Top Notch Dezigns

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Ambassadors for Christ Network (AFCN), and we put on shows that give real meaning to various holidays we celebrate such as Christmas and Easter. We also give out toys, and we minister to children in the library.

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We wanted to have a web presence so that people could easily reach and contact us.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch Dezigns created a WordPress website from scratch, and they ensured that our identity was perfectly captured in our platform. They also helped us show how our work contributes to fulfilling the work of the Lord. On top of that, they enabled people to donate and contact us during events. They designed our logo and gave us many options to choose from. The team continues to support us with our needs.

What is the team composition?

We’re working with over seven people from Top Notch Dezigns, including their business manager, designer, and developer.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I found them on Google, and they seemed really nice. They listened to what I wanted and showed me how they would tackle my project. In the end, we chose to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in March 2020, and we continue to collaborate.

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

Their work has definitely increased our site traffic.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Top Notch Dezigns has great communication skills; they always keep me in the loop about the project’s status, and they set up weekly appointments with me. We communicate through email, phone calls, and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism and process have been impressive. They really care about my business, and they care about producing quality work that matches what I’m trying to achieve.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any complaints about Top Notch Dezigns.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest about what you need because they’ll be able to produce what you want based on what you give them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and sales operations specialist at Cassone, and we’re a leader in New York’s modular space. We sell modular buildings, office containers, office trailers, ground-level storage containers, guard booths, and anything that needs space on a construction site. 

I’m in charge of lead generation and making sure our sales team is fully supported. I also manage our IT and digital marketing efforts. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We grew from a mom-and-pop company to a five-location corporation — we were expanding rapidly. We were very fortunate that many people knew our brand, and we were relatively recognizable. 

However, we needed a website that reflected our growth and would take our business to the next level. One of our main competitors was buying up a lot of our competition, and they operated on a national level. With that, we wanted to be able to compete with them and ensure that we keep our base in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. We aimed to showcase ourselves as a significant player. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch has developed our website from the ground up. They’ve built the new site on WordPress and made it mobile-friendly, speedy, and capable of handling the amount of information that we have. 

Each of our products has 10–12 variations, and their presentation is photo-driven because there’s a lot of floor plans involved. We have a lot of different specifications and forms for our products, and all of those are necessary to create leads.

The website has taken about two years to develop because we’ve had many scope changes. Still, they’ve been able to accommodate us on that. Our website has been launched, and Top Notch currently provides us with digital marketing services. 

What is the team composition?

Derek (Founder & CEO) is my main point of contact, but I’ve touched base with at least 10 people.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I found them through Google. 

As a well-known brand, we get a lot of outreach from big digital marketing companies from California and elsewhere. However, because we started as a mom-and-pop shop, we wanted to make sure that we worked with someone local. 

There’s nothing better than seeing someone in person or being able to pick up the phone and talk to someone instead of constantly communicating through emails. Top Notch was the one that hit that mark since they were only about half an hour away from us. 

They took their time and did their research before meeting with us. They asked excellent questions — it was a complex industry to learn. They proposed a website development package with an ongoing digital marketing plan, which made sense for us, so we hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $60,000–$75,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2019, and it’s ongoing.

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

Our leads increased by 78% upon the website’s launch. That’s a considerable increase because we’ve barely received any prospects from our old site. I attribute this improvement to Top Notch. 

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is amazing. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a huge year for us because many people needed storage for classrooms and similar things. We also serviced COVID-19 sites with our units. 

Because of the increased workload and the pandemic situation, I couldn’t focus and always had to put the project on hold. However, Top Notch is always working in the background and has kept the project moving forward. 

Working with them, I know I have a partner instead of a mere vendor. Whenever we’ve had any changes or new ideas, they present us with a cost-effective and creative solution. They don’t just agree and charge us with exorbitant fees — they want to do the best option. They bring us a different perspective; we feel like Top Notch is our family. 

We communicate through emails and weekly calls. After our calls, I receive a to-do list, and I can work with that with our owners. 

Additionally, unlike other agencies, I’ve been talking to the same people from Top Notch for the past three years. That’s a nice feather in their cap because that means they’re good to their employees and have a high retention rate. I value that in an agency. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Any agency can have a great presentation, work ethic, and designs, but the analysis of whether their efforts are working is important. Ultimately, we’re here to make money and have a bigger presence. Top Notch understands all of that.

They’ve provided us with so much detailed analysis of our industry — they’ve come in and brought what our competition is doing. They are everything I’ve been looking for in an agency. 

We like that they’ve created a clear roadmap for us. We always know what step we are in throughout the website development process, and we also understand the reason and goal of each task. 

What sets them apart from other agencies is they take our problem seriously and see the project’s whole scope. They don’t just see a website development project, unlike those larger agencies we’ve spoken with who barely gave us any attention. I appreciate that Top Notch is taking us seriously. 

Lastly, they understand B2B marketing — it isn’t all about the visuals, although that’s also important. I’m more focused on conversion rate optimization and making sure that we will have the end product that we need. I also appreciate that we can springboard into digital marketing services with them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. I’m happy with their services — it’s all good. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They provide an interview in the beginning, including a competitor and company review. With that, give them as much information as possible to allow them to do research. They’ll listen to the information you provide. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re WithPride HVAC.  In addition to heating and air conditioning, we also provide plumbing services. I’m the sales manager.

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We were looking to get online. We needed a website to be professionally built and gain social media exposure.

What was the scope of their involvement?

 They developed a WordPress website. We provided the information they required, such as the logo, and they brought it together. Now they host and maintain the website.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Derek (Founder & CEO).

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

We’re looking online for a local developer. Top Notch Dezigns was within a 10-minute drive, so it was easy to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $800–$900 per year (approximately $2,000 in total).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2018 and we’re still working together.

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

We get more exposure. Many customers have said that they got information from our website. We do link to the site on social media, so customers find us that way, and we get inquiries directly through the website.

We’re happy with their ongoing maintenance as well.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Derek made sure that development moved at a steady pace so we could meet the timeline that was promised. We met in person, but there were times when we had phone calls as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re happy with the website. It’s up and running, they maintain it, and it’s never a headache for us. It doesn’t go down and we get positive feedback.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing stands out.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You have to be ready to sit down and either meet face-to-face to express what you expect. You also need to invest your time as well so nothing gets lost in the process. Otherwise, you’ll surpass the revisions. They can’t do everything themselves.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing coordinator for a construction management company. We have subsidiaries including a development firm and an engineering firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

Our engagement with Top Notch involved two subsidiaries. As startups, both companies needed websites.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch developed both websites from scratch. Their team built the sites on WordPress.

What is the team composition?

I worked closely with Derek (Founder) and infrequently talked with a couple of other people.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I found them through a simple Google search. One factor that pushed us to choose Top Notch Dezigns was that they're a minority-owned company like us. We wanted to give back and keep it in the community.

How much have you invested with them?

For both of the websites, we spent around $8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in November 2018, and it wrapped up in September 2019.

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

Top Notch developed the websites in a short timeframe, which was good. It took them less time to build two new websites than it took to revamp our other platform. Their customer service was great too.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Derek and I had weekly conversations and mostly communicated over the phone. The calls were consistent, and they rarely missed a date. As far as communication, I’d rate them a 10/10. If I had a question, they got back to us within the next few days. I never felt a disconnect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their teamwork was their most impressive quality. We could tell that they had a team behind the scenes in which everyone had their specific role and worked together well. No one was in a silo. They had group meetings to figure out the best way to implement our websites.

Are there any areas they could improve?

These were smaller websites but there could’ve been more creativity in the process. A collaborative, creative session would’ve been valuable.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared for the weekly calls. By preparing for them, they'll be more effective. Make sure to contribute to the process too.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Well Kept Barber Shop. Our business is on the higher end spectrum, so we charge much more than is typical in the industry. Our services include facials, color enhancements, and very neat, clean haircuts.

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

One of the challenges we face is getting clients in the door to pay $50 for a haircut when they're used to paying around $15-20. We felt that Top Notch Dezigns was well-equipped to handle that objective.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch Dezigns provided website development services. They started off by conducting research on my competitors. They created a plan and walked us through the different types of websites they could design for us.

From there, we started working on the development. The team built a landing page for us that's neat, clean, and classy enough to reflect the quality of our haircuts. They're going to start handling marketing for us, as well. We trust them with that process because they were very attentive, professional, and punctual.

Top Notch Dezigns was highly knowledgeable about their field. Now that the website is complete, we're going to begin focusing on PPC advertising. Ever since we started the marketing, it seems they've gotten comfortable enough to take care of us in an even better way. They're very attentive. Since the website launched, we've had 3–4 phone calls to discuss how to improve our website and do even more for our clients.

What is the team composition?

A majority of the work went through Derek (Founder and CEO, Top Notch Dezigns), but I know that there were other people involved including an account manager.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I was referred to Top Notch Dezigns by a client of mine who had used them to develop a website before. He's a contractor, and the site they designed for him was very clean and professional. At first, I was hesitant to hire them because they were quite expensive, but then I considered how my business has high prices for our field. If I wanted to create something nice for my business, it made sense that I needed to invest in web development and marketing.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $3,000 dollars on a website and also pay about $300–$400 a month to keep it secure.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2018. The website was complete a month later in December 2018. There were about four weeks between our first and final payment.

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

When we made our first payment, we weren't sure what to expect. A couple of days later, the first draft of the site structure they designed blew us away. The cost seemed much higher than we'd seen with developers who charge $500–$1,000. Despite our concerns about the expense, the first versions were super clean. When we saw the final version, it was stunning. They designed a very beautiful website.

A lot of our clients come in on a walk-in basis and mention the website when I ask them how they heard of our business. Many other customers book appointments through our online system. My business partner and I have a very meticulous clientele, and many of them have complimented the new website.

I've also asked new clients we haven't met before what they thought of the platform, and most are very pleased with it. Even a developer who works at Google who we’d never met before said it looks stunning. We've gotten great feedback overall and haven't heard any negative comments.

How did Top Notch Dezignsperform from a project management standpoint?

In the beginning, we spoke every other day or so. Once we passed the research and development stages, we usually touched base once a week. I contacted a few teammates besides the CEO via phone and email.

I had a great experience working with Top Notch Dezigns. They were always punctual and called at the exact time they promised to. During our discussions, we touched base and covered many different topics. They took my feedback, offered input, and took it from there.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed by their punctuality. They called when they said they would and were always on time, which is hard to come by. Customers pay lots of money for a haircut at our barbershop, so we don't like to keep them waiting. We always like to take care of our clients right on time, and were impressed by how on point Top Notch Dezigns was with us. The CEO was especially helpful. Top Notch Dezigns gave us great advice and many impressive new ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really. The managed care plan and dedicated admin server are a bit costly, which is difficult as a small business just starting out. Other than that, I think they did a great job.

Top Notch Dezigns was straightforward about what the cost was going to be and what they would provide us. I wouldn't say that there's anything else to improve and haven't had any negative experiences with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in prepared to spend some good money. Top Notch Dezigns does their job well and it's very worth the price they charge. They're very organized and professional.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing partner of Atlantic Cove Marina, a fully operational marina based in New York.

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We needed to create an eye-catching website for the under-managed marina we purchased. The goal was to attract our target clientele by getting rid of the poor image the previous management had created. We hired Top Notch Dezigns to help us start from scratch with the site.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The process began with Top Notch Dezigns collecting data on our target audience and creating a cohesive way to convey our message. They developed the website on WordPress. They built it to include our restaurant, canvas shop, and bait shop, so all of our services were available and usable. The team linked the website to a reservation portal for the restaurant, so all pages are connected to our main site. They also helped set up our Google My Business account and made it so our marina shows up on Google Maps.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Derek (Founder & CEO, Top Notch Dezigns).

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

Myself and Derek shared a mutual contact, so I included Top Notch Dezigns in the interview process. We considered 2–3 others, but Derek’s team was the clear winner for us, and they had the best reputation.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $4,000–$8,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September–October 2018.

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

The website has been very well-received—our customers have given us an excellent response. The layout provides a great user experience because it’s dynamic and reflects our business well.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

Derek guided us through the whole process and kept the project aligned with our protocols. Their team was readily available whenever we needed them, and all the deadlines were met. They were highly organized and communicated with us multiple times a week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They transformed us from having a poorly reviewed platform to having an outstanding site that attracts customers. Their team also had strong organizational skills.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there was nothing they could have done better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Having a clear idea of your goals, clientele, and vision will help you work with a company as highly organized as Top Notch Dezigns. The process will be quicker if you already have an idea of what you want from their team.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Rios Interiors Corp, an interior remodeling company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

We had a template type of website but wanted a more professional version to showcase our designer’s work. By creating a new site that stands out, we hoped to become more competitive online.

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Top Notch Dezigns supported me from the very conception of my vision. I wanted my website to present clients with a descriptive call to action that gets right to the point. As they helped design and develop the new WordPress site, they contributed lots of insightful ideas. 

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Derek (Founder & CEO, Top Notch Dezigns).

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I came across Top Notch Dezigns through an online search. They seemed like an excellent company, so I gave them a call. I liked the information they provided and decided to hire them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October–December 2017.

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

Top Notch Dezigns was professional every step of the way. I highly recommend them. After conducting thorough research, they ask questions to clarify your point of view and objectives. We enjoyed engaging with Derek. He was always available when I called, made an effort to ensure I was happy the site, and kept everything up and running.

The new site has established a robust online presence that I definitely didn’t have before. I feel more confident sending my clients to check out our website. It effectively conveys our company’s service offerings. Since we launched the new platform, I’ve already gotten calls from potential customers.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

As a highly professional company, Top Notch Dezigns managed our project very effectively. We had clear communication, and they always followed up. They carefully adhered to the vision I conveyed from start to finish.
Derek provided dates when I could expect completed work. He stuck to the timeframes and called me on time for all our appointments. Most of our correspondence was via phone call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Top Notch Dezigns was impressively proficient and reliable. I could call them at any time. They made all the changes I requested. Our engagement never felt transactional.  They enjoy their work and want to make sure their customer is satisfied. Everything they do is on point.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Top Notch Dezigns is a business that will keep your concept and goals at the forefront. They’re interactive and inquisitive, so it’s easy to voice your concerns. Paying attention to detail is key to ensuring everything gets done right. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Noir Beaute Extensions.

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

When I was just starting out as a business owner, I had little knowledge about building or running a website, so I wanted to work with a vendor that could help me design, build, and learn how to operate a functional e-commerce site.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Top Notch designed and built an e-commerce website for my business that they continue to maintain. They also provide SEO services, including social media and Google ad campaigns.

What is the team composition?

I've mostly just worked with Derek (Founder and CEO, Top Notch Dezigns), but now that I've added SEO services to our package, we work with someone else on their team as well.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I researched the top website designers online and called the first 25 vendors that popped up on Google. Top Notch was the first company I spoke to, and Derek left such a strong impression on me that I decided to ultimately work with his company. I felt instantly comfortable with him and that he could really help me take the right steps to start my site. They were also competitively priced for what they offered.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around April 2016 and the relationship is ongoing.

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

Before doing any SEO, I was barely receiving one order per month. Thanks to Top Notch's SEO services, one of my products is on the first page of Google. They've helped attract more business and visitors to my site, as well as additional followers through social media.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

I've learned so much from Derek—he's been very influential in helping me get my business off the ground. Despite my lack of website knowledge, he's helped me get where I need to be and provided additional insight along the way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a very strong, supportive team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We've been working with them for almost two years now, and I think it'd be nice to receive occasional customer deals on certain services, considering they're one of my biggest expenses.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're very accessible and responsive to client needs, so I recommend taking advantage of that. Don't be afraid to ask questions or go into the relationship with very little knowledge, because they're a great resource regardless of what your background is. With their support, you can have an e-commerce platform without having any prior knowledge of how to build or run one.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP of creative design at Meadowbrook Financial. We're a mortgage company located on Long Island, NY.

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

Our website was completely out of date when my coworker and I came on board about two years ago. It wasn't bringing any leads. When it comes to mortgages, you need to have a big and beautiful site in order for people to consider you an established and trustworthy company. So we started looking for a company to help us redesign our website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We conducted several meeting that enabled them to learn about our industry in more depth and for us to discuss our business goals and objectives that will set a collaborative work for the project success before signing a contract. Our goal was to have an approachable and educational site for our buyers. Our old site was very text heavy and not attractive to customers, but the new WordPress site has beautiful photos, our corporate video, and a very clean, intuitive layout. We wanted our customers to know that we're real people and not a stuffy bank. There are no cliques here and everyone has a good time, which comes across through our video. Also, we're on a Glassdoor list of best places to work in 2018, so we wanted to promote that as well. In addition, we wanted to display some nice reviews, so that our clients could see them at a quick glance. If they click on a review, it brings them to our full Zillow page.

Another page I like is our loan officers page that lists all of our licensed loan officers. That allows customers to search for an officer's bio by their first name and see client testimonials.

We had weekly calls, where we discussed our ideas and their recommendations. It was a very collaborative process and constant communication helped us make the project a success. They’re also going to do SEO work for us.

What is the team composition?

Our primary contact was Derek (Founder and CEO, Top Notch Dezigns), but he had a team underneath him.

How did you come to work with them?

I did an online search, looking for best developers on Long Island. I used to work with a company from California and had a bad experience, so I wanted to find someone local. I found a list of best companies on Long Island and did research on all the winners, including past winners. That's how I found Top Notch Dezigns.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Top Notch Dezigns between February and July 2018.

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

The website looks clean and professional and I love its look and feel. Within the first week of launching the website, we received two leads, which was impressive. All of our loan officers love the website and are trying to promote their profiles. It's another marketing tool for our sales people, so they're very happy.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a couple of calls a week and we communicated via email between those calls. They're great communicators and delivered on promises.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're real people who care about the result and don't try to sell us things they can't do. They're proud of their work and want to make their clients happy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Read all the reviews and call them. I had a good feeling the moment I spoke to Derek.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of a New York-based architectural firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with Top Notch Dezigns?

I needed a partner to build a website, so I could make my work more available and accessible to potential and existing clients.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I came up with the idea and content I wanted on the site. They took my vision and built the entire site. They led the technical side, which included the coding, formatting, and content population. I had over 80 images, drawings, and photographs of my work in digital format, and they developed solutions to effectively present them on the site.

At first, I didn’t like their initial design, but we discussed the website, and they fixed the problem. We refined the process, and they optimized how each of the images was presented online. We collaborated together to give life to my vision.

What is the team composition?

I worked with their CEO.

How did you come to work with Top Notch Dezigns?

I looked at other architects’ websites and talked to a friend who had a successful art gallery site. I researched local web designers, and I thought Top Notch Dezigns had a good portfolio of their past work. We met and were comfortable with one another, so we began working together.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August 2017–June 2018.

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

The website has lived up to my expectations. It’s exactly what I hoped it would be. Top Notch Dezigns maximized the impact of the images and created an amazing place to represent my architectural practice online. The site is well-organized, user-friendly, and displays various projects I’ve done over the course of my career.

How did Top Notch Dezigns perform from a project management standpoint?

We held weekly conversations to talk about the overall project and any specific problems or concerns we had for that week. We used phone and email to communicate, which was incredibly effective. Their CEO was responsive and always available. We met in person only once, at the beginning of our partnership. He was organized and managed the project extremely well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Top Notch Dezigns did a terrific job. They have impressive technical, design, and management skills. They pulled everything together in a seamless and effective way. Any problems I mentioned, they improved immediately.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Consider working with them, especially if you’re doing a project similar to mine. They have what it takes to do an excellent job.