Uncap - Shopify Platinum Partner

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder and president of Seasons Sparkling. It's a beverage brand based in Chicago. We produce sparkling waters made with organic botanicals. We also collaborate with contemporary artists on packaging and programming, so the aesthetics of the frontend of our website are as important to us as the robustness of the backend.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pivofy?

We hired them to build out our e-commerce website on the Shopify Plus platform. We’re a content-rich brand and it was important for us that both the look and feel of the site conveyed our brand identity.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to build a flexible yet robust backend on Shopify Plus that could accommodate both B2C and B2B flow in a comprehensive way, integrating with inventory management and accounting systems.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Pivofy on Shopify's marketplace for vendors. They were a preferred vendor here in Chicago, so they were one of several phone calls we made looking for a developer.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They implemented a complete e-commerce solution using Shopify Plus.

What was the team composition?

I interact with Denis (CEO, Pivofy), who then managed the entire process. He collaborated closely with our internal teammates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The website is 90% completed on Pivofy's end. We’re just getting the final pieces of content we need to populate the site.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I had multiple in-person meetings with Denis to go over the scope of the project and all the elements we wanted to cover. He provided a very comprehensive proposal, outlining detailed tasks to be executed, the sequence and timing, and what was needed on our end and when.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The fact that Denis gives this project so much of his personal attention and brainpower is astounding. I truly feel like he's a part of our team. He is very accessible, knowledgeable, and direct. It's almost as if this is the only project he's working on when I know for a fact that Pivofy is so busy that they are looking to add people and move to a bigger space.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't really think of anything to say here. I feel incredibly lucky to have found Pivofy because they've been such a great fit for us in so many ways.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CMO at Truman’s, a direct-to-consumer cleaning products company that will launch in February 2019. We offer products in a concentrated form that comes in a patented cartridge design. This allows consumers to refill and reuse their cleaning bottles without touching any of the chemicals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pivofy?

We engaged Pivofy to create our website in a way that exemplifies our brand experience. Because we’re a direct-to-consumer company for a product that’s typically sold in retail environments, we wanted to ensure that the site offered a top-notch buyer experience. It needed to be informative, visually appealing, and comfortable to use.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Using our provided requirements as a base, Pivofy developed our website on Shopify while also helping us explore additional features beyond the out-of-box functions.

One of our primary challenges was adapting the site to our unique subscription model. Unlike other replenishable products like vitamins or shampoo, we’re not sending the same product over and over again. Rather, we offer a starter kit with reusable cleaning bottles and refill cartridges in four-packs. Furthermore, we needed to manage the frequency of each subsequent delivery because it didn’t make sense to send a single cartridge each month.

Pivofy addressed our issues by customizing our subscription model’s fulfillment and timing. Customers would now receive a starter kit upon the first purchase and automatically switch to refill cartridges for the next shipment. If a customer needed more supplies before the next subscription, they could use our text-to-order option to receive a one-click purchase link for specific products.

What is the team composition?

I mostly work with their CEO, which helps me keep track of the project rather than having to bounce between different contacts.

How did you come to work with Pivofy?

We went through Shopify’s list of preferred partners and shortlisted about six agencies across the country. After sending out an RFP, we considered each candidate’s past work to see if they’d been involved with subscription businesses in the past.

Ultimately, we chose Pivofy because their CEO was highly involved and flexible. He worked with us in the early stages to define our platform and helped us understand the possible features in Shopify. It felt like he was more of a partner who could help us solve challenges rather than a vendor executing a project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$25,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The main development lasted from November 2018–January 2019, but they’re still helping us with minor changes before launch. Since we knew that the site would be an iterative process, it’s helpful that they offer unlimited edits.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re currently working with them to launch the site, so we don’t have any hard metrics yet. However, our team loves the final product’s visuals, and the sentiment from individuals who have seen the site has been overwhelmingly positive.

Pivofy has helped ensure that the site offers a good buyer experience, informing customers about our product and brand while also explaining the subscription model and purchasing options clearly.

How did Pivofy perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re incredibly responsive and organized. We collaborate in Basecamp, which helps streamline the communication and manage our tasks. If we have any questions, they’re quick to schedule a call even on the weekends.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their problem-solving skills are phenomenal. Instead of telling us that a requested feature is beyond the standard functionality, they put in a lot of effort toward researching our options and testing alternatives. Their flexibility and creative thinking make them unique.

From an educational standpoint, they’re also great at building upon our ideas to show us other possible ways to use Shopify. Whenever we’ve identified a business problem, they’ve consistently brought back technical solutions that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any complaints. There hasn’t been a single issue in terms of timing, deliverables, or functionalities. They’ve met all of our expectations, and we’re satisfied with their performance.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a web architect and development manager for a floor care company. We manufacture vacuums, deep cleaners, and other floor care products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pivofy?

We had recently acquired a commercial line that already had a consumer-facing product site, but it was based on an Oracle ATG platform, which we didn’t use. So, we worked with Pivofy to migrate the site to a Shopify platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Pivofy migrated the product site from an Oracle ATG platform to Shopify. I initially worked with a third-party vendor to extract legacy data from the old site (e.g., order, consumer, and product information). Their team then imported it into the new platform.

They also built out additional features using external widgets, including chat, marketing, and e-news functions. To ensure that the new site maintained the same look and feel, Pivofy used assets from the previous site.

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with their CEO who oversaw 2–3 developers.

How did you come to work with Pivofy?

We consulted Shopify’s list of approved partners, and Pivofy was one of them. After I contacted their CEO, he responded right away and understood our project goals.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The main work lasted from August–October 2018. They’ve delivered the site for testing, and we’re still working with them on a few tweaks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their speed, performance, and quality of work were outstanding. We thought that the site would take longer to migrate and would need extra customizations to achieve a similar look and feel, but that wasn’t the case. Pivofy delivered a new site that was remarkably faithful to the original.

I particularly liked their independent approach to challenges. Whenever we requested a feature, they would investigate different ways to implement it and provided us with a range of options. They were able to avoid building excessive customizations through their creative use of widgets.

How did Pivofy perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with them was a breeze. Because they were so experienced with Shopify, they were comfortable handling the migration with minimal involvement from us. We used Basecamp to communicate project tasks, give feedback, and share files. They also kept us updated through regular emails and phone calls. Anytime we had a change, they were quick to handle it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have extensive experience working in web development and have dealt with several third-party vendors. Without a doubt, working with Pivofy has been the best experience I’ve had to date. They delivered the project before the deadline and were always productive during our conversations. If they couldn’t do something, they would tell us and present other options. It was just an exceptionally smooth experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I didn’t have any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Although it’s important to know what you want before starting a project, don’t be afraid to approach Pivofy if you don’t have the full requirements ready. Their team can help you make decisions and get you where you need to go.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

RuMe Inc. provides functional products that make life easier. Our eco-friendly tote bags and bright, fun patterns bring color and cheer to our customers. I'm the director of marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pivofy?

We hired Pivofy to redesign our Shopify theme for a better shopping experience. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to improve the UX and conversion rates by streamlining navigation and simplifying content. It was also important for our team to easily maintain the site. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our Shopify Plus account manager reviewed our budget and the changes we wanted to implement, then suggested a few Shopify Plus developers. Before our first conversation, Pivofy created several mock-ups so we could see the potential for our site. Their CEO was incredibly responsive and helpful, answering all our questions and providing several referrals who attested to the quality of his work.

Describe the project in detail.

Our first major project was to refresh the brand and make it more current. We decided to overhaul our retail web presence to create a more seamless UX, optimize conversions, and make the look and feel of the site more consistent with the new brand direction.

After signing the contract with Pivofy and reviewing what we wanted, their team finalized the home page designs and collection pages. In addition to overhauling the look and feel, we asked them to build a custom "Shop by Pattern" filtering solution. That shopping experience is a core component of our brand, but we had never provided it to our online customers. 

After an internal review, we made revision requests. They developed the theme and created all the product, collection, and navigation features. They walked us through all the steps to make our final content edits and additions. 

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with the CEO. Our photographer and in-house designers provided assets, and I gave him details about site structure and product assortments.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our first internal and customer responses have been amazing. Everyone is in love with the new brand direction, and our team likes the simplicity of maintaining the site. We're waiting to launch it to our entire audience, but hope that mobile conversions also significantly improve.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their use of Basecamp showed which deliverables they needed and when. Their CEO called when he needed us to move faster. He was efficient and a great communicator. They were incredibly responsive when we located bugs during the final stages of the launch.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their efficiency was unparalleled. The CEO never let the project stall and always had quick solutions for our questions, concerns, and edits.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I don't have extensive experience with other developers, but wouldn't change a thing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a co-owner of Maeven Box, a bridal subscription box service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pivofy?

We were looking for a vendor to help us set up our e-commerce website. We had already worked with another developer to create a basic platform, but it didn't perform the way we needed it to. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Pivofy developed our website, using a Shopify platform. We provided their team with some PSD layouts as well, and they provided additional design services and suggestions. They also helped us narrow down some of our product offerings in order to simplify and streamline our message to consumers, and integrated third-party plugins such as MailChimp and Pirate Ship.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Denis (CEO, Pivofy) for the most part, but we were also able to connect with others on our account through Basecamp as they worked through tasks.

How did you come to work with Pivofy?

Pivofy was listed online as one of Shopify's recommended vendors, and they also had a lot of positive reviews on sites like Clutch. Within an hour of asking for a quote from them, they got back to us and jumped on a call  the next day. Not only were they reasonably priced and extremely responsive, but they also seemed to understand our big-picture goals well.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $15,000. They managed to stick to their original quote, even though our project expanded slightly in scope. They never gave us a hard time about it–they just made it happen.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2018 and launched the site in August.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site has been very successful since we launched thanks to their efforts. We've been thrilled with the feedback we've received thus far; it's easy to navigate and the customer experience is smooth and simple.

How did Pivofy perform from a project management standpoint?

Denis kept everything moving along swiftly, so we were able to meet our tight deadline. Using Basecamp allowed us to track what the developers were working on and communicate with them as needed. They documented and prioritized everything quite well overall.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're extremely responsive. Whenever we reached out to Denis, he responded almost immediately. In one instance, for example, their team jumped on a backend issue we were having within just a matter of minutes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Any roadblocks we encountered were more platform-related issues that their team helped us navigate and find workarounds for.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend reaching out to a team like Pivofy's earlier than we did. When we approached them after a bad experience with another developer, we were in a rush to get our site live. They really saved the day for us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the Co-owner of an online retail site.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pivofy?

We needed help building our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Pivofy designed and developed our website from scratch without wireframes, using the Shopify platform. They incorporated product photos that allow users to scroll over images for addition views of each product.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Denis (CEO, Pivofy).

How did you come to work with Pivofy?

We posted the job on Linkedin and received a few responses, but ultimately felt Pivofy was the best company for the job.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $11,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in December 2017 and launched the site in May 2018. Pivofy actually completed the bulk of the work earlier, but there were some slowdowns on our end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're more than happy with the website Pivofy built. They delivered above and beyond our expectations.

How did Pivofy perform from a project management standpoint?

Denis was responsive and accessible whenever I had any questions or needed help. We mostly kept in touch through phone, email, and video conferencing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Pivofy offers a great value for the investment. Denis has a lot of passion behind his work, he knows what he's doing, and he's committed. He was a pleasure to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Rockwell Nutrition, a company that sells nutritional higher-tier vitamins and supplements that come from practitioner-backed resources. They’re products you can’t get from a retail store.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pivofy?

After buying the company, I wanted to change the platform to Shopify and address the higher level of who we are.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were an existing business selling 10,000 products on multiple websites. We wanted to keep all of the equity of our sites, from an SEO perspective, so Pivofy helped us transition to Shopify Plus. They laid out a straightforward plan for the whole project, migrated our product data, and consolidated our multi-country sites onto one website.

Pivofy manages our design, landing pages, and engine. We’ve begun to increase media buys, and Pivofy is integrating those into our channels.

What is the team composition?

We’ve primarily worked with Pivofy’s founder and a few of his team members, including the lead developer.

How did you come to work with Pivofy?

We sent out an RFP to a few recommended agencies and appreciated the boutique feel that Pivofy had. They had the right technical skills for design and development and were willing to provide a hands-on approach; plus, they’re experts in Shopify at an enterprise level. Their team understood what we wanted and presented various solutions to our problems.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a little over $20,000 on the prelaunch design and development. With the ongoing work, we’ve spent a little under $30,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All of our old websites have been combined into one site, improving efficiency, management, and operations. Our conversions are up by 10%–15% compared to our previous platform, and we’re able to track analytics much better. We now have a solid platform that we can scale in terms of marketing efforts.

How did Pivofy perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Basecamp, Wrike (for marketing), and a bug tracking system. Pivofy provides exactly what we need to understand the project without making it too simple or too technical. Their team is responsive and quickly solves any issues we run into. They don’t micromanage us but still provide a hands-on approach.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve worked with various other agencies on numerous projects, and most weren’t able to understand our e-commerce approach. Pivofy, on the other hand, centers all their work around e-commerce. Designs, branding, and all their other efforts are informed by metrics that aim to improve online sales.

This was a complex project, and Pivofy provided excellent solutions and a solid foundation for our site.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some issues we weren’t aware of at the beginning of the project, and Pivofy did their best to find solutions. They couldn’t solve everything, though, and some work had to be sent to other companies. Overall, we’ve been nothing but happy with Pivofy’s work.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Anyone working on e-commerce design, and not just backend development, should be clear about what their short- and long-term goals are. Listen to Pivofy’s suggestions for apps and other tools because they’ll help you manage your workload and increase efficiency.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP of a company that manufactures natural, eco-friendly water treatment solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pivofy | Ecommerce Solutions?

We wanted to rebuild our website on a standard platform that incorporated industry best practices for navigation, security, and reliability. At the time, our website was failing to properly service our customers, as it was difficult to navigate and the e-commerce functionality was outdated.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to rebuild the site on Shopify.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended to us by Shopify.

Describe the project in detail.

We found that the Shopify platform would integrate well with our existing enterprise resource planning system (ERP), allowing for automated order entry, inventory management, and shipping notifications. Thus, we had Pivofy design and develop the system, while also training my team on best practices.

What was the team composition?

Pivofy had a team dedicated to the project, however I worked exclusively with the CEO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

Without any new marketing, we had more orders placed during the first weekend after launch than we did several weeks prior. We attribute this to the overall enhanced customer service experience the new platform offers, highlighted by the improved navigation, layout, and functionality of the cart.

How effective was the project management?

It couldn't have been any better. We were on time and on budget for the entirety of the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They produced a beautiful website for us in a relatively short period of time.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

Only to keep up the good work—we absolutely love our website.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Gift-O-Roboto, we are an online e-commerce store.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pivofy?

We're a new company and we wanted to have a really nice, user-friendly website for our customers to see and purchase our products online. I don't have any background in website development, but I knew we wanted to build on the Shopify platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did all the design and the development from scratch. I worked directly with Pivofy on the design, and they were really great about providing options and asking my opinion.  

The site is built on a Shopify platform and I wanted something that was built to grow with me, I did not want a generic theme that anyone could download. I wanted the platform to be built for my online store as a unique site that fit with our vibe and feel.

For one feature, in particular, I wanted to be able to make certain products stand out. There are apps that you can download to integrate with your website that will give you product banners signifying  “out-of-stock”, “new product” or “coming soon”. Pivofy coded that functionality into our system. This way we didn't have to worry about purchasing a separate app and paying a separate fee from a different subscriber.

There are additional features I want to add to my website as we grow, like a subscription service. I want it to be a very customized subscription service so people can buy gift boxes that would actually dropship to a third party.

What is the team dynamic?

Dennis [Founding Partner, Pivofy] was the lead, but there were about seven people involved total. I interacted with four.  

How did you come to work with Pivofy?

I originally found Pivofy online on Shopify as we reviewed a list of experts for e-commerce development. Pivofy really stood out to me, so I called and spoke with Dennis. One of the things that was important to me was to have a meeting with the company. I wanted to know that they weren't outsourcing everything and ensure we would receive good communication and feedback.

I actually drove to Chicago and met with Dennis one-on-one and discussed exactly what I wanted for my website. The meeting went so well, he was very friendly and everything that I was looking for. That's why I decided to hire them.

In addition, I wanted somebody who was familiar with Shopfiy. When I met with Dennis, he had just gotten back from the annual Shopify conference. He really knows the Shopify platform, he’s very knowledgeable. I had read a lot of articles on Shopify and everything he was talking about was what the articles had said your design expert needs to be aware of.

How much have you invested with them?

This is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in March of 2017 and the project was completed in August of 2017.

I'm still in my first 30 days of opening, and part of your contract with Pivofy is that they are available to you for that first 30 days after launch. This is something I really like about them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Two of my customers said on online reviews that the website was very easy to use, and looks great. It was really nice to see that feedback from our customers.

How did Pivofy perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well. Pivofy uses Basecamp, and from a project management standpoint, it made it really easy to work with everybody on the team. We had good communication going back and forth and we were able to know exactly what we were working on and what needed to be done. That was all really great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

That one-on-one interaction and the fact that Dennis was willing to meet with me in person was most impressive. It wasn't just a business partnership, it was more about an ongoing relationship and developing that relationship. Your website is like a living, breathing thing and as your business grows and changes, your website has to be adaptable to change with that.

I wanted someone that I can have a relationship with. This wasn’t a one time, we pay and then are done. We're working together. They needed to care as much about my business and my growth as I do, and I really felt like I got that from Pivofy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The one area I saw for improvement, and I mentioned this to them, was more tutorials and direction on how they designed and developed everything. I didn't necessarily know how to work the site from the backend, and I wanted to be able to manage everything myself. However, as soon as I let them know that, Dennis sent me videos of him making certain changes so that I could go through learning how to do it myself. He was very responsive to that feedback. When you don't have any web or code experience it is a little challenging, but the videos made that easier, showing me step by step how to do things myself.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO for Gensavis Pharmaceuticals. We primarily manufacture products that address iron deficiency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pivofy?

We needed to convert our WordPress informational website into an e-commerce site. We were frustrated with being codependent on resellers to move our product. We wanted to have greater control over the quality assurance and inventory of our product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was a two-part process. First, we wanted to keep the feel of our previous site, but expand it into an e-commerce site. We also wanted to provide a platform for wholesalers and resellers to purchase our product. So, we needed to provide a consumer-facing retail site as well as providing wholesale acquisition costs for resellers. Pivofy used Shopify to build the site.

As a pharmaceutical company, we have to be careful with the text and images we use on the site. There are certain FDA requirements in the wording we use for consumers, medical professionals, and resellers. Pivofy started from scratch and came with a lot of ideas to construct what we wanted. They engineered the platform to be more attractive from an SEO standpoint, but we didn’t have them create AdWords or anything. 

How did you come to work with Pivofy?

We had previously contracted with someone else, but he didn’t get the site done. I then looked for developers through Shopify and saw Pivofy’s website. They replied to me immediately, so I decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with Pivofy?

It was between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first contracted with them in January of 2017, and the site was finished in February. It took exactly five weeks for them to build our site, even with the additional changes I requested. We’re going to pay a monthly retainer so they can continue overseeing our e-commerce site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I’ve had negative experiences with developers in the past, so they had to earn my trust. They gave us a price that was well worth our investment and met the timeline they set. It was very refreshing to work with them.

When the site launched, we immediately had customers ordering from us.

How did Pivofy perform from a project management standpoint?

They kept me apprised of the work they were doing and asked for feedback. If I sent an email at 12:30 or 1:00 in the morning, I always got a reply. They were focused on taking care of me.

We used Basecamp and email to communicate, which worked very well. I give them an A++ for project management.

What did you find most impressive about Pivofy?

They did what they said they would do. Other developers I’ve worked with have fallen short, but the team at Pivofy went above and beyond. The design features they incorporated into our site are wonderful. They were great at meeting timelines, and we had constant communication.

Are there any areas Pivofy could improve?

No. They’ve superseded our expectations.