Small Giant

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I worked for an import and distribution business for boutique wineries in New Zealand. I've since left the company, but at the time, I was a regional manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Small Giant?

Our direct-to-consumer arm needed more American expertise. We wanted to break into that market and went looking for a team that could help us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did a deep dive into our competition and redid our website to make sure we could attract new clients and deliver on our promises. Our old website was clunky and laid out badly. They did a lot to refine that site and make it operational. Our main goals were to expand our audience, retain customers, and grow our revenue potential. They worked hard to find the right customers and capitalize on their research.

What is the team composition?

Personally, I worked with their two owners and one of their key staff members.

How did you come to work with Small Giant?

I found them through a chance connection with one of their owners at an event. I called them, and the collaboration went from there.

How much have you invested with them?

The budget was reasonable, but I don't have a clear sense of the exact numbers.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from July 2018–June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our direct-to-consumer channels rose by about 500% within the time we worked together.

How did Small Giant perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very professional and great with technology. Meetings were run very professionally, even though we had resources in three time zones. They gave notice about what we would discuss, and we could all give appropriate feedback. We had a good understanding, and they were very detailed and thorough. We had a few video presentations, but most of our meetings were through conference calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their expertise in the American market was really important. They reaffirmed that we made the right decisions, and their approach met all our requirements.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would have been nice if had we had more time. There were some kinks to work out with the website, and we were just starting to gain momentum. We didn't have the budget to follow through, but that was no fault of theirs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don't have any constructive advice but to hire them.