Silverwood Studios

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an authorized dealer for 25-30 international scissor manufacturing companies that I have personally selected to represent, based on their product quality and reliability. My 30+years background as a hairdresser/salon owner prior to entering the shear and sharpening businesses has provided me with a wealth of experience. Today I proudly sell shears all over the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Silverwood Studios?

An existing website was outdated and needed an updated theme with newer and more engaging and useful functionality. In addition to that, the company was growing with new products being offered so an additional website was needed to showcase this.

What were your goals for this project?

Our old website had hundreds of products that needed to be presented more attractively and for the user's experience to be error-free and more enjoyable. Our platform was outdated and needed the latest design and technology available.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After speaking with Silverwood Studios, I felt their knowledge and understanding of what was needed and their experience to get it done helped us narrow down the field. Their quickness in getting back to us, as well as their suggestions and ideas,  sealed the deal.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Judie was our point person. Any time we had a question or needed quick answers, we reached out to her. When necessary, a timeline was created so that expectations were clear and acceptable. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Judie Schechter of Silverwood Studios has created 2 dynamic websites for me  The results were way above my expectations and both websites have been a success. But, Judie goes above and beyond. Silverwood Studios responds quickly to all my technical needs and always gives more than I ask for. She’s a real gem and I would recommend her to anyone seeking creative talent and a responsive business partner.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an online website that specializes in reviews for the arts including music, theater, museums, etc. - 11 different categories in all.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Silverwood Studios?

We wanted to engage in more online and print advertising and have the ability to offer cross promotions to interested parties. We would receive interest from a theatre or person that wanted to cross promote with us but often did not have an artist on staff, so we were able to offer that service through Silverwood Studios. We also wanted to create specialized material for various venues that they could feature in their lobbies and on their websites. Finally, we wanted creative material that we could send people electronically or present to them during in-person meetings.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Silverwood Studios handled all aspects of our marketing and advertising design needs. We provided information about our target audience and what we wanted to communicate and Silverwood Studios turned around designs based on that information. This included postcards, digital banners, flyers and advertisement sheets. They gave us the ammunition to meet and engage with potential clients and to successfully illustrate our offering.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one person on the team, who we were able to talk to everyday. They handled everything, which made the process a lot easier. 

How did you come to work with Silverwood Studios?

We were referred to them by a company who had worked with them before. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with Silverwood Studios since February 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website traffic has increased. Also, the people we’ve been presenting the material to are impressed. Some have even asked who we use for our creative designs. Our own advertising inquiries have also increased by 200%.

How did Silverwood Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication has been great and that’s a big thing for us. We’ve previously worked with people who wouldn't get back to us for days. But they're back to us within minutes. They respond to emails and are always available to take our calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understood our needs and delivered what we're looking for. They were able to understand our business and create material that works and speaks to our audience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. We've been very happy with their service.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

From a general point of view, be clear on your vision. Know your target audience and what you want to communicate. The better you communicate that, the more likely the design will be exactly what you were looking for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the marketing director of a company that installs and services telephone systems and computer networks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Silverwood Studios?

Big companies like IBM usually have in-house project managers who oversee phone installations and the maintenance of their data and phone network. We were trying to reach small and midsized companies, ones that can’t afford to have full-time in-house people. We had a website previously, but it was archaic and plain, without a lot of content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Silverwood Studios was brought in early to discuss objectives, design and develop a state-of-the-art website and write content with targeted SEO keywords and phrases. The site gives us the ability to communicate with people in multiple ways: through the pages on our website, via the email sign up form (to collect email addresses) as well as live chat. Silverwood Studios also created promotional material and campaigns to reach our target audience.

They brought the latest technology and introduced the idea of using blogs and video marketing for search engine optimization. Silverwood Studios trained us in using the WordPress platform, enabling us to create content and pages ourselves.

After getting an idea of what we were trying to communicate, Judie Schechter, the owner of Silverwood Studios, worked with her team to create a design that utilized and improved our brand. We were given several options to choose from. We reviewed them internally to get a general consensus and then Silverwood Studios helped us decide the best way to go and how to best position it. Judie was extremely patient throughout the process.

What is the team dynamic?

Judie was the lead, which made the process a lot better. She effectively communicated our needs with her team of designers and technicians. When updates were needed, we were given a timeline of when to expect the revision. Some things are done within 24 hours, while more involved and complicated tasks take more time. We appreciate the fact that they are always able to find a solution to our problems.

How did you come to work with Silverwood Studios?

We were working in Arizona, which wasn’t very accessible. We found Silverwood through a Google search. We looked at two other companies, but Judie’s communication made them stand out. She understood what we were looking for.  

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost has been around $12,000, including the strategic marketing plan Silverwood developed for us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Silverwood in November or December 2015. The website was delivered three months later, in February 2016. We continue to go back to them for promotional material and changes to the website. The status is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We know that, when we go to a meeting and tell someone to go our website, it will tell the story we want it to tell. Previously, it felt like an ineffective flyer that was not in-depth nor portrayed us in the best possible way. In contrast, the current site has everything covered. The blog has positioned us as being knowledgeable in our field and our website now performs well in search engines.

How did Silverwood Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication at the beginning of the project was done every day and as needed. Judie sent us new renditions, and we were able to talk to her if we had questions. She was on top of everything. The site was delivered on time and on budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were impressed with the communication and on-time delivery. Technology is always changing, but Judie has stayed on top of it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I would suggest that clients communicate what they’re looking for. This would help Silverwood interpret what needs to be accomplished and present it in the best way.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I am the practice manager of Yardley Dermatology Associates, PC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Silverwood Studios?

Silverwood Studios was hired to redesign our website. The primary goal was to have a state-of-the-art responsive site that the staff could update easily. The Yardley Dermatology site educates our patients on products and services and keeps them up to date on clinical trials, specials, contact info, directions, physician info and patient forms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Over the years, Silverwood Studios has provided a variety of work for us. They designed a website from scratch, as well as this latest redesign. We always have one contact person who coordinates all the services we need. Additional services include photography, email marketing, and graphic design.

Special features include a robust filtering system for narrowing down the vast array of services and products.

A custom WordPress theme was designed and developed using HTML, PHP, CSS, Javascript, and Jquery) 

How did you come to work with Silverwood Studios?

 Two of our physicians were familiar with Silverwood Studios work, so when it came time to establish a digital presence and to increase our online visibility, we contacted them. We needed to work with a company that understood our needs, had skills and expertise in line with today’s design and functionality requirements and could provide insurance that work gets delivered on time at a price that is reasonable.

How much have you invested with Silverwood Studios?

We have invested approximately $22,000-$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in January 2010 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Through the collaboration with Silverwood Studios, we have gained online traction to our website as well as increased interest from new and existing patients through the promotion of special offers via an online portal and informative monthly newsletters. Our monthly newsletters open and click rates beat industry averages. Search queries using a variety of keywords and phrases show Yardley Dermatology on the first page of search engines. 

How did Silverwood Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is thorough, on-time and clear. Through a combination of in-person meetings, email, and Skype, the project moves along at a pace that is in line with our needs.

What did you find most impressive about Silverwood Studios?

The most impressive thing about Silverwood Studios is their ability to forecast what we need without a lot of input from our staff. This relieves everyone that is already so busy with other things. We always appreciate that when something needs to be done or a question needs answering, they respond within 24 hours.

Are there any areas Silverwood Studios could improve?

I have no criticisms.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The ARTery Studios is an exploratory art studio for kids and adults. I’m the owner and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Silverwood Studios?

I’m a brand-new business, and I needed a logo and web design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The website was built on WordPress. Silverwood Studios ended up doing a digital logo, but I didn’t use it after all because my brother is also a designer. When I was ready to actually go live, he designed a logo that I really liked. I also sent them some pictures of things that I was interested in, and then they kind of worked with me on that. Almost 70% of our sales happen online, so it was really important for us to have a really good shopping cart modality. We’ve been working on the website now for about three months. Silverwood ended up adding a lot of search filters just because we had so many different products. These customizable filters were just recently added; they did a wonderful job with creating a template that we were able to build on.

How did you come to work with Silverwood Studios?

I did a Google search and got quotes from several companies for a web page design. I talked to two firms and got lots of emails. Silverwood Studios was the first that actually called me and got an idea of what my business was and what they could offer me. I thought their principal was very personable, and that was why I chose to go with her.

How much have you invested with Silverwood Studios?

I spent approximately $3,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January of 2017, and the website went live in March of 2017. We haven’t done a lot of edits over the last two months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve only been in business for five weeks, so I don’t have any metrics yet. However, 76% of people coming to my website are new customers, and 23% are return customers who are paying with the shopping cart feature through PayPal. Any issues we had were design-related issues on my part. Silverwood Studios has been really helpful in telling us things that were going to be beneficial to us like creating a MailChimp subscriber newsletter and setting up all our emails. They’re very available and respond to emails within minutes. The things I asked them to do got done within half an hour and were live right away. They’re very available and committed.

How did Silverwood Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve only worked with the principal, Judie, directly; she is very accessible by phone and email. Email is probably the easiest way to contact her; she responds quickly. My husband and I have actually both done conference calls with her where she’ll walk us through how to manage the site. We eventually started managing the website just because we’re making so many requests which we could actually handle on our own. She gave us a tutorial on how to do things, and if we didn’t know what to do, we’d email her. She’s very quick to help us.

What did you find most impressive about Silverwood Studios?

Their accessibility and their pricing are great. I felt like I wasn’t just another person that Judie was working with. I felt like she really cared about my project, and I think that was probably the selling point. She made me feel important.

Are there any areas Silverwood Studios could improve?

When I called Judie and I told her that a few of my customers were having a hard time navigating the website after it went live, she already knew that I might have a problem. I wish she had given me that feedback as she was building it because we probably would’ve just had her customize the filters early on. Instead, we added that six weeks after we went live. The customers were understanding, though.

We also had a calendar feature, and she inputted all the data for us. It ended up being a lot of work, and I wish she had let us manage that. Other than that, I really don’t have anything that she could improve because I really do think she did a wonderful job.

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

Judie is so willing to work with you on your vision. She gives you lots of samples, and if you provide her with samples, she works to kind of create what you want. It’s not hard to work with her because she really thinks about what you want and makes sure that you get it. I think that she really delivers on her product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner. Design, manufacture and distribute premium guitar parts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Silverwood Studios?

Design, develop, launch and maintain a new e-commerce website.

What were your goals for this project?

Current technology, secure, SEO and mobile friendly fast site with 100% up time.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had interviewed several companies for this project. I spoke to Judie at 4:00 on a Friday afternoon, by 7:00 she was in my office answering all of my questions with the RIGHT answers. I went with my gut and gave her the job. It was the right decision.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

E-commerce web store with 100+ custom products, tons of artist and product info. Complex global shipping needs.

What was the team composition?

My team could not be happier. Judie came in and trained us on the new platform, answered all of our questions and continues to help us grow!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Yes - my traffic and sales doubled.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Judie had a plan and time table. this happened to fall over the holiday season in December. Judie made herself available to me day and night and did an amazing job!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They gave us personal attention, professional work, and went over and above the original plan. Judie is a PRO!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Yes - I wish there were two Judie's so I could keep one in my office 24/7!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the marketing coordinator at Morningstar Corporation, a leading supplier of solar charge controllers and inverters, with over three million units installed in over 112 countries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Silverwood Studios?

We hired them to do web design, printed materials design, and photography.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase brand awareness and improve overall design efforts.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did a web search on local companies and interviewed several before choosing Silverwood.

Describe the project in detail.

Silverwood Studios is working on several ongoing projects.

What was the team composition?

Silverwood has worked seamlessly with our other vendors to produce quality results.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have received positive feedback on our website design and marketing materials internally, at trade shows, and from customers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Silverwood is always responsive. They will work overtime to meet deadlines or last-minute requests without hesitation.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Silverwood offers outstanding support and creative ideas.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.