Toast

Introduce your business and what you do there.

MG Motor UK is an automotive manufacturer here in the UK. We sell affordable, high spec cars to the masses.

What challenge were you trying to address with Toast?

Every year, we throw a conference and lovely dinner in a hotel for our dealers to tell them about our plans for the new year and our past year’s results. Obviously, things have been a little different this year, and we couldn’t get everyone in the same room, but we still needed to provide that update to our dealers.

We put out a pitch that asked companies to propose and quote for a virtual dealer conference where dealers could log in online, listen to the update, and get the information they need.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Toast worked alongside another supplier, managing all the responses from our dealers, recording the webinar, and putting the webinar on a platform to ensure that people could find it. They also helped with logistics and speaker management; they even managed our internal speakers. Toast also provided graphical video design in the form of pre-created videos that went out. They did all the copywriting and scripting for these pieces.

What is the team composition?

I think there were 3–4 people. 2–3 of those were the core Toast team, and they brought in others, both from Toast and freelancers that they work with regularly.

How did you come to work with Toast?

In the past, we approached them to pitch for our TV ad and they came up with lovely ideas that were creative, but we didn’t end up using them. On this occasion, we felt it was very up their avenue and something that would help my business see what a great supplier they are so we could use them in the future. Because of their expertise as a team, creative ideas, and how they managed their pitches in the past, we knew they would absolutely smash this project for us.

How much have you invested in them?

It was about £55,000 (approximately $76,900 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

It was the quickest project both of us have ever done. The work started on December 10th, 2020, and I would say the whole project was complete by January 18th, 2021.

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

We emailed the dealers and attendees to ask them for feedback. When asked how they would rate the event, 90% answered very good or excellent, and 86% of the people who registered for the event attended the event, which, in terms of these types of webinars, is a really high amount of conversions.

One of our attendees had watched several of those types of webinars over the course of a week and said that ours was the most professional by far. Another attendee said it was a well-thought-out event, and that it was better than a lot of our competitors’ events. Finally, one participant praised the mix of facts and numbers and said that the variation in filming kept them engaged.

How did Toast perform from a project management standpoint?

They provided us with a Gantt chart detailing a full project timescale, along with key deadlines highlighted that both sides had to meet. It was quite a hit-the-ground-running project in terms of fully using other systems to manage it because we didn’t have enough time, but Toast hit it out of the park.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their passion to complete the project to the highest standard that they possibly can was the most impressive part of the project. Nothing was too much of an ask — there were never any no’s. They went above and beyond to help us and to make the project work however they could.

Are there any areas they could improve?

On this occasion, the negative actually fell on the client-side in the sense that we could have given Toast more time to help them do an even better job. I don’t think there is anything they could have improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them enough time to allow their creative brains and project management skills to come into play. I think we constrained them slightly with our timescales. Give them a go because they are fab, professional, and very personable.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior brand manager at a language learning app.

What challenge were you trying to address with Toast?

We were looking to launch a TV campaign in a couple of markets.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired them to work on the production of our TV campaign. They worked on the creative side. Everything from the idea to the production was managed by them. They took that to storyboard and hired the team of people, from the director to the art directors, stylists, people who did the costumes for the models, actors, and the TV campaign. 

It was very collaborative. Initially, we had a rough idea of what we wanted to achieve from a creative standpoint. We had a better idea of what it needed to achieve from a business standpoint. Toast took the business metrics we had in mind and a rough idea for the creative and helped us flesh that out. 

They managed our process from end-to-end. Once it was shot during the day, they did the editing and worked with the sound team. They did everything for us in producing the TV ad.

What is the team composition?

There were four people from their team and there were others they brought on as contractors for the project. The director was a key player. We met him at the pitch stage and he was there through the ideation session and on the shoot day. He was there a little during the post-production as well. He was definitely a representative of Toast and was a real key player throughout. We had a main point of contact as well.

How did you come to work with Toast?

Someone who used to be with our company had 10–12 different production agencies respond to an RFP. We whittled it down to around six that came into pitch. Toast provided the best pitch and idea. We felt they were our best fit.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than £100,000 pounds (approximately $129,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement ran from December 2019–March 2020.

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

When we ran the TV campaign for a monthly period in Poland, we were the most downloaded and top-grossing language learning app in the app stores.

How did Toast perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great — communication and their proactiveness stands out. They were always several steps ahead of us. Whenever a decision was made or something important was discussed in the meeting, they always made sure that piece of information or decision was recorded somewhere. 

We all were very much aware of the decisions that were made along the way. Nothing fell through the gaps. It was quite a large and complex project with a lot of different stakeholders with a very short timeframe to start production. We pretty much started directly after Christmas and we had to finish in a short timeframe. It was traditional project management and the communication made it really effective. They were very experienced as a team and were great at helping us bring the rough vision that we had to life. 

They gave us a first rough edit and it was just at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We weren’t in lockdown at that point but we started distancing. They were really good at navigating around that challenge and making sure that we were happy with everything. We had a couple of edits before the final creative was approved. They were good and flexible during that process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We had meetings and pitches with quite a few companies but what stood out with Toast was their creativity. They wowed us with their ideas and their ability to deeply understand the needs of our business was impressive. They quickly got it from both from a creative standpoint, as well as how the business was growing and what we wanted to achieve. 

It almost felt like they were a part of the team and had been a part of the team for a while. They didn’t feel like strangers coming to us. They definitely developed that real deep understanding quite quickly. We all quickly built a nice rapport with them. It was a long day of work but we enjoyed their company as much as their expertise. The director they brought on was very experienced.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We were happy with the end result. Given our budget, things had to be thought of quite creatively in terms of how our vision was brought to life. Though there were no negative discussions, there were some times we weren’t necessarily on the same page at the very beginning. It was down to us having big expectations for the budget that we had. They were very realistic and reigned us in on our ambitions so I can’t fault them on that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be really clear on your brief and what you’re looking for. They can definitely help you flesh out a brief and help figure things out with you.  They’ll provide advice on best practices and the best way to approach whatever problem you’re trying to solve. They can definitely work magic over a relatively short period of time like they did for us.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company is the Fine Art Museum of Montreal, and I am responsible for diversity and togetherness for the museum.

What challenge were you trying to address with Toast?

We were trying to film a professional video about our TEDx talk series in Montreal.

What was the scope of their involvement?

There is a big conference in the Fine Arts Museum of Montreal every year, and the theme this year was about diversity in the city and how we represent that in the collections of the MMFA.

They helped us to film the talks in the event, as well as individuals who attended the conference in order to help us represent the conference on our website and on TEDx site as well.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about five people from their team.

How did you come to work with Toast?

TEDx Montreal recommended them to us for the collaboration.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,700 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project kicked off in December 2019 and ended just after the event, which was in February 2020.

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

We haven’t put the video on our site yet, but we are incredibly pleased with the final product. It is high quality and has received a lot of praise from everyone who has seen it so far.

How did Toast perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team is incredibly professional and do a very good job of listening to your feedback and accommodating it completely into their work. They know what they’re doing, so it was a really easy and enjoyable experience to work with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team really is completely transparent and happy to work with you until you are totally satisfied. I could come to them with any questions or concerns that I had, and they always made sure that I was heard and that those issues were addressed to my satisfaction.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they are one of the best companies I have worked with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Talk to them, because they will always be willing to incorporate whatever you need into what they are providing for you.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing for a global brewer’s UK division. We produce a variety of beer brands.

What challenge were you trying to address with Toast?

Toast is our video production partner. They create brand videos for our conference presentations and have completed multiple projects to date.

What was the scope of their involvement?

For each project, I provided Toast with scripts or storyboards, as well as sample material from past advertisements and historical heritage footage. We collaborated to determine the narrative for each video; I provided raw footage, and Toast turned it into a working version. I then reviewed the first version, and they delivered the final product after 2–3 rounds of feedback.

What is the team composition?

Bob (Creative Director, Toast) was my main point of contact for each video. He brought in a variety of people to work on these projects.

How did you come to work with Toast?

I first collaborated with them when I worked at another company. They created emotionally engaging videos for 300–400-person conference audiences. Based on the positive reception, I decided to contract them for the brewer.

How much have you invested with them?

Across multiple roles, my companies have spent about £50,000 (approximately $65,000 USD) on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2009, and our most recent collaboration ended in January 2018.

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

The videos received positive feedback from internal stakeholders for their powerful content. Our employees now feel differently about the brand and our future.

How did Toast perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve been working with the team on and off for ten years and have completed 5–6 projects with Bob. I’ve even sat next to him in the editing room to work out details and make tweaks. Overall, the Toast team was highly responsive to feedback and easy to work with. They consistently turned around a great product on my tight deadlines. Whenever I want to create a brand video, I always turn to Toast.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate how collaborative and professional they have been. I tend to have a clear vision for each project and give very detailed feedback. Toast has not only been receptive to my ideas but also has challenged them and proposed alternative approaches.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve been very happy with their work.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Give them enough time to complete the whole project, especially for the editing process. In addition, it’s critical to give them the best quality brief in the initial stages, but that’s true of any agency.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the Head of Marketing Communications for Algomi, which is a software provider to the corporate bond trading sections of investment banks, asset managers, and exchanges.

What challenge were you trying to address with Toast?

I needed to develop a series of product and market explainer videos for our website, for our sales team, and for use at exhibitions and events. I needed to find an agency to create a style and handle the entire production process.

What was the scope of their involvement?

At this point, we’ve created five animated explainer videos with Toast. In each case, we start by bringing them a script and working through the particulars. They ask a series of questions to determine our audience, and we discuss scenes, colors, and end client desires. Our objective is to integrate our brand into each video. The videos need to be in complete harmony with our website and resonate with our clientele. Toast’s team was largely responsible for booking recording studios, finding audio samples, selecting voice talent, and securing rights to trademarked content.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one account manager and a creative director.

How did you come to work with Toast?

Several years ago when I worked at a different firm, we hired Toast for a video project. Although I was not as involved then as I was for these projects, I was impressed with how they worked and carried themselves.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve likely spent about $100,000 in total, so about $20,000 per video. Some of that cost may go toward royalties or facilities, but I cannot say for sure.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first started working together in February 2015. Our latest video was completed in March 2018.

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

We’ve received very high praise from people that we value. Investors and attendees at conferences have remarked about the quality of the videos. Our sales team expects top quality, and they have said that they are proud to stand in front of these videos. Further, our viewing figures on Vimeo are holding up very well in the sense that the number of finishes versus the number of starts is a very promising ratio. The original work has held up so well that when we’ve come around to new topics, we found that the language, architecture, and style was sufficiently flexible to be applied, which was exactly the brief we gave them three years ago.

How did Toast perform from a project management standpoint?

They kept us on track in every respect. Very little chasing needed to be done. Projects tend to be delivered on time and on budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They listen to the brief and ask thorough questions to learn more about the audience and how the material will be used. They are transparent about expectations for both sides. It is a true collaboration and partnership.

Their customer service is notable, as well. I mentioned in passing that our fifth birthday as a company was coming up, and they made a short animated video for free in a day to two to help us celebrate. That was lovely. It’s nice to be seen as a valuable client.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have never known them to be late, but it’s the nature of clients in our position to want work to be delivered quicker. I understand why it takes time. However, I accept that quality work has a timeframe, and I do not expect them to work excessive hours to work on something that is not time sensitive.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our app is a smart and safe way to sign in; providing flexible tools for the modern workplace. Our app makes visitor management, staff sign-in, and desk & meeting room booking simple.

For what projects/services did your company hire Toast?

After experiencing rapid growth, particularly in the last 18 months, we were ready to take our marketing to the next step and increase awareness of our brand. That next step was TV advertising.

What were your goals for this project?

TV was a whole new ball game for us so we wanted to team up with a production team who would not only create a great advert, but would support us throughout the whole journey of our first TV ad.

How did you select Toast?

We spent a lot of time researching different production companies online and once we had a shortlist, we set up a few video calls to get to know each company and chat through what it was we needed, and Toast was one of the ones on our shortlist.

Describe the project in detail.

After a great call, Toast provided us with an initial pitch that had 3 different ad concepts and we then set up another call for them to chat through their pitch in more detail. After some final shortlisting, we then decided to partner with Toast for our first TV advert as from the first initial video call we had with them, we knew they'd be a great team to work with. Their values as a business are in line with ours, and it felt like we were part of the Toast family from day one. Not to mention, they pitched fantastic concept ideas!

What was the team composition?

Throughout these early stages, we were talking to the MD/Head Producer, Assistant Producer and the Director.

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

As I mentioned before, we always felt like we were part of the Toast family, and that's something we feel is so important when partnering with a company to execute a piece of marketing like this.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They got us involved in every aspect that we wanted to be a part of, including choosing the casting of the advert (which is a lot of fun!) and the filming. All in all, the whole process ran smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Toast is a great company and we would recommend them to others.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.