Three29

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and president of Learnport Inc., an online training integrator. We specialize in government training and do a lot of work for the State of California.

What challenge were you trying to address with Three29?

We hired them to help us create a custom UI for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, one of our largest clients.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Three29 has helped us design and develop a UI for our end client; we’ve created the product collaboratively. They’ve used Adobe tools for the design. Initially, we met with Three29’s designer and our end client to ensure we were all on the same page. 

The product is a WordPress page that integrates with an elaborate learning management system (LMS) for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The LMS serves a diverse audience and has over 12 million training records we manage for the client. 

Since many of these training courses are mandatory and learners take them yearly, we have a new list of courses every year. Three29 helps us make the necessary changes to the UI. Every year, users have a new set of training they need to take when, in many cases, they haven’t finished the previous year’s training. As a result, we have a data visualization gap; we want to ensure the data is accurate, so Three29 is helping us work on a solution. 

Currently, they provide maintenance. We use an API for updates but aim to develop a solution with Three29 to move away from the API and update the product on our own. Next, Three29 will help us replicate the UI for the client’s healthcare division. The project will have different recourses and requirements. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with several different folks from Three29. Our current team has 6–7 members, from project managers to designers. We’ll also work with a backend coder soon.  

How did you come to work with Three29?

Three29 is our long-time partner. Initially, we found them through a Google search. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $200,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Three29 around January 2013, and our engagement is ongoing. 

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

Three29 is great to work with. One of the challenges we run into is that most of our target users don't normally use computers. Three29 has helped us build a very user-friendly and highly intuitive UI to address that challenge. Although we've had bugs, it's never Three29's fault, and we address them together, knocking them down one at a time. 

Overall, we've had a really good experience with the design process and getting the product up and running. Moreover, we like the product's colors and the way it looks. I respect Three29's leadership and am very happy to be working with them. They meet and constantly strive to exceed our expectations — they're very conscientious. 

How did Three29 perform from a project management standpoint?

Since putting a budget on a moving target is challenging, we usually go over budget. However, I'm not unhappy because we get what we pay for with Three29. 

We use Smartsheet for project management, and Three29 works with me. The tool works really well because we have a combination of email and text, and it's useful for proofing content. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Three29's biggest strength is their leadership. Moreover, they're accessible and flexible. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their weakness is personnel turnover, which affects all of us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as prepared with your solution as possible — it makes things better for everyone. The more focused you are and the more insight you have, the better your engagement will go. 

For example, we don't have many employees, so we primarily work with contractors. Even so, we can manage over 12 million records for just one customer, 25,000–40,000 pieces of training a month, and three LMSs with over 112,000 online learning options. Although our contractors face challenges, our engagement with Three29 is a success because of our preparedness.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I-TAP is based in Sacramento and I am an admissions recruiter. We offer a six month commercial electrical program. Classes are full time and are offered every six to eight weeks. My job is to source applicants want to enroll in our training program.

For what projects/services did your company hire Three29?

We were working with a marketing company that was sold to another company. After the transition the quality of our lead and marketing tanked. We kept bringing up the subject with the new company but they didnt seem to do much to resolve the issue. This went on for about 6 months.

After learning our account rep was no longer with the new company, I figured the only way to resolve the problem was to find our old rep. After looking him up on LinkedIn and noticing he was now with Three29, we decided to switch marketing companies to get John back.

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

We had worked with John for many years with the older marketing company and felt we needed to find him again to get our company back on track. The fact that the old company no longer seemed to be engaged in fixing our marketing problems. We knew we had to find John. John knows our business inside and out. He knows whats worked in the past and that he was the one to help us get back on track.

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

John was able to get our adds seen more frequently online and able to direct traffic to our site. He was able to clean up some issues with our website. And ever sense he has been really making a difference in the quality of our leads and enrollments goals. We are now hitting our target numbers and we meet regularly to go over what is working and whats not working.

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

I dont know the names of the web developers because John handles that inhouse for us. He has recently gotten us a videographer to come out to the school and do some filming for online adds and 3 video's we use for marketing purpose's.

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

So far everything we have asked for John has been able to deliver. I would say that between John and Three29's connections, we have seen a steady increase in business.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

John is very easy to work with. He provides us with monthly updates and he and I meet regularly for Zoom meetings to go over what is working and what isn't. So far everything John and Three29 has done has had a positive affect on our business.

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

I am impressed with how fast Three29 is able to make things happen. They are one of the best marketing companies we have worked with. I am so glad we were able to find John at Three29. They offer quality service and are willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen

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

Honestly No.. everything they have promised us they have delivered on. Working with Three29 has been the best move we have ever made and we will continue to work closely with them

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a brand manager for a CPG company in the wine space. I work for three of our brands.

What challenge were you trying to address with Three29?

We needed a digital agency. Our initial objective was to manage our websites and keep everything live and updated.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Over the years, we’ve grown our engagement with Three29. When we first started working with them, the team took over our existing websites. We initially went through a standard briefing process; they did some background work, auditing competitive websites. Then, we developed a brief with complete information on the building and design of those websites.

Three29 has built us two new WordPress websites, and they’ll work on the third one soon. The sites have a lot of video functionality and information about our products and company. We didn’t do the e-commerce site with Three29, but they’ve worked closely with the service provider that did it.

For digital marketing and social media, they’ve done everything from creating a calendar schedule to content creation and copywriting. They’ve helped us manage Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and showed us the best practices to grow our accounts. Also, Three29 answers general comments, and the team has given us some guidance on SEO. They’ve provided recommendations that we’re trying to sell to our leadership. Additionally, they’ve developed some creative assets and worked with us to create the content we need.

Currently, they maintain and host the websites and help us design and build promotional landing pages for different campaigns throughout the year.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with the director of project management and digital marketing director. We’ve also worked with the owner, 1–2 designers, and 1–2 developers. When we work on social media, sometimes they add a marketing person to support the digital marketing director.

How did you come to work with Three29?

We went through an RFP process. They came from a referral, but they competed against another 2–3 agencies. We chose them because we felt a great synergy between our teams, so it seemed like we’d work together well. They were also local and the right size for our company. Three29 could match our company’s lifecycle as a fairly large brand. In general, we felt great about them, and the team was attentive and responsive from the beginning.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000–$250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our partnership in February 2019; we’re still actively working with them.

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

We’ve definitely had an increase in followers, and Three29 has been able to strengthen engagement. We’ve come up against some challenges, but they’ve been proactive and willing to pivot when we need changes. Overall, we’ve received amazing feedback on the look and functionality of the website. Since we’ve done the update, we’ve also seen an increase in time on site, which is really positive. 

How did Three29 perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been the greatest partner. The team is good at timing, and they move things along quickly. Whenever there’s an issue, they notify us immediately, which helps manage expectations on our side. In general, we’re the ones holding up the project because we had to get approvals or input content, but Three29 constantly keeps us on track.

We mainly communicate through email, phone, and Google Meet. We have weekly or biweekly checking calls to ensure everything’s working properly. Additionally, we use Figma to provide feedback on design.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a great size and excellent capabilities. We work directly with Three29, so they get to know our brand. Moreover, we’ve never come to them with something that they can’t handle. They always know how to do it.

All in all, they’re great people to work with, and we value our partnership.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we don’t have anything at this point. We’ve been happy working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Show them how everything ties together. If they have knowledge about your business and your pain points, they’ll be able to come up with interesting ideas and suggestions.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company is a financial trust fund created in 1957, located in California. We provide members with personalized and specialized administration of their healthcare and pension benefits. I am a manager.

For what projects/services did your company hire Three29, and what were your goals?

Creating modern websites built with standard and specific functions, while keeping the design flexible and customizable as our business needs change. It is important that updates can be made quickly, preferably in real-time in order to support our membership. We hired Three29 to help solve this issue and elevate the user experience.

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

We found Three29 by way of a Goggle search. We were looking for local companies that could fulfill our requirements. We sent out a Request for Proposal (RFP) to a short list of vendors. Three29 won the bid which kicked off our business relationship.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Three29 took the time to understand our brand, vision, needs and compiled a timeline and creative brief. The process before the build even began was well executed. This process ensured all our wants and needs were addressed every step of the way. We enjoyed working with them and valued their expertise.

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

We worked directly with Kevin, CEO during the RFP process. Once we began implementation, we worked with Amy, Jessica, and Joe.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We currently have two different websites that are flexible with our growing and ever-changing business, thanks to Three29. Our team can easily create new landing page experiences, add more dynamic content when needed, and the mobile responsive design is heavily used by our Membership and works without issue.

We wish there was more flexibility with the custom pages designed for us, however the Three29 team is always willing to help if any changes are needed. We highly suggest launching your website during business hours to ensure their project managers and staff are able to support.

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

Three29 was very organized. We had bi-weekly interactive sessions and stayed on-track for the entire project.

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

The team did great designing the user experience. They captured and understood our requirements and worked with us to build and deliver the final products. The designer Amy did an amazing job taking our concepts and turning them into actual designs!

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

There were changes to their staff during the project so the transitions were challenging. Nonetheless they were still willing to support with issues we experienced during that time.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a department’s executive director for an organization working with K-12 public schools.

What challenge were you trying to address with Three29?

We needed help with redesigning our flagship product.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Three29 helped us redesign our software application. Initially, we provided them with an overview of what we wanted to achieve with the project, and we had a series of brainstorming sessions to discuss the software’s functionality. Then, their team came back with a prototype and some design ideas, and we walked through them to provide feedback.

After implementing our feedback, Three29 met with us again to show us the designs. The iterative design process ran for a couple of months, especially because we wanted to spend a good amount of time focusing on our product’s design. Once we finished the design process, Three29 delivered the files and everything else needed for our in-house developers to implement the new design.

We already had very specific user personas identified because we’ve been in the space for a while, so Three29’s scope didn’t include identifying user personas. Still, they interviewed various clients and did some focus groups to gather additional feedback from users.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 people from Three29, including a project manager, a UI/UX designer, and a developer who made suggestions on some of the tools we might want to use.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2021–April 2022.

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

Our clients were very happy with the new design, so we started the new scholar year with very positive feedback. Everyone loved the app’s new look and feel, as well as its ease of use. We’ve actually worked with Three29 more than once because they’re wonderful. We love all the ideas they bring to the table, and they feel like an extension of our team.

How did Three29 perform from a project management standpoint?

Three29’s project management was wonderful. They stayed on budget and were very conscious about it. Moreover, they were very responsive and worked with us to meet all of our deadlines so that we didn’t have issues in that regard. We communicated via phone, email, and Zoom, and Three29 used a project management tool on their end, although I’m not sure which one.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Three29’s biggest strength was listening to us and delivering exactly what we asked them for. Moreover, they were very creative and brought excellent solutions to the table. Overall, they were an outstanding partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I can’t think of anything they could improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be ready to explain what you’re looking for, and Three29 will deliver; they’re very talented.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for The Sanctuary, a retail cannabis dispensary in Sacramento, California. I’m the project manager and delivery manager.

What challenge were you trying to address with Three29?

We are in the middle of relaunching our brand. We relaunched the whole business, moved locations, changed our name, and went through a rebranding process. After that, I started seeking out web development and marketing opportunities for our business so that we can continue to grow. That’s when I came across Three29. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our relationship with Three29 started with web development and design. They did an in-depth initial discovery process to gather ideas and get a good feel for our company.  During that process, we communicated back and forth regarding what we were looking for and what they could accommodate — they were very upfront about what they could or couldn’t. From that discovery process, they took our feedback and then presented design options to us for our approval.

They are continuing to work on our website, and it should be launching within the next two weeks or so. They also just started providing marketing for us. They’re creating campaigns and steering us into new territory we didn’t utilize before. We’re big on text message marketing, and they’re also doing different email marketing campaigns. We also have other potential app development opportunities coming up later in the year. 

What is the team composition?

I have direct communication with Kevin (CEO) and Julia (Project Manager) for web design and development. I also work with Jessica (Digital Marketing Strategist) and her entire marketing staff on our ongoing marketing campaigns. 

I mostly work with the division heads, and then they have their teams below them. I have a good relationship with the web developer assigned to our project. I’ve also worked with some of their in-house photographers. 

How did you come to work with Three29?

We found them through Google. I went through local web design and development companies. I’m very particular in what I look for — prior to working in cannabis, I was a actually project manager and owner of a small web design firm myself. I’m very strict in what I look for and know industry terminology. Simply put, it’s hard to pull one over on me in this field.

I went with them because, from the gate, they were very upfront and honest about their pricing models and what they do and provide. I never felt like they were trying to upsell me on things that I didn’t need — they were very concise and honest. It came down to their professional honesty. They never tried to run any games on us, which is very common in the development field. Many people will use closet terminology that people aren’t very comfortable with or might not know. However, it was always an honest conversation with Three29 from the beginning. 

They also had a great portfolio, but great websites are a dime a dozen these days in terms of looks. It just came down to the honest work they provide and how transparent they were from the start. A lot of companies that try and work with cannabis dispensaries just see us as a meal ticket because we work in a high dollar industry. It’s very easy for somebody to want to come in and try and take advantage of that, but I have never once felt like I had to worry about anything with Three29. They’ve always had our best interests at heart, even before we were a client.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than $20,000 with them. The web design is $15,500, and we’ll exceed $20,000 on marketing.

What is the status of this engagement?

We officially signed in October 2020, and we’ve been with them ever since. Our projects are wrapping up with them in terms of development, and our marketing is ongoing. We also have other projects that we’ll be working on with them.

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

Everything that I’ve received from Three29 thus far has delivered or exceeded the expectations of what they set forth. The web design and development has been a smooth transition for us, and we haven’t had any issues with them. They’ve been very communicative on what they need from us to keep the ball rolling. The 1–2 hitches we’ve had were more or less on my end. However, they’ve been very accommodating with those issues. It’s been very smooth.

In terms of marketing, they just started, so we don’t have any metrics yet. However, they’ve already dug in with our in-house marketing team and given them directions. They’re very hands-on and susceptible to feedback, and they all provide feedback very well. They’re just a good, well-rounded company. So far, our relationship with them is going really well, and we’re going to continue to be working with them.

How did Three29 perform from a project management standpoint?

I communicate with Julia through Gmail and phone. We had in-person meetings as well, but that option has become limited due to COVID-19. It’s been primarily digital communication from the start. That being said, it’s been one of the smoothest transitions to working with a new company that I’ve ever had. They’re very geared towards what they’re doing, and they have all of their ducks in a row. We’ve hit all of our deadlines. 

We’ve had very few issues with them, and any issues have been on our end in terms of getting them content. Even with those setbacks, we’re still on schedule. They manage their time well, and they reach out to me often to see if there's anything that I need. If they need something from us, they’re on it. 

Three29 has an open, easy, and step-by-step process. They’re always communicative and honest. As I said, they’re upfront about what they can or can’t do, what you should expect from them, and what their expectations are of you as a client.  They’re a very involved company, and they’re good at hitting milestones and sticking to the site map and timelines that they provide. That’s been my experience thus far, and I highly recommend them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re an honest and upfront company about what they can or can’t do. To give you more insight into that, we were looking at doing app development. Being in the marijuana field is tricky because there are different regulations between iOS and Android. There are also federal limitations that you have to look into.

They were the first company that advised us not to pursue that project until we had companies willing to do the research for it, based on the legality and other issues we hadn’t looked into. This was before I’d even signed a contract with them. This project we’re looking at doing is well over $60,000, and they still discouraged us from pursuing it. That tells me they’re truly looking out for us. In the development field, honesty is one of the most important things. There are a lot of unsuspecting consumers that don’t know these things.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re really good at what they do. I don’t have any criticism because they haven’t given me anything to really complain about. I know that if there are going to be any setbacks — not that we’ve had them — they will be upfront about it and let us know what’s going on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re willing to put the work in with them, you will have no issues. Keep in mind that they do move fast and keep their timelines. If they do get held up, it’s not going to be on them, because they’ve handled these projects well so far. They’ve given us nothing but the best. They’ve been professional this whole time, and I really can’t recommend them anymore for anyone looking for the services they provide.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We specialize in the sale of commercial real estate investment properties on behalf of private clients, syndicators, merchant builders and institutions. I am the President of the company.

For what projects/services did your company hire Three29?

We hired Three29 for the design and build of our website.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a sleek, clean, visually appealing and easy to use website, that branded us appropriately and allowed clients to contact us.

How did you select Three29?

I Selected Three29 after making a mistake and trying to work with a low cost online provider of webdesign.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was the design and build of a website, hosted on Squarespace. We integrated photos, backend third party property hosting plugins, links, bios, and contact functionality.

What was the team composition?

We had a designer and builder that we worked with from Three29.

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

The project was a success due to the knowledge and communication from Three29. These projects cannot work without a strong communication skillset on the design end. Ideas and visions don't come together without listening and interaction. Three29 worked with us as we ebbed and flowed with our vison and desire. Both sides have to come together to make it work. They delivered.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow was very effective. It was easy to get them information and easy to get their feedback.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication and desire to finish the project to completion.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not from my interaction. They lived up to their end of the agreement.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a former UX sales strategist for SAFE Credit Union.

What challenge were you trying to address with Three29?

We needed to redesign our website, as the one we had at the time operated on a legacy platform. It posed security risks and was no longer responsive.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Three29 overhauled the website in its entirety. The team handled all of the designing and coding, then handed that code over to our inhouse developer, who built the site on Sitefinity.

The design phase was very collaborative and in-depth, diving into user journeys, personas, and more details.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about four or five people. Our main point of contact was Kevin (President & Founder), and he was supported by a team of about three to four.

How did you come to work with Three29?

We wanted to work with a local vendor who understood our community well. We interviewed a handful, but Three29 stood out from each of them in many ways.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $100,000-$250,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from June 2016 - April 2017.

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

We immediately saw a huge lift among our mobile users after the launch of the site. We also saw an engagement increase of about 40%, and product sales on average rose by around 15%.

How did Three29 perform from a project management standpoint?

Three29 went above and beyond what was expected of them. It was a very sensitive project, and they found a way to bring all the key stakeholders together to find common ground. 

The team was made up of proactive communicators who were always thinking of answers to our questions before we even asked them. They remained available at all times and were committed to finding a way to achieve all of our goals. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

For us, it comes down to the internal communication level between executives. They balanced the needs and wants of different departments perfectly, acting as a glue between them. Three29 was instrumental in driving the project forward without incident.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that comes to mind. The whole experience was incredibly positive.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to their ideas. Three29 can lend their expertise from both a developing and designing perspective, and they can help you achieve what you ultimately want to, even if it’s in a different way than you originally thought.