BatesMeron Sweet Design

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I've worked with BatesMeron on several projects for different companies, but the majority of my experience with them was when I worked at medical associations.

What is your position?

I was the director of marketing and communications at both the American Osteopathic Association and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We engaged them to help us create some membership retention pieces. We also had them working on campaigns where we approached our members. We worked with them on other print deliverables as well. Usually for anything where we had a design challenge or a piece that needed to be produced, we would use BatesMeron.

They were great at coming in and not just talking about the design, but the overall purpose and approach to the piece, making sure that we understood what the objectives were beyond what a traditional design agency might bring. More of a deliverable that is just the right tool for the right audience, with the right message.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

In addition to the design work and the print materials, sometimes we would give BatesMeron a challenge and ask them to solve it, and we'd get a proposal back from them. This would involve helping with project scope, project management, everything from copywriting to designing concepts to working with the print house and whoever was producing the piece and working on the logistics involved. They have the capability to be all-encompassing and oversee a project from start to finish.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

They have done awesome work for me and I had a great relationship with them, so whenever I had the chance, I would go directly to them. There were times where I had to ask multiple agencies to bid, so I would usually reach out to three agencies, get three quotes, and take it from there. We had to compare and contrast costs when the project was a little bit larger.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

Our projects each ranged from about $10,000 to $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first started working with them nine or 10 years ago. I haven't had projects for them recently. Our most recent project together was last year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I've always had a great customer relationship with BatesMeron Sweet Design. We have created pieces together that have won them some design awards. They were always interested in doing things that were not just quick and easy projects. They encouraged us to push the envelope sometimes on the design work, and they love to come up with unique individual solutions.

Whether that's a promo video for a piece before it goes to members, or a unique piece where we make a mailer look like a Band-Aid instead of an envelope, they were always coming up with cool ideas and getting excited about it, and getting us excited. They were great from that perspective, and they have a lot of creative power for a small agency.

What distinguishes BatesMeron Sweet Design from other providers?

Because they were small, they were a good fit for the size of the group that I was at in terms of budget. Knowing that I was getting the attention I needed, being a small medical association without a huge budget, was great.

Is there anything BatesMeron Sweet Design could have improved or done differently?

It's hard to say, because I had good working relationships with them. The only think I can think of is that there were a few instances in which we got too comfortable with each other, and we'd have to remind some of the staff that we needed to keep things moving along. When you have that great working relationship, sometimes it's hard to not steer off track, and get into nonwork related conversations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a young-plant company. We sell wholesale, small, baby plants to other growers who pot them into bigger pots, which then go to retail. Part of what we do is work with breeders around the world to get new products onto the market. That is where BatesMeron helps us to distinguish ourselves from other young-plant companies, by having these new products on the market.

What is your position and responsibilities?

I am the new product development and marketing manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

When I first started working here back in January 2012, we had a marketing design firm working with our company. Part of the problem was their lack of professionalism. My goal was to try to find something that was more professional. That company was local, and what they delivered was quick, but it was not always thought out very well. When I got on board, I wanted to take it to a higher level, and that is when we hired BatesMeron. We wanted BatesMeron to help us out, not only with our look but also with the new products that we represent. They also helped with the branding of our company as well as the products that we carry.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Their first assignment was to work on a new look for our company, which started mainly with our catalog. That look flowed into the rest of the material that we presented to the market. That was a big step for us. When I first started here, our company's image was not that great because of what had happened in the past. That was not the fault of anyone who works here now because it is all different staff. Now, we are trying to get the message out that we are changing, that we have new staff, and that clients should order from us because of our great growing climate.

We are trying to highlight the good and flush out the bad a little bit. The logo remained the same, but we just went with a different overall look and feel, incorporating the current logo that we have. We are looking at doing something with the logo in the future, but right now we are not quite at that point internally to do that.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

They came recommended to me by somebody that I work with in the industry. My contact works with them very closely. After working with them for a short while, I knew that we wanted to use them and stay with them long term. They were so professional. They helped keep me on time with my projects. Even though I am completely swamped with things, I tell them to keep bothering me and not to worry about making me mad or anything. They always produce a great product in such a small amount of time that it is hard to imagine not wanting to work with them.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The size of the initiative is between $50,000 and $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered with BatesMeron in May 2012, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

One project that we have recently done was a spruce up of our image. This project started in June. It was quite a big project for them to complete and have all the production done by the show, in early July. We had four different brochures with envelopes, a theme for the whole program, business cards, a new booth, and website updates. They completed it all with no problems.

People have mentioned how nice the brochures are and other people compliment our website. I think it definitely helps our business to have that level of professionalism, rather than some printed PowerPoint, which I have seen some of our competitors have. It does bring a professional-looking image to the business that helps us to be noticed and increase our incoming business.

What distinguishes BatesMeron Sweet Design from other providers?

BatesMeron goes through a lot of detail to ensure that what they are producing is accurate. They have several people proof the material, and they will come back to me with things I would never have thought to check out. For example, they were checking addresses on our contact list that we have on our broker page in the catalog, just to make sure they match. I know that with the vendor we had before, there were a lot of misspellings in the catalog, which looked very unprofessional.

Is there anything BatesMeron Sweet Design could have improved or done differently?

I can't think of anything off the top of my head.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I am with Sentergroup, Inc., which is an association management firm. We have a number of different association clients – currently about 13 or 14.

What is your position?

I am the director of marketing, and I work directly with a majority of our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Sentergroup had been working with BatesMeron for a very long time before I joined Sentergroup last year. As far as I understand, the initial reasoning was that with this many clients, we needed a lot of design and marketing support, so we looked to BatesMeron to provide that across all of our clients. We looked to them because they have high-quality design and high-quality service.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They handle a few different things for us, but their biggest responsibility revolves around our annual meetings for each one of our clients that require a variety of different promotional pieces. That includes mailed pieces, advanced programs, final programs, banner ads on websites and on social media, and different other aspects, even PowerPoints, posters, and signs at the actual event. They really cover the whole breadth of promotion, the look and the feel for these meetings. I also work with them just to promote different products that the clients might have, like their educational offering. For some of our clients, we have brochures for that and other types of one-off design projects that we need.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I know that BatesMeron had been working with one of our clients, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, several years ago. That association was in the same office space as Sentergroup. They shared a lot of resources and vendors, and I believe that's how the relationship first started.

I personally also worked with Bates at my last position, at the American Osteopathic Association, and they had done a number of projects for us there as well. I've known Bates for a long time, even though I've only been working with them on this current position for about a year.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It's very hard to say because we do work with them on all different clients, but they work within our budget, and many of our clients have very small budgets. Even when we have very limited budgets, they are able to give us something that we need, and it is always at such a high level of quality. Other clients have bigger budgets, and we can be more creative and do more things with them. They're very flexible in that way. I don't think there is a standard pricing because I think they change their prices depending on our budgets. Across all of our clients, we have a large agreement with them, but it's all separate.

What is the status of this engagement?

Sentergroup has been working with BatesMeron for at least seven years. The relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I know that with the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery there were some years in the past when they were off on their own: we weren't managing them and they were not with BatesMeron. After returning to that design aesthetic, the president said, "We look like a professional organization again. The years that we didn't have them, the quality of everything dropped – the look, the website, everything." Now, he thinks BatesMeron really elevated the organization again. I think that has to do with the look that we're putting out there with our promotional materials.

We're constantly showing concepts and designs to our client leaders, and they are always very excited about them and really like the quality. Many times, when you're working with big committees, it can be really challenging to move artwork through, but it typically has not been challenging because everyone really enjoys and likes the designs.

What distinguishes BatesMeron Sweet Design from other providers?

I don't know if it's because of their long relationship with Sentergroup or my relationship with them from my last job, but BatesMeron Sweet Design really feels like they're part of the team. We're communicating daily, and they're always available. It's good customer service, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to make us and our clients happy while staying within budgets. If we ever lost them, it would be a big loss. It would feel as though a big part of our team was gone.

Is there anything BatesMeron Sweet Design could have improved or done differently?

No, I think they do a great job. They can be expensive at times, but it's definitely worth it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President of a manufacturing company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company repairs caster segments and steel rolls for the steel industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire BatesMeron Sweet Design to accomplish?

• Design a trade show booth and company swag to attract attention at trade show.

SOLUTION

How did you find BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Referral

Why did you select BatesMeron Sweet Design over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from BatesMeron Sweet Design were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We challenged Bates Meron to design and source a 10x10 trade show booth incorporating video, company swag, and updated branding. Key deliverables included the trade show booth, video, swag, and updated logos.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From this trade show, we gained 2-3 significant new customers.

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

Bates Meron delivered everything on time. We were under a bit of a time crunch, and they hit every deadline. They were very responsive.

What was your primary form of communication with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

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

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

Everyone on the BatesMeron Sweet Design team was very passionate and outgoing. This aligned well with our culture. Also, they hit every deadline we gave them. Very organized too.

Are there any areas for improvement or something BatesMeron Sweet Design could have done differently?

I can't think of any substantial areas for improvement.