Signature Video Group

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the head of marketing for a luxury real estate franchise. We have our global headquarters in Germany, but in the Americas, we oversee all operations in Canada, the US, Caribbean, and Mexico.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Signature Video Group?

We were looking to tell the story of our brand and to capture the lifestyle and properties that are associated with it. We also wanted to articulate what we believe luxury is in today's day and age. Our company decided that there was no better way to do this than through video, so we hired Signature Video Group (SVG).

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our company believes that luxury is about special, personal moments and that one will often find those moments when purchasing a new home. We wanted to bring that idea to life through a series of five videos, which SVG is helping us do. 

Prior to the shoot, the team helped us select the talent and showed us the different scenes that we would capture. They’ve outsourced a photographer who could work with them during each shoot to take high-resolution videos and photos that could be used in the video. SVG will also take care of the editing and postproduction.

Because of the timing, we’ve actually had to shoot our last video first. The following video has been filmed while working around COVID-19 restrictions. We need to do everything remotely so SVG has digitally accommodated us to allow us tag along on the filming without actually being on the site. We’ve shot two out of five videos thus far since some of the others require us to shoot on a certain season. 

In the meantime, we’ve brought them in again to do production for our first digital event. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Chris (Founder & Creative Director) and Rachel (Producer), who had a full crew behind them.

How did you come to work with Signature Video Group?

We found SVG On a website that ranks production companies. Through that platform, we were able to refine Our search based on who could work within our budget and who had real estate experience. 

We went through an RFP process with them and a couple of different vendors and partners. There were 10 of them in total, and SVG ended up being in the final three to actually do a presentation for us. That’s when Chris and his team at SCV blew us away. They really sold us on their propositions for how to convey our message through different scenes and vignettes. They put a lot of thought and research into the pre-work phase, which is why it was the right decision to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested around $200,000–$250,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership began in the fall of 2020 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve not publicly launched the video yet because we haven't gotten to shooting the rest of the series. We’re looking to have a soft launch In the next few weeks and by the first week of August, we hope to be able to release these assets to our network of real estate professionals. 

However, upon seeing the first output, we were all stunned. Even our global headquarters liked it so much that they’ve begun to use it in their global marketing efforts, which puts us in the lead in this campaign. 

This entire project has turned into something larger because we've gotten so much amazing content from SVG. It has opened up a lot of opportunities for us to continue working with them in different capacities as well. 

How did Signature Video Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re fantastic. So far, everything has been done so quickly. SVG has also been able to pick up on certain things or issues that we've overlooked. They've not disappointed at all and only continue to exceed our expectations. They’ve promised to deliver to a certain output, but they've over-delivered on that simply because they're passionate and enthusiastic. 

Chris has skin in the game and is behind the entire operation. I feel confident because we’re working with the founder of the company. There have also been instances where they were clearly excited by the work as we are. Once, during filming, they got carried away because they were able to secure a beautiful shot. 

Along with face-to-face meetings, we communicate through Zoom. We also use Google Sheets to keep track of the talent and sites that we select, which is pretty convenient because it allows us to update things quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We couldn't have asked for a better partner than Chris. We had to delay filming due to COVD-19 restrictions, but we were able to put in a lot of work despite it thanks to his creativity and flexibility. It’s evident that this is his true passion because of the imagery and details that he captures. 

In addition, we all genuinely like each other. We've established an amazing relationship with SVG even though it's only virtual. They’re truly a part of our team now.

Are there any areas they could improve?

A tiny hiccup we encountered was when we changed producers. The transition was great, but if pressed, I would say there could have been a little bit more fluidity. Other than that, though, I have no complaints. They're fantastic. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want to surround yourself with people who are better than you at something that is not your immediate skillset, go with SVG. Listen, be open-minded, and challenge them when needed. Give them as much information about your brand as you can, because they're sure to meet your goals with passion. I couldn’t recommend them enough.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of an alternative asset management firm. Our company is focused on mid-size essential infrastructure businesses. I oversee all our non-investment operations, including brand, marketing, thought leadership strategies, environmental and social governance initiatives, and talent management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Signature Video Group?

As we’re beginning to emerge from the pandemic, we were evaluating how we were connecting with our critical stakeholders. Based on this evaluation, we wanted to transition our thought leadership content to a video format to make it more impactful and effective.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve produced 21 videos that feature different aspects of our business such as our success, values, corporate philosophy, and purpose. We work with them to map out the strategy, scripting, and approach for each video. From there, they manage all the logistics of the production process, providing creative and strategic insight as needed. They’ve handled in-person filming sessions in our offices as well, contracting with partners of theirs in the US to mitigate pandemic-related travel issues.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked directly with Chris (Founder & Creative Director) for each video. He manages a production team made up of photo and video experts.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $250,000–$300,000 CAD (approximately $201,000–$241,000 USD) with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked together since November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t published the videos yet on our website, but their content was critical to the success of our most recent annual investor meeting. The high-quality deliverables they put together perfectly captured the story we wanted to tell through great visuals and high-impact, succinct messaging. Investor feedback was glowing.

How did Signature Video Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been terrific. Both Chris and I are extremely demanding in this regard. Their team is great with communication, organization, and planning. They’ve exceeded my expectations. We communicate via Zoom, email, and in-person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked with a lot of creative firms in my career, and none have displayed the strategic prowess that they do. I didn’t have to provide a lot of direction in this area. Rather, they worked to build a deep understanding of our business and overall goals for the project on their own.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. I’d highly recommend them to any organization.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Having a lot of planning discussions at the beginning worked really well for us. Trusting their expertise was helpful as well.