R&G Strategic

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of marketing for our environmental services companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire R&G Strategic, and what were your goals?

Our objective is to partner with a company that will elevate our service offerings through a distinctive, compelling new brand identity to support a new environmental business unit that will consolidate four currently distinct business units.

This project is a critical first step in developing a dynamic, integrated marketing strategy that involves a new name with an accompanying logo or design. We intend to create a distinct, recognizable identity that evokes environmental sustainability in the minds of our clients, employees, and other stakeholders.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were seeking proposals from experienced agencies. Our evaluation included an assessment of your team experience, relevant industry experience, evidence of past performance, and references.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

The purpose of the project and expected tasks were to:

• Consolidate the brands of four business units to streamline marketing
• Keep existing business unit emphasis, but realign to correspond to four focus areas: environmental, forestry/arboriculture, agriculture and technological solutions
• Capture synergies among the competencies of our various business units to elevate our business
• Dismantle silos among business units, so they work more closely together
• Deliver environmentally sustainable solutions to our clients
• Reflect company values (Safety, Family, Integrity, Excellence, Stewardship)
• Eliminate the confusion associated with current multiple brand business units’ names
• Streamline and improve search engine optimization (SEO)
• Facilitating meetings to develop recommendations, strategies and processes to identify and select a new brand name
• Provide market research on naming within the target industry to determine key components or considerations
• Develop a unique logo or design that evokes environmental sustainability in the minds of our customers, employees and other stakeholders
• Facilitate a transition to the brand and logo.

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

We worked with a CSO, CCO, lead designer, and designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are in the final stages of our project and are excited to be on time and within budget.

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

We had regular meetings scheduled weekly or bi-weekly through facilitated Teams meetings to provide market research and develop recommendations, strategies and processes to identify and select a new brand. We used Slack, Teams and email communications.

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

Their commitment to the industry and our shared interest in sustainability were driving forces that united teams and project goals. In our united efforts to identify a new brand name, we uncovered an exceptional name - speaking to the heart of who we are - as a distinct, recognizable identity that evokes environmental sustainability in the minds of our clients and our employees.

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

We needed the opportunity to digest the information logically that didn't require us to decide on the fly. We discussed adjustments to the process that allow our expectations to have previews of the materials so that we could provide insight from the execution of the branding materials.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the communications and administrative associate working with the Nova Scotia Innovation Hub. We work to accelerate the growth of Nova Scotia's low-carbon bioeconomy. The NSIH facilitates best-in-class, investment-ready conditions for bioeconomy ventures on their path to commercialization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire R&G Strategic, and what were your goals?

We hired the R&G team to develop a website for our project; Nova Scotia Bioeconomy Sites. Our goal was to have a sleek, modern website that highlighted locations throughout the province that were open to co-locating with bioeconomy firms. We wanted something eye-catching that 'put us on the map' and supported our investment attraction initiatives.

SOLUTION

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

The NSIH team previously worked with R&G to develop our current brand and website. The deciding factors for our choice were their commitment to sustainability and deep knowledge of web design and development.

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

We had a kickoff meeting with stakeholders and began the project. From there, we were presented with various wireframe designs. Upon approval of the wireframes, the visual designs were shared. Next up was a run-through of the functional website, an exciting step for us all. The website operates within WordPress using Divi, which the R&G team walked me through upon finalizing the project. We stayed in contact throughout the project which was very useful for our team.

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

Ellen, Lead Designer, was our main point of contact throughout the entire project. A member of the design team assisted us with the development of the NSBS logo. Other members of the R&G team assisted with testing and reviewing of all copy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

R&G worked diligently to ensure the site was prepared for a 'soft launch' so that a client highlighted on the website could use this as an investment attraction tool in his trade mission to Europe. Upon officially launching the website on Feb 1, 2023, we saw 88 visitors. We also attracted two Nova Scotian businesses looking to be added to the website as available co-location sites.

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

R&G's project management style was the perfect blend of professional and friendly. We had regular meetings with our core team, communicating regularly through email, Slack, and Google Docs/Sheets. All members of the team were extremely pleased with each interaction with the R&G team.

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

The R&G team is truly lovely to work with. Everyone that I've interacted with exudes professionalism and knowledge, and is extremely down-to-earth. R&G walks the talk when it comes to sustainability, accessibility, and equality. It made it a pleasure to have the team bring our project to life.

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

There was a small miscommunication regarding the promotional plan aspect of the proposal, but we had required additional logo services so it worked out in the end.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Understory Consulting works with local government and purpose-driven organizations to research, design, and implement community-informed solutions to complex problems. As the founder and solo consultant, I offer facilitation, user research, service design, and evaluation support to partners to create solutions that are useful, inclusive, and sustainable with people's real needs at their heart.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire R&G Strategic, and what were your goals?

We worked together to create a logo and brand system that helped bring my concept into reality. I especially needed help making design decisions that make my practice appear as experienced, thoughtful, and professional as I begin this business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have a personal relationship with the co-founder Liz. They were able to offer me the flexibility in project scope and cost I needed to afford these professional services as a small & new business.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

They created drafts of a logo, including three cycles of design, feedback, and iteration. They shared their expertise on search engine optimization to decide on a company name and keywords. Finally, they played a coaching and advisory role in developing my website on Squarespace, providing valuable advice and troubleshooting support while allowing me to take the lead.

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

I worked directly with Liz, the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer. She also engaged a designer to develop the logo.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have received positive feedback on my site that the logo and design are professional, unique to me, and effective in communicating my services.

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

They were very professional, and followed up with me to help finish the project quickly.

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

Their willingness to approach the project in a way that would work for me, prioritizing value for money, and flexibility to coach me rather than take on the work for themselves.

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

Not that I can think of. They were very professional and offered me invaluable support.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a manager for a real estate group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with R&G Strategic?

We hired R&G Strategic to help create content and design posters and other kinds of digital communications for a campaign we were running. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we figured out the look, feel, name of the campaign, and content calendar. We looked at different stock images of people and places because that aligned with our own communication and marketing guidelines. Once we figured those things out, R&G Strategic put together images, designed various-sized posters, elevator screens, and other content along with messaging. 

After working with R&G Strategic on our first campaign, we decided to add another project which involves designing events like a template. We have four themes, and for each theme, a creative is made, content is created, and templated creatives are drawn up on Canva to be used on an ongoing basis for in-person and virtual events. They also help us source out swag and design illustrations.  

In addition to content, they conducted interviews with internal stakeholders to understand the likes and dislikes across campaigns to be better informed about what they pitched to us. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Sarah (Chief Strategy Officer), April (Designer), and we have two other junior associates. 

How did you come to work with R&G Strategic?

They were a referral; we sent them an RFP, and they came back to us with the best pitch. We weren’t entirely sure what we wanted at that point, but they seemed to understand our direction. We also appreciated that they focused on sustainability, and were a small firm that could hone in on our needs. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $100,000 CAD (approximately $80,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2021, and the engagement is ongoing because we’re continuing to work with them beyond this project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve sent out the posters and different kinds of content to people within our company, but we won’t have any metrics for a while. 

How did R&G Strategic perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve stayed on budget for the most part, and we’ve collaborated well together. We conduct weekly calls and communicate via email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have environmental, social, and governance (ESG) knowledge and full awareness of what and when to say things. They also want to develop strong relationships, and we feel they want to get things right and provide high-quality work. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re satisfied with what they’ve been doing. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about deadlines and continue checking in on those deadlines.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a flood solutions company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with R&G Strategic?

We wanted a new business website design, branding, and strategic thinking.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

R&G Strategic did web development, strategy, and branding for us. They did the site from scratch on WordPress using the content we provided. The site showcases and explains what we do and talks about our previous projects. Overall, they did a great job teaching us how to use the site, which was what I was hoping for.

Regarding the branding portion, they changed our color schemes on our website and did workshops for us to develop our purpose statements and values, among other marketing materials.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Sarah (Founder), April (Designer), and a social media specialist from their team.

How did you come to work with R&G Strategic?

They were referred to us through word of mouth. After an initial interview, they made a proposal, and they were the best firm by far in meeting our needs and sorting what we were looking for.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $25,000 CAD (approximately $19,000 USD) with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2011–June 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received great feedback from our collaborators, had more website traffic, and they worked hard to avoid any issues.

How did R&G Strategic perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was great; they implemented a great system to let us know their current stand with the project. I also appreciated their approach, which was personable and professional — I needed some flexibility with the deadlines, and they acknowledged it.

Regarding tools, we used Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They cared and took the time to learn about our company’s culture and what we wanted to portray. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They did an extra task with our social media, and I felt they didn’t understand our industry very well, so that assignment didn’t meet our needs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Fall all in and ensure a collaborative and open relationship with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an account manager and customer experience specialist at a small-to-medium-sized enterprise that specializes in solar science and reporting. We primarily target the US market, but we have some international clients, too.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with R&G Strategic?

We hired R&G to design and format our inaugural sustainability report.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially requested a review of R&G’s service package and pricing. Then, we negotiated a package that worked for us. After that, our team sent them the deliverables they needed to put together the sustainability report via InDesign. 

Our teams had weekly check-ins to see the progress of the report and provide feedback on the design we needed. After about a month and a half, they delivered the completed report. A week after that, they delivered the final item, which was also a one-pager item. 

In terms of requirements, we needed the report to be professional and easy to read. A cohesive color scheme was needed, too. Since R&G specialized in sustainability reports, they provided us with some feedback on the report’s content. Overall, we didn’t have the in-house skill to execute the graphic design portion of the report, and their resources worked to fill that gap.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from R&G, namely an account manager, a lead designer, and their president. 

How did you come to work with R&G Strategic?

Our marketing lead found R&G via Google. 

How much have you invested with them? 

We invested around $5,000 CAD (approximately $4,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our project lasted from February–May 2022. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our CEO was incredibly impressed by the report’s professionalism; it was more professional and better-looking than he anticipated. Apart from him, many staff members complimented the look and feel of the report. For the most part, people were blown away by the report’s looks. 

We didn’t receive much feedback from external clients, but the general consensus was the same — the report looked nice. 

How did R&G Strategic perform from a project management standpoint?

R&G managed the project well; our lead account manager did a good job of sending us regular status updates. They communicated about the things they needed from us to meet guidelines. We had a tight deadline, and their resources managed us to ensure we could provide feedback for them to deliver the report on time. In fact, they delivered the report a week ahead of schedule. To communicate, we used emails and Slack messages.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What differentiated them was that they specialized in sustainability reporting. They were among the more cost-effective options that focused on such a niche. On top of that, they had the availability we needed; many other sustainability reporting organizations were full.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

R&G offers service packages, but they’re willing to negotiate. If one package doesn’t work for you, they can change it. Note that a change in package scope also comes with a change in price. Other than that, you don’t need to prepare for anything else — they simply do a good job. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Co founder and head of growth for a blockchain development and consulting company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire R&G Strategic?

Improve brand image and build consistency.

SOLUTION

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

R&G created a new, fresh, and relevant branding for our company and products.

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

We had some discovery sessions where R&G gathered information about our project and our needs. After that R&G presented different avenues for design so we could choose a couple of options that set the graphic direction.

Then R&G started working on proposals that followed those styles of design, and once we approved one the R&G team developed the whole branding around it that included the logos for the brand family, guidelines, and some templates.

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

At least 5 resources, although I know there were more involved behind the scenes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our internal community increased engagement as the project was finalized, they all liked the outcome and it's having good response in social media as well.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective as communication always worked. I never felt like we were wasting time during meetings.

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

They really operate as a top-level agency in the industry. The processes they have in place, the involvement with clients, the flexibility, and the quality of deliverables.

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

Honestly not, they have very well defined processes and the team is very qualified and professional. Even for people who doesn't know much about marketing, they do amazingly at guiding you step by step.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Growing Forests buys at risk forests and manages them in an environmentally friendly manner to capture and store carbon. I am CEO and lead the company in all aspects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire R&G Strategic?

To build us a website, develop a logo and various brand collateral assets.

SOLUTION

How did you select R&G Strategic and what were the deciding factors?

Introduced with a strong recommendation from a mutual colleague. Their focus on sustainability jived with our corporate ethos, and Sarah Riley presented a very professional, energetic and capable face for the company.

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

We held weekly team meetings where we worked through the drafting and delivery of one deliverable after another. We started with the development of a logo to get a broad outline of aesthetic direction, then proceeded with the development of our website and finally branded collateral assets. It was a very simple and straight forward project.

How many resources from the R&G Strategic team worked with you, and what were their positions?

4 persons at different times worked on our project, with 2 being the primary contacts and doing the majority of the lifting on their end. Their positions were their Junior Strategist and Creative Director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All deliverables were delivered on time and on budget. Everything was to our satisfaction and we continue to receive complements on the different aspects of brand collateral that were developed for us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The RG team was very well organised and coordinated. There was one general point of contact and others only initiated contact when it was obvious as to why. Our team was only me, so that helped to keep communications simple.

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

They have a great ability to coordinate across their distributed workplace and integrate with me remotely. While this has become more standard in the last few years it was still impressive to see it executed so well.

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

Some sub-deliverable deadlines were missed but never by more than 12-24 hours.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an independent consultant and the director of a project for Impact Culture Capital. We’re developing a project that provides affordable housing and workspaces for professional artists, and it’s called Avondale Artist Village.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with R&G Strategic?

For this big village development, we needed someone to help us with the conceptual design and business development phases.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the project with a briefing about the background of our organization and gave them the necessary information and documentation. We discussed our milestones, designed the roadmap on how to achieve them, and set our main goal of benchmarking the project using the internationally accepted criteria.

In terms of sustainability and communication, they provided us with branding and developed our website from scratch through Squarespace. They’re now working simultaneously with us and the governance team to facilitate workshops to align our strategies with the UN sustainability goals, and get a B Corp certification.

What is the team composition?

We work with Sarah (CSO), Liz (Creative Director), Michelyn (Director of Sustainability), April (Designer), and another contracted designer.

How did you come to work with R&G Strategic?

We already established a previous working relationship with R&G Strategic.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested around $20,000 CAD (approximately $15,900 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

The ongoing partnership started in June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve yet to launch our capital campaign so we don't have any performance metrics, but their sustainability strategy is very thorough and clear — our feedback is easily traceable and it comprehensively aligns with our strategies.

Their sustainability strategy is very nuanced and specific to our needs, and we believe it’ll be our prime communication tool with our investors moving forward.

How did R&G Strategic perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication skills are consistent and accurate throughout the partnership. We highly appreciate their flexibility, especially as a startup in the social innovation space where the scope can change at any time.

Furthermore, we’re dealing with a lot of government agencies, so they’ve been very patient and helped us develop a regular periodic communication strategy that works well for us.

They use InVision for the design aspect of the project, and we typically communicate through virtual post-it notes, email, and UberConference for virtual meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Because of their sustainability and communications expertise, we like how they’re able to capture nuances and highlight aspects of the project that we may have missed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Wrangling us was tricky enough because we were dealing with so many parts of the project, so they could improve on pushing us to perform better — but then again, this is more feedback on us than it is to them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise you to trust R&G Strategic and be open to their perspective and expertise.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a general partner for a newly formed venture firm that invests in CDR climate technologies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire R&G Strategic?

We engaged R&G to help us with our overall visual brand identity, starting with basic visual assets like logo and landing page.

SOLUTION

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

We were familiar with R&Gs work though we had not directly engaged with them in the past.

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

We have been working on developing an overall visual branding strategy including logos, color schemes, letter heads, business cards, and a basic landing page. We have since transitioned into larger-scope customer facing marketing materials.

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

We have directly engaged with at least 5 people throughout the project, though there have been two people acting as contact points.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I think the best thing I can say is that we have since expanded the scope of our initial engagement. What better review is there than that?

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very. It was fluid and as dynamic as needed under a tight timeline. They were not only open to feedback but very quickly deciphered and acted on it.

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

R&G's team have been responsive, talented, capable, fun, and incredibly insightful/knowledgeable about our space. It has been nothing but a pleasure to work with them — they always deliver under tight timelines. We gave them little in the way of direction and they returned with what we wanted. Best possible outcome.

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

So far I'd give the project a 10/10.