20 Clients Speak to
THE Power of their brands.
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It’s all about the brand. It’s easy for us to say that you should invest in branding. We’ve done it over a thousand times for clients across the globe. We’ve published hundreds of blog articles about why a brand is a small business’s most valuable asset. We’ve seen the success that a powerful, memorable brand can generate. President and Creative Director Dan Antonelli has even written three books on small business branding, including his recent book, Building a Big Small Business Brand. But all of these credentials don’t change the fact that branding your business is a big decision for you. You’re scared—and rightfully so. After all, this is the most important decision you’ll ever make about the future of your company. We could talk all day about brands, and what a great one means to a small business. But rather than listening to us, why not hear what some of our clients have to say about the value of a brand? They’ve walked in your shoes. They’ve taken that very scary first step. And, now, they’ve arrived at the other side of their branding journey and experienced amazing results.
Read on to discover what some of them said when we asked what a new brand has meant to them and their business.
Who better to speak to the value of a brand than our clients?
Business doubled in two years. “What the KickCharge team did for us with our new brand was magical. It transformed us into a professional, qualitylooking company that garnered attention from our target audience and integrated seamlessly with our desire to look as good as the services that we perform. Now, customers see how we look and what we stand for, and when compared with the competition, there is no choice—they call us.
Our business doubled in the first two years after introducing our new brand. If you want to secure your business’s future, increase sales beyond your wildest expectations, and watch your financial income explode, these are the people that can do it for you. Working with KickCharge for our logo and branding, our website, our print collateral and our continued marketing efforts is, and has been, the best business decision I have ever made.” Chad Setchell President, hansen heating & air
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We instantly stand out. “Close to 20 years have gone into building Oasis Turf & Tree. In that time, our top priority has been to do things the right way and provide outstanding customer service. So, when it came time to re-evaluate our branding, we wanted to be sure that our clientfocused approach was represented. We knew there were other options out there for branding firms, but it was clear to us that KickCharge’s approach to their work and commitment to quality paralleled ours. That made working with them the natural choice. Creating our brand was a decision that was going to stay with us for a long time and we wanted to get it right. The process was smooth and very thorough. Thanks to Dan and his team, we now have a look that is so unique. With a fleet of 17 wrapped vans, we instantly stand out from any other lawn and tree care company anywhere—and people love it!
The decision we made to work with KickCharge was, hands-down, one of our best.” Kevin Denby Chief marketing officer, oasis tree & turf
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We made the right decision. “Next to revenue, proper branding is one of the most important things that you can do for your company. In fact, branding will help with revenue. KickCharge was instrumental in creating that image, and we have had nothing but positive results. Dan and his team are experts in crafting a brand that appeals to the markets we serve. From the logo, to the truck wraps, to the website, to the stationery, our company now has a brand that matches our mission and our culture.
Growth has been tremendous and client feedback has confirmed we made the right decision.� Jason Stom President, Clear the air
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A noticeable difference. “When initially speaking with Dan and his team, I was skeptical about making such a big decision regarding our branding. But after 28 years with our “old” logo, we knew that a change was needed in order to revamp our messaging and grow our business.
Having a new logo with consistent branding across every medium, we have seen a noticeable difference in our business. Our branding has breathed new life into our HVAC company. From our uniforms to our print collateral, we are able to provide our clients with the same messaging and an expectation of quality—helping them to always think of American Air & Heat when they need us, and consistently presenting ourselves as the sharpest, cleanest and most professional HVAC company in Central Florida. Thank you, Dan and the entire KickCharge team.” Matt Boni President, American Air & Heat
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Best investment ever made. “I used to think that we had a good logo, a nice website, and clean-looking trucks. The ‘aha’ moment came when I saw three white vans and their logos sitting at a stoplight. There was nothing about them that made them stand out—and one of them was mine. So, I began to examine our marketing pieces. What’s our theme? What do we stand for? What sets us apart? We knew that we were the best in our market, but how did we communicate that? Then, in 2013, we partnered with the KickCharge team for a complete rebranding—and I couldn’t be happier that we did. Rebranding was one of the best investments that we’ve ever made, and it has paid huge dividends. In fact, over the last three years, our sales have more than doubled. Now, customers are talking about our professional website, individuals are commenting on our memorable logo, and people’s heads are turning as we drive down the road. Another HVAC business owner, who I have a lot of respect for, even said, ‘Man, I really hate your trucks… because they aren’t mine!” I truly believe that our new brand is the reason that we are getting more calls and growing so rapidly. The best part is, we aren’t even finished yet.’ will Blanton President, Blanton’s heating & air
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Our greatest asset. “Our brand has proven to be our greatest asset in attracting new customers. Consistency across media (print, web, social networking, vehicle wraps, etc.) has given Miller Homes a strong community presence.
Our logo is simple, yet bold, and conveys a corporate image much larger than our six-person operation. After Hurricane Sandy, our brand recognition set us apart from the contractors and modular builders who seemed to pop up overnight, attempting to benefit from nature’s wrath. The folks who have selected us to be their builder know that we have been around for years, and that we are here to stay. We owe that trust, in great part, to our well-developed company identity.� Jim Miller President, Miller homes
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Wish we had done it sooner. “KickCharge took our original logo and modernized it, re-creating it in a jaw-dropping way that demands attention. Our technicians are stopped on a daily basis and asked for business cards, simply because people see our vehicles on the road. Our unique brochures and website, which integrate our new branding, have helped increase our close ratio nearly twofold.
Since launching our new brand four years ago, we’ve seen a 400% increase in sales. But, the most important thing that the new brand has done is breathe new life into our 20-year business. I only wish we had done it sooner.” Joey timo owner, timo’s air conditioning & heating
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Our new brand feels like us. “Rebranding was instrumental to our company fully establishing its place in the market. Our previous brand was good for us as a new business, but did not reflect our level of quality as we began to grow. We separate ourselves from our competitors based on our high level of customer service, and our highly skilled technicians and support staff. Our old brand did not send that message.
We wanted our image to reflect the quality of service that our customers were receiving, which is why we decided to invest in rebranding. The process was easy, and Dan took a lot of time to ensure that the options they developed matched what we had envisioned. We wanted a brand that had a strong presence, could be easily recognized, and, more specifically, made our fleet stick out no matter where they were. Dan certainly accomplished our goals. Our new, polished brand has been very well received by our customers, and our employees have given us very positive feedback, as well. Our new brand now feels like us!� Alexandra Nicholson President, Nicholson Plumbing, Heating & Air conditioning
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Our brand paid for itself. “We are a high-quality, premium service company, and our customers want the job done right—regardless if they need to pay a little extra to achieve their goals. To that end, our team realized that our old branding and logo were not doing a good job of communicating our value to the community. So, we presented KickCharge with the insurmountable task of developing a brand that effectively communicates our unique market positioning, in a language that our service areas would understand without explanation.
The results of our new brand have been overwhelming, as we continue to gain new customers at a pleasantly unexpected rate. Our new branding has already paid for itself, because our marketing dollars have generated a higher ROI than ever before. I’m glad that our team and KickCharge worked together to unleash the power of a spectacular brand.” Brendan Slifka President, Leslie Heating & Cooling
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Smartest business decision. “Investing in a new brand with KickCharge was one of the smartest business decisions that I’ve made over my 30-year career. But, of course, hindsight is 20/20. If you asked me that question nine months ago, I was laboring over this decision. I was nervous about whether I could justify the investment. After doing extensive research, having multiple conversations with their team, and reading Dan’s book, Building a Big Small Business Brand, I finally decided to move forward in January 2016. In short order, we had our new logo and brand, and we began the vehicle wrap process. Within two weeks of wrapping our trucks, we earned a $117k opportunity from a client who saw our trucks. I never realized the value of a brand until I partnered with KickCharge. And now, here I am, looking back and wishing that I had taken the leap years ago. Our new brand is working seven days a week, and our phones are ringing off the hook!” larry zogby President, rds Same day delivery
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The best marketing investment. “Creating a professional image is one of the best marketing investments that we have made for our company.
Since our new logo’s inception, we have seen a strong increase in calls every month. I also believe that it has made recruiting a lot easier. Techs want to work for a company with a good-looking truck and a strong brand. Rebranding with KickCharge has been a strong factor in taking us to the next level. I wish I had made the decision years ago.” Max ROSE President, four seasons plumbing
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Branding is everything. “In launching my brand-new plumbing company, I made numerous mistakes. However, hiring Dan and his team on day one to help create my brand was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Branding is everything. You could be a truly skilled craftsman, but if your brand looks weak, then that’s how you will be perceived. If salesmanship and skill are the road to success, then branding is the car you ride in. It helps to immediately establish you in the marketplace. If you want to grow beyond a one-truck operation, then branding is more important than even your tools, because it’s the thing that makes the phone ring. Writing that initial check might feel painful, but a good brand is the gift that keeps on giving. There isn’t a day (literally) where we don’t get complimented on our brand.
Do the smart thing, spend your money wisely and focus on establishing a good brand.” edan Bar-lev President, do it right plumbERS
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Helped us to start winning. “The ‘blind test’ is something every service company faces, where the customer peeks through their blinds to see who has just pulled up. Our branding helped us to start winning before we ever knocked on the door. It created a sense of trust and professionalism at first sight, and not one of our competitors gets the response and attention from their brand like we do. Obviously, value is a perception that we drive through our quality of service, so it hinges on our trusted workmanship. However, the quality of our appearance sets the pace for that.
People expect a premium service from us, because that’s what our brand communicates about our company. And, of course, we deliver on that expectation. When what you deliver matches what your brand says about you, great things happen. Since launching our new brand four years ago, we’ve seen our sales quadruple.” mack chambers owner, clockwork heating and air Conditioning
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A fantastic response. “Since hitting the streets with our new branding, we’ve had a fantastic response from the community. Previously, our trucks seemed to blend in with the rest of the crowd; and now, so many people are really taking notice of us.
Our new brand creates a warm, personal feeling that is a huge part of our philosophy, which is always doing the right thing by our clients. Our new brand, which is featured on these rolling billboards, has been our best investment in terms of ROI, by far.” Ken Goodrich President, Goettl Air conditioning
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A 41% increase in sales. “Rebranding our company after 13 years was daunting, but the risk definitely paid off. Since our rebrand one year ago, we have seen a 41 percent increase in sales, 19 percent of which was from new business alone.
This clearly has been one of our smartest business decisions. Everywhere we go, people are seeing us. Plus, it’s great having a brand out there that we can be proud of. Our customers can see that we are investing in our company, and we’re not going anywhere. That builds their confidence and inspires them to choose us as a partner that they want to do business with.” richard Zeschke President, waypoint logistics
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An increase in new leads. “It has been said that with age and experience comes wisdom. And while 30 years is certainly not a ‘mid-life crisis,’ we realized that it did represent an opportunity for a bit of a makeover. What we have found with our rebranding was not only an increase in new leads, but just as importantly (and in some ways, more importantly), our staff and our current customer base saw progress and change.
This has allowed them both to see that we are committed to moving forward as we improve our services and reinvest in our company. We had a wonderful experience with Dan and his team, and we would strongly recommend their services!” David Kahl CEO, AC DAUGHtry security systems
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You get what you pay for. “As a startup company, I knew that brand recognition would be critical—especially in an industry that relies on strategic marketing and strong customer awareness. If you don’t stand out, then you don’t succeed. So, I needed a professional team to create a logo and a brand. ‘You get what you pay for,’ kept running through my mind, and I understood that this was not an area to cut corners. To make a long story short, I now have the best website in my market. Even more, my vehicles crush the competition, my logo gets engraved into people’s minds, and our customers are genuinely happy to see us. We are storming this market, and our success hinges on what the new brand image has done for us (and continues to do).
Without brand recognition, we wouldn’t stand a chance. I cannot say how happy I am with the investment I made in our branding. It is simply awesome!” Douglas Sheneman President, Main Street Heating & Cooling
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Customers love our new look. “We purchased a company that had been around since the early 1970s and their brand looked like it, too. I knew the very first thing we had to do was invest in our brand. I did research on some of the best experts in the industry and I came across KickCharge. Dan and his entire team are such a pleasure to work with. They came back with something that just blew my mind.
Customers always comment on how much they love our new look and our new website. Our vehicles definitely get attention. One day one of our techs noticed someone frantically flagging him down. He pulled over and it was a Disney imaginer who wanted to take a picture of the vehicle, so they could put it in their library. We were flattered that even Disney thought our vehicles were cool! I can’t thank Dan and his team enough for helping me take this brand to the next level.” Denise Swafford President, Cool-way Air conditioning & heating
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Monthly sales have doubled. “First things first: I wish that I had invested in a new brand years ago. I used to spend over $50,000 per year on advertising, and got little results.
Now, since rebranding, our monthly sales have more than doubled. We catch people’s attention with our logo and brand, and then we wow them with our high-quality services. When we ask individuals how they heard about us, they immediately reference our eye-catching vehicles. Even more, our employees take pride in working for our company and wearing apparel that showcases our newand-improved brand. Partnering with KickCharge has been such a rewarding experience, and it excites me to see what the future holds as we continue our marketing efforts.” Jason Miller President, boiling springs heating & air
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A renewed sense of energy. “We knew we hired the right company to help us with branding when clients began saying, ‘We see your vans everywhere!’ and we have a relatively small fleet.
Now, since rebranding, we’ve seen a renewed sense of energy, with not only our clients, but employees as well. When you consider all the other expenses you have as a small business owner, it’s easy to forget why the brand is so important. I’m glad we invested in ours.” Jaime Carpenter President, Integra Electrical
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Meet DAN ANTONELLI Your Brand Ambassador. KickCharge President and Creative Director Dan Antonelli is one of America’s foremost fleet branding and vehicle wrap designers and author of the book Building a Big Small Business Brand. The distinctive, bold style of his designs has enabled small business owners to polish their brand images for all types of vehicles. He is a feature columnist for SignCraft magazine, with more than 100 published articles on effective vehicle advertising design and fleet branding techniques, and the recipient of over a dozen first-place awards for vehicle wrap design. He’s also a nationally recognized expert on fleet branding, speaking regularly at trade shows on effective vehicle wrap design, and has been cited as a branding expert by a number of publications and major media outlets, such as Fox Business, Inc. and Entrepreneur.
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908•835•9000 / www.kickcharge.com