On a mission to drive business through growth, Adorama Business Solutions helped iFrog build a live production studio that will enable it to seize new opportunities.
iFrog Marketing Solutions was founded to better service the needs of automotive dealerships both in and outside of the Preston Automotive Group, with a focus on combining creative marketing with the most advanced machine learning.
Learn from RJ Jackson, Studio Director at iFrog Marketing Solutions, about how the live production studio helped the company grow.
What brought iFrog to add a recording and post-production studio?
iFrog was already a fully-fledged marketing agency with clients all over the country. While it helped clients with small video projects, there was potential to expand capabilities and consolidate filming commercials for dealerships in the Group by building an in-house studio.
After several years trying to convince the automotive group’s owner to invest in building a studio, RJ Jackson, Studio Director, was given the green light to go ahead. This happened after iFrog began working on film projects for the National Football League (NFL) and after the owner gave a press interview where he saw behind the scenes of the studio. Suddenly, the owner was able to see the potential to create his own larger scale commercials and film projects by building the in-house studio.
The studio build would allow iFrog to offer the online and traditional content it had its eyes on for years. It will allow the agency to become limitless in what it could offer partners. An order was placed at the beginning of March, 2020 for the studio equipment with Adorama Business Solutions. Two weeks later the COVID-19 pandemic forced the state of Maryland into lockdown, throwing a curveball for the build.
Initial Equipment List
Blackmagic Design Micro Studio Camera
Sachtler Video 18 S2 Fluid Head and ENG 2 MCF Tripod System
Litepanels Gemini 2×1 Soft RGBWW LED Panel
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24” 4K UHD I PS Creative Pen Display
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H Mirrorless Digital Camera Body
DJ I Mavic 2 Pro Drone with Smart Controller
Dracast Newsroom Plus Series Bi-Color 3-Light Kit
Blackmagic Design ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K UHD Live Production Switcher
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.SL IS Ill USM Lens
What is the project scope and what specific products were purchased as part of the upgrade?
Though RJ is a filmmaker, he was a self-confessed novice in setting up a film studio. The discovery process before ordering the equipment spanned a number of months, during which he was considering many vendors. However, after a filmmaker friend recommended contacting Adorama Business Solutions, RJ was pleasantly surprised when an equipment list he sent costing six-figures was answered with a formal quote the very next day by his assigned Account Manager.
How will iFrog use the purchased products?
When fully assembled the studio build will allow iFrog to film its own commercials for its automotive dealership clients. As the company is already working with the NFL, it will allow to them to expand those projects.
Longer term, the studio will enable iFrog to become a fully-fledged marketing agency, meeting the needs of all the dealerships around the USA.
What new capabilities will the studio offer iFrog?
The studio build will revolutionize iFrog’s capabilities as a marketing agency. It will allow the company to develop its own local car commercials in-house. In addition iFrog will be able to create captivating marketing assets for external marketing opportunities, further expanding the reach and market awareness for its clients.
How did iFrog choose Adorama Business Solutions as a partner for this project?
The discovery process for RJ spanned a number of months from initial research, to getting quotes from vendors, to selecting a partner. Adorama Business Solutions ultimately shone as the only choice for RJ due to both the speed of responsiveness of his Adorama Account Manager and competitive pricing.
While pricing was a factor for RJ, ultimately he wanted to work with a technology vendor that could be a true partner, which he found in Adorama Business Solutions.
What happened after Adorama Business Solutions was chosen as the solutions partner?
Two weeks after RJ placed the six-figure order for the first stage of the studio build, the state of Maryland was forced to lock down to curb the spread of COVID-19. This meant overnight iFrog closed operations and RJ’s position was furloughed.
This also created an interesting predicament for the pending delivery of equipment due to start the studio build. Thankfully a call to RJ’s dedicated Account Manager at Adorama Business Solutions meant that the shipments could be diverted to RJ’s home address.
Over the following weeks, RJ’s house filled up with boxes from Adorama Business Solutions and it would be months before RJ was able to get back into the studio to begin the build-out.
Was there any post-purchase support from Adorama Business Solutions?
As the studio build-out could only begin several months after the initial purchase was made, Adorama Business Solutions was able to extend its typical return/exchange window for iFrog. This peace of mind afforded RJ the opportunity to build the studio’s functionality to his exacting standards.
Adorama Business Solutions was also able to offer technical support to enable iFrog to set up production lighting at no extra cost. This consisted of several phone calls over the course of a week to a single point
of contact at Adorama.
Why work with Adorama Business Solutions?
Being a complete novice as far as building a professional studio, I needed more help than most. Adorama Business Solutions gave me the tools, prices and ridiculous accommodations it took to make building a studio possible in the middle of an International Pandemic…while not having access to the actual studio!
— RJ Jackson, Studio Director, iFrog Marketing Solutions
About Adorama Business Solutions
As your organization plans for technology upgrades, Adorama Business Solutions can be your solutions partner. With an experienced Technical Services team and dedicated account management, your organization can receive expert guidance from decision making, through to installation, training and post-purchase support.
Adorama Business Solutions is a technology solutions partner that offers a range of product categories with consultative Account Managers that get you the right equipment for your requirements and budget. With an in-house Technical Services division, even if you are not quite sure of the exact products you need, Adorama Business Solutions will help you build brand-agnostic solutions to achieve your goals.
Find out more about Adorama Business Solutions and request a free consultation.
