The Yard Creative

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

The Yard Creative produced a lot of suggestions for the first project, and I adopted some of those. The feedback from colleagues was that there was a level of professionalism that we hadn’t experienced with those types of events. The immersion and innovation we brought to those events were brilliant.

From a content, execution, and aesthetic detail perspective, I give them 10/10. They were able to turn complex information into clearly articulated messages, which helped me provide a level of clarity to other teams around what we needed to produce, whether it was for an organization or for an airport partner.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re good, humble people, on top of their game. If I’m going to spend my organization’s money, I need to bring a return on that investment. In that regard, I knew that they were always going to bring some really good returns on our investment. They were professional, quick, and slick. What I also liked about The Yard Creative is that they had skin in the game. It’s almost as though they took each project or job personally and tried to impart some of their DNA into it. Essentially, that sets them up for their next client and next round.

They were always there, even though it was a short collaboration. Steve always touched base asking how it was all going and whether we wanted them to look at anything. He wasn’t looking to invoice, but just generally wanted to know how I was getting on. That didn’t go unnoticed, and the empathy they had in putting the customer at the core of their innovation was exceptional. It was the same with their aftercare. That’s a little detail that echoes very loudly in their character as an organization.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When I briefed Steve, I told him that we wanted a sparring partner. He told me that they were willing to be that, but that they wouldn’t just be putting out a million things for us to hopefully pick one. They were going to put some good thoughts in front of us, and they were going to really push a couple of them, because they’d done their research and believed in those. That’s what we look for in a partner: we want someone to provide strong recommendations and back those up with facts, research, and resource.

We sometimes need someone to come in and play an impartial role, someone who didn’t have emotional ties to the organization and its people and could objectively push us through a sticking point. That’s what The Yard Creative did, and they did it very well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This is a tough one. Nothing springs to mind, and it probably shouldn’t because The Yard Creative has dealt with some significant heavy-hitters, ranging from small boutiques to global corporations. Their ability to flex and bend their support and persona to the company is a credit to them.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients need to be clear, admit when they don’t know something, and make sure the parameters are set with the team. I needed a sparring partner, meaning someone in the ring who’s able to throw shots and make us a better version of ourselves. If a company is a bit loose or ambiguous, The Yard Creative can also bring the rules of engagement to the table, but it’s always better for the client to do that.

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

We had a very good response from the participants, who thought the presentations were really relevant. They triggered the right thought process, and the documents that we received afterward had some strong, actionable ideas.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very informal, fast, and reactive. We could always reach them very quickly via the phone or email for more formal matters. Our frequency of communication depends on the project plan and our agreed-upon deliverables. They've always been very reliable.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I've worked with many creative agencies, but their knowledge of the retail market separates them from the rest. They communicate and translate their knowledge profoundly well to meet customer needs. That's really helpful.

For example, there are tons of trends they could have delivered and discussed. However, picking the ones that really resonate with the business model is what makes the difference. That's what they did.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It took them a while to get to know our business in the onboarding phase, but they definitely had an excellent grasp of our needs and offerings by the time the project was underway. So, I can't think of anything they should do differently. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It was really helpful to have a personal briefing session with the CEO and creative director. There, I really took the time to bring them up to speed on our business to ensure they could help. If you start working with them, give them proper access to your issues so they can play a role in addressing them.

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

Thanks to their work, we were able to land a solution internally with a huge number of stakeholders. If we did this inhouse, it would have taken a lot longer. Because The Yard Creative is forward-thinking, they include some trend conversations and future technologies to consider for multi channel retailing. Not only did they get the project done quickly, but they also gave us insights to think about.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

We have our own project management team and a dedicated project manager who was the main point of contact for all things related to contracts. For the day-to-day, our design team communicated with their design team. We had physical meetings as well as a combined project tracker and project timeline that was updated weekly and shared across our teams. All in all, there were lots of separate resources that combined into one project management workflow.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One reason I wanted to use The Yard Creative — and continue to use them — is that they have an enthusiasm for the job that’s uncommon to see. Their energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and it means we never ever have to push them; they’ll push themselves. That excitement also has experience attached to it. If you want something that will push you to think differently, they’ll deliver that. They don’t rehash old content; they’re original thinkers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

A corporate environment requires a bit more polish in presentation, but I don’t want The Yard Creative to be so polished that they lose what makes them special. Plus, it’d be unfair to judge them on that.

Any advice for potential customers?

Give them a brief that will change and transform what you do. Don’t look for a rehash of what’s already done; that’s a waste of their talent.

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

The kiosk that they helped design and deliver has been installed in the mall ever since November of 2019. As a result, there has been a huge uplift in terms of inquiries, customer engagement, and sales. From our perspective, our new rating of the kiosk after the initial quality audit clearly proves that we’re a lot happier with it both aesthetically and functionally.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve always been very responsive, approachable, and friendly. They’re experts in their field, but they can always dilute the language into phrases we can understand. There’s never been any issues with their project management. They’re always ready to help or throw in their recommendations. They’re happy to facilitate fast turnarounds if needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very good at taking small elements from a conversation and combining those to create something bigger. A lot of other companies need you to steer them. But, The Yard Creative is happy to challenge your comments and make recommendations. Also, they’re always thinking outside of the box, their finger is always on the pulse of innovation. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were more expensive than other people in the industry. But, that isn’t their fault. That is their price point, and they were honest about it when we started the project. We were prepared to pay that price because of their knowledge.

Also, they give you a set amount of amendments free of charge, but we had to go through a couple more at a later stage. However, that wasn’t their fault as they made the process clear.
 
Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should be very transparent and tell them exactly the objectives you’re trying to achieve. Nine times out of 10, They’ll understand and be able to achieve your objectives through design. Be as wild, wacky, and creative as you can, and say exactly what you want in that meeting. They’ll find a way to bring it all into one piece of work.