Award-Winning Creative Meets Performance Marketing
There are over 474 thousand tweets a minute, 21 million instagram posts an hour, and 1 billion youtube streams a day. You have to be unusual to stand out, and unusual is kinda our thing.
Unusual is a full service digital agency specializing in branding, strategy, performance marketing, paid social, social media, product marketing, direct response, content creation, package design, product design, market research, SEO, email marketing, website design, product launch, logo, viral campaigns and creative.
And yes, we recognize we are saying we're good at everything. But when you've launched over 300 products, earned clients $2B, and Grand Prixed in everything from Cannes to D&AD, you can.
headquarters
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Brand & Go-to-Market Strategies for Consumer Goods Company
the project
“They don’t mark their work as “done” until we’re truly happy.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder and chief design officer of a consumer products company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Unusual?
We wanted to craft a brand and go-to-market strategy that would allow us to accelerate our business after launch.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We approached the project in three phases with Unusual. The first phase was all about brand strategy and positioning, and it was done over a 3–4-month period. The second phase was focused on our content and go-to-market strategies.
At present, we're in phase three — the final phase. It’s focused on our launch strategy, and Unusual provides support services for us on an as-needed basis.
What is the team composition?
I mainly work with Tim (Founder) and Javier (Founder & Creative Director).
How did you come to work with Unusual?
We found Unusual through a referral.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested between $150,000–$300,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started the project in March 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We don’t have statistical feedback yet, but we have qualitative ones. The feedback we’ve received from individuals who’ve seen Unusual’s work has been positive — it’s better than what we initially expected.
How did Unusual perform from a project management standpoint?
Their project management skill level is great. Unusual has used several management tools with us; in fact, they’ve also helped us find a project manager for our own team.
On top of that, they’re involved in many of our proposals, each of which has its own subset of proposals that articulate dates, times, and deliverables. Drafts and Gantt charts are also available. Currently, we’re using ClickUp as our main management tool to streamline our internal processes. To communicate, we use Slack. We also have regular check-in meetings on Zoom.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Unusual is extremely open to feedback, and they can deliver something that exceeds our expectations. They don’t mark their work as “done” until we’re truly happy.
Are there any areas they could improve?
We have our internal project management practices, and we’re becoming more sophisticated. Given that, the Unusual team can work on making it easier for our resources to be on the same page. For instance, they can reduce the need for Zoom or Slack meetings to look at updates.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be involved in the process and have a well-defined feedback structure and communication. In our engagement, we can tell Unusual when we’re not happy with the results they produce. We also tell them how they can improve them — we’re truly engaged in the process. As a result, the team can go above and beyond our expectations.
Focus
Portfolio
Facebook, Amex, BMW, Heineken, Qualcomm, British Airways, Samsung..., British Airways.
Untippable Wine Branding
INSIGHT:
It’s hard to strike a balance between low calories and great taste, just like it’s hard to keep your balance when you have too many drinks.
IDEA:
So for a wine that is low in calories, high in taste, and low in ABV, we built a perfectly balanced brand.
Los Sundays Social Campaign
INSIGHT:
Since every brand claims to love their own products, customers just ignore the claim.
STRATEGY:
What if Los Sundays loved their tequila a little too much sometimes? That question led to the drunkest ads you’ve ever seen.
RESULTS:
Profitable ROAS out the gate and scaled to 6 figure media spends on Google, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Current Branding
Improved hydration makes you feel more fluid and adaptable so you can better navigate our fluid, ever-changing world.
Since Current uses technology to improve hydration, we leaned into the power of fluidity by embodying it across everything we do.
We named the company Current for two reasons:
- We are a positive current pushing people towards a healthier, better life.
- We have a modern take on a stagnant industry, using beverage hardware and software to tell people how much to drink and when.
To bring to life the concept of a fluid world, we took earth’s circular outline and fluidified it.
We created the first fluid, ever-changing logo. With 50 unique versions, it’s recognizable but never the same.
We’re continuing to bring fluidity to life across everything we do, including the creation of 3D fluid product animations.
Piato Branding
INSIGHT:
We’re surrounded by ordinary, mundane objects that we accept and ignore.
IDEA:
Piato hunts for mundane things like license plates and makes them extraordinary through superior design. To inspire people to do the same, we built a brand that helps people see the world as we do.
EXECUTION:
The logomark uses the shape of the product to highlight details people don’t notice. Close up photography helps people appreciate that there’s beauty in the details.
Chemistry Masters Branding & Execution
INSIGHT:
While childrens interest in STEM is decreasing, the popularity of games like Pokemon and Magic the Gathering are increasing.
IDEA:
We united the world of chemistry with the world of children by rebranding the periodic table and turning every element into a pokemon-esc character.
EXECUTION:
We created a design system that taught kids about the characteristics of each element. Then we used the characters to teach them about compounds like water or salt.
Oku Energy Shots Branding & Packaging
INSIGHT:
97% of us want to live a purposeful life. The only problem is, 75% of us aren’t.
IDEA:
We brought consciousness to life as a cartoon monkey and used him to introduce Oku as being conscious energy for the things that matter to you.
EXECUTION:
We used natural colors and minimalist design to communicate healthy ingredients.
Wagmo Social Campaign
PET HEALTHCARE SO GOOD, YOU'LL WISH YOU WERE A DOG.
INSIGHT:
Wagmo pet healthcare plans are better than human healthcare. Like, way better. You get reimbursed in 24 hours, get free grooming, there’s no such thing as “out of network,” and on and on.
STRATEGY:
Wagmo has pet plans so good, you'll wish you were a dog. So, naturally, we had a human dress up like one. He shared all his favorite things about being a dog and qualifying for Wagmo.
RESULTS:
We got a 249% growth in website sales, a consistent 3-4 ROAS on all channels, and gained 11,000 followers in less than 3 months.
American Express Social Campaign
INSIGHT:
Money. Pointless meetings. Terms like, “boil the ocean.” A lot of things stand in the way of getting business done. So, we created the Get Business Done campaign, and took on all of them.
IDEA:
We established the lighthearted new social tone for the brand, and executed a media plan that redefined American Express B2B forever.
AMEX RESULTS:
With a multimillion dollar media spend we delivered 40% over goal on all KPIs, including a 3x increase in new member sign ups.
EXECUTION:
In the spirit of getting business done, and to optimize performance based on facebook’s best practices, we made case studies in 16-seconds.
WhyGolf Branding & Execution
INSIGHT:
Golf enthusiasts think it’s the most difficult, frustrating sport in the world, yet they freaking love it.
STRATEGY:
So we took this idea of frustration and brought it to life across every single thing we did. Everything.
RESULTS:
4x ROAS in first week, which we maintained week after week, earning $1M in sales the first year.
Whisper Digital Marketing
We believe bidets are the #1 way to go #2. So we launched a campaign for the best bidet on the market to prove just that.
Reviews
the project
Branding & Graphic Design for Web3 Production Studio
"I was impressed with the fact that they knew what to do before we even started explaining and sharing references."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the founder of Fujimonk. We are a Web3 production studio for the metaverse.
For what projects/services did your company hire Unusual, and what were your goals?
We needed help with our logo, symbols, animations, posters and branding in general.
How did you select this vendor?
We were considering around 5-7 companies but chose Unusual because of their unique portfolio
Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.
1. We arranged a conference call and discussed our vision for the brand. 2. Unusual shared their views and offered all the services they could provide. 3. We choose what we needed most. 4. Unusual would share the process every day in a private chat until we got exactly what we asked for.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
3 people, a Coordinator/manager, and two founders
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We conducted an experiment and shared their work with 10 people that have great experience in the NFT space. Everyone pointed out how unique and stylish our collection looked. The project is still in the works and should be launched within a couple of months.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
They invited us to a private chat so we could communicate every single day.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
I was impressed with the fact that they knew what to do before we even started explaining and sharing references.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
There is always space to improve, but I do not know what more they could have done for us.
the project
Branding for Health Energy Product Company
"They were deep creative thinkers with the ability to create uncanny resonance with the target audience."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
President of a startup Healthy Energy Product Company
For what projects/services did your company hire Unusual, and what were your goals?
Deep Creative Rebranding
How did you select Unusual?
Reviewed multiple options. Found Unusual.la to hold a clear edge in graphic design, differentiated messaging and copywriting, and jaw-dropping creative content
Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.
Complete rebranding, renaming, graphic design, packaging design, copywriting, creative content, go-to-market strategy
How many people from the Unusual team worked with you, and what were their positions?
graphic design, brand strategy, copywriting, go-to-market
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Eye-popping packaging and name/tag-line(s) that connect viscerally with our target audience
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Weekly and ad-hoc meetings with point-person who efficiently and effectively manages the project staff
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
They were deep creative thinkers with the ability to create uncanny resonance with the target audience.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
Expensive, but worth it!
the project
Web Revamp & Branding for Custom Building Company
"We were blown away by the knowledge they had about website design, user experience, and optimization."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
We are a Custom Builder located in Castle Rock. I am the Marketing Specialist and handle our social media and marketing needs.
For what projects/services did your company hire Unusual?
Our website was created back in 2013 and was very outdated. We felt that as a Custom Builder the website needed some revamping and rebranding. Our team had a vision on what we envisioned for the website, but had limited skills to make it happen.
We reach out to Unusual and they exceeded our expectations on redesigning and rebranding our website. We have gotten so many compliments on it, our leads have grown tremendously and we feel that it finally represents who we are as a builder!
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We selected this vendor due to their professionalism, industry experience, punctuality, and ability to communicate.
Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.
We initially met to run through our vision, then met again once the website started (with a check-in) to see if we liked where it was heading and then had a final review.
How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We worked with two of the vendors team members
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The website has increased drastically with the amount of traffic and clicks we have from month to month.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Everyone was easy to communicate with and we received frequent updates. We also received everything in a timely manor.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
We were blown away by the knowledge they had about website design, user experience, and optimization. We feel like they took our vision and exceeded our expectations. With everyone being so friendly and happy to help, we are never afraid or hesitant to ask for favors or reach out!
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
Honestly, I do not have any complaints!
the project
Branding Services for Wine Company
"They are dedicated to taking a long-term view of their relationships with us."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
Owner of a wine brand in an emerging category.
For what projects/services did your company hire Gush?
We hired Gush to help us distill down the value propositions of our wine into one big idea to build a brand around.
How did you select Gush?
Funny is money. Smart and funny is even better.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
Create a brand in a new wine category is the broadest description of their work... to do this, they learned about the wine, developed the label, and wrote the copy. They will also take the product photography, too.
What was the team composition?
Tim, Evelyn, and Javier.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Their work isn't in the market yet, but I'm very excited to get it there.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Excellent. When I gave feedback, they listened and adjusted.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
They are dedicated to taking a long-term view of their relationships with us.
Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?
Nope
the project
Video Production for Bidet Retailer
"The video is hilarious!"
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm the creator of the Whisper Bidet – an attachable bidet that sells online directly to consumers.
For what projects/services did your company hire Gush?
Whisper Bidets hired Gush for a hilarious video to drive online sales. Gush provided creative development, video production, and post-production.
What were your goals for this project?
To make a hilarious ad about not having toilet paper that drives online sales.
How did you select this vendor?
I know the owner of Gush personally and have worked with him in the past. He is fucking hilarious and I knew we could make something great together.
Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.
I collaborated closely with Gush throughout the entire process. I wanted an absurd hilarious video and together we made exactly that. Gush turned around edits in a timely manner and always shared their POV on what was best for the work.
What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?
We collaborated via Google docs and slides and stayed in touch on email and on the phone.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
I'm very happy with the ad and I'm in the early stages of using it for marketing.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
We had an amazing effective workflow. Our timing was super tight and together we were able to pull it off.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
The video is hilarious!
Are there any areas for improvement?
Was hard to get Gush to respond to the same email chain lol. Every piece of communication was a new email.
the project
Marketing for Hemp-Based Wellness Brand Collective
"They came up with amazing creative rooted in a strategy that we felt would make people pay attention."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am an investor in and partner of a "house of brands" for hemp-based wellness products.
For what projects/services did your company hire Gush?
To design an "out of the box" platform and campaign to distinguish ourselves in an insanely crowded space.
What were your goals for this project?
To explore creative approaches and tones for a couple of the brands.
How did you select this vendor?
They were recommended.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
We wanted help understanding how we should show up and capture the attention of our target market. That meant a tagline, tone of voice, and an understanding of how it would come to life.
What was the team composition?
Founder (Tim), co-founder (Jeff) and media specialist (Evan)
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Gush blew us away with a range of creative options and approaches, each different from the rest and all of which we felt could differentiate us from the thousands of hemp-based CBD health & wellness products in the market.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Seamless
What did you find most impressive about this company?
They came up with amazing creative rooted in strategy that we felt would make people pay attention and like the brands.
Are there any areas for improvement?
They’re incredibly passionate about their ideas and expect to be trusted when making recommendations. If you like to lead and believe you know better then they do, it may not be the best fit.
the project
Rebranding for Therapeutic Pack Co
"They were collaborative, insanely creative, and just fun."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm the CEO of Private Packs and we design ergonomic, wearable and reusable therapy packs for the intimate body parts.
For what projects/services did your company hire GUSH?
Rebrand the company and prepare our product launch branding and campaign video.
What were your goals for this project?
To find a way to position my business differently from everyone else in the tech space, create branding assets, launch my website, and create a crowdfunding vid that people couldn't ignore.
How did you select this vendor?
RFP
Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.
What was described in the goals section but accomplished in just a couple weeks which was insanely fast.
What was the team composition?
Tim, Mike, and Ola.
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
We received plenty of compliments on our new website. Our site visits went up and our bounce rate went down.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
Seamless
What did you find most impressive about this company?
They were collaborative, insanely creative, and just fun.
Are there any areas for improvement?
They were a bit too blunt about their opinions, but they are experts and were pleasantly sensitive about their art.
While quantitative data isn’t available yet, the company has received positive feedback from initial site visitors and stakeholders. The results have been better than expected. Unusual manages the project with expertise and uses many tools that help them go above and beyond the firm’s expectations.