Rareloop

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the design and website manager at New Wine, which is a global Christian charity that facilitates churches with their work.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rareloop?

The challenge was two-fold basically. We were looking to redevelop our website and at the time when the pandemic hit, we were doing a lot of physical events that we wanted to move into a digital platform. We also tasked them with producing an event microsite so that we could create a digital event for that summer.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were tasked with creating a website that gave a better understanding for visitors as to New Wine was as a charity. Along with that, they redeveloped the donation module on our website to make it a bit more user-friendly.

They designed and built the website from scratch on WordPress, which was a much more user-friendly CMS than the one we were using at the time. Similarly, they did that for our event microsite, which was also on WordPress. In addition, they co-designed and built the two websites for us, along with using the Stripe integration for the donation aspects.

They gave us some basic SEO and put us in touch with a third party that they had recommended, and they really helped us improve that aspect of our website.

What is the team composition?

There were around five or six people in total. There was a designer, two or three developers, a project manager, and the CEO.

How did you come to work with Rareloop?

My brother-in-law is a web developer and had worked with Rareloop on a couple of projects. I had heard of them from a previous employer as well who had also used Rareloop, so they came highly recommended. We went out to tender, and they were one of the three agencies we got a bid from — we were very satisfied with their presentation.

How much have you invested in them?

It was around £45,000 GBP (approximately $62,400 USD) in total. It was about £15,000 ($20,800 USD) for the event microsite and about £30,000 ($41,600 usd) for the main website rebuild.

What is the status of this engagement?

We made contact in March 2020, and the work was completed in February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the opening months, we saw an increase in user engagement on the website — the number of user sessions increased by 35% during that time. In terms of the microsite, we had huge numbers of people visiting the site in 2020, and we even had 30,000–40,000 visitors at one point. We do a lot of events and publish them on our website, and it has probably reduced the time in half for how long it takes to set up an event on the website now. 

We also liked the way they have designed the backend, because it allowed us to create these events and publish them on the site. People have found the website really easy to use and they’ve been able to find exactly what they want from the main page — whereas before it was quite confusing. It has been a real success I believe.

How did Rareloop perform from a project management standpoint?

They met all the deadlines that we asked of them. They used Asana to keep us involved so we always knew where they were at various points. We didn’t feel like we had to keep checking in to see where things were at, and they were quite open with where they were so that was really good.

It was during the pandemic, so we haven’t been able to have any physical face-to-face meetings with them and it has all been done via Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We came to them with quite complex problems. We were impressed with how they listened and understood our goals from the outset — the way that they offered solutions and advice to those complex problems was really impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, no. We thought it might be a challenge to do this project whilst not being able to meet face to face, but it really wasn’t. It was also just the way they went out of their way to explain problems, and we always felt at ease with them. They were able to make us feel that no question was too stupid which was really good, so I wouldn’t say there is anything that can be improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If I was to offer any advice, it would be to listen to what they say and be open-minded because they are the experts in their field. Make sure you listen to what they have to say and they will obviously take on board what your needs are.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

OCCA is a Christian charity that engages in the big questions about life, philosophy, meaning and faith. I am a communications consultant working with OCCA on website design and digital media production.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Rareloop?

We approached Rareloop to design and build a new website for the organistion. We wanted a fresh look and feel, a friendly user experience, and a better donation journey.

SOLUTION

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

We looked at a number of agencies and compared quotes. We wanted a Wordpress site with bespoke features, but on a tight deadline. Rareloop stood out for their industry experience, high quality portfolio, and their positive approach to problem solving within the constraints of the project.

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

We met for an initial discovery session to map requirements and discuss the overall look and feel of the site. Rareloop used inVision to produce wireframes and to share design concepts that explored different ways of bringing the brand to life. After a few rounds of review, these were finalised and the team commenced with the build. A secure staging environment was set up so that we could load content, test and refine before launch.

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

We worked with a team of five: a director, two project managers, a front-end designer and a developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have had very positive feedback from stakeholders who love the friendliness of the website – both in terms of its welcoming feel and easy navigation. Since launch, we’ve seen a spike in newsletter signups and online donations, and there is high engagement with our content pages.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project was managed through Asana, which was invaluable for facilitating swift feedback and detailed reporting. It was very easy to communicate with the team – they were highly responsive, provided comprehensive documentation, and took a proactive approach to project management.

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

The team was highly adaptable and collaborative. There were numerous unforeseen changes during the project, which they took in their stride. We felt like we were in safe hands throughout, and the quality of the final product speaks for itself.

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

We were thoroughly impressed by Rareloop’s professionalism and expertise. The tools they put in place to plan and manage the project provided clarity and ensured that every facet of the design and development process remained on track. They were approachable, accommodating and efficient. It was an absolute pleasure to work with them.