WANT

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was formerly the senior design manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional, a CPG international company. I was responsible for a lot of the creative work both internally and with external vendors and agencies to help us on a number of strategic initiatives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WANT Branding?

We were developing a new suite of product in an area that was new to us. We were looking for someone to help us come up with naming conventions, understanding a good fit with regard to brand positioning.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was a very collaborative process. We were working with another agency on a larger piece of the project, and they brought WANT Branding in as their partner. WANT Branding conducted a fact-finding discussion with the other agency, put together a proposal, and then did the work. They held a workshop where we worked through the background of the project. They also brought a point of view to the table around naming and best practices as well as thought leadership on where they believed that we should go and what we should do. Then, they worked on it for a couple of weeks and checked back with us at various gates in the project.

When we had narrowed it down to a couple of directions, they brought in the services of a visual designer who brought these names to life and showed them in various real-life situations, whether it was at a tradeshow booth or literature on a website, to give us a flavor of how that name might live and exist in the real world.

They also advised us about names which may be problematic in different languages in terms of translation and also different cultural meanings globally.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Jonathan (Managing Director, WANT Branding).

How did you come to work with WANT Branding?

We were initially connected by another agency who had brought them in as a partner.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from the spring of 2014 until 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The product came onto the market last year and has been well-received. Feedback was very positive.

It was a very collaborative and iterative process to come up with the final selection. It was a very thoughtful project. It wasn’t a case of them going away and coming back at the end with a name they thought we should move on with. Most, if not everybody, was on board with the name when it came out. There was a lot of agreement and consistency.

How did WANT Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

They did great. They were a great vendor, and Jonathan is a great relationship builder. He is also a great workshop leader, presenter, and facilitator. We were very happy to work with him directly. I’ve looked for other opportunities to collaborate with him because I enjoyed that experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The personal touch and the deep knowledge that Jonathan has in this space was impressive. I felt very comfortable working with him and the rest of the team did as well. He brought a lot of great qualities to the table and was able to be the salesperson, the subject matter expert, and the delivery person on the project as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would be interested in knowing if they have more skills to provide. If they were to try and grow their business by having a broader set of skills to offer, it might be advantageous.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Monique de Maio, founder & CEO of onDemandCMO, which is a full-service marketing, communications, and consulting firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WANT Branding?

We needed help ideating and presenting new names and brandings for a bank that had just acquired another bank and was renaming itself.

What were your goals for this project?

To ideate and create a new name for the bank.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have worked with Jonathan Bell, the founder of WANT Branding, several times when our clients needed name generation and branding. I have always trusted him and enjoyed working with him.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They ideated and presented three rounds of naming possibilities for the bank.

What was the team composition?

My team was my partner and myself. WANT Branding's team was composed of Jonathan and his associate Bruno Benedini, supported by Celeste Guerra.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work produced a total of over 65 naming possibilities, six different naming approaches, and a genuinely unique approach to the banking environment.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was excellent. The WANT team was available through video and audio calls as needed. We managed the bulk of the client meetings, interface, and presentations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are truly customer-focused. They play within the rules that are dictated by the circumstance. They also work well with both their agency partners and their clients, if there is one, which was the case in all my experiences.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is nothing I can think of. I loved working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a creative director with Snowball. We’re an email-based payment platform that assists with fundraising efforts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WANT Branding?

Our existing company name, @Pay, was chosen as a broad solution as we determined what direction our company would take. Having solidified our focus on donations and fundraising, we wanted a new name to better reflect our brand. We had a strict deadline, and also needed to consider the possibility that our company could split into separate entities, each requiring a different, unique name.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They began by conducting in-depth interviews with all of our stakeholders. In this way, they learned our priorities but also used the opportunity to educate our stakeholders on the naming process, as they would be the ones to make the final decision.

They then conducted extensive research on our competitors. Finally, they created a roadmap to walk us through the creative process, ensuring we saw the rationale behind each naming suggestion.

While their primary focus was on renaming, they also worked on logo development.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with the founder, Jonathan Bell, as well as Bruno Benedini (Senior Director, WANT Branding) and Celeste Guerra (Brand Consultant, WANT Branding). They were all present for every phone call.

How did you come to work with WANT Branding?

Our CEO did research online and contacted Jonathan to have an open conversation about our goals. They seemed willing to adapt to our unique needs. While the naming process can normally take months, we had a relatively short timeline. We also needed an agency willing to provide names for multiple businesses based on a single renaming process. WANT was open to these challenges.

How much have you invested with them?

Around $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between October 2017–January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We conducted our company’s original naming process ourselves and found it to be a daunting, drawn-out experience. While we haven’t yet launched our new brand, WANT Branding provided an effective methodology that gave us clarity in the end result.

How did WANT Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an excellent job of taking the lead and making sure the project stayed on schedule. Because our stakeholders aren’t gathered in a central location, WANT’s team also organized a number of phone calls to coordinate the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Creative projects can be challenging, especially when dealing with a topic as important as a company name. An agency has to put in the work, but they also have to manage an organization’s expectations. If you’ve only worked with vendors like WANT Branding, you may not realize how difficult this can be. They get things done in a timely manner while also instilling confidence in the end result.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were very pleased with the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a leading financial technology company specializing in lending, payments, and financial solutions technologies for banks across North America and in various countries around the world. I am a marketing lead for the new lending products that we develop internally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WANT Branding?

We had a product naming challenge that had evolved over roughly a ten-year period. We had acquired a variety of businesses and products during that period of time, and we didn’t have a cohesive product naming convention. We wanted to streamline and consolidate the product naming conventions of all our products. We were looking for a partner who could help us in that effort and also help with the actual naming of the solutions to make them stand out in the market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WANT Branding had a very thorough process and a clear methodology for how they approach product naming. They had worked with another division within our company on product naming and they applied the same approach to our project. They took the time to understand our challenges and the context in which they were operating. They interviewed 15–20 of our executives to learn more about the company, the products, and how the products were perceived in the market, to ensure that no brand equity was lost in the renaming.

After the due diligence phase, they came back with a variety of product naming options and presented them in a clear and rational way, providing insight as to the meaning behind the different names. They gave background to help us understand the significance of each of the ideas. They were very helpful and accommodating when we would push back on some of the product names put forward. They would bring us new ideas depending on the direction we gave.

Their original mandate expanded over time. We expanded the scope from just an initial naming audit and strategy recommendation to helping with some of the branding and brand guideline elements related to the new brand.

How did you come to work with WANT Branding?

WANT had been working with another division within our company. There has been a concerted effort to consolidate and streamline our product naming conventions across the company, so it made sense for us to work with the same agency. We interviewed WANT along with a few different agencies. In the end, we went with WANT.

They came to us with a three-phase approach, with timelines for each phase. The first was a discovery audit, analysis, and brand strategy phase, which took about a month. They conducted phone interviews, did research on the industry, and analyzed the ways our competitors were structuring their products and solutions. Then, they came back to us with a comprehensive report that served as the foundation for the subsequent work of naming our new solution.

Another three weeks was spent coming up with various names and naming convention ideas. Then, they also worked on one specific solution that was brand new to our company. They worked on coming up with a name that fit into the overall solution architecture that was simultaneously being developed.

Around the September-October timeframe is when they presented their final recommendation on the product naming strategy for the company. WANT is known for their naming blueprint, which is a proprietary approach for outlining and guiding name development for products or solutions. They presented that early on in our discussions, and it was one thing that differentiated them from other brand agencies.

How much have you invested with WANT Branding?

Our investment was in the high five-figure range, with a few smaller engagements in the months to follow.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July of 2016, and the project was completed in January of 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Prior to the brand launch in early 2017, we did quantitative and qualitative research with our existing customers to test if the new brand architecture resonated with them, if it was clear, and if they cared. Overall, the response to the new brand architecture was positive. We found that many of our clients didn’t know the parent company who actually created the product they were using. Now, many are seeing the true breadth and depth of our solutions for the first time across the entire company, not just the one product they use. Feedback has been very positive, and we are very happy with the work that WANT Branding has done.

How did WANT Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very responsive, courteous, and accommodating of our schedules and time. They were enthusiastic, often proactively suggesting new ideas or forwarding articles they had seen on what competitors are doing.

What did you find most impressive about WANT Branding?

WANT is truly passionate about what they do. They live and breathe this stuff, and they enjoy it, which makes working with them much more enjoyable. We’ve grown the relationship to be more than just a traditional supplier relationship. We worked very closely for nine months, and many times I felt that they were part of our team internally. When the project came to an end, it was almost like we were losing a few of our own.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CMO of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, a diverse global hospitality and travel company. We own five tour operators, Windstar Cruises, the Grand Canyon Railway, and multiple resorts. We’re also the largest concessionaire of national parks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WANT Branding?

We hired WANT Branding to help us come up with a new brand that would represent luxury travel in a customized way. Our idea was to put specialized, one of a kind trips across our portfolio that only we could deliver because of the diversity of our portfolio and holdings. We had designed these special itineraries, and we wanted to come up with a new brand name to capture that collection.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with a project brief, and WANT Branding expanded upon that and did an in-depth interview to make sure they understood what everybody was looking for. In this case, we were looking for them to name a new product, and they wanted to make sure that all of the key constituents who would be in the decision-making process were in agreement on what the name needed to represent.

How did you come to work with WANT Branding?

The person who was in charge of research on my team at Royal Caribbean found WANT Branding when I was working there. They were one of the several folks that we looked at. We enjoyed their approach and their leadership team, so we hired them. They did a tremendous job for us at Royal Caribbean in naming ships, ship classes, and several new and unusual spaces. When I came to Xanterra, and I had this opportunity, WANT Branding were the first people who came to mind

What is the status of this engagement?

My Xanterra project with WANT Branding ended about a year ago around March 2016. I probably started working with them in 2011 at Royal Caribbean. Everything I've ever done with them is done on a project basis. They’re not on a retainer because we don't necessarily have that need.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I think WANT Branding does great work. They don't give you just one answer, which is one of the things I love about them. They come in, give you a lot of different ideas — every one of which has legs — and then you narrow them down and ask yourself, “OK, is this what I need? Is this what I want?” Their process is fantastic, in my view, but it’s a hard thing to measure. We ultimately decide which one of their suggestions to use, and there’s no way of knowing whether we would have had a better result if we had chosen something different. But we’ve been incredibly pleased with their work, which is why I keep going back whenever I can and whenever I have a project that’s appropriate.

How did WANT Branding perform from a project management standpoint?

WANT Branding does an excellent job from a project management standpoint. They’re good at keeping to their timelines, delivering when they say they will, and keeping you informed. There are discussion notes after every meeting, and they’re thorough, timely, and totally reliable.

What did you find most impressive about WANT Branding?

WANT Branding's team is professional and so easy and lovely to work with.

Are there any areas WANT Branding could improve?

I don't think there are any areas WANT Branding could improve. I think they’re terrific, and I’m a big fan.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-founder of Tradecraft

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are the world's best trade school. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire WANT to accomplish?

• Create a logo
• Help with marketing materials
• Create a brand manifesto

SOLUTION

How did you find WANT?

Online Search

Why did you select WANT over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from WANT were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

1. Discovery
2. Definition
3. Identity
4. Activation

Deliverables: Summary of presentation + Four circles modekl

WANT to present buildin blocks 6-8 core attributes + compelling corporate brand positioning ideas. WANT presents brand manifesto.

Brand positioning + Brand manifesto

Design brief, initital logo concepts (5 total). Refinied logo, color explaratory, final logo. Final identity system.

Final deliverable: brand style guide. Website loon and feel. Powerpoint template. Marketing templates

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

They consistently met every key deliverable on time, came well-prepared to every meeting, and thoughtfully incorporated our feedback into their designs.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Every deliverable was on time. They took every piece of feedback and incorporated it into the design. 

What was your primary form of communication with WANT?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They have many clients but we felt we were there most important client. The CEO was always involved. 

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the VP Business Development of a consumer products company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Distributes healthy products for people and pets

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire WANT to accomplish?

• Brand Guidelines
• Elevator Pitch
• Video Strategy Proposal

SOLUTION

How did you find WANT?

Referral

Why did you select WANT over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from WANT were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Brand Guide
Elevator Pitch
Packaging Design
Web Design
Social Media Templates
Video Content Strategy

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project is being rolled out now, but confidence is high that the work will be well received by our various audiences.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

asdf

What was your primary form of communication with WANT?

Virtual Meeting

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

 Everything was great, from the communication to the work they delivered. 

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder and CEO of a sports recruiting agency.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company is a sports recruiting agency that assists student athletes with global opportunities. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire WANT to accomplish?

• Name, Logo and Brand Identity

SOLUTION

How did you find WANT?

Clutch Site

Why did you select WANT over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Expertise

How many teammates from WANT were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

1. First round naming presentation
2. Second round naming presentation
3. Initial logo concepts (5 logos presented) 
4. Refined logo concepts (3 concepts presented) 
5. Logo color exploratory & color palette recommendations 
6. Final brand style guide approved and master artwork files

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

A name, logo and style guide that we were happy with. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes they delivered on time in a timely manner. 

What was your primary form of communication with WANT?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Jonathan's expertise in naming. 

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

No, everything was great! 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COO of Boat Storage Company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Self, RV & Boat Storage 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire WANT to accomplish?

• Naming
• Brand Identity
• Logo

SOLUTION

How did you find WANT?

Online Search

Why did you select WANT over others?

• High ratings
• Pitch Was well thought out

How many teammates from WANT were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Scope of work: 

Come up with a unique and fun name name for a traditionally, boring business. In addition come up with a fun logo that grabs people’s attention stay away from traditional corporate. Ask logos have fun with the creation from there. Identify brand colors, brand identity, who we are what our mission is why we’re different from everyone else added in our core values come up with slogans and tag lines for billboards for advertising.

Key Deliverablers: 

• Brand Name Options 
• Logo 
• Brand Colors 
• Tag lines for Billboards
• Brand Identity, core values 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Want came up with several variations of brand names for us to give feedback and hone in on the process, they took what we said, and really altered it until we were happy with the end result. From there, they got to work on logos, giving us several options to choose from. They took our notes, the style we were looking for, the character and turned it into something that we absolutely love.  Want delivered an excellent logo that we are proud to have on our company.

Throughout the process, they were constantly working on brand identity. They would take notes from all of our meetings, held individual one on ones with our employees, and made sure that what the company meant to us was truly conveyed in the brand messaging that they delivered for us. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Want delivered everything on time, and presented it clearly. We were never guessing where we were in the project, or what the next steps were. Each time we had feedback they took it into consideration, and would come back with something better. They really took the time to understand where we were coming from to make sure what they were delivering was meeting our expectations. 

What was your primary form of communication with WANT?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their willingness to listen to the client, think outside the box - and make false promises. 

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

I don't have any suggestions on what they could have done differently. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Manager

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Offering IT services in various fields, particulary in digital factory construction

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire WANT to accomplish?

• Creating new company name

SOLUTION

How did you find WANT?

Online Search

Why did you select WANT over others?

• High ratings
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from WANT were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• creating name candidates for our company
• screening basic trademark and domains for preventing conflicts

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

I was highly impressed with their clear and undivided understanding of our needs. They have tried to communicate through many channels (email, online meeting and in-person meeting visit to our office). They have provided with the harmonizing and best coordinating names to match up to our profession. Thank you again.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes. They have delivered their service on a timely manner. They have reached out to me through many channels. 

What was your primary form of communication with WANT?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The most impressive part was their creativity to provide the list of names to match our needs. 

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

Not that I could recall.