Expertly Crafted Disruption
Ruckus is a full-service agency that powers game-changing companies and global influencers. Our core strategic engagements in branding, platform design, and campaigns consistently drive greater consumer action and awareness. Boasting a track record that can speak for itself, Ruckus has successfully completed hundreds of projects and been featured on prominent media outlets such as ABC, CNN, CBS, Adweek, The Wall Street Journal, and more. Whether you’re just starting out or evolving your brand, Ruckus will help you grow.

headquarters
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Portfolio
BMW, Beekman 1802, Unilever, Intel, Harper Collins, NYC Ferry, Tweezerman, Diocese of Brooklyn, Indikitch, Crayola, OnePlus, PetValu, DRF, R3, HSBC, MHS, T-Mobile, Golden Krust, Lumasol

Crayola - Emmy Winner
Crayola, one of America’s most iconic brands, continues to inspire young and old minds alike with its array of colorful products. Ruckus shot several Chef's Table style videos, which have garnered thousands of organic views and an Emmy nomination.

HSBC
HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking and financial institutions, wanted to expand its presence and awareness in the Northeast. Ruckus assisted in this endeavor by engaging customers on an original, personal level, leveraging well-attended promotional, and customer-appreciation events to increase interaction.

Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
The Diocese needed to increase attendance at mass and appeal to a younger demographic in one of the most populous and diverse areas of the world - Brooklyn NY. Ruckus was tasked with developing campaigns that would resonate with a younger audience. Through extensive target market research and our creative muscle, Ruckus craft design and messaging, and brought forth a risky proposition to the Diocese - be bold!

BMW
For BMW, creating a comparable association with known personas is important for the brand to generate affinity with customers. In the Lehigh Valley, an Eagles region, there is no better association than the superhero players taking the field in green and white.

Unilever
Murad (Unilever) believes that real skincare combines topical solutions with consumable nutrients to balance health internally and externally. Ruckus designed a thirty-day subscription model, the entire product kit, and the website execution to match Murad's brand guidelines and model.

Tweezerman
If you’ve received an email from Tweezerman in the last few years, we probably sent it. For more than five years, Ruckus has spearheaded digital marketing communications via email and providing creative support for the website.

Mobileye, An Intel Company
Mobileye's autonomous driving technology is integrated into nearly every major car brand in the world. Since 2015, Ruckus has been helping improve the industry leader's American brand positioning and OEM awareness by designing, implementing, and managing its experiential marketing and press events at CES 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

OnePlus for T-Mobile
OnePlus, a leading global manufacturer of android smartphones, exclusively partnered with T-Mobile to launch their OnePlus 7Pro in the US.
Ruckus developed a series of overview videos highlighting the new phone’s capabilities with a novel lifestyle-focused twist to assist OnePlus in explaining the value of the new 7Pro to T-Mobile retail staff as well as use across mass marketing channels.
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iTOUCH Wearables
iTOUCH Wearables is a line of cutting-edge smartwatch products designed to keep consumers stylishly connected at an affordable price. Ruckus was tasked with developing a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site with video content for iTOUCH Wearables brand launch. The site’s digital experience seamlessly introduced iTOUCH products and educated customers with a streamlined user experience.

Altec Lansing
As a brand, Altec Lansing has long been synonymous with great sound and beautiful design. Ruckus was engaged to bring together sound, design, and scenery for unrivaled creative work.

Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (FLMIC)
Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company is a mutual company that provides liability insurance to local lawyers and is owned entirely by their insured lawyers. FLMIC tasked Ruckus with creating new, efficient avenues for lead generation. Specifically, via Google ads, landing pages, print material, and events.

Sea Oats Luxury Estate
The front yard is a beach on the Gulf Coast, the backyard is Florida’s calm Intracoastal, and in between sits a home fit for royalty. Sea Oats engaged Ruckus to develop a website capable of selling the beauty, richness, and spirit of the property. A nine-bedroom resort-style property deserves a resort-style presence.

USAData
USADATA provides intuitive technology for businesses to unlock customer insights and effectively reach ideal, custom audiences. USADATA tasked Ruckus with creating a clear brand identity and seamless web user experience, as they struggled to succinctly explain all they do and lacked a navigable website.

Chrysalis
With thousands of costumes being “one and done”, Chrysalis created a dynamic marketplace to both buy and sell costumes – saving money, reducing waste, and having a helluva good time in the process. Ruckus worked with Chrysalis to transform a strong business concept into a potentially game-changing platform.

Talento
As a new venture for a dynamic, global group with several successful exits in the space, the team turned to Ruckus for Naming, Branding, Design, and Website buildout. Ruckus captured decades of expertise and experience in the new brand, developed an identity, and prepared it for scale through a new site and identity.

Northampton Community College
Northampton Community College is an institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty and impressive student achievements. Shot with a unique perspective, our NCC campaign demonstrated how smart copywriting makes all the difference when addressing brand perception

The Artezen
A boutique hotel located in downtown New York City, The Artezen hotel and Studio Bar & Restaurant offer a serene, zen-like escape from the hustle and bustle of the crowds. Ruckus was asked to create a distinct identity for this bespoke hotel that was informed by specialty artists. Brushstrokes and canvas were worked into every aspect of the design. And so, “The Artezen” was born, emphasizing both craft and relaxation. The rooftop restaurant and bar became “The Studio.” After all, it’s where artists do their best work.

DeSilva+Phillips
DeSilva+Phillips is a leading M&A advisory firm specializing in sell-side and buy-side transactions, capital raises, and valuations for media, entertainment, education, technology, and marketing companies worldwide. Ruckus was approached to help create and showcase new branding that better reflected the company’s partnership with Oaklins’ international banking group.

Hornblower
Hornblower is an innovator on the water, designing events and experiences aboard first-class vessels in New York and San Francisco. Always looking for fresh ideas, Hornblower tasked Ruckus with creative for a new advertising campaign focused on corporate clients.

Baked By Melissa
As Baked By Melissa became a household name and expanded locations throughout the New York Metropolitan area, the brand turned to Ruckus to re-design and re-platform its website. With multiple ways to purchase products, Ruckus ensured that the logistics solutions were as intricate as the design to deliver a cohesive web experience.

Reading Premium
Ruckus revived the 125-year-old beer company by painstakingly developing on its rich history and classic artwork. Over a century of artwork was recreated using modern technology and innovation, leading to a re-imagining of its branding and leveraging its new look in packaging, web design, and marketing campaigns.

J&K Cabinetry
As a newer cabinetry wholesaler with a growing nationwide footprint, J&K asked Ruckus to deliver a sophisticated, visually stunning site. Ruckus designed and launched a wholesale site to represent J&K’s product development approach while remaining accessible for contractors and builders.

Harley Davidson
Harley Davidson of New York had several chains in the greater NYC area, but were lacking in e-commerce presence. Ruckus was tasked with creating a strategy around a centralized shipping and inventory management solution. Our team developed a plan that implemented these technologies and streamlined Harley Davidson's distribution capabilities.

Adar Medical Uniforms
For thirty years Adar designed and manufactured garments for the medical community. In that time, fierce competition with better branding entered the market. A better product was losing to better marketing. Adar turned to Ruckus to completely overhaul everything. We left nothing on the table.

Riley's Way Foundation
RWF’s mission to spread kindness and empathy to today’s youth was in need of a new digital space. Ruckus implemented a robust feature set to encourage users to learn, donate, and volunteer time. The resulting platform brings to the forefront not just the mission, but the individuals who inspire it every day.

Laurea
Laurea designs 24k gold jewelry. Like bullion, the jewelry is an investment, easily trackable via an online jewelry portfolio. Sell back, trade up, or exchange your gold at any time. Ruckus helped bring Laurea to life. We transformed their golden artistry and financial expertise into a unique jewelry experience.

Verlas
An engagement ring is one of the most treasured possessions. Verlas turns it into a one-of-a-kind buying experience. Ruckus was tasked with creating a beautiful, seamless, and high-end brand, and well as a logo for Verlas’ online and unboxing experience.

Residential Real Estate Council
The Residential Real Estate Council (formerly the Council of Residential Specialists) is a nationwide real estate organization offering educational opportunities, networking events, and the prestigious CRS designation for qualified real estate agents. Ruckus was tasked with modernizing and improving the brand’s identity, building a new logo, name, and messaging.

GBC (Global Business Corporation)
GBC attracts large, world-class corporations to Dubai, facilitates seamless incorporation, and promotes global business innovation. Ruckus worked with GBC’s founder to transform his vision into a full-fledged brand.

Wonderlift
WONDERLIFT shakes up modern exploration, combining thrilling adventure and incredible views for an absolute blast! It’s designed for sightseers, adventurers, and unforgettable shared experiences. Ruckus has worked closely with Wonderlift to launch their product sky high. With its mix of branding, web design, and strategy – look for Wonderlift in a location near you soon!

Brewers Hill Development Group
Brewers Hill Development Group is a real estate venture aimed at revitalizing a historic property in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Ruckus is spearheading the entire venture, from planning and soliciting investment to development and operation.

AshChromics
Ashchromics, a subsidiary of Ashwin-Usas, developed FADES technology: high-tech lenses that use sensors to quickly darken or lighten based on their environment. Ruckus formalized the brand, built a robust e-commerce platform, and launched the brand with a full-suite digital marketing campaign.

TRACE
TRACE, a trade organization centered around anti-bribery compliance and work, approached Ruckus with a challenge: help our two similar yet distinct business lines co-exist on one compelling web design. TRACE is made up of two connected organizations, one a 501c(6) non-profit offering membership services, and the other a for-profit business offering risk-management consulting. As a result, organizing information architecture and creating a cohesive flow that guided users on the right path was crucial.

Simply Self Storage
In a crowded industry with major national competitors forging forward with technology and modern brands, Simply Self Storage engaged Ruckus to completely rebrand with a new logo, brand guidelines, signage, uniforms, and a new voice. This project presented a unique challenge - Rebrand 200+ retail locations without picking up a paintbrush. Keep the existing color palette and make it new.

Freida Rothman
Freida Rothman is a leader of crafted glamour for empowered, modern women in the lifestyle market. Her beautiful pieces speak to her sense of style, history and upbringing. Our mission was to increase online sales by expanding the brand and marketing approach.

InMocean
InMocean, the #1 swimsuit manufacturer in the United States, was a modern swimwear manufacturer with outdated branding. Ruckus was tasked with creating a new look and a fresh web presence that matched their industry-leading capabilities.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network is a nationally recognized rehabilitation leader who successfully assisted in the rehabilitation of 16-year-old Megan Miller, who suffered a traumatic injury that left her completely paralyzed. The Ruckus studio combed through footage, developed content, conducted interviews, and weaved them together to form an Emmy nominated narrative.

Moise Safra Center
To manage a world-class facility, you need world-class technology. Behind the beautiful website of the Moise Safra Center is a powerhouse managing scheduling, ticketing, events, payments, subscriptions, donations, communications, and much more. With multiple user types, this complex platform required meticulous planning, a proper mix of industrial-strength components, and a solid team of creatives and developers to bring it to life.

DRF
The Daily Racing Form (DRF) is one of the world’s oldest horse racing media and wagering companies in the world. For its 125th year in business, the company approached Ruckus to re-imagining DRF’s entire web experience and create the ultimate digital resource for horse race wagering players. The site needed to combine access to news coverage, complex handicapping & analysis tools, notes, and online wagering, all in one modern user interface.

The Cashmere Sale
The Cashmere Sale, a high-yield cashmere product retailer, coordinates pop-up stores at dozens of locations nationwide for the holiday season.
To drive brand awareness and reignite demand for The Cashmere Sale each year, Ruckus conducts marketing efforts via email and social media channels, in addition to creating compelling digital creative.

INTURN
INTURN is the only enterprise solution that empowers industry leaders to digitally manage and sell excess inventory. Ruckus was brought on to help the company introduce a new modern look, and launch a powerful website to push past the start-up roots they had outgrown for a more impactful client experience.

WonderWorld
Eight New York-based artists designed WonderWorld—a unique installation space for people to capture and share their experiences on social. Ruckus generated demand for WonderWorld’s nationwide pop-up launch in NYC, leading to a smash hit in ticket sales, digital impressions, and ROI.

Pet Valu
Pet Valu is a specialty retailer of pet food, treats, toys and accessories with stores located throughout Canada and the U.S.
Pet Valu called on Ruckus to direct, cast, film, and edit a TV spot featuring their accessible and affordable dog baths located in their 700+ retail locations.

MHS
MHS is a leading cognitive assessment publisher with Education, Clinical, Talent Development, and Public Safety verticals. Ruckus helped MHS create a brand identity that strengthened their mission and unified the legacy company's verticals.

Indikitch by Deep Foods
Indikitch is a rapidly expanding chain of fast-casual Indian restaurants that prides itself on the authenticity of its food. Ruckus served as a comprehensive marketing partner to Indikitch during a major rebrand, developing their brand messaging, custom font and illustrations, and pretty much all the visual design you'll find in its restaurants.

Admiral Capital Group
Admiral Capital Group is a philanthropically focused investment firm founded by NBA Hall-of-Famer David Robinson and Goldman Sachs alum Daniel Bassichis. Ruckus revamped Admiral’s brand and website to better convey the firm’s unique positioning and modernize its online presence.
Check out the live site here!
Reviews
the project
Digital Marketing for Wholesale Alcohol Distributor
“They’ve been very good at keeping things organized and staying on top of tasks.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the chief of staff and head of marketing for a wholesale alcohol distributor. We're the first wholesale alcohol distributor to create a web platform that sells wine and spirits to restaurants, bars, and retailers.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
We initially hired them to generate leads from both buyers and sellers. Recently, we shifted our focus to general market awareness and corporate marketing support. So, we hired Ruckus to help us with digital marketing.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They’ve provided on-site SEO services and have managed our PPC ads. On top of that, they handle or social media ads and manage profiles on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. They even help us with email marketing campaigns. They also revised our UI when we first started working with them.
What is the team composition?
Right now, we have five team members working on our account.
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
I found them online. I had a few references, but I started researching digital marketing companies and was impressed with Ruckus’ website and the services they offered. They were the most dynamic team that we met with. I also the structure where we have access to all of the team members rather than just one main person. I also liked their aesthetic. They clearly had a passion for what they do.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent about $150,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in January 2020 and the partnership is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Since we started working with them, our website traffic has increased by 20% month-over-month. Our social media engagement has also increased. They also introduced us to Google Ads, and that program has been extremely successful.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
We use Airtable and Slack to communicate. They’ve been very good at keeping things organized and staying on top of tasks.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I like that their senior executives stay involved with the account and I have access to them if I need them. It’s a very flat structure that gives us a lot of access to their team.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No — whenever I’ve provided feedback, they’ve implemented it.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be clear about you goals and the KPIs you plan to measure. We struggled with that in the beginning, and had we been clearer, they would have been able to hit the ground running.
the project
Branding & UX Design for Investment Jewelry Company
"Their web team is strong, and their media team is amazing."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a co-founder of Laurea, a 24-karat-gold jewelry investment company. We deliver 24-karat investment-grade gold to clients, the same as bullion that would normally be bought in bar form. Instead of delivering it in that format, we do it in the form of jewelry.
Our whole value proposition is to change the way people feel and think about investing, essentially making them enjoy their investments. There are two industries that we’re disrupting, the first being gold investment, which traditionally deals with bars and coins. The second one is traditional jewelry.
My partner and I were bankers and investment managers in our previous lives. We sell our products a little differently from traditional jewelers. We sell by weight, and the more someone buys, the cheaper that weight gets. Every single one of our products and prices is linked to the real stock price of gold. The secondary market value for jewelry is extremely low, and people aren’t getting any material value. We’re connecting people back to the intrinsic value of the metal they’re buying, and 24-karat gold is one of the oldest investments mankind has.
After we sell it, all the jewelry appears in an online portfolio, much like a 401(k), and we will repurchase it at the stock price of gold at any time. We have a lifetime guarantee if someone decides they no longer want the piece or want to trade it for something else. That means that people can hold jewelry over a certain period of time, and that value will appreciate. It moves from a liability to an asset.
There are other places to sell jewelry, but people are at the whim of whoever is willing to buy it. With our jewelry, there’s a determinable price based on the market value.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
At the beginning of our journey, we engaged with Ruckus to help with branding. We have to be brand-focused people, given that jewelry requires a connection to the consumer.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We wanted Ruckus to develop a luxury-positioned, investment-driven, and cohesive brand across all the different mediums we were going to use to connect to our consumers. Even though our initial conversation was about branding, Ruckus also helps out with web development, digital marketing, and UX/UI design.
Their team worked with us on the logo creation, fonts, colors, packaging, and photography style. My partner and I have strong views on a lot of things, and it was definitely a collaborative effort.
We’re a direct-to-consumer brand. The first interaction people have with us is packaging, so we were very focused on that. We engaged Ruckus to distill our thoughts into a cohesive concept.
We also engaged them on the asset creation side. They have a media unit for the photography and video.
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
We’re based in New York and Palm Beach, so we engaged around five Miami and New York firms in our search. Clutch was one of the methods we used.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent between $350,000–$400,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our engagement with Ruckus started in early 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We came to them at the very start of our journey, and Ruckus got us to market. They built our whole website and the infrastructure behind it. We’re getting sales.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
They’ve been great deadlines-wise. Everything takes longer than we’d expect as founders. Nobody works as fast as we do because we want everything done yesterday.
The packaging and web development took longer than expected, but we’ve had very good communication with Ruckus the whole way through on what we had to do and why some delays happened. The delays that happened with packaging were nothing to do with Ruckus. COVID happened, which impacted shipping.
On the web development side, Ruckus has gone over and above. We’re super happy with the product, and the scope has broadened as we’ve gone along.
When we jump on a call with Ruckus, it’s more of a summary of which team is working on which project and what they’ve done.
We’ve been able to engage Ruckus across all their verticals, which means that we’ve gotten more synergy than we thought we would. It was especially important to us because we were going to market. Businesses that are already mature may not see the same benefits that we have, but when we’re a go-to-market mindset, shortening the feedback loop and the timeline as much as possible is very important. We believe that that’s happened because we’ve engaged Ruckus on multiple fronts, and those teams are very interconnected.
Work and deadlines can always be improved, in my opinion, but that would be true for anyone. We have no complaints about Ruckus’s timeline management.
What did you find most impressive about them?
When we were looking for an agency, we wanted someone that was big enough to deliver what we needed. We didn’t want a small local firm, but one that had worked on international projects. We also wanted a team that we’d be connected to, which was one reason for choosing Ruckus over others.
We had constant conversations with their CEO and relationship manager. That connectivity was important to us. Ruckus was able to deliver that big agency value proposition, but with that small agency connectivity. That was the difference-maker for us in engaging them.
As the engagement went along, the difference-maker became the synergy we developed on multiple fronts. We wanted our brand to be cohesive across packaging, branding, photography, and media assets that would be used on different social channels. Their web team talks directly to the asset creation media team without being the connector between those departments. That’s made my life a lot easier. They all know each other and talk to each other.
We’ve done engagements where we used other teams, trying to integrate an SEO team with a web development team. Everyone says that it’s going to be really easy, but we essentially have to distill the relationship to one call a week, where we had to translate everything for everyone, as the business owners. Not having to do that has been very refreshing.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Their web team is strong, and their media team is amazing. Ruckus has room to grow when it comes to hiring people on the paid and strategic SMO side. They need the ability to get print and digital media integrated at the same time as paid and organic social, so there’s cohesiveness there.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Stay on top of them. We’re big on having regular catchups, and we have 1-2 calls per week. We’ve created direct relationships with everyone at the firm. I feel connected to each person across the different distribution channels, allowing me to solve problems quicker.
Ruckus has very good, insightful people, so I get something out of it when I have direct conversations with them.
the project
Branding for Healthcare Technology Company
“I was surprised by how quickly they grasped the complexity of our business and multiple markets.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of Multi-Health Systems (MHS), Inc. We’re a healthcare technology company, operating within the behavioral analytics space.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
At the time, we were going through a transformation from a traditional publishing company to a technology company. Our products used to be printed and sold to psychologists and healthcare practitioners. But, the new company we envisioned would be technology- and data-driven. We needed to update our branding to reflect that change as we moved into the 21st century.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Ruckus developed the branding for our company’s transition into the tech space. First, they started with a brand audit, looking at how we fared in the marketplace and our customers’ perception of us. We gave them customer lists and a brief overview of our market and competitors to get them started on their research.
The brand strategy and delivery came second and third. These included typeface, fonts, and logos that we could deploy in different formats. There was also some design for print materials such as letterheads and envelopes.
What is the team composition?
We worked with about eight people altogether. The three closest were the project coordinator, another individual, and the CEO who was quite involved.
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
Our marketing team pulled a list of about 20–30 agencies across North America, and Ruckus responded to the RFP that we put out.
Besides the fact that they were a smaller team, what stuck out to me was their approach. Even during the initial pitch, they didn’t focus on telling us what they thought we wanted to hear. Instead, they were pretty candid. Our owner wasn’t very involved in the day-to-day, but he was still a part of lots of things. Ruckus was comfortable enough to push back against him because they were willing to do what it took to prevent us from derailing the project.
How much have you invested with them?
It was about $200,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The main project lasted between January–December 2019. We actually wrapped up just before the pandemic hit, so we didn’t do a lot of the launch items that we’d planned. We ended up repurposing some of their hours and money into other projects.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We were a diverse business that had a corporate identity along with numerous product identities. That meant that we were struggling internally to agree across our market verticals. Different people in the organization had varying opinions on what was most important.
Ruckus was really able to cut through those issues and build an identity that allowed us to grow the corporate brand while still maintaining a level of investment in the individual brands.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
They were very efficient at project management. We weren’t exposed to their internal project management tools, relying instead on a few on-site meetings and video meetings. They presented us with scheduled meetings and delivery dates and met those as expected.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I was surprised by how quickly they grasped the complexity of our business and multiple markets. Their overall approach felt more consultative, though the team was comfortable pushing back because they were the experts. They just brought a refreshing point of view to the project.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, not for this particular project. They recognized when they missed the mark on certain things and corrected themselves. If they felt we weren’t moving far enough along the journey, they’d push us, too. It was all very collaborative.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Listen to them. You’re hiring a branding expert because you need their help, so don't bring them on and then pretend like you know how to do their job.
the project
Shopify Plus Development for Coffee Company
“No other partner I’ve worked with compares to Ruckus.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the e-commerce director of Death Wish Coffee. We invented the world’s strongest coffee and have had the best-selling ground coffee on Amazon for the last five years.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
We redesigned our website but needed a developer to bring it to life.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Over the course of three weeks, we went through our existing user journeys with them. After that, they presented what they thought the building blocks of our redesign would be to us. We used Adobe XD to design the UX, then we submitted the designs through Zeplin and they developed the platform on Shopify Plus.
Now they provide ongoing maintenance support.
What is the team composition?
Our main point of contact is Chris (Technology Project Manager), but we also worked with Jon (VP of Technology).
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
I found them on Clutch. I interviewed five different web developers and was excited about the possibility of working with Ruckus. After speaking with them, they followed up with me via email, but I accidentally deleted it. They ended up calling me again and we revisited the conversation. I appreciated that they continued to follow up with me. It was clear that they were the right choice for our business.
How much have you invested with them?
We expect to spend $110,000 on developing the website and another $25,000 on maintenance fees (approximately $135,000 in total).
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in August 2020 and we’re still working together.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We submit designs and they provide very direct and actionable feedback, which is amazing.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
They set the bar extremely high when it comes to organization and project management. No other partner I’ve worked with compares to Ruckus.
They’re always prepared for our meetings and are very responsive. They use Asana, but they also happily joined Microsoft Teams, which has made communication so much easier. We get along really well, so even in stressful situations, we enjoy working with them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
After our first MVP kickoff, they walked us through their entire process to help us understand how our work impacted theirs. By sharing their screens, they showed what their workflow looks like once we upload files to Zeplin. Their transparency helped us understand how our work impacts their timeline. Now we always know exactly where we stand.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can’t think of anything they need to improve.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
If you’re looking to level-up your e-commerce brand and increase sales, Ruckus is the perfect partner.
the project
Branding for Boy Scouts of America's 2021 National Jamboree
“The work has been done, but they continue to follow up with me. They always ask if we need anything else.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of the Boy Scouts of America 2021 National Scout Jamboree.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
Every four years, we hold the National Scout Jamboree. It’s scouting’s largest celebration and we have over 40,000 participants over several weeks. Our model had been very traditional, and we intended to move into a more nontraditional mindset. We hired them to create the branding for the 2021 National Scout Jamboree.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We refined the logo and branding strategy with them. They did everything from the colorization and art. Deliverables included a social media brand that we could use for marketing. There was also a logo that could be used on multiple apparel items. It boils down to a patch that all participants in the event can wear. The symbolism was very tight and recognizable. It also has an avant-garde feel. It’s unique, so people who see it know that they’re associated with our event. In the past, designs were simple and include silhouetted people doing scouting activities like hiking, canoeing, camping, and being outdoors. Ruckus went in a different direction and used the symbolism in our scout sign, which is iconic.
What is the team composition?
We worked with Micah (Director of Business Development) and associated with a number of different associates.
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
They won a competitive bidding process. In late 2018, a group of volunteers put together a brief, or executive overview of our needs, which we then presented to 5–6 companies all across the country. We were very intentional about working with, or providing opportunities with companies we didn’t have working relationships with already.
In the spring, we engaged these companies after we sought out a handful that met our requirements. At that point, Ruckus was among our top choices. Then in February and march, we reviewed the concepts that each of the companies created.
How much have you invested with them?
I’m unsure of the exact number but it was between $50,000–$200,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in December 2018 and unveiled the final product in May 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Their designs have resonated well with our customers. We did some release items and giveaways to promote the event, and some of our constituents saw them being used all the way in Brazil. It was pretty incredible to see the brand they created. It clearly has staying power.
We’re extremely pleased with the result that they provided. We ended with an extremely powerful product. Especially for the challenges we’re facing as an organization, they showed great foresight.
According to our brand center, the imagery Ruckus created has been used for print materials and videos, so it will definitely be seen. We even put the logo on a face shield because of COVID-19, and I keep getting calls about distribution. It was a giveaway item, but they’re being sold for $20–$30.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
They were phenomenal. Before securing the work, they followed the instructions that we provided and met the deadlines, then throughout negotiations, they were highly professional. They delivered everything on time.
We had a very open dialog. They helped us directionally and helped brainstorm. It felt very organic and comfortable. We met by conference call.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The work has been done, but they continue to follow up with me. They always ask if we need anything else. That’s just incredible. In my mind, they performed phenomenally.
Are there any areas they could improve?
It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but we never met them face-to-face. To still accomplish what we did, is still pretty incredible. Wanting to have a tighter relationship is probably my old school style. Obviously, they still delivered at a high level.
the project
Branding Strategy & Assets for Sunscreen Startup
“The final assets were great. The energy that they brought to the project was really exciting.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the managing director of operations for Luma Suncare. We’re a health and tech brand. Our flagship product is an SPF product. It’s a direct-to-consumer subscription-based model that enables consumers to get sunscreen in a more user-friendly way, while also triggering reapplication. It’s aspirational because of the unique packaging and refillable with subscription.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
We were looking for a partner to help us establish a brand identity.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They designed and developed different marketing collateral, brand assets, copy for our website, and copy for other aspects of our brand.
Their team leads really tried to understand the project and debriefed us, diving into out interests, values, and mission. They needed to know what we wanted to portray to the consumer.
We went through a few cycles and they would present different ideas to us. Then we would approve or disapprove, and provide feedback until we landed on the final assets ad agreed on the deliverables.
What is the team composition?
There were roughly 10–15 people. There were a few VP-level members who oversaw the engagement and proposal. Within that, there were leads from each department or skills. So I had a point person for copy, design, marketing, and so forth. We also had someone who coordinated across teams. Once we started thinking about future projects, we talked about partners for video in the future. Other worked with us on imagery and so forth.
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
We received lots of referrals, but we also conducted some Google searches. We probably met with 10 different groups, and narrowed it down gradually. From what we saw, they had a pretty solid track record. We hired them for their professionalism, how on top of communication they were. As soon as we made contact with them, they took the reins. They followed up with us and managed communication almost immediately. They had the skillsets we needed and were excited about our product and our mission.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent between $50,000–$70,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project lasted from July–August 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Their overall delivery, and how they presented different options, was fantastic. They created a palette of different color options, and they presented the pros and cons of each option. They truly helped us determine what was best for the business. Based on our top choices, they gave us some feedback and we had an iterative back and forth until we got the perfect solution.
People love the results. We haven’t had any negative feedback so far. We’ve recently launched, and it’s been very exciting.
They were able to incorporate our feedback, and that really impacted the success of the project. They did a great job with that. They’re super hands-on, and they took the time to get to know our brand. We got to know their team pretty well, and we’ve done various projects with them.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
Their time to delivery was great, which we needed and appreciated. They were very responsive. We had weekly calls. At the beginning of the project, they brought in some of their senior partners to go over their services, skillsets, and capabilities. From that we put together a scope of work. Our second meeting was in their offices in New York. They were very collaborative and their whole team was there.
Once they gathered all of that information from us, we worked together on a daily and weekly basis to review everything.
We used a platform to store documents on the cloud. I had one main point of contact, and that really streamlined communication. It was really easy to get in contact with them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The final assets were great. The energy that they brought to the project was really exciting.
Are there any areas they could improve?
The only downside was that they were in New York, so videoconferencing could have been helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be clear and direct with your needs. Outline what you’re looking for, and have an open discussion so they can provide some input. Listen to what they have to say and go from there.
the project
Rebranding & Web Dev for Swimwear Manufacturer
"They were on top of the project at all times, which made us feel like we were their only client."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a marketing director for a swimwear manufacturer.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
We brought them on to help us establish our company as an industry leader. Our organization pivoted to move into e-commerce but people in the industry hadn't heard of us. We wanted to step up and relaunch our brand and move into more B2B marketing.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Ruckus helped us rebrand. At the beginning of the branding project, their team held brainstorming sessions. They came to our office to meet our team. We talked about everyone’s expectations.
Then, their team created different business materials. They recreated our logo, email signatures, letterhead, and business cards. They built a brand book and corporate sales deck that summarizes our company.
They helped us build out and launch our company website. Their team developed the site in WordPress, but they did custom work.
What is the team composition?
We had a day to day contact but worked with probably 15 different people over the course of the project. They let experts step in at the right time.
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
I looked into a couple of past partner agencies and agencies that work with us for other functions currently. I looked online and found Ruckus. I contacted them out of the blue and we ended up going with them.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent between $75,000–$100,000 on the project.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started the project in July 2019, and it wrapped up in April 2020. Our warranty period for them to tweak the site ended in May 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our company had history and vision that played into the rebrand. Those components were hard to pull that out of our executes. In our brainstorming sessions, Ruckus got everyone involved and pulled ideas out of our executives and turned that into a vision for our company.
Everyone in our company was pleased with what their team put together. The company deck and brand book went beyond my vision. They delivered products that were professional and elevated our brand. The website looked incredible. Everything ended up being exactly what I was hoping for and more.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
We had weekly meetings and communicated by e-mail too. Ruckus was organized and their team was process-driven. There was chemistry between us and their team, so the project was a joint effort. I went to their office to sit with their designers a couple of times. They also came and met with us when needed. Their team was good at communicating, so it was easy to work with them. They have talented people on their team.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their communication and willingness to work with us were most impressive. They were on top of the project at all times, which made us feel like we were their only client. Their team was responsive and accepting of anything that I needed.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, nothing comes to mind. This wasn’t a big deal, but my main point of contact changed. One person stopped emailing me as much and another person started e-mailing more. I assumed that my point of contact changed, but it was fine.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Make sure to communicate your vision upfront. They’re responsive, so be honest with them. If you don’t like a product, communicate that to them. Keep expectations clear.
the project
Branding Materials & Mkt Strategy for Investment Startup
“It was apparent that they really cared about getting to know our business and what we do.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I work for Qualis Capital, an alternative investment platform. I’m the managing director of business development and corporate branding.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
We’re a startup firm, so we were looking to Ruckus for logo creation, letterhead, a style guide, business cards, corporate brochures – any kind of startup marketing material we’d need to launch the business. We also needed direction on email marketing campaigns and templates of the sort.
What was the scope of their involvement?
My team went to their office and did a large brainstorming session that helped us to come up with our overall marketing strategy.
We decided to bring them in on a continual basis for ongoing projects. Now that our logo is established and we have our style guide, color scheme, and the collateral we initially needed, we’ve moved onto content marketing.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with 5–6 people from their team.
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
We found them through a referral from someone who’d used them in the past. Our team is spread out throughout the country, so we had a preliminary phone call with them.
How much have you invested with them?
I believe we’ve spent more than $25,000 and less than $50,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our work together began in September or October 2019, and we’re still working with them.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our team is very happy with the results of their work, and our board is pleased. We’ve shared their work with a couple of close friends and people in the business, and they’ve been very impressed by it as well.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re very organized and professional, and they set the right expectations. We have scheduled calls, and they’re readily available via email. They’re very responsive when I reach out outside of our scheduled interactions.
What did you find most impressive about them?
It was apparent that they really cared about getting to know our business and what we do so that they could help us tell the story through the marketing aspect of it. They didn’t just come to us with ideas of what looks good; they really embodied our message.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, they’ve done a perfect job.
Any advice for potential customers?
Listen to them.
the project
Video Production for Crisis Outreach Center
"Their work is helping broaden awareness of our services."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I work in outreach, marketing, and education for a local rape crisis and victim service center.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
We hired them to help us increase local awareness through more interactive marketing.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They worked with us to create video content to raise awareness of our agency and the issues we advocate about. They were involved from ideation through the actual production of the films.
What is the team composition?
We had three primary points of contact, but there were probably around 10 people involved in total.
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
We received a grant and looked at multiple organizations that fit the grant’s guidelines. They aligned with our values the best out of all the vendors we looked at.
How much have you invested with them?
We invested about $60,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began our ongoing relationship with them in early 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’re still waiting for the most recent video’s ad to finish running on social media to gather those statistics. However, since we released that video, there’s been increased traffic to our social media and website. Their work is helping broaden awareness of our services.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re wonderful. They were very organized, communicative, and patient with us, especially as we aren’t experienced with video production. The team did a great job of explaining their work step-by-step.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The team at Ruckus takes the time to get to know the company and individuals they’re working with. As a result, the content they create is customized and personal.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t think so. They were great to work with. Although there were bumps in the road, it was mostly related to receiving the grant money.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It’s important to be open and patient. Have trust in their expertise and know they’ll guide you in the right direction.
the project
Brand Audit & Market Research for Cannabis Company
"Ruckus paid close attention to us as a company, helping us with our vision while offering their expertise."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder of a legal cannabis company that is no longer around. It was called Winterlife Cannabis.
What challenge were you trying to address with Ruckus?
We were looking to find an agency that would take this grey-market product and be able to envision what that market would look like in 5 years. I wanted to work with a company that was young and fresh, but still disciplined and organized.
What was the scope of their involvement?
I talked to Micah (Director of Business Development) about what the project was and what we wanted to do. We went to New York to meet with the team and they did a brand audit. They also conducted a survey of the industry to see what’s going on right now and assessed the competition to determine where we fit in.
They then took a look at all of our branding and led brand workshops for us where they helped us determine our target audience and vision. The team was about to start on other aspects of the project, but the investment we were expecting fell through.
This meant that they weren’t able to finish the project. Had everything gone according to plan, they would've done more work for us including logo and web design.
What is the team composition?
We worked with four main teammates.
How did you come to work with Ruckus?
Micah was our main point of contact.
How much have you invested with them?
We ended up spending $40,000, but we had planned to spend $250,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our engagement lasted from about January–December 2018.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I would work with them again in a heartbeat. Ruckus paid close attention to us as a company, helping us with our vision while offering their expertise. They wanted to help keep our brand true to us while making us commercially viable in as many places as possible, which was the ultimate goal.
They treated us very well and the quality of the work they did was great. I was happy that they were a younger company, which was important to me.
How did Ruckus perform from a project management standpoint?
The communication was spot on. After we met with them in New York, we had conference calls to go over everything that they were working on. Given the three-hour time difference, they were very accommodating and willing to work according to our timezone.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The two things that I appreciated about Ruckus was their discipline and creativity. They had a good outlook and understood what they were doing. The team was on top of their work.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I have no suggestions. All I wish is that we could’ve finished the project. I regretted that we weren’t able to do so on our side.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Take your time and don’t try to rush through it. Understand that the process is detailed and it involves a lot of work. Ruckus is going to do incredible work with the information they get from you, as long as you are a part of the process.
The project has been extremely successful. Since Ruckus began working on the project, traffic to the website has increased significantly month-over-month and social media engagement has gone up. The entire team is accessible, even senior leadership. They communicate well and are organized.