Trademark Productions

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company sells smoke detection kits to used car shoppers, dealerships, and rental agencies enabling users to objectively measure whether a vehicle has been smoked in. I am a co-founder and CEO.

For what projects/services did your company hire Trademark Productions?

We hired Trademark to improve our website, build out an advertising strategy and platform, and help us go from zero to 1000 unit sales a month online.

How did you select this vendor?

I interviewed with 9 agencies and found Trademark the most compelling. Trademark offered more value for the same price (or less) than other agencies. Every agency said they could make a compelling website, turn on advertising, and improve conversion over time. Trademark was unique and compelling in that they were the only agency that said lets invest the first 30 days into branding because if we capture an audience but don't have a compelling message, whats the point. This convinced us.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We developed a brand book and then built a website. We are currently curating content for social, blog, and ads. Soon we will launch ads and focus on optimizing conversion and reaching our sales goal.

What was the team composition?

The team is awesome. My organization has an account manager who is a jack of all trades and is accessible pretty much 24/7. We also have access to the creative director and the president depending on the needs of the moment. We also zoom chat with the entire team of contributors (half a dozen members from their firm) once a week or every other week.

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

The website execution matched our highest hopes and dreams. Its all about the results, which are still unclear because we have not turned on advertising spend, but as each day goes by I am more and more confident in Trademark and our combined strategy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Could not be better. Their team has been committed, and they continue to finish tasks on time. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Dwight, their leader, is a visionary. He can see 3 years into the future of my company the way our founding team does - unlike most of our other stakeholders - without explanation from our team. Danielle is everything you want out of an account manager. She is available, consistent, and supportive. We are in the trenches together.

Danielle's leadership makes us feel like Trademark is not a vendor, they are part of our team. Tyler, their creative lead, has incredible taste. Describing "the look" you want is one thing. Executing the aesthetic that describes the mood, tone, emotion, etc that we are going for is another. All you have to do is look at our website. Good look making a better site that he did!

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

I am a happy customer to date.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a medical organization, and I’m the VP of imaging and specialty services.

What challenge were you trying to address with Trademark Productions?

We needed to update our website and make it more user-friendly.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Trademark Productions built a new site for us from scratch on WordPress. We started with a series of meetings with them where they trained us to enter content to the site and answered our questions — they were helpful with that. We then accepted and began the project with back-and-forth meetings to check the content that was going to be on the site until we got where we wanted.

Currently, they provide social media marketing efforts for us.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with 3–4 people; a project manager is our main point of contact, a web developer, and other people from their team who are also involved.

How did you come to work with Trademark Productions?

We were referred to them by a co-worker who worked with them in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $30,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2019, and the engagement is ongoing.

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

The website looks great. Also, according to reports that Google sends to us, we’ve been getting more traffic on our website; we used to have 1–2 people on our site, and now we have hundreds of them — that’s great for us.

How did Trademark Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re wonderful to work with; we communicate via email or do meetings as needed — they’re very responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They keep us on task even though we don’t know much about websites. We move forward with the content while they help us understand their industry. They’re also proactive in correcting things they see wrong to make sure that the site is functioning as it should

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have a dedicated team on your end to work on the project.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president at Cabresto Imports, a spirits company that imports tequila from Mexico to Michigan.

What challenge were you trying to address with Trademark Productions?

We needed a company to do our digital marketing. We were working with another social media company, but we decided to expand a little more since our business line is a bit more complex.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at Trademark Productions performs all of our digital marketing services, including social media support. They help with hosting Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter posts. They also created our brand book since we didn’t have anything set in stone for our branding materials.

They gave us a little bit of consulting on the design of our tequila bottles that we have. They also gave us ideas on what will make our products sell a little more and ways for us to increase the price and have it as a luxury product and cater to those who are willing to buy a little bit more expensive bottle.

Trademark Productions helped us with our website. They added another tab for the restaurants and bars that want to sell us. They gave some recommendations on what to update and blog ideas. It was nice to get a different perspective of what people think of tequila besides us that make it, product it, and import it.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Danielle (Account Manager), but I’ve met most of the team. I’m in touch with the person who is in charge of social media and the designer. I’ve also been in contact with one of the owners.

How did you come to work with Trademark Productions?

I searched on Google. Trademark Productions was one of the first ones that came up that were nearby to us. I looked at everybody’s website to see the services they provide. All the information they had on their website is what led me to contact them.

Their team was very approachable. Their creative skills are what helped us decide to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We have an hourly rate of $150/hour, and it’s 13 hours each month.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Trademark Productions started in January 2020.

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

The team at Trademark Productions highly met expectations. They came through on the projects we’ve given them. They’ve also been very good at working within our budget. They carried out the vision we have for our brand.

How did Trademark Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

We have monthly meetings with Danielle and the social media director. Their implementation skills are right on. Danielle sends the postings for our social media almost a month in advance to give them the approval of the posts.

Their communication skills are good. We use email. If there are any issues with the posts, she’ll communicate with me right away to let us know they’re working on it and the status of where we’re at.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Since the tequila is imported from Mexico, we needed a bit of that culture embedded into our branding. They also have a location in Mexico, which helps with the translation side of business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their team could’ve had a project management tool or automated process for us to approve social media posts.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have your end goals ready. Showcase who the company is so they can understand who you are and what your values are.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-manager of the estate of Sylvia Moy LLC, DBA (doing business as) Masterpiece Sound Studios. We are the recipients of the very valuable estate of my sister, Sylvia Moy. Sylvia was a Motown songwriter who had a lot of different assets, including a recording studio located in the city of Detroit.

What challenge were you trying to address with Trademark Productions?

They were primarily helping us in building the website for Masterpiece Studios. Masterpiece Studios had operated since my sister founded it in 1973. After my sister’s illness and the probate of her estate, the studio was shut down for two years.

The heirs of the estate then decided that we were going to preserve and promote Sylvia’s legacy. We had to come up with a plan for how to restart the business, and the first step was to create an impressive, professional website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Trademark Productions designed and developed a website that reflects the new business. We expanded its service offering in many respects, so the new site had to indicate that directional shift. I believe they implemented SEO to maximize the site’s performance.

They’re also creating our brand book and aligning our digital content in adherence to it. They’ve even provided training on how to navigate the backend of the website they created for us.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Danielle, who was our primary point of contact. We also worked with Tyler and one or two others that we interacted with.

How did you come to work with Trademark Productions?

We’re Motown-connected, so we went to the Motown museum and asked them for recommendations. They gave me a couple, and I also consulted Michigan State University, with whom we have a partnership. They also gave us some recommendations. We shortlisted and contacted 4­–5 companies. After reviewing the bids we received, we saw that Trademark Productions offered the widest scope of services at the most competitive price.

How much have you invested with them?

I’d say that we’ve spent around $15,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement began in December of 2019 and is ongoing.

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

The website went live about two weeks ago, and it instantly received radiant feedback from site visitors. People have even taken the time to write to us about how amazing the site is. This overwhelmingly positive response has pushed us to step up our efforts in relaunching the business.

How did Trademark Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They were absolutely exceptional. They not only met deadlines but were flexible vis-a-vis changes in the plan caused by COVID-19. They were amazingly accommodating in rescheduling deadlines based on external circumstances. The entire team was very gracious.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is comprised of exceptionally creative people. They’ve generated amazing content in flawless adherence to the branding they developed for us. They grasped the essence of our business so quickly, so I was just blown away by their preparation and professionalism.

I’d also highlight that they were extremely patient. I’m not tech-savvy, so I had to ask them many questions, but they were unceasingly amenable to them. They responded quickly and without any judgment.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I really can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d give them the highest marks and would recommend them in a heartbeat. You couldn’t engage a better group of people for a project like this.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director of Gougeon Brothers, Inc. We formulate and manufacture WEST SYSTEM, PRO-SET, and Entropy Resins Epoxy. We also have a joint venture in PRO-VAC USA.

What challenge were you trying to address with Trademark Productions?

Trademark Productions is performing work for our Entropy Resins brand. Entropy Resins joined our family about two years ago. The website was outdated and didn’t provide the tools needed to adequately market to our consumers. We brought Trademark Productions on to redesign the e-commerce website and assist with the implementation of marketing strategies.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled a full rebuild of the Entropy Resin website including custom backend programming. The website is built in WordPress and our store through WooCommerce. Trademark integrated their creative and technical resource to ensure the website’s providing what we need. The website is integrated with our ERP system, and our ERP system is integrated into Salesforce, which is our CRM system.

Trademark Productions also performed competitor research and analytic reporting to help us get a better understanding of the biobased epoxy market and where we can benefit. They are assisting our team with SEO strategy and website maintenance. Their team is also working on SEM marketing including Google Ads, campaign strategies, brand ambassador programs, and including the SEO content on our website.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is Danielle (Account Manager) who provides us access to their team of creatives, developers, and marketers.

How did you come to work with Trademark Productions?

I worked with Trademark Productions at a previous company. I brought them on because their work is great. Their team is growing, so I knew we’d have the support we needed. Danielle was my point of contact at my other company too so I already knew she was great to work with.

How much have you invested with them?

Our current investment is around $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement started in December 2019.

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

Since the rebuilding of our website, we’ve received more than a 56% increase in sales year-to-day over the last year.

The integration we have with the website and to our own CRM system is much easier for us to market to our end consumers. In addition to that, when we’re running our social campaigns and postings, we have a place that our audience can go back to. Before, it was very difficult to link them back to anywhere with more information.

Our team has received great feedback that we are providing educational content to our consumers. We’ve seen an increase in impressions and interactions on our social media as well. In the past two weeks alone, we’ve had over 20 inquiries from individuals wanting to become a brand ambassador.

Trademark Productions is very thorough, and they do their research. They feel like an extension to our department. When they talk to us, they say “our band” and “our product.” Their team has the resources and technology to constantly evolve.

How did Trademark Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Trademark Productions uses an internal project management tool, and we use one on our end. Their communication is awesome. They respond within the same day and are constantly giving us updates. It’s easy to reach them and meetings are on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication alone is really great, and they’re very relevant. Their skillset and resources are phenomenal. It feels like they’re a part of our department. They’re not just a vendor we’re hiring to do work. Their team really encapsulates themselves to becoming part of our team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Allow them to integrate themselves with your team. They have the knowledge to guide you and teach you. Be open-minded to suggestions they have and utilize their creative team. Know that your money will be well-spent, and you’ll receive results.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of business intelligence and strategy at a pizza parlor that offers quick service and delivery. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Trademark Productions?

We wanted to revamp our website since it was over five years old. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built us a new website essentially from scratch because our previous website wasn’t very functional. They used Javascript, jQuery, HTML, among other programming languages. 

Currently, they manage our website to monitor for any potential issues with loading and functionality. 

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Miranda (Account Manager). There were several other team members that worked on it including Tyler (Creative Director). 

How did you come to work with Trademark Productions?

We interviewed about five different companies. I founded Trademark online through Google and I saw that they’d worked with other pizza companies. Additionally, they had the strongest pitch. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $60,000-$70,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I think we started working together in December 2018, and the work is ongoing. 

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

I did Lighthouse testing on our previous site and our new site. Our old site had a score of 20, but now we have a score of 90. We’ve seen an improvement in online sales as well. 

How did Trademark Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They meet deadlines, even when we throw them some curveballs. If there are delays, it’s usually a result of last-minute changes we’ve made. Miranda is extremely responsive and always available to me. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They built some customized features for us. For example, we have a tool on our site where you can put in how many people you have and it will calculate how much pizza you should order. 

They’ve also educated us on how the website works. When I’ve gone into the website and messed something up, they’ve come back and explained what happened and showed me how to fix it. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

It would be nice if they did even more live demonstrations. We recently visited their office for a Google workshop, and I would love to have more opportunities similar to that. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want. If you aren’t specific, you’ll create more work for them. For example, there have been instances where I’ve given vague instructions and they delivered far more than what I wanted. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative director of a manufacturing company. We’re three companies together. Cotterman builds industrial steel and aluminum ladders. Conveyor Components Company builds conveyor safety equipment and material. Material Control’s an offshoot of conveyor components.

What challenge were you trying to address with Trademark Productions?

We wanted to update our website from our outdated look. One firm started on the project, but we weren’t happy with their services.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Trademark Productions worked with existing code to update one of our WordPress websites. We then had them build an e-commerce site based in WordPress, which they did from scratch. While they focused on development, their team worked on the design too. Our team provided mockups and approved any changes but also asked Trademark Productions about best practices because of their team’s experience. We trusted their judgment.

Their team built another website that looks nice but wasn’t expensive to create. We wanted a basic WordPress website because the original platform was essentially a PDF stuck up on the web.

We have a maintenance program with Trademark Productions. Their team’s constantly working on an assignment for us.

What is the team composition?

There are usually 5–6 people involved in our projects. Our main point of contact’s Danielle (Account Manager) but we talked to everyone including Tyler (Creative Director), Miranda (Account Manager), and Dwight (Founder).

How did you come to work with Trademark Productions?

Our project manager searched for web developers in Michigan. Trademark Productions kept popping up. We read about them and liked what they said. For example, they talked about how they help people who poured money into an ineffective website. We were interested in that message and talked with them. We liked their critiques of our website because we were critical of it too. They seemed to be the right fit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Trademark Productions in September 2018 and the engagement's ongoing.

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

In less than a year, the e-commerce site that Trademark Productions built made close to $80,000. We get a lot of compliments about our site’s look and feel and how well it works. The e-commerce site’s been quite successful.

Our web presence is far better than what we had before our engagement. That’s part of my objective, but at the same time, they’re a good partner in helping make that happen. The engagement works out well.

How did Trademark Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email and have monthly meetings via phone or onsite. Their communication and ability to meet deadlines are awesome. They're persistent with us to give them what they need. When they say they’ll have a product, they’ll have it. If they don’t, they’ll tell us why and when it will be ready. In my opinion, they’re exactly what you want from a web development firm. At this point, I wouldn't work with anyone else.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team spends a significant amount of time with us and gives us ideas. They’re helpful and do what they’re supposed to do. I would certainly recommend them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really, no. I’ve been completely satisfied.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be willing to communicate and listen to their ideas. Their advice is valuable, so listen to them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of a membership site for speech pathologists which provides materials for lessons.

What challenge were you trying to address with Trademark Productions?

I wanted to add a case management system within the site. I originally developed the site on my own, so it was very simple and didn’t have many features. I wanted to scale up the site so that it could have more advanced capabilities. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

I initially started working with a different vendor, but they could not deliver on what was promised. The site was a mess, so Trademark Productions worked with me to fix it and provide necessary updates. 

Recently, we decided that we wanted to develop a new, more sophisticated site. The new site will be able to support more features, including a case management system. This system will allow members to manage their appointments and track their students’ progress. 

Their team also does SEO and social media marketing work on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with a total of 6-8. However, I have two primary points of contact that remained constant throughout the engagement: Danielle (Account Manager, Trademark Productions) and Scott (Former Developer, Trademark Productions). 

How did you come to work with Trademark Productions? 

I wanted to find a vendor who I would be able to meet with in-person. I did a Google search for local web developers and I found Trademark Productions. We scheduled a phone call to discuss the project and I felt comfortable working with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

In total, I’ve probably spent over $80,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement began in November 2018 and is ongoing. 

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

Since I began working with them, my membership has doubled. I get good feedback from users about how much they love the site and its features. It’s making their lives much easier. 

How did Trademark Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They have amazing communication and regularly respond to my emails within a couple of hours. The team is kind and helpful, especially when troubleshooting technical issues. They’ve worked with me through it all. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They genuinely seemed to care about my site. It wasn’t just a project for them or a source of income. They always had ideas for how to make it better. They put their hearts into their work. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve been very happy with them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to them and trust their advice. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing of MJS Packaging, a 135-year-old packaging distributor.

What challenge were you trying to address with Trademark Productions?

I was looking for a new agency of record. The first project we did together was creating our e-commerce website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Trademark Productions built our website on Magento 2. Our IT team worked with their developers to build a custom interface between our site and our in-house ERP. They’ve done a lot for us since then. They create our blog and social posts, troubleshoot for all three of our websites and manage our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. They also provide analytics on a monthly basis and brainstorm different ideas for our business, such as marketing our 135th-year anniversary.

What is the team composition?

I typically interface with 2–3 people, but I’ve worked with other team members in the past. It depends on our needs at any given time. For instance, I worked directly with their lead developer during our website build, but now my requests regarding the site go to their product management team.

How did you come to work with Trademark Productions?

I was looking for a local agency so we would have the opportunity for face-to-face meetings. I narrowed it down to two agencies, and after some interviews with their team along with recommendations and referrals, I chose Trademark Productions. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in the fall of 2017. We still work together on a monthly retainer.

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

We’re pleased with the results. Trademark Productions’ team and I recognize that the website is a living, breathing thing that requires constant updates. I’ve had challenges working with Magento, and having their guidance as we updated from Magento 1 to 2 has been very helpful. My top priority for our MJS Packaging website is to generate leads. I believe the quality of leads has improved over the years since we started working together, and I’m very happy with that.

How did Trademark Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

Danielle (Account Manager, Trademark Productions), who I interface with daily, is good at giving me timely responses. For the most part, the projects are completed on time. The times that it doesn’t happen, they typically communicate why. We almost entirely communicate via email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

One project we did together was to create and lead a presentation for our sales team on how to bolster their LinkedIn profiles and general usage. It was fun and rewarding, and we received great feedback from our salespeople. They thought it was a very practical session.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Whenever there’s a lag in the project and they can’t deliver something on time, I’d rather know immediately when possible.

Any advice for potential customers?

Definitely go to their office in person from time to time. It helps to be there in their environment and see everyone there. I’ve worked with Tyler (Creative Director, Trademark Productions) and Dwight (Founder, Trademark Productions) fairly extensively, and it’s been really helpful to get to know them. They’re a really great group of people on a human level, and I enjoy working with them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president of the Police Officers Association of Michigan, which is a service organization that represents members of law enforcement in disciplinary matters and collective bargaining discussions.

What challenge were you trying to address with Trademark Productions?

We operate in every county in Michigan, and much of what we do is affected by current events and different forms of legislation. Because of that, we needed a more effective tool that allowed us to inform our members across the state as quickly as possible. To do so, we engaged Trademark Productions to redesign our website and manage our social media presence.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve relied on Trademark Productions to modernize the layout and graphics of our website, which had been quite primitive. We hoped to turn our website into a valuable tool for our members and non-members alike—a tool that could provide answers to questions that people would previously have to call our office to resolve. Now, all of our organization’s information is available at all times. We now also have an enhanced social media strategy for Twitter and Facebook. Additionally, we’ve asked Trademark Productions to fulfill some marketing tasks for us over the years.

The most significant development from our engagement is that Trademark Productions has provided me with a private email address to communicate with their team directly. With that address, I send them pictures or updates that I need to be shared online, and that content is posted on the website or social media as soon as possible. This process is a tremendous asset for us because it allows us to communicate with everybody across the state at one time.

What is the team composition?

Dwight (Founder, Trademark Productions) and Tyler (Creative Director, Trademark Productions) are our primary contacts, but we work with about four people in all.

How did you come to work with Trademark Productions?

I met Dwight at a business meeting in Detroit and was impressed with him as a person. I learned that his company provided services similar to what I had been putting off for a while, so I figured that this was the time to address our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend approximately $25,000–$35,000 per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with Trademark Productions since 2008.

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

We’re proud of our online presence now. Our members and non-members rely on our website because it’s so current and newsworthy, and they’re able to find what they need because it’s easy to navigate. Our engagement metrics signify that our website is a known entity, but my primary measure of success is how often I’ve received positive feedback from the people that we serve.

How did Trademark Productions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been magnificent. They take detailed notes in all meetings, and their thoroughness is evident in their work. With their creativity, the finished products have always been better than what I hoped for.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our organization doesn’t sell a product, but we offer something that has to be current, and I’ve always felt like Trademark Productions is working with our account at all times. I appreciate that level of dedication. They are swift to respond to all of my messages.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, Trademark Productions has been fantastic at making adjustments and improvements whenever they are necessary. For example, over the past few years, it’s become increasingly important for me to understand more of our metrics, and I wasn’t able to sufficiently understand some of the reports that their team produced. I requested in-person meetings, and now we meet once a month to discuss what’s happening and what we hope to happen next.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I decided to trust them and let them do their job, and my organization has benefitted from that. This project necessitated more of their expertise and less of mine.