FINIEN

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an e-commerce company in the home decor space. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with FINIEN?

We’re in the process of rebranding and decided to bring in FINIEN to assist with that process. We wanted a unique website to give our users a wonderful experience when they look up our company. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

FINIEN is helping us redefine our brand and design our website. We've provided them with a description of our brand and an overview of our competitors; they've also interviewed key stakeholders within our company. The team is helping us with our key branding materials, including our logo. 

What is the team composition?

We work with two individuals from FINIEN. 

How did you come to work with FINIEN?

We consulted with their company and were impressed with the tips they gave us. When starting our rebranding project, we decided to bring FINIEN back because we knew they could do a good job. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2023, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t launched anything yet, but we’ve been very happy with what they’ve done so far. 

How did FINIEN perform from a project management standpoint?

The team delivers on time and is highly communicative. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

FINIEN goes above and beyond for our company. The team is professional, and they never cut corners. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can come up with at this point. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them all the information they need upfront because communication is key in any partnership. They’ll tell you exactly what to do, and if you establish strong communication at the beginning of the relationship, you’ll be more successful. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Marketing Director for a Private Equity Real Estate firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our company had experienced a ton of growth which also included founding sister companies to align with our growth and make us vertically integrated. The goal of the project was to consolidate our sister companies under a new brand.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found 3 -6 vendors via Clutch, and went through the interviewing process, including proposal reviews. With Finien, it came down to his transparency, communication style and willingness to meet the company we were in our growth.

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

We had introductory calls with Finien, I worked one-one with Fabian to communicate what we needed and what the goals were for this rebrand. He was receptive and supportive of our ideas and worked very closely with our executive leadership team to understand the company from multiple perspectives. Once the discovery work was completed, it was a quick turn-around on the deliverables (within days) as he led our team during interactive sessions to develop our tagline, brand story and more.

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

I worked directly with the Principal - he was supported by his designer for some of the creative work that was presented to us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were excited about the rebrand and received good feedback from our investors and employees alike.

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

I had periodic meetings with Fabian to stay aligned to the tasks at hand. For the workshops, he led our team through a 2-day session over Zoom (this was during the pandemic). As for the communication tools, they were interactive and easy to use - mostly emails and slack. He made him available for any questions we may have as well through the entire process including when we had to work with a website developer to execute the brand's vision.

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

The timeliness! Removing any internal decision making on our end, Fabian was very quick on all the deliverables he promised us for this project. We will certainly work with him again if we have future branding projects.

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

I would say, we should have added Fabian to our Slack channel much sooner - that would have minimized the communication delays from my end/team as we rely more on Slack vs. email for most of our internal communications.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Director in a Healthcare company dealing with Home Health products

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We are launching a new brand and wanted to bring together our past history, legacy and connect it to our mission, vision and values going forward with a unifying brand identify.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I came across Fabian through the Mentor Box platform and found his course on it, so efficient and to the point. I also bought his box and continued to learn. Through the short course and book I was able to clarify a lot of cluttered concepts in my mind. Therefore when it came to launching a new brand I felt strongly that he would get us going in the right direction.

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

Their work involved: 1. Clarifying and documenting mission, vision and values for our new organization amongst the key founders. 2. Naming the new entity 3. Creating the visual identity of the new entity.

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

2 people. Fabian Geyrhalter, CEO Jessica, Designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Brand Sheet that was finally produced and released to us is very helpful to convey to marketeers, investors. Elements of it have been published in our new office location already.

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

They were very professional. Meetings were typically two weeks apart during the working phase. They were always on time and easy to coordinate with and reach out to. We have an 11 hour time difference between us which we were able to handle by a little bit of a stretching of our working hours both on our end and theirs, which was really really helpful.

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

They were conceptually so clear and it made it very easy to learn from them and conclude the project effectively. I feel every element of the project deliverables are well thought out and will be easy to use. It will be central to our brand for many years to come.

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

Since we are a bi-lingual company, a little more competency on their end to accommodate Arabic would have been helpful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO at Peak Vantage Wealth a financial service company based in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire FINIEN?

We needed a completely new logo, brand strategy, and look.

What were your goals for this project?

Create a unique positioning in the financial service space that targets active individuals and their families.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

For weeks, we were looking for marketing experts within the US over multiple channels, such as websites, magazines, LinkedIn, industry-related podcasts etc. We found Fabian/FINIEN in a youtube interview. His expert answers and marketing insights were the deciding factors of us moving forward with FINIEN.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

First, we had a workshop in which identified our goals and personal brand. Once we identified our target market and personas, we were able to specify our niche and discussed further branding details. During our next meeting, the FINIEN team showed us multiple name options from which we could pick the best fit. After we decided on the name, we scheduled another meeting to look at the logo. During this meeting, we were looking at multiple different logo versions as well as potential colors. Finally, in an additional meeting, we have been presented a complete brand strategy that was phenomenal and surpassed our expectations.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with Fabian and his creative lead.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We came up with a dynamic, modern, yet trustful logo. The brand strategy was redefined to successfully fit a specific niche.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team was outstanding: every question was answered quickly, deliverables were provided prior to the promised due dates, and the overall working experience was fun, yet professional.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The provided end result! When the final brand strategy was presented to us, we could not believe how incredible the final product looked.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that we can think of at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a full-service digital marketing firm that specializes in the Dental Industry. I am one of the executive managers within the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire FINIEN?

We hired FINIEN to help us with rebranding our company.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals we established for this project were to establish a mission statement, core values, brand DNA and a clear direction for our company in the future. All of which to put us on a path for a great rebrand from our current branding.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After doing extensive research in the field of rebranding and seeing FINIEN come up time and time again we decided to schedule an initial consultation call. After that first consultation call we knew right away that FINIEN was the right company to help us with our rebranding.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

First we had an initial consultation with FINIEN to discuss our goals and aspirations for the brand of our company far into the future. After that initial call we set up a time for FINIEN to fly out to our office and conduct a workshop with our executive team and CEO.

Prior to FINIEN flying out to our office we were tasked with completing a prerequisite that included looking at our target audience as well as our competition.

On the day of our workshop we dove right in, we opted to complete the workshop on a Saturday which allowed us to be fully invested into the workshop with FINIEN. We discussed everything from why our brand/company exists, what makes us different, our company culture, our products and services, and what makes us us.

The workshop really allowed us all to come together and purposefully discuss the brand/company and the future of the brand/company on a level playing field with guidance from FINIEN. It really gave us the opportunity to discuss the direction we wanted to head and what we all wanted for the brand/company moving forward.

Once the workshop was completed and FINIEN had 8 hours of information to digest they took it all back to their office and distilled it into a very informative and comprehensive brand summary which gave us a great deal of information in regards to the rebrand and the future of our brand/company.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with Fabian Geyrhalter which was a great experience and relief knowing that Fabian has many years of experience working with companies on providing brand clarity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The resulting branding summary that came from the workshop with FINIEN provided us with a very comprehensive and clear brand direction moving forward into the future. It also set us up to establish a much-needed rebrand of our company with all the tools necessary to complete the rebrand.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between us and FINIEN was seamless, from the initial consultation call to the actual workshop FINIEN was very informative and professional all along the way. This established the vast experience that FINIEN carries when it comes to rebranding and brand clarity.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

FINIEN has extensive knowledge, experience, and confidence in branding and brand strategy.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of Model Canvas, a company that makes well-fitting, great quality and stylish clothes for big men. We are a startup that will launch in Q1 of 2020. My current focus is on apparel production, branding and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire FINIEN?

FINIEN helped us develop the brand for Model Canvas. Since Model Canvas is a consumer-facing company in the apparel industry, branding is absolutely crucial to the company's success.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to develop the entire brand, including our brand voice, personas, company's mission, core values as well as assets such as logos and color palettes.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I worked with FINIEN at my last job for almost three years. We worked on many projects and I was always impressed by the deep level of creativity, professionalism and knowledge they brought to our projects. The FINIEN team was also very flexible, jumping on last minute projects while never sacrificing the high level of work they produced.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The project started with me meeting with Fabian Geyrhalter, the Principal at FINIEN for an exploratory meeting where I explained the company and my vision to him. Next, we participated in FINIEN's Resonaid workshop, which has been one of the best experiences we've had working with FINIEN.

In the workshop, FINIEN pulls the entire company out of its founders, the mission, vision, core values, target market, tone of voice, and so much more. Next, FINIEN provided me with options for the name of the company. After the name, they start working on the logo.

Within a few weeks of the workshop, FINIEN provides a well-thought out and beautifully crafted brand sheet which is a very powerful internal document that we plan on using for years to come as we make decisions and bring on new hires. On this document, they showcase the entire brand which can be used by everyone from graphic designers, content writers, marketers, all the way to our warehouse workers.

What was the team composition?

I worked with Fabian Geyrhalter, the founder and Principal of FINIEN in the beginning. As the project went on, I worked with his awesome Designer, who helped create the visual assets.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we're a few months from going live, the work FINIEN has done has helped us showcase the company to investors and the brand sheet has been an exceptionally powerful tool in describing the company to them. A lot of people are visual learners so laying out the beautiful 5 feet brand sheet in front of them and walking them through it really helps solidify the vision of the company to investors.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We're fortunate that the FINIEN office is close by so we have lots of access to their team. They are very organized and make themselves available at their earliest convenience. They also have a fast turnaround for deliverables and their general timelines are very conducive to ours. As mentioned above, they're also very flexible and can turn projects around faster than usual if we need them to.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The FINIEN team is very accommodating, very creative and extremely experienced. But the thing we're most impressed with is their depth of branding knowledge. They understand branding. Period. They are constantly evolving with the market and have a great eye for the type of branding a company needs based on the market, the zeitgeist, the audience and the product.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They're as good as it gets when it comes to branding but if I had to pick one area for improvement, I'd say if they took more risks and worked outside the box more often to push the limits of branding, they'd take their business to great new heights.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company has created a SaaS application to support government sponsored health plans to support critical business flows associated with value-based care arrangements. I am the Chief Executive Officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire FINIEN?

Our company has been around for 9+ years. Our brand in the market was not clear and didn't suggest that we were an innovative tech company. Now with a re-platformed technology solution, we thought it was time to re-envision our brand/

What were your goals for this project?

our goal was to redefine our identify, clarify our mission, values and ultimately to land on a new company identity that we believed we provide strong momentum to our business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Finien based on their proven track-record, experienced leadership and a tight focused methodology.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Scope of the work was to understand our company, competitive set, market, product. then... to begin to surface our unique value proposition, values, and mission. as we did this we needed to be very clear on who the key personas are that we interact with and make decisions regarding us and our competitors. and ultimately to emerge with the following:

• clear mission
• compelling value proposition 
• re articulation of values
• name
• mark
• visual identity

What was the team composition?

From Finien we worked directly with the founder / leader and another key member of his team. On our end, it is me (CEO), head of strategy, and VP of marketing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was concluded on time and on budget and more importantly with an identify that our entire company is excited to be a part of.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Incredibly effective. I am impressed with how much they were able to drive and how efficient they were in engaging me and my team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found it impressive that such great work could be done in the timeframe that we conducted it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not sure I can highlight any. I am sure we will work with the Finien team again.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I run Pocketnote. We are a question and answer site with a goal of helping founders and entrepreneurs find thoughtful, succinct answers to their startup questions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire FINIEN?

Branding, Identity, Design, Logo - all theme work in WordPress.

What were your goals for this project?

To build a delightful and impactful brand in the startup information space, and to become the #1 source of advice for startups looking to find their way in the world.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I met Fabian at a conference and read both of his books after that encounter. I follow him on social, and joined his newsletter. As a thought leader in his industry, I thought that doing something together would be very worthwhile if it'd be willing to take on my project. He and his team did an amazing job.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Fabian has a proprietary branding workflow that he puts his clients through. This includes stakeholder interviews, brand direction exploration, and multiple iterations of discovery around naming, identity, logo and colors.

What was the team composition?

Fabian lead the charge and he had a very talented designer helping with some of the production.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We took our site from just a concept through a fully working brand in just under 2 months. The site has been a major source of quotes for other publications, including dozens of authors on Quora.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was seamless!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to hone in on a perfect brand quickly stood out to us. The fact that our brand is fun yet serious, professional but not boring, and the logo and identity leaves a lasting mark on first glance is nothing short of amazing.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. It was as good as any engagement I've been a part of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of Mister Maginsky, a startup delivering innovative men’s undergarment options. Our company challenges the status quo through making undergarments look, feel, and perform better than other brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire FINIEN?

We needed to create a brand that has a unique voice and identity.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a bold and unique brand that would tell the story of our innovative product. Ultimately, we wanted to stand out from other brands in the industry.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched for branding experts both online and offline. We discovered Fabian Geyrhalter’s (Founder, FINIEN) book on branding and it explained the process in a clear, comprehensible  manner. After reading the book, discussing the project with Fabian, and talking to their references, we selected them.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We began with a day dedicated to a branding workshop in which we established a brand summary. We spent time brainstorming our company’s bigger picture and discovering what makes us unique in our market. They delivered an entire brand package for us that including positioning, brand personality, identity, name, logo, landing page, and copy for our initial video launch.

What was the team composition?

We worked primarily with Fabian and his design team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received a lot of positive feedback on our branding and design from customers, journalists, social media experts and designers. Though our brand is young, we’ve been recognized nationwide, in part because of the branding work FINIEN delivered.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They updated us regularly on their progress. Whenever there were questions or concerns they would respond by email or Skype within a day. They were always to the point yet relaxed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their strategic thinking and professionalism were impressive. They were very eloquent and produced creative copy and design. We have to give them credit for the branding work they delivered. They crafted our brand in a way that reflects the innovation behind our patented design.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were so satisfied with their service we’ve offered them partnership in the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder and CEO of a branded media content platform designed to provide users control over their relationship with advertisers. It also provides advertisers a curated network of audiences segmented by demo and affinity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire FINIEN?

We hired them to develop the branding strategy, positioning, and creative for a new internet platform startup.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to develop a brand that would be positioned as a consumer advocate fighting the status quo of digital advertising.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had previous success with FINIEN in branding an international e-commerce startup.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The scope included a unique day-long process of identifying the key elements that form the foundation of our brand: our positioning, voice, and audience identification. After a few weeks of work, they provided with a full package, including brand name options and full documentation describing our brand and its position in the market. Once we agreed on the name, they acquired the URL. Lastly, they developed the full creative package, including the logo and style guide.

What was the team composition?

We worked primarily with the founder of FINIEN, with additional creative and administrative assistants as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've received countless compliments and inquiries regarding our branding and logo design. It is a source of pride for our company.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The beauty of the FINIEN process was that most of the contribution from our side was provided during the day-long process to identify the key objectives and goals of our brand. Most of the remaining interaction was done over the phone and email. The FINIEN team was extremely professional and responsive. They also had a quick turnaround time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We’re impressed with their ability to meet our objectives so precisely, not only for this project but with prior projects.

Are there any areas for improvement?

At some point, they will need to expand their team to accommodate a larger quantity of clients and projects.