Anchour

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing officer of Franklin Savings Bank, a community bank with about $500 million in assets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

We’d never had a strategic marketing plan or ventured into that realm of marketing, so we started working with Anchour to build a really strategic website. Our old website was really outdated, but Anchour helped bring us to this generation and gave us the website that our customers deserved. We also needed some rebranding, so they helped us come up with a new logo, color palette, brand messaging, and more.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our process with Anchour started with a comprehensive industry analysis, which included surveys that went out to our customers, target demographics, and employees. This effort helped map our brand strategy and figure out what mattered the most to our customers. Then, they compiled that research along with some other market research they had access to, and they created a PowerPoint presentation.

We went through that presentation, where they showed us how our current customers and our target demographic looked. They also gave our customers personalities and showed us who would be better to market to.

Once we figured out our brand strategy, we went into a brand design phase, where we did market research to find which colors resonated the most with our target audience. We looked at the other banks in our market to figure out how to use our look to set us apart from them and be more competitive.

We went through different phases of the design strategy, where Anchour showed us different logo and color palette options through PowerPoint presentations. If we had any feedback, they would come back with another round of revisions, and we kept iterating until we were satisfied with our branding.

After the branding process, we moved into the deliverables phase. Anchour put together our colors and logo to make different sign mockups, our business cards, a letterhead, and every other collateral that could have our branding on it. They also gave us everything we needed to keep updating our collateral with our new branding going forward.

Then, they used WordPress to build our website, as well as different variations of the Adobe Suite to show us the designs. They integrated different gravity forms so that our customers could ask questions and fill our forms right on our website instead of waiting for a separate email and handling external documentation. Additionally, they integrated different calculators on the website using another vendor’s technology.

Anchour has really helped us get on the right path regarding our strategy, and we’re looking forward to starting another project with them in the near future. Now, we will be starting a strategy session soon, where they’ll help us develop an overarching brand strategy for our bank, and they will help us lay out our budget.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with a very helpful project manager and a person who works underneath her, acting as an assistant project manager. I’ve also talked to the owner, two separate web developers, and a copy editor, so I’ve had contact with 5–6 people from Anchour in total.

How did you come to work with Anchour?

In 2020, right before COVID-19 started, our long-term marketing director was retiring quite suddenly, so we looked for guidance from an outside company for a little while before she left. She had also been looking around for marketing companies that could help us, focusing on those that weren’t specifically bank marketers, so she was the one who pitched Anchour to us.

We had seen some of their work previously, and they were the second company that we talked to. We had a few meetings with them, and we really liked their energy and the different feel that they would bring to the table, which was why we ultimately decided to go with them. We trusted that they would create something new and fresh for our branding and messaging.

How much have you invested with them?

Including the website and the new branding, we’ve spent around $115,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2020, and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new branding hasn’t been out for too long — we just launched our first ads in September 2021. However, we’ve heard impressive feedback from customers and advertisers, who have told us that our new look is clean, crisp, and modern. The new website is also much more user-friendly, and customers are very happy with how easy it is to find all of the information they need.

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

We really like that Anchour uses a lot of different tools to manage the project. They use Monday.com, so we always know where things are in the timeline. It has also been easy to see where things held up, whether something is taking longer than expected or there is an answer we need to find.

We also use Box.com to manage and share files, Notion to communicate in real time and make edits, and BugHerd to comment about the website wireframes and ask for edits. We also use email when needed.

Anchour has also done a great job touching base with us, reaching out, and offering their help. As this is a new realm for us, they’ve walked us through every step of the plan.

From a communication standpoint, I had never worked with a company as communicative and open as them. Whenever we have a question, they’re very thoughtful and take the time to make sure that we understand their answer and get everyone on the same page.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Anchour’s collaboration and willingness to hear us are impressive. They don’t come up with all of the ideas; they really listen to what we have to say and take our feedback into consideration. They’re also very receptive and work hard to bring our visions to life.

It has been a great learning experience because Anchour is a really great communicator. They do a really good job of being clear about the objectives, which is also helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be good if Anchour improved the frequency of the communication. There have been deadlines that we’ve fallen behind, and we’ve had to wait a couple of days to hear back from them. However, we sometimes take a long time to get back to them, too. Additionally, I know that we’re all busy, and I don’t expect them to hold our hand all the time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in with an open mind. Marketing can be very subjective at times, so ask all of the questions you need because Anchour is a subject matter expert, and they’ll answer any questions. Additionally, don’t assume that they know exactly what you’re trying to do or what your business does, and explain your business goals clearly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Paper Trails, and we provide payroll and HR services to our clients. Our services include applicant tracking and bookkeeping.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

We were looking to conduct a rebrand to reposition ourselves in the market. Specifically, we wanted to move upmarket and work with larger clients, so we needed help with rebranding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Anchor helped us conduct a complete rebrand. We showed them our existing brand, website, and collateral. They then helped us evaluate our brand and make decisions regarding the rebranding process. For example, we explored the possibility of renaming the company together with the team. With their guidance, we ultimately decided not to rename.

The Anchour team then moved on to redesigning our branding. In line with that, they produced new collaterals and developed a website from scratch. We asked them to make our website more dynamic than our old one, which was a simple brochure site. 

Finally, to help us reposition ourselves, the team highlighted the companies we worked with rather than focusing on our services. They also gave us the ability to post content about upcoming events and so on.

What is the team composition?

Overall, we interacted with 10–12 teammates. Aimee (Account Manager) was our primary contact and worked with us through the whole process. We also had three different project managers for each stage of the process, but we mainly dealt with Aimee.

How did you come to work with Anchour?

We searched for branding agencies in Maine, and Anchour came up. They were very positively reviewed, so we met with the owners to discuss the project. The pricing was reasonable, and the project scope they created was very detailed — we felt very confident about them and decided to move forward.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from February–October 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still very much in the process of repositioning ourselves internally, so we haven’t launched yet. However, the feedback we got from our previous clients was positive — they felt that Anchour’s designs portrayed us as a more mature organization. 

Our goal was to look like a bigger company, so we were happy with their work.

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

The team certainly had a good account management process, but I managed them more closely after they fell a little behind schedule. The timeline was stretched out a lot longer than I would have liked, but I understood why things took so long.

In terms of communication, we had weekly calls to discuss where they were in the process. They also let me know if they needed anything from me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They definitely had a competent team in place to deliver our needs. Many of the other companies we evaluated were a little too small for us, but Anchour had the extensive expertise needed to fulfill every aspect of the rebranding process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they did an excellent job. They could’ve finished the process earlier, but the deliverables ended up being well worth the wait.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take it upon yourself to push things forward and be hands-on. The team will do a good job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of an apparel company focusing on men’s dresses and shirts, along with other items. The ethos of our brand is to solve problems for men, particularly around office dresses. We have a product line that addresses such problems. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

We hired Anchour for their marketing and web development services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Anchour has done everything for our marketing efforts. They’ve handled our initial market research, branding, and renaming exercises. In these processes, I’ve given them mood boards, a memo of what the brand should look like, and a brand name. Our team has also provided them with our competitor websites to give them a sense of what our market looks like. 

The team has also built our website, and I’m still using them for our post-launch marketing. Essentially, they’ve worked for us from soup to nuts in the past two years. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with nearly their entire team, including Stephen (CEO) and Joshua (Partner & President). Meanwhile, Aimee (Senior Account Manager) has been my main point of contact, and I’ve worked with their creative team through her. That creative team includes Jessica (Project Manager). 

As we transition to our post-launch efforts, I work with a representative on their marketing side. She connects me with their website developers and Google and social media ad buyers.

How did you come to work with Anchour?

I interviewed a number of marketing companies. Meanwhile, I used Clutch to identify and hire Anchour. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested over $100,000 so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around August 2019, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received rave reviews for our website, branding, and name — everybody has given us positive feedback. The website is the main customer-facing asset we have, and it’s truly well-done; that’s the feedback I’ve received from numerous people. 

Given that, I’ve been extremely pleased with everything that Anchour has done from a quality standpoint. In fact, I’ve recommended them to numerous other people. 

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

Anchour has managed the project well. They’re highly organized when it comes to any given number of things to be tinkered with in our post-launch campaign. For communication, we talk every other week through a check-in call. If something’s imminent, we’ll jump on a call and make sure everything is approved and we’re all on the same page.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Not only does Anchour have aesthetic appeal and world-class creativity; they also offer a full service. Other firms focus on branding, while some of them focus on post-launch marketing. Some companies do branding and post-launch marketing but don’t necessarily have in-house developers that make great websites. By contrast, Anchour can do essentially everything for a startup. As a result, we don’t have to engage with multiple companies. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. Anchour does a terrific job and has a speedy turnaround time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let Anchour be creative. They will take your idea of what the brand should look like, but you must be open-minded when it comes to their ideas. Their team is incredibly creative and insightful, so if you’re going to pay them and spend time engaging their team, listen to what they have to say. Their resources truly know what they’re doing. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of marketing and communications at Good Shepherd Food Bank. We're the primary food bank in the charitable food network in Maine.

We have a network of over 500 partner agencies, including food pantries, meal sites, senior centers, school programs, and healthcare facilities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

We needed help with web development, graphic design, and marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Anchour developed our WordPress website. They handled everything from the design to the content. The team now helps us with SEO and PPC and manages our Google Ad Grant of around $10,000 per month.

We've since expanded the scope to include graphic design services. Specifically, the team is working on creating new logos and brand guidelines for us. With each logo they create, we go through the details like line width and color scheme. They make recommendations and ask us for approval until we end up with a final product. 

Anchour has also conducted an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) audit for us, and they're currently working on making our site ADA compliant. The team plans to install Recite Me, which will translate the site into various languages and add a screen reader function for people with ADHD.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is our account manager, but I've worked with almost all their teammates. I've worked with the two co-owners and various graphic designers, web developers, auditors, and UX designers.

How did you come to work with Anchour?

My predecessor sent out an RFP and selected Anchour.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $100,000–$250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in January 2015 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Anchour always delivers beyond our expectations; we're satisfied with everything they've done for us. Their SEO work is incredible. The team is on top of the latest trends and is always recommending new strategies to us. 

Overall, their impact has been immeasurable — knowing that we have them looking out for us is incredibly reassuring. Furthermore, Anchour provides an in-kind match for the monthly fee we pay them, which is rare for a vendor. That really demonstrates their commitment to fighting hunger and the local nonprofit landscape. 

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

Anchour is always on budget and on time. We use Asana, which works amazingly well when it comes to tracking their work. To communicate, we use email. Everything has gone smoothly, and our partnership has been great. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Anchour makes sure that we fully understand what they're doing, which we appreciate. The team walks us through each step and explains their thought process, which is phenomenal. We've learned so much from them, which could be helpful in the long run. The Anchour team is passionate about their craft, which is apparent in their incredible expertise.

Overall, we're thankful for their help — they've made the process so much easier, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We're always strapped for time and resources, so we love that Anchour can handle the website for us. Anchour is always three steps ahead of us; we know we can count on them to steer us in the right direction.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Whenever I encounter any miscommunication or issues, I feel comfortable approaching them about it. Anything that has come up has already been solved. Overall, we've had a delightful experience working with Anchour.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I definitely recommended reaching out to them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the senior digital marketing manager for a company that owns several brands with both D2C and B2B channels. My role is to oversee our e-commerce environment and web functionality as well as run the day-to-day operations and strategy of our e-commerce presence.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

I’ve used Anchour for many different projects, but my two main engagements with them have been designing two websites. One was a brand site that they launched from nothing, and the other was a rebuild of an existing brand’s site that had been on the market for several years.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

While Anchour built one of the websites from the ground up, I approached them with a very rough wireframe for the other website. It wasn’t ready to go to production at all, but Anchour adapted it into a professional wireframe, which then translated into a website design we could put into development.

They’ve made a few exceptional integrations across both websites as well. I work in a heavily regulated industry with nuanced rules around advertising, and these rules differ between channels and platforms. Anchour developed a solution that makes it easier to adapt to these regulations that’s incredibly impressive. No other company in our space has this system; it’s a custom build.

They’ve also done a lot of SEO and set up content guidelines. I handle my advertising separately from Anchour, but they’ve been instrumental in setting up landing pages and microsites.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with about 10 people from Anchour, including a UX specialist, a project manager, an account manager, two developers, one designer, a content migration resource, and an SEO resource.

How did you come to work with Anchour?

They were recommended to me by an acquaintance, and because I didn’t know that acquaintance’s experience too well, I wasn’t sure what to make of their endorsement. At first, we awarded the contract to another vendor. In the process of starting with that vendor, however, we realized that we made the wrong decision and pivoted to Anchour.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent just under $250,000 total, including a monthly retainer we pay Anchour to develop additional functionalities, make changes, and fix bugs.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since August 2020. Both websites have launched — the new brand launched last year and the redesigned brand launched last week — and we’ve moved on to working on a third website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we were already one month into the project with another vendor, Anchour was able to hit our initial timeline. Our sales have been much better for the established brand since we launched the redesigned website than they were before the launch. For the brand we built from nothing, we made over $1,000,000 in sales before the end of 2020 even though we didn’t launch it until October.

People love the websites. They engage with the properties in a healthy and positive way. There’s a lot of subtle movement now on the website of the existing brand, and it will take people a while to recognize the movements. Once they recognize the whole package, it’s so much fun to watch people’s faces; they give very positive reactions. It’s very fun to watch that moment of realization.

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Monday.com, and we communicate over Slack, emails, texts, and phone calls. I try to be respectful of the time difference between myself on the west coast and them on the east coast, but in the run-up to launching a website, things have to get done, and Anchour was always accessible. I could call or text my account manager at pretty much any time and she would respond.

They’re easy to communicate with. If a meeting is scheduled for 30 minutes and only takes 15, then we move on to other tasks rather than feel pressured to fill the final 15 minutes. We all have plenty of tasks to accomplish

What did you find most impressive about them?

Anchour’s ability to communicate, work, and function under time pressure without it seeming like they’re being rushed stands out. Due to extenuating circumstances on our side, we couldn’t kick off our project until much later than we wanted, but I never felt stressed working with Anchour. I have a lot of trust in them to finish what they say they’ll finish. Part of that comes from their ability to identify problems early and know what the pain points will be before they show up. They’re extremely accommodating, but they tell me if something I’m asking for will push the timeline, which is so much better than promising me everything and then not delivering in the end.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Anchour is truly my favorite vendor, and I work with many external agencies. They’re a growing company, which makes me excited for when they have the capabilities to take on more ambitious projects and timelines. When they get more clients, hopefully, they’ll find more talent at the same level as their existing talent to make their offerings a bit more robust.

I wish that I could have given them a three-times longer timeline than I did because they would have built something even more remarkable.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This is the same advice that I’d give about any vendor: clear communication in a timely manner makes everyone’s lives better. Be upfront with them about what you want to include, and they’ll say how it will affect the timeline. And there are times when I tell them we have to have a feature from a business perspective, and they respond well to that type of prioritization. This way, we receive everything we need and most of what we want, rather than the other way around.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & Environment. It’s a nonprofit firm based in Maine that’s looking to find solutions to climate change through agriculture. We offer local programs, training, and research. I’m the grants and development manager there.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

When I was brought on, we had a very basic WordPress site that was kind of a mess. The backend was exceptionally hard to manage and it was outdated. Really, it wasn’t helping us get our mission across to the general public. We were also going through a rebrand at the time, and we wanted a website that would reflect that rebrand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We put them in charge of the website design, the content, the copy editing. We gave them a bunch of media and asked them to figure out the best ways to incorporate them into the site. They became the creative and content directors of the whole site.

Initially, they helped us with the layout. As a nonprofit, we have so many branches for what we do, so we wanted to ensure that the site was laid out in a way that would be clear for many audiences. Before they came on, our Web site was a bunch of different tabs on the side so it was really hard to navigate. They helped us organize everything into really specific categories and just figure out the best simple navigation for the entire site.

They incorporated our colors and logos from our newest rebrand to keep the look and feel of the site consistent.

Then, since the site launched, they set up our analytics, helped with keywords, and supported SEO efforts. Recently, they even helped with our Google Ads account. Now, we manage the site, but they help us if we reach out.

What is the team composition?

We had a main point of contact, and a team of four came to our farm regularly. ZO was our initial point of contact, they came to the farm, got to know who we are, took pictures, So they really got to understand who we are. Once things became more technical, Alex and Mark followed through the development process.

How did you come to work with Anchour?

One of our staff members worked with them for another project. they came to the farm, kind of pitched what they were all about. And we just kind of immediately fell in love with their work and their work ethic.

They were located nearby, so it was easy for them to come out to us, and it was easy to communicate back and forth. from the beginning, they were the front runner. And we really loved working with them the whole time.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, we’ve spent about $37,000. The web design was $25,000, and digital marketing has been $400 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in August 2017 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When the Web site was launched, our general public gave so much positive feedback. We got so many emails just saying how much people love the look and feel and just how easy the Web site was to navigate. 

We've seen definite positive changes after launching this website of getting people to join our programs, understanding what our programs are.

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

We know that some of their staff actually come and camps at the farm or participates in some of our programs. So, we've kind of just had an ongoing relationship with them

They've always been exceptionally helpful, easy to communicate with, and they offer a quick turnaround time. They encourage us to call and email them. We really couldn't be happier and are super grateful that we found them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very professional while maintaining a down to earth rapport with us. They have a lot of bigger clients than us, but we could tell that they cared about our success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We had an idea of what our new brand was, and so we knew what the overarching look and feel. We went through some of their past clients’ sites and determined wat we liked for navigation, where the menu bars were, and what the photos looked like. So, we were able to present exactly what we wanted and they could execute on that. Overall, giving them some direction helps them creatively.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing for Integration Partners. We’re basically an I.T. engineering services company nationwide. At a high level, we provide design, procurement, installation, and management of customers, networks and communication. But ultimately, we provide them with cloud security, core infrastructure, collaboration, and managed services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

Most companies do an identity and brand refresh every 2–3 years. We tend to wait a little bit longer, but it was time to update our logo, our website, our collateral.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first part of the engagement was consulting—looking at our existing brand and trying to get an understanding of who we are, what our purpose is, and what are goals are. It translated to a new website, a new logo, new collateral that consisted of sell sheets, letterhead, PowerPoint, Basically, they set us up with a whole new look and feel that we can use moving forward.

Now it has parlayed into more development work. We’ve now signed them on retainer. So if something comes up and we need new creative design work, animation, or whatever it is, we just call them up.  

What is the team composition?

I worked with their principals, their account manager,  and creative team. I have access to just about anyone.

How did you come to work with Anchour?

We started by searching on Google and viewing online portfolios. We wanted a team that was somewhat local because it was nice that we could visit their office if needed.

They seemed like they did more consumer and lifestyle work. We chose them because we knew they would come in with a different lens. I felt like they could represent the spirit of our company rather than lumping us in with a bunch of other tech companies.

They clearly had more emotional intelligence and are more human than others we talked to. From seeing their work, branding was tight and they built systems that carried the brand through websites and everything they created. They were clearly consistent.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in January 2019 and, although we launched the website in November that year, we’re still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched the website eight months after we started. We received a lot of internal feedback about how the site looked, how well it functioned, and even how well it worked on mobile. The architecture is solid, the site’s easy to navigate, and the UX is great.

Anchour’s team is young, their ideas are fresh, they’re relevant, so I was super happy with them. All of our branding carried through to our website.

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very easy to do business with because of their communication. They used Dropbox a lot and would deliver preliminary designs through that. Even the owners checked in with me to make sure everything was going well. They clearly are understanding and care about our business.

What I loved about them is that I never felt like they were siloed. I could tell one person something, and they communicated well across their team. They’re very consistent, which really contributed to the success of the project.

They were consistent with their deadlines, their information was accurate, they’re very understanding, they listen, and they’re empathetic.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their success comes down to communication and being easy to do business with. They have so much integrity. Our partnership was such a good marriage between our companies. We gave them free rein because we wanted to see their creativity and what they were capable of.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I do not. We just clicked and the project went well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a co-founder and CEO of a company called Wallit. We’re a software company that provides a platform to banks, credit unions, and families. It’s a banking platform that helps with automated financing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

We were founded as a company with a different name. At that point, we focused more on family financing. We were moving towards an overall budgeting and awards tool to work with banks directly. We needed to rename our company, so we reached out to Anchour to help us with a complete rebrand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, Anchour helped us with our name. But then, we decided that we needed to do a complete brand overhaul beyond creating a new name and logo.

As a group, we came up with different ideas for names. We eventually settled on the idea of using the name of a known object. They ran surveys to narrow down the names that fit our product.

They proceeded to help us wage through the ordeal of creating a look for our brand. Their team helped us to pick the colors and develop an overall brand feel. Then, they rolled out our new website and our marketing materials including flyers and literature for clients to share on social media. Their team also created content for us to use on our social media platforms.

What is the team composition?

We had a main point of contact but probably 4–5 people from their team supported this project.

How did you come to work with Anchour?

We’re a Maine-based company, so we decided to find a local company. A colleague in California recommended Anchour, which was highly recommended in the San Francisco area as well. We thought that if they could compete there, they must be good. We made an inquiry and then met with them. We reviewed their work and decided to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested close to $70,000 probably.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2019 and our collaboration’s ongoing. They create different marketing collateral for us monthly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a team, we were thrilled with the outcomes for all of the different initiatives. We love our website and get a lot of feedback from people who say the same. Users say that they absolutely love the site's feel and colors. It flows well. We get a lot of positive feedback about their work for us.

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated by email and online conferencing. We also met in person since it was convenient to be in the same state. Their team was great at meeting deadlines. We applied for a grant from the state, so we had a deadline for the project. The name picking took longer than we thought, so we were running behind schedule, which was on us. Their team was able to pick the pace and meet the necessary deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creative design is their greatest strength. Their creative team is amazing, which you can’t just buy or hire sometimes. It’s one of their team's gifts.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re so pleased with them. At first, we were off track but that was more of us. We tried to micromanage, which slowed the process and stunted the quality at which they could work in the beginning. Eventually, their team reached out, so we stepped back. Once we gave them the reigns, it was a fabulous experience. They should’ve said something sooner rather than later.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Before you sit down with Anchour, settle on your goals for the engagement. Have a feel for the culture that you want from your brand so that you can articulate your ideas well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a surplus and salvage company. I’m the marketing manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

We wanted to rebuild our website and completely revise it. We don’t do any e-commerce, it’s an informative website, but what we had was really outdated and wasn’t user-friendly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The site was completely from new, and they used WordPress for development. They did everything from design to backend development. We also ended  up doing a mini brand refresh. So, they came up with new fonts, colors, and graphic materials. They’ve also helped with email marketing, paid search, and social media advertising.

We also worked with them to record TV and YouTube commercials, and they did everything from start to finish: concepts, recording, audio, and have even worked with local TV stations to get them on air. With email marketing, we work on nurture emails that promote our brand.

What is the team composition?

I have a main point of contact, and it usually involves a couple of other people.

How did you come to work with Anchour?

It was through word of mouth. They were recommended to us by someone in IT. They’re very close to one of our locations as well, so it was very convenient to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $200,000–$250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in August 2018 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re an old-school business, so we don’t have a point of sale. As a result, it’s hard to calculate ROI. At the same time, we’ve seen an increase in social media responses, particularly to paid ads. Conversions through Google prove that it’s going well. Overall, we feel really positive about our relationship and the value they bring to our business.

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is great. We usually reach them through phone, text, or we’ll meet with them in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re sincere and care about us. They seem very willing to help with any questions we have or the changes we request. They’re responsive to all of that, and that personal touch really separates them from others.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The more you know about what you want to accomplish, the more successful you’ll be. Your input will help build your relationship even more.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of Baxter Brewing, a brewery located in Lewiston, Maine.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Anchour?

We were trying to achieve cohesion and recognizability across the brand family.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Anchour has been a large part of our rebranding and digital marketing efforts. Their team provided naming and design services for our beers. They use an established template based on the design of our flagship beer for a 12 ounce can to create designs for our other year-round beers. The team then used the same process to design the labels of our seasonal beers. Anchour also creates marketing collateral for our brand releases.

Additionally, Anchour’s digital and design teams are helping us launch a new website. They weigh in on our designs to make sure they are cohesive and forward-thinking. Their team has worked on several facets of the project, including SEO optimization, newsletter engagement, digital metrics, and paid advertising content. They provide us with feedback every 30 days on how our organic content, which we manage in-house, is aligning with our paid advertising content.

What is the team composition?

My main points of contact are Stephen (Partner & CEO, Anchour), Aimee (Account Manager, Anchour) on the design side, and Marc (Senior Project Manager, Anchour) from the digital team. 

How did you come to work with Anchour?

The Anchour offices are one block away from ours, so it was a matter of proximity at first. They had been involved at some smaller projects, but they impressed us. Their team understood who we were and what we were trying to depict, so it felt like a good match-up.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested about $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Anchour began in July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While we haven’t rolled out the project yet, our distributors and major food chains have been ecstatic about the designs. We all feel really strongly that there’s nothing but good things to come.

How did Anchour perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team is incredible. Anchour was able to adjust and exceed expectations in every situation, regardless of what element of the project is involved. Our teams have really great conversations around processes unique to the beer industry. They’re always ready and willing to take on more. Both Marc and Aimee have excellent follow up. We primarily communicate in-person or via text and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Anchour has exceeded our every expectation. What we asked for should have been a much more insurmountable task, but they made it happen. I truly believe this will be the biggest leap forward our brand has made in the nine years that we’ve been established. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m very happy with Anchour. They’re incredibly responsive to any feedback we provide so there have been no issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Transparency is the best way forward. Even if the message is uncomfortable or someone has put a lot of work into a task and you’re not happy with it, it’s worth it to speak up. Anchour responds well to transparency and wants the customer to walk away feeling happy.