So you’re ready to start a business in Calgary? Good for you! Happily, you’re not alone – Calgary is reputed as Canada’s most entrepreneurial city. As a business owner myself, and having helped hundreds of other entrepreneurs start businesses get started in Calgary, I thought I’d give you the inside track to how business in…
A Market Research Company + Marketing Agency in One
Tenato comes from tenacity. But are we a market research company, marketing agency, strategic planning firm, advertising agency, sales training company or digital marketing agency? In truth, we are all those things. To keep it simple, the point is to have all the right tools help you grow, and apply them at the right times. Tenaciously, of course.
Over 28 years in business, we have honed a 3-Phase process that consistently achieves results. It’s as simple as Market Research, Strategy, and Execution.
First, Market Research – Investigating Customers, Competitors, Industries…
We usually recommend acquiring fresh market research to understand where you’re at. This means uncovering how your customers feel through methods such as in-depth interviews, focus groups or surveys. We also uncover what makes you unique from competitors, and benchmark industry trends. The point is to find out whether, and how, you should change your branding, services, target markets or pricing, to boost growth. (And yes, many clients just hire us for market research, and we’re happy to do this).
Second, Strategy – Vision, Targets, Offerings, Pricing, Messaging…
We then use the research findings to strategize with you in customized, one-on-one strategy sessions. Depending on the scope you need, this phase results in either in a strategic marketing plan or complete business plan. Regardless, your vision becomes crystal clear, and any adjustments to your offerings, pricing, target markets, and messaging are nailed down – all to make you more competitive. We also build a budget together, and set revenue goals.
Third, Execution – Branding, Websites, Digital Marketing, Advertising…
With your business or marketing plan now ready, we can launch into the typical things a marketing agency does: the marketing and creative services. Whether you have in-house marketing staff or use our team’s many talents, we work closely with you to develop all the brand assets you need. These are items such as brand names, logos, slogans, website (including content, design, programming, and e-commerce capability), advertising campaigns, digital marketing, and even sales training. As the campaign launches and as long as needed, we carefully monitor your Google Analytics, leads, and sales…honing your marketing program along the way.
Sound expensive? Don’t worry – a tight budget can help prioritize…
At Tenato, we provide reasonable ballparks, and a clear proposal that outlines all our fees before we get started. No surprises. And if it’s still out of range, we can prioritize further so you can do some of the work with your own team.
We are a Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary Market Research + Marketing Agency rolled into one, proudly serving businesses all across Canada.
Industries Served & Types of Market Research Projects
Since our philosophy to “help the good guys win,” we don’t select clients by their industry, but their attitudes, and the usefulness they offer the world. Moreover, we have a policy about conflict of interest – none of our active clients can compete with one another. This has given us a broad range of industry experience. For example:
| Go-to Market Strategies | We love start-ups (whether businesses, divisions, or new product launches), and the freedom of building these strategies. Often it involves research and business planning, then can later include branding and execution. |
| Professional Services Marketing | Professional services are sometimes challenging to sell, especially if hourly rates are used. These projects typically involve research to uncover benefits, then strategizing to restructure offerings and pricing. If major changes to the strategy are needed, we sometimes recommend rebranding. |
| Industrial Marketing | Industrial marketing typically has very specific buyers who may not fully understand a vendor’s capabilities. Therefore, we work to clarify technical offerings and broaden the revenue per sale or per customer. |
| Non-profit Marketing | You may think non-profits don’t need marketing, but they do. This is because funding is never iron-clad. Often we help non-profits (e.g. associations, charities, or tourism boards) to think more like businesses, clarify value, and reach the proper target markets. |
Retail Marketing | Retailers do not always know how to enhance products with services, or identify the changing needs of customers. We love assisting them with market research and branding strategies. We also often help them to boost margins, and train them how to handle key marketing tasks. |
| Services Marketing | Some categories of services – plumbers, electricians, realtors, can be very competitive. That means we really work to research differences, and then strategize to set our clients apart – with service enhancements, price structure, and distinctive branding. We love these challenges. |
| High-Tech Marketing | If a new technology is under consideration, we often research with prospects to see if needs exist, and what benefits the technology has. We can then focus on the clearest single benefit, the right customers, pricing structure, and more. |
| Construction Marketing | Construction clients, such as home builders, renovators, or even road builders, often need market research to uncover points of differentiation, followed by strategies to better package offerings and pricing. We’ll also help to prepare sales staff with better training and proposals. |
| Agricultural Marketing | We love agricultural clients – whether equipment, fertilizers, food brands, or even services like veterinarians for ranchers. Thanks to the nature of growing things, the industry is full of long-term, big thinkers, like we are. We love researching with farmers, ranchers, agronomists, ag-tech companies, and more, and can’t understate this industry’s national importance. |
| Energy Marketing | We’ve worked with energy sector clients in oil and gas, and renewables. Usually they need market research to uncover the needs of decision-makers, especially if the customers are major corporations. We can then use this information to refine how services are presented, pricing, and selling methods. |
| Health Care Marketing | Since clients in this area are often private health providers, we often research their customers’ perception of value vs. public health care, and refine branding. We have also worked with non-profits in this sector. |
View Our Case Studies:
Hear from Our Clients:
It's been great working with Jacqueline and her team! She's always has great ideas!
TimberTown has been in business for over 42 years and we were looking for a refresh. Our logo and branding needed work and we really wanted a new, up to date website that our customers could comfortably shop on. We had known Jacqueline Drew, the Principal of Tenato Strategy from previous work she had done for us and we gave her the reins for this project. She quickly learned our business and with numerous meetings we were on our way!We are so pleased with the result – she gave us the handle “Pro guidance on every project” which is exactly what we received from Tenato – “Pro Guidance”. We highly recommend her and the entire team at Tenato”
I received exceptional service from Tenato. Jacqueline Drew is a very knowledgeable marketeer who knows the Canadian, especially Calgarian, market perfectly well. She went to great lengths to accommodate a business concept that is new and requires a lot of nuance. She gave me time, advice, knowledge, as well as a great positive spirit. The report Tenato produced was integral to my business plan. Highly recommended.
Jacqueline and the talented team at Tenato were brilliant to work with. I found the environment to be very collaborative, client-centric and creative. Jacqueline values everyone's thoughts so you always felt heard in meetings and always walked away learning something new. Tenato cares about it clients and it shows in everything they do.
Our business worked with Tenato for about a year and a half. We found them to be proactive, creative, excellent communicators (and listeners), and knowledgeable in all areas of marketing. They worked closely with us as COVID started, to ensure that we had the best strategy we could in place, at a budget that we could work with. We very much appreciated their wise advice and support.
I worked with Tenato and Jacquelines team in preparation to launch a subscription e-commerce business jointhewildlife.ca. Her team helped us to organize and execute a series of focus groups. The report and insights that were given to us helped us to create our business plan. Two years later, the findings in the report have provided insights we continue to use to drive the direction of our business today. 10/10 Recommend!! Thank you Tenato!
Jacqueline & Gary were great to deal with. 100% professional and responsive to our needs as a startup, while still being relatable and down to earth in their approach. The results allowed us to make really intelligent decisions on our project! Would definitely recommend!
Isolating in March and April brought despair and loneliness to much of the community but then, into the midst of the pandemic, riding her white horse and carrying a guitar, came Jacqueline Drew and her team from Tenato. They organized multiple concurring and sequential events across the community giving residents and visitors the opportunity to get out of their homes and meet with neighbours to enjoy the offerings of other neighbours. From solo acts, to larger musical offerings, car displays, children's events and even decorated houses, the Lake Bonavista Stompede was a weekly event anticipated by us all.They not only organized the events but the team also produced maps of the events and tremendous professional videos documenting and promoting the Stompede. Jacqueline is a wonderful singer/songwriter and in addition to the planning, organizing and execution entertained us in numerous outside venues with Gary providing sound and photography support.Jacqueline and Gary Drew and the team from Tenato have made their mark in Lake Bonavista and brought the community together in a way that is enduring. Now they have expanded to other communities across Calgary.Everyone in Lake Bonavista knows them and appreciates what they have done and we all wish them well in all their future endeavors!
They have been excellent at all their work in our community this year for great Stompede events!
It's been great working with Jacqueline and her team! She's always has great ideas!
TimberTown has been in business for over 42 years and we were looking for a refresh. Our logo and branding needed work and we really wanted a new, up to date website that our customers could comfortably shop on. We had known Jacqueline Drew, the Principal of Tenato Strategy from previous work she had done for us and we gave her the reins for this project. She quickly learned our business and with numerous meetings we were on our way!We are so pleased with the result – she gave us the handle “Pro guidance on every project” which is exactly what we received from Tenato – “Pro Guidance”. We highly recommend her and the entire team at Tenato”
I received exceptional service from Tenato. Jacqueline Drew is a very knowledgeable marketeer who knows the Canadian, especially Calgarian, market perfectly well. She went to great lengths to accommodate a business concept that is new and requires a lot of nuance. She gave me time, advice, knowledge, as well as a great positive spirit. The report Tenato produced was integral to my business plan. Highly recommended.
Jacqueline and the talented team at Tenato were brilliant to work with. I found the environment to be very collaborative, client-centric and creative. Jacqueline values everyone's thoughts so you always felt heard in meetings and always walked away learning something new. Tenato cares about it clients and it shows in everything they do.
Our business worked with Tenato for about a year and a half. We found them to be proactive, creative, excellent communicators (and listeners), and knowledgeable in all areas of marketing. They worked closely with us as COVID started, to ensure that we had the best strategy we could in place, at a budget that we could work with. We very much appreciated their wise advice and support.
I worked with Tenato and Jacquelines team in preparation to launch a subscription e-commerce business jointhewildlife.ca. Her team helped us to organize and execute a series of focus groups. The report and insights that were given to us helped us to create our business plan. Two years later, the findings in the report have provided insights we continue to use to drive the direction of our business today. 10/10 Recommend!! Thank you Tenato!
Jacqueline & Gary were great to deal with. 100% professional and responsive to our needs as a startup, while still being relatable and down to earth in their approach. The results allowed us to make really intelligent decisions on our project! Would definitely recommend!
Isolating in March and April brought despair and loneliness to much of the community but then, into the midst of the pandemic, riding her white horse and carrying a guitar, came Jacqueline Drew and her team from Tenato. They organized multiple concurring and sequential events across the community giving residents and visitors the opportunity to get out of their homes and meet with neighbours to enjoy the offerings of other neighbours. From solo acts, to larger musical offerings, car displays, children's events and even decorated houses, the Lake Bonavista Stompede was a weekly event anticipated by us all.They not only organized the events but the team also produced maps of the events and tremendous professional videos documenting and promoting the Stompede. Jacqueline is a wonderful singer/songwriter and in addition to the planning, organizing and execution entertained us in numerous outside venues with Gary providing sound and photography support.Jacqueline and Gary Drew and the team from Tenato have made their mark in Lake Bonavista and brought the community together in a way that is enduring. Now they have expanded to other communities across Calgary.Everyone in Lake Bonavista knows them and appreciates what they have done and we all wish them well in all their future endeavors!
They have been excellent at all their work in our community this year for great Stompede events!
