Motto®

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a small business startup called Salt of the Earth and I am the founder. We sell primarily men's goods that are made in the USA and are natural, absolute essentials of what we carry with us each day. I handle all of our day-to-day operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Motto?

We understood the importance of having cohesiveness and a common voice in our market, especially when it comes to marketing. We approached Motto to help define our identity without having too many tangibles.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started by filling out questionnaires about who we are, what we're trying to do, and what our goals were. Motto wanted to understand the core of our company to make sure that they were a good fit for us.

We then had a series of open conversations to further define our strategy and funnel all of that information to one place. Once they had a pretty good concept of our company, they asked for a series of images of things that we like and don't like. They scoured through those photos and developed three themes we could work with. We selected one of the three.

The final deliverables we received from Motto were a number of assets for our brand mark, including the imagery, color themes, and specific typography. 

I worked primarily with the two co-founders: Sunny Bonnell and Ashleigh Hansberger.

How did you come to work with Motto?

This was our first engagement with a branding agency. We did a heavy search for providers for about six months, and received around three proposals. I did quite a bit of research and ultimately decided to go with Motto.

I could sense that they were more hungry, bold, outgoing, and brash as far as breaking the norms. Motto focuses on quality and truly understanding what is important and meaningful rather than some of the other companies that submitted proposals. You could sense that they had a more corporate environment.

How much have you invested with Motto?

We spent $15,500. The original budget was $15,000, so there was one minor change.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Motto in April 2017 and the project is now complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did Motto perform from a project management standpoint?

They were a real pleasure to work with. The Motto team was very professional, courteous, and helpful. They handled the project very well.

What did you find most impressive about Motto?

Motto has a passion for this kind of work. They are great at digging in and understanding our goals and visions. I'm even more pleased now than when I was when we first began working with them. As we continue to grow, I have no doubt that we will go back to them.

Are there any areas Motto could improve?

Not really - all in all, it was a great experience working with Motto and we're extremely pleased with our finished results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a company that makes headphones. Our products customize sounds to the way that you hear.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Motto?

We needed help with overhauling our brand as well as with website development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was a big branding project, involving a lot of design work. Motto created a manifesto for the company, a brand identity, logo, photoshoots, and collateral. The website was also a part of that.

How did you come to work with Motto?

Our CMO did a review for quite a number of companies. He was referred to Motto and had several calls with them. After talking to them, we were pretty sure that this was the right company for us.

How much have you invested with Motto?

We’ve spent more than $100,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started November 1, 2016. A big chunk of branding work has already been completed. The website is still undergoing some work, so we will probably continue collaborating with them in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I think Motto’s work was exceptional and outstanding. We’ve been getting amazing feedback from stakeholders, investors, and consumers about what we have been doing and what it’s done for us. We see a lot of very positive indications. There are more shares, likes, and engagement on the website. That’s because Motto enabled us to create content that people are interested in. Across the board, the reception is very positive.

How did Motto perform from a project management standpoint? 

Sunny and Ashleigh are a very inspiring leadership team to work with. They make sure that the actual deliverables are done very well. It has been a great experience to work with them, particularly for executives in the company, because they took us on a voyage. It has resonated and not just on the specific stuff that we hired them for.

Are there any areas Motto could improve?

Not that I can think of. I was extremely pleased. They did what they said they would do when they said they would do it. They are very passionate, responsible, and creative people.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Motto?

Listen to what Sunny and Ashleigh tell you to do.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

artnet connects the world’s most influential collectors, professionals, and institutions to business-critical data and information. We hold a unique position at the intersection of art, commerce and culture, and for 30 years have been the most trusted resource for art professionals and collectors all over the world. artnet transformed the market in 1995 with its revolutionary artnet Price Database product, and continues to innovate and lead through artnet News, Galleries and Auctions.

At artnet, I lead marketing strategy across all channels and manage a team of 14 individuals who are responsible for performance, brand and product marketing, email, events and partnerships.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Motto?

Refresh brand language and tone of voice

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to update our mission statement and establish tone of voice guidelines.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Great vibes and they had a clear understanding of the scope of work.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

New tone of voice guidelines + mission statement.

What was the team composition?

The two founders, plus a copywriter.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

NA

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with their positive spirit. I also appreciated their ability to manage a complex executive team

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, they were great! Would be happy to work with them again