Rugged®

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and president of a New Zealand-style ice cream company. We’re in the process of trying to bring the product to the US.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rugged Coastal?

My partner and I realized that the brand was going to be hugely important to our success as a company. We were searching for a partner to differentiate what we’re doing from others in the market.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We brought them onto the team when we only had a concept. They’ve truly been a part of the team as we’ve developed our business because we needed and wanted them to do so. Everything from our name to the look and feel of our designs. They’ve also been greatly involved in our merchandise, uniforms, website, social media, and advertising. There was initially a clear scope of work highlighted, but they’ve gone far beyond that. Whenever we need them for anything associated with our brand, we can count on them. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with about six of their teammates. 

How did you come to work with Rugged Coastal?

I did a Google search for the best branding agencies in the Boston area and came across their services. We met shortly after. Prior to getting to know them, I thought that branding agencies where all art and no science. However, their team was very methodical about presenting their entire process and project plan. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $60,000–$70,000 on their services.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2019. The brand and first store launched in July 2020.

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

Moving into the second phase of our work together, we’ll probably have more metrics than we do currently. However, people interact with the brand extraordinarily well. Others in the industry are impressed with the brand as well.  

How did Rugged Coastal perform from a project management standpoint?

They took ownership of the work and were punctual throughout. Whenever we needed something from them, they’d reliably roll it out without compromising expediency or quality. We always got the best of both worlds.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re motivated, creative, and desire ownership of their work. That was a perfect fit for us. They truly took care of us and became a part of our team. It was easy to work with their fun, professional team. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’ve been great partners. I can’t say that there’s something to be improved. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let them become part of the team and be as involved as they want to be. We decided to trust their expertise and we haven’t looked back since. It’s been a fantastic experience.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our organization provides online CrossFit training programs such as daily workout routines for competitive athletes. I’m the director of marketing and product, overseeing the app that we’ve just released.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rugged Coastal?

We were going through a rebranding process at the time. Our logo typeface was outdated, and the overall messaging and language needed an overhaul. That’s where Rugged Coastal came in.

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Rugged Coastal did a current state assessment of our brand, looking at our creative assets, our social standing, and inconsistencies in our messaging. Afterward, they provided a summary of where we were as a brand and defined our position in the market.

Not only did they work with us to deliver a new, forward-facing image, but they also revamped our internal perspective on how we communicated to customers. That meant figuring out what our customer personas were and how they related to our brand positioning.

The final deliverables were a new logo and typeface, messaging, and social assets.

What is the team composition? 

I worked with four people: RJ (Owner), Ryan (Director of Operations), Cyrus (Designer & Director), and James (Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Rugged Coastal?

We’d originally reached out to them while looking for companies that could develop our mobile app for us. While they weren’t the best equipped for that project from an engineering perspective, we realized that they would be a great fit for our rebrand. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent somewhere around $20,000 for the entire program.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2019–February 2020. 

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

We were thrilled by the whole process, and the end deliverables were fantastic. There was an overall spike in our social presence that translated to over 20,000 new followers and 8–15 email subscriptions. That’s obviously a huge win for us.

How did Rugged Coastal perform from a project management standpoint?

The team was fantastic. They had a couple of responsive project managers who were doing more than they probably should have. For example, they set up a trade show and did all of the shipping and delivery for that. By taking over that work, they helped us better handle our projects, and they dug in with no complaints.

In terms of the creative, they used Google Sheets to keep track of the deliverables. We could see the due date, revisions, and more. They also communicated directly through email and text, which made for a nice personal touch.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very involved in understanding our space. CrossFit can have a reputation for being a bit of a cult, so it does take some confidence for someone new to come in and tell us how we should speak to people. It was a big deal that they demonstrated a desire to be a part of our team and soak up as much of our culture as possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve recently started introducing Slack to our team to improve communication at a company level. We’d love it if they joined us there.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come prepared with an open mind, and know that you might be challenged. Rugged Coastal did a fantastic job of poking and prodding at the things we believed were right but ended up not working out. You have to be willing to accept that your ideas might not be the best fit, otherwise you won’t see the amazing work that Rugged Coastal can do.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing partner of a services organization that provides account aggregation, performance reporting, and technology consulting for high net worth individuals and families, as well as their wealth managers.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rugged Coastal?

We’re five years old now, and when we started, we had a rudimentary website. We hired Rugged Coastal to upgrade our branding, develop our website, and improve our messaging.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Rugged Coastal completely refreshed all of our brand assets, including our logo and collateral material. They also took our website from a simple, two-page platform to a complicated, easy-to-use, and multi-dimensional website that touched on all of our business. 

They built the WordPress website from scratch. The team also helped us get the messaging right around who we are, what we do, and who we serve, which has always been a challenge for us.

What is the team composition?

We worked with four teammates overall, and Ryan (Director of Operations) served as our project manager.

How did you come to work with Rugged Coastal?

We’ve been working with them for over five years. I happened to see the logo of a restaurant that was very unique and outstanding. I then took that time to Google who created it and I found Rugged Coastal.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them on this project in March 2020, and the website went live in July 2020.

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

We’ve received a ton of great feedback from prospects and clients on how easy the website is to use. They've also said that it’s an upgrade from our previous website.

How did Rugged Coastal perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was outstanding. Ryan was fantastic about walking us through a well-focused project plan. Rugged Coastal fostered good conversation but also kept us on time and on task, which we appreciated. The team used Basecamp, and we communicated via phone and email weekly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Rugged Coastal was extremely pragmatic and creative. They did some of the best work I’ve ever seen. Additionally, they were really good project managers, and they kept us on time and on budget. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of. Rugged Coastal picked up on all of our industry terms.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t come with anything predefined. Let them use their time to explore in addition to taking your feedback. They’re so good at what they do and will sometimes surprise you with what you didn’t know was possible.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the HR manager for a dental office.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rugged Coastal?

We wanted new branding. That included a new logo, website, and a few other things. We hoped to tie the look of the practice to the changes we made.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a new website for us in WordPress. All of the content was new, and they built everything from scratch. After they created our new logo, they put it on new letterhead, business cards, and other assets. We're working toward other deliverables, but we haven't gotten that far yet.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with four individuals from their team. I had a main point of contact, a web specialist, and a scheduling lead.

How did you come to work with Rugged Coastal?

We considered about four companies in our search, but we wanted to work with a smaller company. Our old website felt generic, and we wanted a personal touch. We found everything we were looking for in Rugged Coastal.

How much have you invested with them?

I'd guess we spent around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started talking with them in September 2018. The site has launched, as have all the physical deliverables. We're still working with them on marketing, but we're up to date on everything we hoped to accomplish.

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

We don't use any metrics to track their work, but we receive a lot of great feedback. New patients respond positively to the site, and we're very pleased.

How did Rugged Coastal perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well. Most of our communication was through email, but we could call or text them when necessary. They were always very responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism and reliability really stood out for us. They were attentive, genuine, and followed through on everything they said they would do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't have any criticisms of their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When we first started the project, we didn't have a specific goal in mind. We were looking for guidance, and we came to them open to their ideas. They gave us great options. We derived a lot of benefits because we gave them the opportunity to do what they're good at.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Pepper's Landing, an expanding restaurant group.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rugged Coastal?

We reached out to Rugged Coastal to help with the branding, trademarking, and marketing needs for our first restaurant.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, Rugged Coastal helped develop a brand name, logo, and website from scratch. They've also designed signage and other graphics used inside the restaurant and guided us through the trademarking process.

Additionally, they put on a photo shoot to create content for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and we plan to engage them to work on video and more photography content in the near future as we open more restaurants. 

What is the team composition? 

We mainly work with three to four people, including RJ (Designer and Owner, Rugged Coastal) and James (Art Director, Rugged Coastal). 

How did you come to work with Rugged Coastal?

We liked a website they designed, and once we engaged them and learned they offered other services as well, we decided they were the perfect fit. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $30,000, but anticipate that the project will grow to upwards of $50,000 in the near future. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since November 2018 and plan to expand their role with us as we open more restaurants. 

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

We've been very impressed by their designs across the board. Rugged Coastal invested a lot of time in helping us come up with a brand name and identity that we've ultimately been very happy with. The first pitch book they provided was right on point with our vision, and we've had an overwhelmingly positive response from the public. 

How did Rugged Coastal perform from a project management standpoint?

They always meet timelines they set and stay on track in an organized, responsive way. Although they've offered to collaborate with us within project management software, they've been understanding of our preference to instead communicate through text, email, and by phone. They're also very accommodating and have been willing to work outside the scope of work when necessary to meet our needs. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a smaller organization, they're able to provide a lot more personalized service. We always feel like a priority and that they genuinely care about our project. They're also more affordable compared to some of the larger firms we spoke to during the consideration process. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything offhand. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as prepared and clear about project expectations as possible from the start to make the process easier. Regardless, they're very accommodating and able to work with less prepared clients as well. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a managing partner at a financial services company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rugged Coastal?

We needed a creative partner to refresh and rebrand our company, including redoing the website and other collateral.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our first project was a rebranding exercise to solidify what we wanted out of the new brand. We then turned all our attention to the WordPress website, which Rugged Coastal built from scratch.  Along with the new site, Rugged Coastal also redesigned the logo, company name, and color scheme.

The site has both a public facing part and private portal, each with different levels of information. The public facing part provides general information about our company and the services we offer. The private portal contains much more information that we didn’t want to share broadly with the general public. Once we validate a new client and get them set up with login credentials, they can then access the private portal and get more information about our services.

What is the team composition?

We have two main points of contact, one of them being the company’s owner, designer, and creative director, and the other a user experience designer and developer.

How did you come to work with Rugged Coastal?

A company providing other services to us recommended them. We’d worked with a different branding partner when we started the firm but felt we needed a change, so we hired Rugged Coastal.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent under $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered in November 2018, and the work was completed in May 2019.

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

We’ve received positive feedback on the public facing part of the website, and we’ve just launched the private portal. We sent an email blast out about the new site, and we’ve seen an increase in emails being opened and time spent on the site, which is encouraging.

How did Rugged Coastal perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re a small firm, which gives us direct access to their senior team. We worked with their team almost on a daily basis; they had good project management skills and were very communicative about timing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our team is highly experienced in our field, and we have a clearly defined view of what we wanted. However, Rugged Coastal was willing to challenge our thinking and push back to provide an objective outsider’s perspective when they thought we could be doing something better. They weren't afraid to be creative and challenge our ideas to make sure we were providing the best services possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because they’re small, their resources can sometimes be spread too thin across numerous clients. That’s resulted in moving some deadlines, but it hasn’t been anything too difficult and hasn't affected the overall delivery.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

They’re fair in their pricing and the type and timing of work they provide and are expert at. If possible, maintain communication so that the relationship can be as productive and transparent as possible.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing associate at a healthy lifestyle company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Rugged Coastal?

We needed help with the development of social media campaigns.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I worked with them on a social media filter to support our summer campaign. It’s based on the idea that our program fits into the member’s life and they can make it into what they need it to be. On first visiting the site, members are greeted with a rotating GIF showcasing a variety of different styles. At the end, it says, “show us your style.” The filter then allows the member to upload their picture and add a word into the blank space to articulate their style. They can then download it or share it on social media.

One of the capabilities that we requested, and they implemented, was a blocker for certain words, such as curse words. They integrated a system where a member wouldn’t be able to submit a photo unless it passed a blacklisted word check.

There’s also a library of curated images that Rugged created from a pool of our master content. People can see the different ways they could use the filter, resize the word, or changing the color, etc. In the library of images, we have marketing content buckets, where certain images link to relevant content.

The site is currently paused because we’re rebranding and working on updating it. That concerns our font, colors, and general brand guide. This campaign has ended, and we will move toward our winter campaign to activate our new brand.

What is the team composition?

Our sole point of contact is RJ (Designer & Owner, Rugged Coastal).

How did you come to work with Rugged Coastal?

We had worked with another vendor last year on a similar filter, but they were unable to take us on this year due to the tight timeline. They provided Rugged Coastal as a recommendation and connected us to them because they knew their work was solid and reliable.

How much have you invested with them?

Our brand contracted Rugged for a high number of hours, so the cost came to a little under $50,000.

We shared this capability with our global partners and Rugged was contracted to create two additional features; one for Germany and one for the U.K. Each of those countries paid $12,000 to put them on retainer to create and manage their sites.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018 and the work is ongoing.

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

We saw incredible engagement, especially in the first couple of weeks—people were really excited about it and there were a lot of shares. There was massive participation both internally and externally, and it was well received by our member base. The KPI for us is downloads and shares, and we exceeded our previous campaigns and our expectations by four or five-fold.

The performance leveled off to the point where we could see a distinct pattern. It would go from X number of downloads every day for about two weeks, then drop off to around half of that and then to half of that. As a result, we used smaller marketing tactics to push the filter by putting it in our newsletter or promo emails.

We also addressed the drop off by asking Rugged to update the filter on a seasonal basis. We see increased performance whenever we articulate to our members that there’s a new way to participate in the filter.

How did Rugged Coastal perform from a project management standpoint?

RJ is fantastic. We speak all the time, even on nights and weekends. He’s quick to give me a call, answer my emails, or at the very least acknowledge the email. The communication is excellent.

There was a bit of a disconnect with their tracking system at the beginning as they use Amazon, and I initially found it difficult to see the downloads accurately. The system provided a rounded number. It would have been nicer to have something that showed exact metrics to provide to upper management.

Everything was delivered on time and impeccably, in the sense of how we asked for it to be. I appreciated their availability, attention to detail, and the general working relationship.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very knowledgeable about UX and backend aspects. I have no technical background, so I let them take the reins and execute, which is very helpful. They did a great job managing expectations while providing expertize on what they’ve seen work well in the past.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The tracking capabilities could be a lot better if they implemented something like Google Analytics.

Also, there were a few moments where their judgment was clouded by their expertize. For example, if we asked them to make an edit and they didn’t agree with it, they wouldn’t hesitate to push back. I understand they want to guide us to the best possible solution, but there were times when I articulated that something was non-negotiable due to our upper management and we still received pushback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure the tracking metrics are in order so as not to miss out on any data.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founder/Ceo at Munjoi Footwear

For what projects/services did your company hire Rugged®?

We hired Rugged Coastal to redesign our website, help further refine our brand identity, and create new content.

How did you select Rugged and what were the deciding factors?

I decided to go with the Rugged® team based on their creative abilities/style, confidence and background working with direct to consumer products. I knew they could hit the home run that we needed right now.

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

The project brief was to create a new website for us and develop a campaign strategy with all new content that helps defines Munjoi. We wanted them to highlight our shoe's key benefits of functionality, sustainability and style.

How many resources from the Rugged® team worked with you, and what were their positions?

There were many resources involved from creating the direction to managing, design, web development, ads, photography, copy writing and editing. I communicated most closely with the 3 or so directing or managing positions depending on the needs.

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

The website they created has allowed Munjoi to compete on a higher level now and the response to the new site has been really amazing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I really appreciated that the team was responsive and very open to feedback throughout the whole project. I felt that their desire to create something great was as big as mine and we were in it together until we were all happy!

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

They exhibited a fun and creative style, which is difficult to find elsewhere. They knew how to get it done right.

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

No, they absolutely killed it and in a very short time crunch.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a partner at a mid-sized professional services firm.

For what projects/services did your company hire Rugged Coastal?

While we have our own internal designers, we wanted a fresh perspective on both our brand and web design. This work also extended into some print materials.

What were your goals for this project?

Our ultimate goal was a refreshed website and custom packaging.

How did you select this vendor?

We chose them because of the high-quality talent they offered.

Describe the project in detail.

They helped us develop a new website and packaging. This included strategy sessions through delivery. We initially asked them to reimagine our logo design, but ultimately, we decided not to refresh our branding.

What was the team composition?

Their team included three designers.

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

As a firm that does similar work, it was helpful having an external party come in with fresh thinking and none of our baggage. We were too emotionally involved and too close to our materials. Their impartial advice helped to navigate the way forward and their suggestions were useful.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was fantastic. They were big enough to handle our project and small enough to give us a high level of attention during the process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

When selecting a vendor, beyond the quality of work, you want to feel that they listen well and will deliver on their word. Rugged did all of that and more.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They felt strongly that we should refresh our brand and ultimately, we did not have the appetite to do a full refresh. With the benefit of hindsight, Rugged was probably too patient with us. We spent a lot of time jointly exploring directions and we both should have realized that we just were not going to change the logo.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the assistant executive director of Konbit Sante, an NGO that supports the management, operations, and facilities of our four healthcare organization partners.

For what projects/services did your company hire Rugged Coastal?

We engaged Rugged Coastal to provide branding and marketing services.

What were your goals for this project?

As an established and reputable non-profit, we sought to reach out with an upgraded look that spoke to the professionalism of our organization. We hoped to engage donors, grant makers, and volunteers using the branding in a wider arena and through social media.

How did you select this vendor?

One of our volunteers—who is also a professional photographer—recommended Rugged Coastal. The team had a fresh look as well as the in-house capacity to provide web design and development services.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

During the initial meetings, Rugged Coastal acquainted themselves with our mission, values, and targeted audience. We then mapped a new site and produced a framework; Rugged Coastal did the design. Final edits, launch support, and marketing completed the process.

What was the team composition?

We work with two developers and a coder Rugged Coastal has outsourced.

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

We’ve received positive feedback from our contacts and donors. It should now be easier to make donations, post events, and find information—especially with our planned migration from Drupal to WordPress.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We often met with their team to go over form, content, updates, and questions. Anything that arose during a week is addressed quickly via email. Our communications coordinator worked with copy content and final editing details. They made fantastic suggestions based on their deep experience with marketing and branding. The team has taken all of our changes in stride with patience and good humor.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Rugged Coastal has gone above and beyond with the time they’ve put into our project. They have been fantastic to work with: cutting-edge, easy-going and very flexible. The team makes insightful recommendations with a high level of detail and reasoning.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Since our server is located abroad, the time difference resulted in a few challenges with the website transfer.