Steady Studio

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Eeva Solutions; we’re a new SaaS startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Steady Studio?

Since we were a new startup, we didn’t have a logo, branding colors, or branding guidelines. We needed an agency to help build our visual brand identity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Steady Studio has delivered our visual brand identity, including our logo, brand guidelines, and color scheme. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with two team members from Steady Studio, including Ryan (Founder & Creative Director), our main point of contact, and Rachael (Director), who worked on the design front. 

How did you come to work with Steady Studio?

We found Steady Studio on Clutch. While I enjoyed speaking with them, I chose another company because Steady Studio couldn’t accommodate our desired start date. However, our other engagement didn’t work out because I wasn’t pleased with the deliverables, so I reached back out to Steady Studio. 

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested less than $10,000 in the partnership with Steady Studio.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Steady Studio from June–September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Steady Studio delivered everything we asked, and their work was much better than the previous company. They created documents and assets that really benefitted our growth as a startup. We were particularly impressed with the logo they created; they hit the nail on the head. 

We haven’t launched our website yet, so we don’t have much to share in terms of metrics. However, we’ve incorporated our new brand identity into our internal documents, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Team members have commented on how professional the brand looks, and we’re thrilled with the results.

How did Steady Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Steady Studio managed the project well. Although we didn’t have a fixed deadline, they were timely and accommodated my preferences when I asked them to prioritize certain tasks. They submitted deliverables through Dropbox, and we met weekly via Zoom and communicated via email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were most impressed by Rachael and Ryan’s commitment to our project. We had a great rapport from the beginning, but I’m not very artistic, so I struggled to translate the design goals that lived in my head. The team took the time to understand our goals and what I was trying to communicate from a design perspective. They asked the right questions to get to the core of our design ideas and ultimately created innovative visuals that worked for our brand.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I shared this with Steady Studio, but the off-boarding experience could’ve been more structured. I’d have appreciated a final meeting to go over everything rather than reviewing the deliverables via email. We also had a three-hour time difference, which made it difficult to schedule appointments, but that’s not their fault.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I advise you to gather inspiration and reference points for what you’re looking for and be clear about what you like and dislike. As long as you communicate openly and clearly, Steady Studio will listen and deliver what you ask.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and director of a property management company based in Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Steady Studio?

We needed help with our branding strategy, including logo, proposal, mission and vision, trademark, and website creation, among other things.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial interview with Steady Studio to discuss our expectations. We gave them all the information they required about our company. Afterward, they conducted focus groups and came up with a proposal.

What was the team composition?

We worked mainly with two people, although more people were involved.

How did you come to work with Steady Studio?

We did some research. In the process, we met someone who had worked with Steady Studio. We liked the work they did for them, so we decided to contact them and work together.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent about $7,000 CAD (approximately $5,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We world with them from June–September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve just finished the project, so it’s a bit early to see the results. In general, the feedback has been great. We like the look and feel, and we’ve received excellent feedback from the people who have seen the site. Moreover, we launched the site a couple of days ago and have had about 500 visits. We’re happy with the results.

How did Steady Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a tight deadline, and they met it. In fact, we asked them to accelerate the deadline we established initially.

For communication, we had weekly meetings where they’d present us with several options on colors, logos, and so on. We were involved throughout the process; we had in-person and online meetings and used Dropbox, SharePoint, and other tools.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication skills were excellent, which was very important for us. They took the time to understand our business and needs, which was evident in the results. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they hit all the marks.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have an open mind and be willing to hear their proposal. They’re great professionals — if you allow them, they’ll come up with the best results for you.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a premium bbq/grill brand that turns get-togethers into grill-togethers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Steady Studio, and what were your goals?

My brand was less than one year old and growing very quickly. I required help with establishing a solid brand foundation, website refresh, and a communication strategy across our digital platforms.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have over 15 years of experience vetting, selecting, and working with agencies, and it was refreshing to find a team that truly immersed themselves in our brand/business would personally work on our project.

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

After several meetings including brand exploration sessions, Steady Studio was able to provide a clear visual gameplan for my brand and outline the process and phases to achieve the goals.

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

I worked directly with the two principals.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The projects were executed on time and on budget, allowing us to focus on the marketing and sales push. With a clearer message and brand promise, we surpassed our Q4-2021 sales goals by over 50%.

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

Steady Studio has their communication dialed in and they're flexible to your needs as a client by utilizing tools/platforms that make decision making processes easier.

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

Steady Studio genuinely takes the time to understand your business and most importantly to understand the needs of the end-users (your customers).

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

Not at this time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and president of August Marketing Studio, a boutique marketing and social media agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Steady Studio, and what were your goals?

August Marketing Studio is a fast growing digital agency that was looking for a professional company to complete a brand update, from logo design to brand overview.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Steady Studio was recommended to me by one of my clients, who was thrilled with their work.

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

Steady Studio started with an in-depth brand overview to get to know my business and goals. They then completed an initial presentation with three different directions for the brand as an initial step in the format of a mood board. From there a direction was chosen, and then a similar process repeated with several logo options presented. This process iterated through to the brand assets and then to the final brand overview process.

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

I worked directly with Rachael and Ryan, the Studio Directors.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With the completion of this project, August Marketing Studio now has the fun, and professional look and branding that will be used on social media and our website.

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

We had weekly progress meetings and updates via email along the way.

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

I loved working with Rachael and Ryan and was consistently impressed how they could take my goals and vision for my company and translate this into the design and logo process. The finished project far surpassed my expectations!

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

I was absolutely thrilled with the process working with Ryan and Rachael at Steady Studio!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) is a Business Acceleration Campus located in Toronto. We train and educate entrepreneurs from all over the world. My name is Elizabeth Dobkin, I am the Communications Coordinator for YEDI.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Steady Studio?

We hired Steady Studio for our company Brand Story + Visual Identity. We are also currently in the process of re-doing our website with Steady Studio as well.

SOLUTION

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

We met with 15 different companies, after many conversations we felt that Steady Studio understood our mission and what our messaging should be.

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

Steady Studio started us off with a kick-off meeting where they got to know YEDI and the people who are a part of YEDI. Afterwards, we began the process of Brand Story + Visual Identity. We had mood board meetings to better identify what we wanted to see for the Brand Story + Visual Identity. When we began the selection process for the logo, Steady Studio was very patient and worked well with us throughout.

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

We worked with Ryan Lawrie and Rachael Lambert, both directors at Steady Studio.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are so happy with our new logo and brand story. We were able to create beautiful artwork and messaging for our new programs and events that we are hosting for our entrepreneurs. We have gotten many compliments about our new look. It's much easier for us to relay our mission with our new brand story.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Ryan and Rachael were absolutely incredible to work with. They always answered our inquiries quickly and with great detail. We stayed on our original schedule and were able to launch our rebranding right on time.

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

Their warm, personable attitude and willingness to actively listen in order to fully understand what we want. Their copy writing talent and story telling abilities are exceptional. Our whole team was very impressed with them, and the final product exceeded our expectations.

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

Nothing! They're great. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and master stylist and colourist of Hair by Veronique in North Vancouver, B.C

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Steady Studio?

My website was lacking punch, focus, was old and messy. I needed to revamp my website and bring a total new flavour as I opened my boutique Hair Salon. I also needed signages for street and car to match with my new website and new look. I needed someone to trust to look after the back end as well and take care of my site for me in the future.

SOLUTION

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

I initially was referred to Ryan and Rachel via a business networking group. We had an initial consultation. The deciding factors for me was the customer service offered by Ryan and Rachel at an affordable price. They were transparent from the beginning, relaxed to work with, open and friendly, curious and institutive about my day to day work and relations with my clients.

They made me feel important and understood, they also made it fun for me. I never felt that my project was not big enough to spent too much of their time on it. They both asked many questions to get to know me personally, to understand how different my relationship with my clients were from others salons. Racheal even went to booking her hair service with me to experience my skills and philosophy. They brought my uniqueness out on my website with beautiful colours and texture . It could not represent me any better. They went back and forth with the details until all was perfect.

From the first consultations to the last meeting they remains very friendly, on time, strong communication skills, put up with my lack of computer skills and delivered big time. When I started this project, I had no idea how beautiful my website was going to be. They also are now hosting my site now, I feel totally taking care of by this dynamic and artistic team.

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

after a series of discovery meetings , Ryan and Rachael started to provide me with some directions and ideas . We met about every 2 weeks to give us both time to work on the text as well.

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

I worked with Ryan and Racheal from the beginning.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their documentation were easy for me to take to different businesses and have them print whatever was needed for my signs and b.cards.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

very effective and always pleasant.

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

This was really a pleasant, fun, and light experience for me, I was always looking forward to our meeting. The progress was study throughout our time working together, I know where to send my clients .

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

I am satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder of the Kinship Kollective, we support busy entrepreneurs achieve their business goals and objectives while overcoming obstacles that have prevented them from executing their vision.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Steady Studio?

Take a newly designed logo and cascade that into a brand that is aligned with the vision in the medium of a website.

SOLUTION

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

They were a referral through a digital marketing agency.

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

After an initial discovery meeting, I was presented with mood boards to review and decide the design direction. Once the final board was created, I was sent links to view the progress of the page construction/layout and give feedback. Then we had set meetings to review the continued progress, links, videos etc for the rest of the pages until we were at the final product.

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

I worked with Ryan and Rachael of Steady Studios throughout the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The process was easy, they created a completely new website for my business, supported on the functions that needed more attention or back end support so that I relaunch my brand in an effective way.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were easy to communicate with, no issues, it was simple!

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

I appreciated their excitement over my vision and inspiration behind the brand/business and their ability to translate into a design that was meaningful.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of Inspired Cannabis, a company that owns a chain of retail recreational cannabis stores across Canada. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Steady Studio?

We wanted Steady Studio to develop our brand and branding assets. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially went through a branding exercise with Steady Studio. We held interviews and meetings with the team to help us figure out what our brand truly was. The team also helped us create our mission and vision statement — the words we should live by. They also built assets for us, including things we could print on banners and pictures we could print on walls. Our organization already had a logo but it didn’t look like our brand, so they also redesigned it. Their resources also determined the right color palette and font for us. 

At present, we essentially have Steady Studio on retainer; we pay them hourly. When things come up or if we need to design something, they work on it. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Ryan (Founder & Creative Director) and Rachel (Director). 

How did you come to work with Steady Studio?

They were referred to us by our signage broker who had worked with them on other projects. We also interviewed three branding companies to help us develop our brand, and Steady Studio’s overall package in terms of cost and services was the best. Specifically, their pricing was highly competitive. As we went through the interview process, their team seemed easy to work with and flexible. Because of these things, we hired them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback for our branding has been great. Our entire management team loves our brand presentation, mission and vision statement, and everything else. Our customers also love the look of our stores. 

How did Steady Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Steady Studio’s project management is great, and we had no complaints at all — they did a fantastic job. Our CEO, president, and I sometimes have differing opinions. Fortunately, the team is great at keeping us focused on accomplishing the job. 

Moreover, when we give them feedback or ask them to change their output, they have no problem with it. They ask us exactly what we feel, and then we tell them what the product should look like. From there, they pivot and pursue a different direction, inquiring about what we like to see more and what we like to see less. 

Our communications are also flexible. We use email, phone, Zoom, and WhatsApp, and our team is essentially connected to them 24/7. Steady Studio is super responsive, and they’re completely fine with us having access to their WhatsApp number. On top of that, they don’t keep us within structured meetings or penny-pinch us through billable hours. Overall, the team is open to all types of communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Steady Studio’s pricing is competitive; we get good value for our dollar. Apart from that, Ryan and Rachel are easy to work with and good at gathering feedback. They can pull information out of us by asking us questions and doing interviews — they’re great communicators. Simply put, they’re genuinely nice people, and we’ve been happy with what we’ve accomplished with them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. We’re happy with how the partnership has gone.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re not a designer, it can be difficult to describe what you want. To work around that, find some examples similar to what you’re looking for; come with examples and ideas. These things can be pictures or designs from other brands that are similar to your goal. 

On top of that, be completely honest. When I don’t like their output, I tell them that and they ask me the reason. In other words, being honest with your feedback won’t hurt their feelings. Overall, they’re great people, and working with them is easy. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and director of QEAN Travel, a full-service agency. We handle corporate and leisure groups and other kinds of travel groups. I've been in the business for over 27 years, and my company has been around for over two years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Steady Studio?

I hired Steady Studio to create my branding and website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When I met Ryan (Founder & Creative Director) and Rachel (Director), I wasn’t very sure how I would proceed with my brand. As a result, they scheduled preliminary meetings in order to get to know me and my brand. By doing that, they found out what I was looking for and what I wanted my brand to be. They then came up with 4–6 branding options.

After that, they started with our brand naming process. Following that, they developed and designed my website and helped me reach out to many people on social media. Furthermore, they connected me to people who could help me with my LinkedIn marketing needs. They also managed the SEO efforts on my website so that my site would come up on top of Google Search. Moreover, they helped in creating a PowerPoint presentation for a client.

I recently rehired the team to expand my website, and they’ve given me many ideas on how to improve my platform. Additionally, they’re helping me with marketing.

What is the team composition?

I only work with Ryan and Rachel.

How did you come to work with Steady Studio?

Steady Studio came highly recommended by one of my colleagues because the team created their website. I looked at a few of their competitors and one thing that struck me the most was their personable approach; they tried to develop a personal relationship with us before they worked on our project. On top of that, even though my colleague and I were in the same industry, Steady Studio came up with a different concept for my website.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $5,000 CAD (approximately $3,900 USD) for the first project. This time around we’ll spend almost $9,000 CAD (approximately $7,100 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in July 2019, and we continue to collaborate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m very difficult to please because I have very high standards, but Steady Studio has been able to nail what I’m looking for. My customers have also told me that my website is classy and elegant, and other people have contacted me to tell me how amazing my website is. I’ve never had success in marketing my company online because my sales have always come through referrals, but Steady Studio has been able to change that.

Furthermore, they've given me a complete package, and they’re very helpful for entrepreneurs like me who are just starting out and building my company. Overall, they’ve been amazing to work with so I’ve referred them to many other people.

How did Steady Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been with us every step of the way, and they consider our suggestions. They also create a clear plan on how they’re going to achieve our milestones. So far, they’ve met all of our deadlines, and they’ve given us the opportunity to request as many amendments as possible. In connection with that, we appreciate that they’re very patient with us — they’re never annoyed or upset with our requests. We use Basecamp as our project management tool, and we use that to communicate with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really like Steady Studio’s professionalism. They also care about our success, and they really work hard to achieve our goals. With that approach, they can never go wrong. Personally, I have full faith in their abilities, and I’m extremely happy with their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything they can improve. They love what they do and it shows in their final products.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When you meet Steady Studio, open up and tell them what you’re looking for. If you do, they’ll put that vision into reality for you.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Two Wheel Gear, a lifestyle brand specializing in bags for bike commuters.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Steady Studio?

We hired Steady Studio to complete a website makeover and update our branding and overall digital brand identity.

SOLUTION

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

I had looked for awhile for a branding/web design company to elevate our shopify store with custom coding ability. Ryan actual reached out to me on LinkedIn. I tytpically never talk to cold callers but I liked Ryan's approach and his resume fit the needs we were looking for. After an intro call and some back and forth on the project, I really liked Ryan's vibe and he did a custom proposal that matched with our project needs after I expressed some concern with parts of the initial proposal.

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

We did several intro walk through meetings and a shortened brand identity exercise (at my request). We provided data on our website, users and top products. Steady Studio came back with some mood board options for us to consider as we shaped a new brand identity. Then they created some wireframes of new pages we wanted to launch on the website.

Then they created some custom graphics related to the mood boards and wire frames they created. We then began going through the hit list of web pages and graphics that we needed and they began to implement and create the pages. We then launched the new website (phase 1) and are diligently working through expanding the overall content and design to match the core pages we launched in phase 1.

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

In total, we work with 2 people at Steady Studio. Ryan and Rachel. They are the owners and the doers. No middle man and no details are lost in translation on them. They are very responsive and understand the vision we are trying to achieve.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new website has only been live for a week or two and is still a work in progress. We can report that we have seen a slight improvement in sales thus far but also have received great feedback from everyone that has checked out the new site. We are confident the new branding and website is a much more professional look and experience for our customers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective working with Steady Studio. Things get added to the list and get checked off the list the next week. They are diligent, hard working folks.

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

They are excellent with branding, graphics, copy and messaging. I like the words they carefully select and they borrow from our existing content and messaging so our brand feels like an elevated version and not a totally new brand.

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

They maybe could use a little help on the web dev (coding side) of their team but we have been able to find suitable solutions to work through any challenges.