GreyBox Creative

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a managing principal for S Squared Advisors a specialized equity investment firm that believes in the confluence of volatility and value. The inclusion of volatility in our investment process is a significant distinction that sets us apart from other firms. Our strategies reflect the idea that investing in stocks exhibiting low realized volatility while backed by high-quality fundamentals can yield significant risk-adjusted returns.

This methodology attempts to allow our factors to work over the long run while reducing numerous measures of risk, including standard deviation and max drawdown. Our systematic approach results in a well-constructed portfolio composed of companies that embody solid balance sheets, are highly profitable, efficiently use capital, and have superior margin of safety. Simply put, S SQUARED ADVISORS is Value Investing Elevated.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative?

Entire firm branding, letterhead, business cards, website, marketing materials, and personal and company digital foot print.

What were your goals for this project?

Creating a well positioned brand that represents our unique approach to equity management and investment services.

SOLUTION

How did you select GreyBox Creative?

Previously worked with Vincent at his prior company.

Describe the project in detail.

Collaborated Vincent and his team to create a unique brand that represents our distinct value proposition via letterhead, business cards, website, marketing materials, and personal and company digital foot print.

What was the team composition?

Vincent and entire team from writing, creative, and development

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have received numerous feedback from current and potential clients on how polished and thoughtful our marketing materials and digital presence is for a firm our size.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

highly effective

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The ability of the team to distill the unique nuances of our firm in a clear and concise manner impressed us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a restauranteur who’s been in the business for 37 years. I currently own, either completely or in some other capacity, seven different restaurants.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Greybox Creative?

We rely on Greybox Creative for branding our restaurants and implementing these brands across the channels we want to market to most.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They spearheaded the branding process from ideation to execution. I gave them my ideas, and they dissected the brand’s goals and value propositions. They took these foundational ideas and apply them to our logo, website, and collateral design. They’ve even conducted SEO for us.

What is the team composition?

I worked primarily with two teammates, Remo (Creative Director) and Vincent (Founder).

How did you come to work with Greybox Creative?

I've known Vincent since childhood. We ran into each other literally days after I began looking for an agency.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere between $50,000–$200,000 over the course of our engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2010, and it’s an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Greybox Creative did an excellent job of communicating that our dine-in customers would be seated outside, successfully allaying some major fears amidst the pandemic. The team effectively got our name out during a time where people were reluctant to eat out. Our restaurant has been full every day since it’s opened, and I can attribute some of our success to their efforts.

How did Greybox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They communicated brilliantly. They’re detailed, deadline-oriented, and extremely specific.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I wish I could be on top of my own game as much as they’re on theirs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

An improvement would be difficult because every aspect of the project came out swimmingly. I can’t think of how they could’ve done a better job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a strong idea of what you want. Depending on the industry, it helps to have some clarity around your expectations. Be able to sit and passionately communicate your goals.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a Startup which will help lenders understand the financial health of the retail community

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative?

We hired Greybox for both brand strategy and visual identity

What were your goals for this project?

Develop branding logo and marketing strategy.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have had the pleasure of working and developing a great friendship with Vincent and his team at Greybox. We have known and wokred with each other since 2008. I wonder if any other firm can be as collaborative and partner with me as well as the team at Greybox Creative.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Brand Strategy workshop and then proceeded to logo design. Upon completion of these two critical phases we moved forward with stationery system and pitch deck.

What was the team composition?

Worked exclusively and collaboratively with both Vincent and Remo the creative director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have shared the results of their work with over 25 lenders and have received fantastic feedback. I could not be more satisfied with the work and ability to complete ahead of schedule. Congrats!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Every detail and scope of our project was given hands-on attention.

Are there any areas for improvement?

NONE

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a partner at a real estate company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GreyBox Creative?

We’ve worked with GreyBox Creative for about seven years, but about a year ago, we needed help launching a new company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GreyBox Creative built a WordPress website for our new company. They also did branding and designed the logo. We were given a few logo options, and we chose the one we liked best. Similarly, they presented 2–3 website mockups, we selected the one we wanted, and we went from there.

What is the team composition?

I work with different people. Stephen (Director of Online Marketing, GreyBox Creative) operates separately from the rest of the team in his online marketing work. Gaelen (Director Web Development, GreyBox Creative) is the IT person and works on the site’s backend. Remo (Creative Director, GreyBox Creative) is the designer and has done all of our logos. Finally, if I need further coordination or we experience a challenge, I involve Vincent (Founder & President, GreyBox Creative).

How did you come to work with GreyBox Creative?

I did a lot of research to find the right candidate to help develop my business. I also hired a second party to assist in making this selection, and the result was GreyBox Creative. The quality of their design work set them apart.   

What is the status of this engagement?

My company began working with GreyBox Creative in 2013, and our partnership is ongoing. The big project they did last year lasted 4–5 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has always been highly regarded by my clients. I definitely attribute an increase in brand awareness to them.

How did GreyBox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very efficient in their communication; I’ve never had any issues in this regard. We talk over the phone or email depending on what’s needed. The owner gets involved as needed; if I leave him a message, he calls me back, which I appreciate. They build a relationship with their client.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed by the quality of their design work. They’ve always done fantastic work for me. Their process is smooth, straightforward, and dynamic.

Are there any areas they could improve?

GreyBox Creative delivers what they say they will, so I haven’t seen a flipside. They don’t over-promise or get involved in things they can’t manage. They’ve offered design, branding, and website development to my company, and they’ve delivered.

Any advice for potential customers?

GreyBox Creative does very well at managing the partnership, so there’s no need to advise a third-party on how to handle that. They flawlessly build client relationships.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the deputy director of development at a global literature and human rights nonprofit. I oversee special events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GreyBox Creative?

We don’t have an in-house graphic designer, and we had a couple of projects that required design services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GreyBox Creative designs our complete gala suite each year. The literary gala is our largest fundraiser, and GreyBox Creative’s team designs the program book and any stationary related to the event, including the invitation suite and letterhead. They work on the designs for the gala collateral in October or November through May, when the gala takes place.

They also design the hardcopy invitations for our author evenings, a series of about 35 dinners throughout the season. We engage GreyBox Creative for this work in November or December, and the invitations go out to a large list of people at the beginning of January.

GreyBox Creative has helped other public programming teams within our organization by designing print collateral for different events. They base their designs off of our brand guidelines.

What is the team composition?

We work with two of the partners at GreyBox Creative.

How did you come to work with GreyBox Creative?

When I joined my organization, they were already working with GreyBox Creative. After reaching out to them and seeing their work, I was happy with their work. It didn’t make sense to look at other vendors because GreyBox Creative knew the organization and our work.

How much have you invested with them?

My organization has spent $12,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with GreyBox Creative in July 2018, but my organization’s been working with them for a few years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their designs are beautiful. The invitations always look amazing.

How did GreyBox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great to work with. There’s a lot of back and forth, and my team sends a lot of edits and changes, but they handle everything gracefully and professionally.

What did you find most impressive about them?

GreyBox Creative does great work, and they’re really nice people. They’re also great about incorporating our brand guidelines into their designs. Working with them is always a pleasure.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really. They’re great.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the president and owner of ACF Distributors. We are a wholesale distributor of commercial and residential floor coverings.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative?

I hired GreyBox Creative to help rebrand an existing business that I had recently acquired. Although the products and services they offered were great, the general aesthetic of the company was old and outdated.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to freshen up our company aesthetic.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I interviewed three different agencies, and GreyBox Creative was the most impressive. They were more organized and detail-oriented than the other vendors that I considered. They were also able to work within my budget.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We started the partnership with a discovery call so that GreyBox Creative could assess my needs. After I delivered my requirements, they presented me with a budget and a detailed scope of work that was broken down into phases.

We approved their plan, and they started producing designs. They created a new logo, revamped our website, and designed graphics and decals for our trucks.  

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with Vince (Owner, GreyBox Creative) and occasionally spoke to a few other members of this team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

GreyBox Creative improved our online presence and enhanced our brand. We now have a professional looking website that we can proudly display for existing customers and new prospects.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Being that my company is on the smaller side, I tend to get spread pretty thin, and GreyBox Creative was very considerate of my schedule. They only involved me in their work when it was absolutely necessary.

I would review and approve each of their deliverables, and they would facilitate the feedback process. They were very easy to work with, and there was constant communication on both sides.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was particularly impressed by their organization and attention to detail.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I saw.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My husband and I own Kind Burgers, a gluten and dairy free specialty burger restaurant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GreyBox Creative?

We hired GreyBox Creative to design our overall look and branding. They also created our website and marketing materials.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking for a fresh look that identified our company’s vision and product.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Throughout the selection process, we interviewed several design companies and reviewed past work they’ve done with similar businesses.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The engagement began with their team interviewing about our goals and visiting the restaurant. GreyBox Creative sent several options for us to choose from in order to get the look we were trying to achieve.

What was the team composition?

We worked with three to four designers throughout the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was overwhelming how accurately GreyBox Creative captured our vision. We get compliments on our marketing materials–especially with the icons they created.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The designers were talented and professional. Our process was simple–we used email, phone, and in-person project reviews.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their artistic talent is like no other. GreyBox Creative delivers on your vision.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are none that I can think of. It was a great experience working with GreyBox Creative.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Union Burger Bar, a high-end restaurant in Southampton, New York.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GreyBox Creative?

I wanted to give my town something that it was lacking, and I needed the right branding team to help me launch my idea.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I came into this project with a very clear understanding of what I would need from their team. I walked Vincent (Founder & President, GreyBox Creative) and Remo (Creative Director, GreyBox Creative) through my business plan, and we reached a consensus regarding the direction we were going to take. Their team provided branding services for my restaurant, and they developed a strategy to engage an affluent clientele.

What is the team composition?

I worked closely with Vincent and Remo throughout the project.

How did you come to work with GreyBox Creative?

I first learned about GreyBox Creative after running into Vincent, who is a childhood friend of mine. This happened right as I was planning to open another venue, and I brought his team on to create a full package of branding and marketing materials. This first project was a complete success, and I knew Vincent and his team would be the right branding partner for my next endeavor.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work began in December 2018, and my restaurant opened in January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since opening, I’ve been able to generate a very high level of revenue. I'm attracting the clients that I want, and my restaurant is regularly filled to capacity.

How did GreyBox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They were extremely responsive, and I was able to reach out to them via phone call, email, or text. We also held many in-person meetings and video chats, which were very helpful in terms of evaluating deliverables.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In terms of their work, the speed with which they completed the project is astonishing. Branding is typically a lengthy and complicated process, especially in the hospitality industry, where the majority of businesses fail within the first two years. Their team delivered everything I asked for in less than two months, and the quality of their work is comparable to that of a multi-billion-dollar company.

Also, the level of comfort and confidence that I’ve felt with their team has been outstanding. I’ve learned so much from them about digital marketing, specifically search engine optimization. They’ve also kept in touch since the restaurant opened, and they appear to be genuinely invested in our success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If there were an area where they could improve, I would’ve told them, but I can’t say that I found one. They were fantastic. Their team has played a major role in my success, and I would not open another business without them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear idea of what you’re hoping to achieve, and be willing to learn the nuances of branding and strategy. Detailed planning is essential if you want to see your project succeed. Also, if you clearly articulate your goals, their team will be able to support you effectively and push your business forward.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in investor relations as a small-credit hedgefund manager in New York City.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Greybox Creative?

We hired Greybox Creative to help rebrand our firm.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began with a discovery process to uncover the identity of our company. Greybox Creative then created several proposals for the new look. They helped us find the new colors, fonts, logo, for our brand and created a relevant newsletter and business cards.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from their team.

How did you come to work with Greybox Creative?

Through our business’ consulting services firm, we heard about Greybox Creative and used them in 2005 for a different branding project. When it was time for another rebrand, we felt comfortable with our history with them and their price point.

How much have you invested with them?

For this engagement, we’ve spent between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Although we first engaged in 2005, this rebrand lasted a few months in 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We continuously receive positive comments on the professional look of our new logo. People remark on the appealing colors we chose. We’re fully happy with the work they did and happy with the feedback we get on our new look.

How did Greybox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very responsive and on top of managing the project. We primarily communicated through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were easy to work with and open to constructive criticism. We had a healthy amount of back and forth during the project, which was helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they could do to improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

When I worked with GreyBox Creative, I was the co-chair of the communications committee at Crew New York.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GreyBox Creative?

Our two predecessor organizations came together to form Crew New York, so we started looking for a new identity. We needed a vendor to create a new logo for us, which would essentially be a graphic statement of the organization's purpose.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After learning about the goals and objectives of our organization, GreyBox Creative designed a new logo for us. They gave us a few different options, after which we provided our feedback. Then, they refined the color scheme and designed the final version.

What is the team composition?

We mostly interacted with Vincent (Founder, GreyBox Creative) and their senior designer.

How did you come to work with GreyBox Creative?

I met Vincent at a networking group. He seemed very personable, so I thought he and his team would be easy to work with. I saw their previous work, which was very much in line with what we were looking for, so we decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between January 2014–February 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The logo is very dynamic and everyone in our organization has been enthusiastic about it. The word of mouth has also been very positive.

How did GreyBox Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly used email and phone to stay in touch and they were very responsive. They also gave us PowerPoint presentations, walking us through the look and feel of the logo.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very creative. Also, their owner is very hands-on. He was involved in all the phone meetings and email correspondence and he definitely helped us guide the project to a successful conclusion.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.