Valiant

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the operations director for an electronics company specializing in embedded touchscreen displays and power supply products. We provide our services in the UK and Ireland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Valiant?

We’re part of a German group of companies. There was a group-level strategy to rebrand all subsidiaries under a group identity. We were also experiencing some difficulties in the UK because we were a merger of three companies into one, so our company name didn’t really reflect what we did as a business.

Therefore, although the instruction to rebrand was coming from our group, we wanted to use this opportunity to look deeper into our business to identify our brand DNA, brand voice, positioning statement, and brand values. That way, we would adopt the new philosophy moving forward and address it in the marketplace. However, we didn’t have the expertise to actually do the rebranding process objectively, so we hired Valiant.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Valiant helped us with our brand strategy to define how we wanted to portray our brand and ourselves in the marketplace to target our customer base. Initially, we provided them with an overview of what we were trying to achieve and what the group's corporate strategy was. We also told them who our market competitors were so they could look at them and see what they were doing.

The project included an in-person brainstorming session with Valiant. After they concluded their market research, we had a meeting to discuss their findings.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates from Valiant, including Tina (Founder & Strategy Lead), who led our in-person meeting.

How did you come to work with Valiant?

Our marketing executive recommended them, so we started a dialog with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around £12,000 (approximately $115,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our dialog with Valiant in April 2023, and the in-person meeting was held in June 2023. The engagement officially finished in July 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Valiant gave us a clear perspective and vision of our identity and how we want to put our voice out in the marketplace by just changing some of our terminology, ultimately helping us differentiate our positioning in the market. Overall, they met and exceeded our expectations.

How did Valiant perform from a project management standpoint?

Valiant delivered on time and on budget.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Although the entire Valiant team was excellent at what they did, Tina’s enthusiasm was infectious.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The whole process was professional, well-organized, and well-executed. Moreover, the results were well-presented.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t suggest any areas of improvement for Valiant.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Firstly, go with Valiant — I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. Secondly, go into the process with an open mind and be prepared to flex and change.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Alrec is a global retail design and manufacturing organisation. My role is CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Valiant Design, and what were your goals?

We hired Valiant to relook at our brand positioning. Previously they had designed our branding but post Covid our positioning no longer reflected the future of retail. Our goals were to have a strong brand message to unite employees and connect with clients. We wanted to leverage awareness from a new position.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We've worked with Valiant for many years - their understanding of our business and market was the reason we engaged them.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

The scope of the project included deep strategic exploratory workshops to uncover the market opportunity for Alrec and capture and articulate that through a strong positioning statement and refined values.

The process was collaborative, they challenged when it was really important to and the deliverables included redesigned brand guidelines which enabled the changes to be rolled out across the business. Following the repositioning they created a series of messaging and content creation to drive awareness of Alrec across multiple channels including LinkedIn.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked with many people across the business but had one main point of contact who made sure everything was managed efficiently. The other team members I worked with included the Strategy Director, account managers, marketing manager, content writer, creative director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new brand positioning and messaging resonated internally driving greater employee engagement and understanding of the future purpose of the business. Consistent messaging across channels increased external engagement.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Valiant has sophisticated systems in place to manage all projects efficiently and the team keep you informed all the time. Everything was delivered on time and on budget.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

For Alrec the most impressive thing about Valiant is their ability to really understand your proposition - and communicate it for you. They are commercially aware and have an intelligent proposition. The added value that gives us is really important in a B2B organisation.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

There's nothing I would want done differently. It's spot on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of a Predictive Analytics company which provides retailers and hospitality businesses clear commercial decisons through our machine learning algorithms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Valiant Design, and what were your goals?

We wanted a website which reflected our values and our approach to solving problems through data. Our website needed to convey personality in what is traditionally a very flat homogenous sector (aka data). Our vision was to demystify that data isn’t sexy (because it is :-) and we wanted our clients to know this.

The real challenge was to create a website which demonstrates our depth and experience with data and how this can be applied to solve real life problems in the sectors we are targeting.

We wanted businesses to know that our success is built upon a partnership approach from people who have worked in the industry and understand the challenges they face and more importantly solve these problems, making a clear  measurable difference to their bottom line.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We chose Valiant for our Branding and our website build for these reasons:

1) Cultural fit - This was important to us. They were honest, transparent and demonstrated care and due diligence to create a brand and website which reflected our vision

2) Competence - Although cultural alignment is important, the ability to execute is ultimately what you are judged on. Valiant did not let us down. They not only delivered to brief but they surpassed our expectations, they challenged us and pushed back where necessary to ensure our vision turned into reality.These two factors has produced what I would describe as a “Next-Gen” tech website, playful but grounded with technical assurance.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The scope of work included

1) Page designs

2) Tone of voice / copy

3) tracking requirements / non-functional requirements including site speed

4) responsive design

The team at Valiant were methodical and structured in their approach. This included workshops to agree the wireframes and regular feedback & review sessions throughout the process. This ensured that everything ran smoothly and to brief.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

There were various members of the team in Valiant which made this a success Including

Claire - Client Success Director

 Ellie - Brand strategist

Adam  - Creative Director

Hannah - Project manager

Each of the team had a role to play which was clear and necessary to ensure success - thank you all!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The impactful designs were amazing (especially the subtle animation of the swinging foot - go see for yourself!).

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Weekly meetings to update on progress, they were always extremely responsive with any queries we had, which made the process very slick and productive!

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their passion, transparency , creativity all mixed together to reflect our brief.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Valiant is an extremely competent agency, they have a lot of pride in their work. As a client our responsibility is to ensure that beautiful designs do not compromise the technical points we are trying to convey. This isn’t a problem as I would expect them to ensure their designs are amazing.  As a partnership guiding them on this point is key, which they were happy and proactive to rectify when necessary.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the marketing director for a global manufacturer of critical cleaning products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Valiant Design, and what were your goals?

Our company is 34 years old and was utilizing its original branding. We were looking to modernize the branding and gain consistency among our business units.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

One of our regions was utilizing Valiant for marketing support. After review of their brand works, I felt confident that they could help our company refresh our branding.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

The work included using an existing brand framework to develop a new visual brand identity. This included updating the logo, fonts, colors, templates and more. They also developed a full brand guideline book for us with tone of voice as well.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked directly with the owner, project manager and creative director the most.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have successfully launched the new brand identity internally and externally. It has been well received so far and we have a much more consistent look for our branding.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The process was very collaborative. We had a kick-off meeting in person and then the rest of the project was run virtually. The team stayed on time and on budget.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The culture of their organization matched well with ours. The team is very friendly, listens well, and provides a service that matches what we are looking for.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Only downside for us is the time difference, but it hasn't gotten in the way of collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company manufacturer homeware products, such as pressure cookers, air fryers, tableware and storage. I am the Brand Marketing Manager for our tableware brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Valiant Design, and what were your goals?

We were relaunching our tableware brand in the EMEA market and needed a digital campaign that spanned 5 months to introduce the relatively unknown brand to a new audience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We briefed three different agencies and asked them to pitch for us. We chose Valiant because their initial ideas fit the brief and they clearly laid out how the campaign would work across each month.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

We had a kick off meeting where we fed back on the concepts from the pitch. Valiant then went away and fleshed out the campaign to into a fully developed idea and we fed back with tweaks and suggestions. We were involved in the creation of the assets and then they edited them and delivered them according to the schedule.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with the accounts director, the creative director and an accounts executive.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We haven't launched the campaign yet but we are extremely happy with all of the assets that were delivered.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had teams meetings when we needed them and they emailed regularly with updates. They were also very quick to respond to any questions.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They really understood our brand and how to address the challenges in the market. They responded quickly, were easy to work with, and their deliverables were of high quality.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No, everything was great.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of an investment backed b2b start up, that offers predictive analytics as a service to clients in the retail and hospitality space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Valiant Design, and what were your goals?

As a start up we knew we needed a compelling and engaging brand that not only reflected our values and culture, but also resonated with our perspective clients. Therefore we engaged Valiant to design a brand and positioning from ground zero.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We used a combination of clutch and other online sources to build up a long list of potential branding partners. After an initial conversation with the prospects, we narrowed it down to a short list of two. During the final stage of selection we were blown away with Valiants energy, their ability to clearly demonstrate how they deliver value, and their cultural alignment to us. The team were engaging throughout the selection process, and once we met Tina, there was no doubt in our minds the only branding partner for us was Valiant.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

To start the process Valiant hosted us at their quirky and welcoming office , located on an ex dairy farm in Surrey. The day was spent in an extremely useful workshop, where the team used their personalities, skill, and a floor to ceiling whiteboard to tease out of us our deepest, darkest dreams for the company, who we are, how we need to be perceived, who we want to do business with, what we value and much, much more.

This is done in a way that not only gives Valiant what they need to start work on a positioning and branding that reflects who you are, it also, importantly left us with a better understanding of our own business and the direction we wanted to take it.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked directly with: Tina, the founder and strategic director Adam, the aptly named creative director Clare, the ever patient client service director

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The result of the work produced by Valiant is a branding and positioning that feels like an extension of ourselves. From logo to USP, all deliverables have been well thought through, competently designed and fully aligned to our core culture and values. The team have managed to do what many thought was impossible, and that is humanise a tech company 😁

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Valiants communication style is engaging and personable whether it be an email, a whats app, a zoom call, or a drink over lunch. They are excellent at keeping us well informed on progress of the deliverables. If i had to sum their style up, it would be - Extremely Approachable, highly capable and super efficient. All of the deliverables were on time, or earlier than anticipated

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their genuine desire to understand who we are and what we do, so that they can deliver us the best possible outcome was what set Valiant apart. The excitement and energy they brought to every conversation made us feel boosted after each engagement. Valiant Design built partnerships. It felt like they were a part of us and, therefore, would succeed when we succeed.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

There are honestly none that i can think of, the process from start to finish has been a joy

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the school services manager for an education sector consultancy and traded services organization for schools and academy trusts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Valiant Design?

We were trying to increase our visibility within the education consultancy sector and raise the profile of our traded service activity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Valiant Design has provided us with branding services and brand repositioning and has rolled out the new designs across several assets. We had a number of meetings to scope the project and get a greater understanding of the engagement. From there, they worked closely with us on the various deliverables as we went through the repositioning process. The team reimagined our logo and identity, including our branding guidelines. 

They’ve also developed our main website, an online platform allowing our customers to access and purchase our services, including consultancy, training, provision, and other services to the education sector. Currently, Valiant Design’s deliverables range from email marketing to digital marketing strategy. This can include marketing brochures and conference materials. 

What is the team composition?

We work with four members of the Valiant Design team, including the director and junior account executive.

How did you come to work with Valiant Design?

They were a historic contact; we had an existing relationship with them but hadn’t used them before in this capacity. We looked at various providers, searching for someone local that understood our context and had a presence within their own industry. Other criteria included a vendor with positive feedback and awards that had worked with the third sector. Since we’re a charity, we needed a partner who understood how we work. Valiant Design ticked all the boxes for us, so we met with the director and had an informal discussion of what we could do and the directions we could go.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around £20,000 (approximately $24,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

Although our initial contact was in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, and everything halted. We reengaged them in December 2021, and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At every stage, we give Valiant Design our feedback and user feedback when we have it. So far, the feedback for their work has been extremely positive. Because we’re in the education sector, our customer base is quiet from July–September. We’ll track their response in the autumn when we have enough data for more quantitative feedback.

The team is highly client-supportive; they work with us to understand our needs and respond very quickly to them. Overall, working with Valiant Design has been very enjoyable for my team.

How did Valiant Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve met the project deadlines 100% of the time and have worked with us when we’ve had to change some of the timelines. We use a project schedule we’ve created. Even though we’ve worked online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve never felt unsupported. We communicate via phone calls, emails, and Zoom. 

They’re very strong in terms of delivering what they promise. Their proposal was very clear, outlining how they would work with us, and they’ve followed that. Moreover, they can modulate that proposal if we have to change timelines, and they still deliver on time. For example, we had requests for some deliverables we hadn’t anticipated mid-project, and they turned those around very quickly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with Valiant Design’s client engagement. They talk to us and have a good capacity to listen. The team takes all we say on board and then come to us with their creative input, leading a collaborative process. Their main strength is their capacity to listen and reinterpret our position. Overall, they’re an empowering agency — they empower and provide creative solutions for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they need to do differently. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Think about what you want before you approach Valiant Design. This way, you can give them an idea of where you want to be and what you want to do. That information will equip them with the ability to focus. For them to perform beyond your expectations, they need to know what you need as early as possible. If you find it difficult to articulate, they’ll help you, asking many questions to encapsulate the key elements of what you need; the more information you can bring, the better. 

Sometimes, as a client, you can’t see the woods for the trees, and Valiant Design can find a pathway for you to see more clearly. They’ll challenge your thinking, helping you to think outside the box, so you should be prepared to reimagine yourself. They’re extremely good at client management and excel at keeping you on track and refocusing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director at COAN Food, a food wholesaler specializing in premium meat snacks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Valiant Design?

We needed a company that could develop a sales platform for us and help us increase our brand awareness by having a coordinated, quality social media presence

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the engagement by coming up with a marketing strategy. Valiant Design provided us with a roadmap of what they recommend we should be doing in terms of conventional and digital marketing.

We took a phased approach — Valiant Design initially developed a Shopify e-commerce website for us before conducting competitive research and helping us refresh our brand messaging. We then worked on a number of sub-projects, including refreshing our media resources and packaging. They also engaged a content writer to come up with original content for our website.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 people from Valiant Design.

How did you come to work with Valiant Design?

We found Valiant Design through a recommendation. They stood out to us because they understood what I was trying to do and because they had experience working with similar brands.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around £25,000 (Approximately $31,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project from August 2021–February 2022. We’ve finished the first phase of the project, and we’re planning on reaching out to them again once we get more funds to continue with the second phase.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of quantitative metrics, it’s too early to tell. But we’ve received positive feedback from our target audiences in terms of our brand. We’re still the same company — we still sell the same product, but people do feel like we have a bigger presence than before. Overall, we’re incredibly happy with the results of this project.

How did Valiant Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Valiant Design performed really well in terms of project management. They stayed on track and ensured a smooth workflow throughout the project. They were also local to us. It wasn’t a prerequisite, but it was a real bonus that we could just pop in and see them whenever we needed to.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Valiant Design understood the route to market and the potential business disposals and how they could help us grow.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It would be a good idea to work as closely with them as possible to ensure the project’s on-time delivery.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a search marketing agency and I am the Managing Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Valiant Design, and what were your goals?

Brand refresh with supporting marketing collateral

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After meeting the team at Valiant, we spent some time talking through our challenges. The initial feedback, passion and clarity we were given gave us the confidence to really push on with elevating the business to the next level.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Our business had grown and our brand no longer reflected who we were and who we wanted to be. Valiant took the time to bring to life their approach, understand our business and then undertake a massive research project. From this came a suite of designs that we iterated on and got a brand look and feel that will help us on the next stage of our growth.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Three, the owner, a branding specialist and a project / account manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a brand which will stand alone in our marketplace and position us well to attract the customers we really seek.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Project management was excellent, everything was on point and managed perfectly

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Each of the team members we spoke to was empathetic. They each had their own gift that they brought to the project : from enthusiasm, to astute insight to provoking some soul searching as well as listening to our thoughts.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Hard to think about things that could have been done better, the project was undertaken during the 2021 pandemic and everything was handled superbly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-founder of Great Glen Distillery. We are a craft distillery based in the highlands of Scotland and we're predominantly producing gin at the moment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Valiant Design?

We hired Valiant Design to do our branding, logo and packaging design, and website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the start of the engagement, I did a short presentation to showcase the nature of our business and what kind of product packaging we wanted. Valiant Design’s managing director had already been to our part of Scotland, so she understood geographically the potential of our distillery. I provided them with a little brief and we brainstormed for ideas.

Valiant Design then came up with five different concepts for our logo and bottle design. They explained the reasoning behind each concept and why they believed it would suit our company. My business partner and I chose one that coincidentally was the same one their team preferred, and from there, they went on to build our branding.

After looking into different manufacturers, the team sourced the bottles and the paper for the labels. They managed everything so that we could focus on producing gin and getting customers. Valiant Design created the POS leaflets that go along with the gin as well.

Apart from that, Valiant Design also put together a bespoke Shopify website for us. They conducted market research to see what theme was best to go with and took note of what information we needed to present on the platform. They then came up with all of the imagery and managed the copyrighting for everything that they had produced for us. 

We’re now in the process of creating Christmas gift boxes that would contain two glasses and two bottles of our gin. Valiant Design has already finished the photoshoot and uploaded the product pictures onto our e-commerce website.

What is the team composition?

I had the initial calls with Tina (Founder & Director) to strike up a deal for the engagement. She went on to manage the project and liaise with the different suppliers. Adam (Creative Director) and Anneli (Account Director) joined her in coming up with ideas as well. 

How did you come to work with Valiant Design?

I found them through 99designs. I chose them out of all the other designers because I just fell in love with their gin bottle design. When I gave them a call, they were really helpful and engaged in the project. Their quote shocked me initially, but we arrived at a deal that suited us both. 

How much have you invested with them?

We pay a monthly retainer fee. At this point, we’ve paid up to £15,000 (approximately $20,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in September 2020 and it is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re talking to businesses all the time and people say that they love the design of our bottles. It comes across as simple and elegant, and customers buy our products not just for the taste but for the amazing design as well.

The website itself is also very simple and gives an overview of all the essential information about our business and our products. Valiant Design has taken a huge weight off our shoulders since they’ve provided a turnkey solution and saved us from having to outsource the website work to a different company.

How did Valiant Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Valiant Design is outstanding on this front. Whenever we need something, they get back to us straight away and inform us when they can provide us with a solution. They’re really good in terms of communicating and giving us realistic timeframes. 

We generally correspond through email and phone calls, but they conduct some presentations over Microsoft Teams. It's amazing how, even though we've never met them personally due to COVID-19 restrictions, we feel that we know them intimately. They’re like a part of our business already.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They genuinely want our products to do well in the market and put a lot of care into their designs. They’re very upfront, transparent, honest, and realistic. It doesn’t feel like a customer-supplier relationship; what we have is really more of a partnership. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that they can improve on, to be honest. They’re a very well-rounded, professional company.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be sure to communicate and work with Valiant Design. Some people may be put off by how honest and abrupt they are, but allow yourself to see the bigger picture and share their vision.