branding agency that focuses on a private equity, which is rare. They had a great value pitch, and we decided to move forward from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2020, and our work is ongoing.

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

MonogramGroup is excellent at determining what part of your message is most salient to your target audience; they distill that message into digestible words that your audience can easily understand.

How did MonogramGroup perform from a project management standpoint?

They did very well. We used Basecamp for project management. We also had regular Zoom calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re able to triangulate the message you’re trying to convey in a way that’s received well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was pleased with the final product. They were great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Follow their instructions; they’re the professionals. Listen especially close if they share a strong viewpoint.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Liquid Yacht Wear. We sell uniforms for superyacht crew members.

What challenge were you trying to address with MonogramGroup?

We hired them to revise our website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The old website was on a proprietary platform. We hired them to modernize it and give it a new look but also to introduce an e-commerce functionality to it. We didn’t have e-commerce until now. MonogramGroup built the website on WooComerce, utilizing WordPress in the backend.

We had an initial kickoff call to find out more about the scope and work that was needed. They took a look at our current website and some development we had started in order to understand the scope of the work. 

They brought in their technical and development teams then presented a proposal with detailed deliverables, timeframes, and a strict budget. At that point, we eliminated some of the deliverables and made decisions about what’d be done in-house and what they’d handle.

Once we came to an agreement on a work product, we got started. There was a team dedicated to keeping the progress moving forward. We collaborated throughout the process.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager, web developer, UI designer, general manager, and several QA specialists. There were about 7–8 people working on it.

How did you come to work with MonogramGroup?

They were referred to us as a company that had done good work and understood the type of work we needed to be done. They understood our constraints in terms of timing and budget. Our team felt that they’d get the work done on time.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $17,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was from October–December 2020.

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

MonogramGroup delivered on time and within budget. The functionality is there and everything on the site works. We were happy with the final product.

How did MonogramGroup perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication was excellent, and they were extremely prompt about meeting deadlines. Even when we ran into a couple of snags, they were great at communicating with me on what they were running into. They proposed options to move forward.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They followed through on commitments and kept with it even when challenges arose. Their team put in the work to do the job correctly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be quick to respond to their questions because they work quickly. Giving them the information they need allows them to move the project along.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the president of a boutique consulting firm that is a seasoned CEO that advises fellow CEO's. I have expanded into a business development specialty for manufacturers that supply large national restaurant chains.

For what projects/services did your company hire MonogramGroup?

I have been expanding and realized that I need to formalize my brand and thus hired MonogramGroup to accomplish that endeavor.

What were your goals for this project?

Generally speaking my goals for this project where to establish a brand which was not formalized. The objective was to base the brand on real direct nonbiased client and channel network leveraging industry research.

Once extensive information was gathered utilize that information to engineer solutions for the needs of my key decision making units. Then compile this research focusing on target objectives and design a fresh creative designer oriented website to reflected the "essence" of my brand.

How did you select MonogramGroup?

I had interviewed seven companies and standardized the scope of work proposal requests allowing for an objective selection process.

The pool of talent was very impressive and competent however MonogramGroup was able to inch out their completion by delivering a great fit and chemistry which exuded from a hands on seasoned approach.

They also worked much harder to earn the business and hindsight illustrated it was a reflection of their unwavering commitment to amazing customer client service. They wanted a long term relationship not just a project victory.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Market research including a basic competitive audit and up to 12 external interviews as basis for a deliverable Brand Brief to be utilized for:

• Tagline / Elevator pitch Creation
• Graphic Identity Creation with Logo replacement o Crossroads Story Do a complete “straight forward” Web Design
• Comprising of 4-6 pages
• Web Development
• Original Photography o Content Development/Copywriting o Utilizing something like Squarespace With Options
• Digital Advertising – primarily LinkedIn o Search Engine Optimization o Order Form Design o PowerPoint o Email Template o Brand Book o Video production

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with the founder on major issues, touched base with other partners on specific project elements and then dealt with an extremely competent liaison / project manager in addition to various project specialists along the way.

MonogramGroup also connected me with outsourced resources they recommended which worked outstandingly well.

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

The metrics that illustrate the value and impact of the initiative markedly expanded my brand awareness and generated noticeable traceable traffic with particular note of increased LinkedIn connections. The results frankly exceeded expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

MonogramGroup performed like a swiss watch from a project management standpoint. They communicated regularly and clearly scheduled meetings with feedback at lightning speed.

Managing expectations was very easy since everything was clearly communicated and followed through on. MonogramGroup responded to all feedback by diligently working to satisfy the significant demands of the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed by MonogramGroups professionalism, follow-through, thoroughness and delivering results beyond expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Have no suggestions for improvement.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was hired by Surface Prep to handle CMO work. While I work for a fractional CMO provider, I was representing Surface Prep in this project with MonogramGroup.

What challenge were you trying to address with MonogramGroup?

This was a pretty large project. After growing through an acquisition, we needed to rebrand and determine a brand architecture that covered 10 of their companies.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Several of the companies involved maintained their identities, but all received new brand identities and labeled themselves as a Surface Prep company. In total, there were five logos built in the project. They used colors and brand identity elements together to determine our new look and feel.

I worked for Surface Prep to manage MonogramGroup’s work on the project. Because the effort was large and complex, I served as a marketing resource. At this point, all of the assets and products have been rolled out, so my portion of the project has been completed. They may choose to continue to work with MonogramGroup on other projects in the future. 

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Michael (Copywriter, MonogramGroup) and Scott (President, MonogramGroup) on the work. 

How did you come to work with MonogramGroup?

Surface Prep decided that they were going to need additional help to brand their businesses correctly. Once they decided that they were going to need brand architecture, web work, and new assets, they brought their team and me on board to make it happen.

How much have you invested with them?

They invested approximately $130,000 in MonogramGroup’s services. There was additional third-party work that was completed as well, so the grand total was closer to $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from July–December 2019.   

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

It’s too early to put anything into metrics, but this will have a huge impact on their business. Essentially they were 15 disparate companies that are now ten, interrelated by branding architecture. They have one shared website. The private equity company wanted to do this to increase their multiple by a significant amount. 

It was a complicated project with moving parts that were lacking a willing audience. They did a great job keeping the project on track, completing all of their work in just a few months. Their team stayed on time and on budget, despite changes in scope. For instance, they were expecting a 100-page website. However, it came out to be about 200 pages. They provided outstanding work. 

How did MonogramGroup perform from a project management standpoint?

We were only able to stay on time and on budget because of their excellent project management skills. My role within this project was to ensure that they got the information they needed to perform well. The project was so fast-moving, so responsiveness was key. We used Basecamp, Google Docs, email, and phone calls. Our client preferred to keep communication old-fashioned, and they were willing to do that. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their vision and creativity really distinguish them from others. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because we had so many web tasks, I’d consider moving Basecamp to Monday. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re creative visionaries, and their work is high-caliber. Sometimes, the client isn’t ready to take creative suggestions. We were able to navigate through that issue. However, it’s important to judge the client’s receptivity for some of the creative concepts. For us, that mostly pertained to the video. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Ashton212, a business impact consulting firm. We package teams of resources, from individual consultants to full-service agencies, to provide the entire service that a client is looking for.

What challenge were you trying to address with MonogramGroup?

Our client, a religious educational organization in the Bay Area, had planned to hire a separate research firm for the creative part of a rebranding project. However, when we pitched that we could do end-to-end services for them, they chose us. We were hired to facilitate a full rebranding of their organization, and we subcontracted MonogramGroup to work on behalf of this client. They held a big responsibility in the outcomes of the engagement. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

MonogramGroup was part of the team that we put together to execute this rebrand. They were involved in both the research and creative aspects of the engagement.

First, we did a comprehensive research project. Jackie (Partner/Research Director, MonogramGroup) led a research initiative against all of the organization’s stakeholders, conducted in person and over the phone. This allowed us to see that the problem stated in the proposal was not the true problem, and we showed this to the organization’s board of trustees.

Then, MonogramGroup, in collaboration with me as the engagement lead, made recommendations on the direction that we needed to go in from a creative perspective. We generated a new logo and created a strategic direction for the in-house marketing team. 

We also worked with MonogramGroup on the website. They created the site’s wireframe and design direction, and then those were turned over to some internal resources. Our teams collaborated on recruitment models and made social media recommendations. Some collateral came out of this, including videos.  

We ended up turning the client over to MonogramGroup for any further work they needed done. 

What is the team composition?

Our main points of contact were Jackie, Scott (President, MonogramGroup), and Harold (Former Partner/Creative Director, MonogramGroup). Chip (Partner/Creative Director) also worked behind the scenes, and I occasionally met with a couple of junior team members who were part of the creative brainstorming process. 

MonogramGroup had direct contact with the client; we didn’t stand between them. They were involved in the client’s pitch meeting with their board. We worked collaboratively, as we do at Ashton212 in the spirit of the engagement and making sure we have perspective, but MonogramGroup was very much front-and-center in client contact throughout the engagement.  

How did you come to work with MonogramGroup?

I went to college with Jackie, Scott, and Harold. I knew that they were a collaborative team with end-to-end services, from research through strategy and creative execution. It was nice knowing that I wouldn’t need to worry about bringing in another research team. When hiring partners, I look for independent thinkers who don’t need guidance and who I’m confident will represent our brand to clients in a good way. We didn’t have to tell MonogramGroup how to work; they’re professionals at what they do. 

One of the primary reasons we selected MonogramGroup was that they had experience in our client’s sector. They knew the spirit of the engagement and what we were trying to solve. My company seeks to find the experts that are well-versed in the client’s particular problem so that we can win engagements.

We’d spoken with MonogramGroup about other projects before hiring them for this one. As a marketing strategist, I’m looking for the thinking before the doing, and I knew that Scott had very strong instincts around branding. In my mind, he’s one of the best in terms of his ability to synthesize and make strategic recommendations, along with having a creative orientation from his design past. I also had full confidence in Jackie’s research abilities, as we’d actually worked together when we were both at different companies. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent more than $100,000 but less than $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together started in July 2012 and ran through July 2013.

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

I’d say that in summary, they do good work. I’ve always been more than satisfied with their approach and execution. For a consulting firm or agency, the real win is whether you come back to work with them again, and I have with MonogramGroup. They’re an agency that I think highly of; they’re very skilled and motivated to do good work. The team takes great pride in the results. For example, Jackie is a fabulous researcher. She makes it easy for clients who may not have that level of expertise in research to understand what she does, how and why she does it, and what the results mean.

When Jackie, Scott, and I were brainstorming the results that we got, we had a lightbulb moment and knew what the results meant. When you have an opportunity with an agency to have a lightbulb moment, you know you’re onto something. MonogramGroup always looks at each client individually and considers what’s best for them. They’re energetic and thoughtful, and their solutions are spot-on.  

When our partnership with the client ended, we left them in a very favorable position, and they were pleased with our work. I’d say we did a good job if we pleased a board of 30 members.

How did MonogramGroup perform from a project management standpoint?

MonogramGroup managed the budget and timeline, and they were never late. Those were partly my responsibilities as engagement lead, but they never under-delivered. They did exceptional work that went beyond my expectations. I think they were very excited about the potential of this client and where the work was going to go. They also had some experience in this sector before, so this was a fun project for them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

MonogramGroup is smart. I think there are a lot of agencies who don’t have a research component or a strategic lens to branding, and they rebrand for the sake of rebranding. I didn’t get that sense with MonogramGroup; they look at the client and think about what the best thing is that they can do for them. First, they start with the brand positioning, asking questions like what is the brand? What are they trying to accomplish? Then, they put the creative energy behind whatever is best for the client.

Their strategic energy gets embraced by the creative aptitude. They do better than good branding, which is born of Scott’s mentoring and coaching. Working with them, I always get the feeling that I’ll get something that has integrity and rigor to it, and that I’ll be able to justify why I’m making that recommendation to the client. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t worked with them in many years, so I wouldn’t critique them now. There were things we had to course correct in the moment. I could be critical of how things were presented, but at the end of the day, we got what we wanted, and we did a great job for the client. 

Anytime subcontracting is involved, both companies need to adapt to how the other works. We didn’t experience a lot of grinding gears in that regard. There can also be the sense that, when working with a subcontractor, they’re an arm’s length away, but that was not the case with MonogramGroup. Sometimes agencies need to be encouraged to think on behalf of the client in addition to honoring their own design integrity, but those are real-time adjustments.

Any advice for potential customers?

Be active participants within the solution. Give MonogramGroup the room to be strategic and creative. Encourage them and be a good collaborating partner, because that energy ultimately gets the best result. In your work with any great agency, hold on for the ride; you might go in some directions that you hadn’t planned on going in order to get the desired outcomes. Trust that process.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of business development for Industrial Opportunity Partners (IOP). We’re an investment firm that acquires industrial businesses and I’m in charge of marketing and deal-generation efforts.

What challenge were you trying to address with The Monogram Group?

Our website was over 10 years old and entirely out of date. We wanted to refresh our image with a new website and branding message to match.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Monogram Group began the project by reviewing several internal and external groups. They spoke to our financing sources, investment banks, management teams, operations groups, etc. to refine our messaging. They narrowed in on our core values and helped create a set of language for us to use moving forward.

From there, they began redesigning our website and incorporating the new branding visuals. They developed the site and marketing collateral utilizing the updated messaging strategy. We followed their suggestion and invested in professional photography for our pages. Currently, the team helps with updates for the site and are available for support.

What is the team composition?

Scott (President, The Monogram Group) has been our main point of contact for the creative aspects of the project. We work with Chip (Creative Director, The Monogram Group) on design tasks.

How did you come to work with The Monogram Group?

We interviewed several firms that had experience in the private equity industry. We wanted an agency that had done projects similar to ours, and The Monogram Group showed they were capable of it. We were impressed by their technical and creative skill sets.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $75,000–$100,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in March 2018 and the engagement is ongoing—the team still provides support for us when needed.

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

We now have a coherent marketing program that clearly conveys our messaging. We’ve received plenty of compliments on the site from our users, customers, and partners—people are impressed with the sophistication of our materials. Thanks to the work from The Monogram Group, our platform is a useful tool and resource, which helps us gain potential clients.

How did The Monogram Group perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is responsive and we hear back from them almost immediately. Our communication is efficient—we’re in frequent contact with the project leads.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of expertise within their industry and knowledge about our niche market stands out. We value their insight into our own business, as we don’t do this type of work often and they guide us through it. Their team is helpful and experienced.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We can’t think of anything for them to do better; we’re fully satisfied with The Monogram Group.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Having a clear vision for the project and conveying it to The Monogram Grop will help you achieve your goals. Also, take advantage of their specific experience and background if your company is in our industry.