Client Overview
Julie and Carolyn are the co-founders of a boutique retail consultancy agency based in the United States. The company is small, just two partners, but their combined experience spans over 25 years in corporate retail.
- Julie specializes in merchandising: product assortments, pricing strategies, color and fit considerations, and helping businesses align their products with customer expectations.
- Carolyn focuses on financial planning and analysis: creating budgets, building plans, managing inventories, and ensuring the numbers align with profitability goals.
Together, their mission is simple yet powerful: “We help you make money off product.”
The agency is just five months old, but the founders are determined not to return to corporate America. Instead, they aim to build a profitable, sustainable consulting business on their own terms.
Early Growth Struggles
At first, the partners relied on referrals, LinkedIn outreach, and their personal networks. This brought in some initial work, but it was not enough to grow a business. Revenue was inconsistent, and there was no clear pipeline for scaling.
Julie experimented with Upwork, but found the process overwhelming:
- She would manually scroll through job posts.
- Copy descriptions into ChatGPT to draft cover letters.
- Occasionally spend extra on boosts to stand out.
Still, the outcomes were poor. She rarely got replies and often lost focus after reviewing just a handful of job posts.
I would maybe pop through six jobs and move on. I didn’t have the attention span, and the process felt cumbersome. I wasn’t committed. GigRadar gave me the consistency I needed.
Considering Alternatives
Like many new businesses, they debated whether to spend thousands on paid ads (Meta ads, SEO campaigns, or outsourced marketing). The projected spend was $7,000–$10,000, which was a huge risk for a startup agency.
Ultimately, referrals and manual prospecting were not enough. The partners needed something scalable, consistent, and cost-effective.
Path to GigRadar
The turning point came when Julie stumbled across GigRadar on Instagram. She immediately booked a demo call, and the very same day, despite the upfront cost, she purchased the subscription.
It was the largest single investment in their business, but she was convinced of the potential:
- Automation: scanners working 24/7.
- Efficiency: instant speed-to-market for proposals.
- Cost-effectiveness: a fraction of the price of paid ads.
- Scalability: a solution that could help them avoid returning to corporate jobs.
Even though it was a big investment at the time, probably the biggest I’d made in the business, I knew it would be amazing for us. For a fraction of the cost of paid ads, we were able to self-serve on GigRadar and build a bigger business faster.
First Week Results
The results came almost immediately:
- 6–8 discovery calls in the very first week (compared to almost none before).
- First client closed for $6,000 within days.
- The subscription cost was recouped in just four days.
Julie remembers:
I had more calls in a week than I’d had in three months. We booked a $6,000 client almost right away. I was nervous about the cost, but I paid it back and more in a week.
Two Months Later
Within two months of using GigRadar, the agency generated $20,000 in revenue, built a pipeline of nearly $100,000 in proposals, secured two high-value long-term clients, and completed smaller projects ranging from a $1,800 showroom merchandising contract to quick $100 profile reviews that helped boost their Upwork ratings.
Julie confidently maintains a reply rate of 10–15%, compared to 0% before GigRadar.
Features and Coaching That Made the Difference
Scanners and Automation
The scanners proved to be the most valuable feature:
- Running 24/7 to ensure speed-to-market.
- Targeting niche projects in retail and merchandising.
- Filtering for U.S.-only jobs, which turned out to be the most profitable.
Julie admits she initially went “scanner crazy” by building too many, but later consolidated them for focus.
Coaching Sessions
GigRadar coaching also played a crucial role. Carolyn attended a session with Sonia and went from 0 proposals to 20+ per day almost immediately. Julie herself worked with multiple coaches:
- Alex helped review Carolyn’s profile, providing practical advice.
- Sonia offered another perspective, reinforcing strategies.
Julie found value in hearing different voices:
Everyone has a slightly different way of doing it. I’d almost love for two or three people from the GigRadar team to work together on my profile, because the perspectives are so helpful.
Profile Optimization
Alongside scanners, Julie invested in Upwork profile optimization. She used ChatGPT (trained in her own tone of voice) to rewrite her content, embedding keywords from scanners and SEO research. She kept her profile easy to read with bullets, emojis, and clear titles.
This iterative process helped attract higher-quality leads, though she admits she occasionally still gets “junky” jobs.
Business Impact
Revenue and ROI
- $20,000 in revenue in two months.
- $100,000 in proposals outstanding.
- ROI in just four days.
Client Wins
- Two long-term, high-value clients.
- One $1,800 interior showroom merchandising project.
- A $100 business plan review that inspired Julie to launch a new Upwork service offering.
Operational Benefits
GigRadar gave the agency freedom to focus on closing clients instead of hunting for jobs. Julie highlights the value of reclaiming her time:
I like a cheap win. Not everything on your to-do list has equal value. GigRadar lets me leverage my time on what matters, working with clients and making money.
Lessons Learned and Advice
Julie emphasizes that GigRadar is powerful but not effortless:
- Consistency is key: Some weeks are hot, some are not, but you need to stay engaged.
- You get out what you put in: GigRadar extends your reach, but you still need to nurture leads and follow up.
- Optimize continuously: Regularly update scanners, tweak your profile, and monitor your dashboard.
- Leverage coaching: Each GigRadar coach provides unique value.
She is also candid about improvements she would like to see, such as having the option to hire GigRadar staff on an hourly basis to directly optimize profiles and scanners, as well as enabling more collaborative optimization across different team members.
It’s still work. You get out of it what you put in. But it spreads bigger wings for you, it gives you reach and consistency. You still have to show up, but what it does is amazing.
Conclusion
In just three months, Julie and Carolyn transformed their consultancy with GigRadar. They moved from relying on referrals and manual job hunting to a system of automated, consistent lead generation. Their reply rate increased from 0% to 10–15%, and they went from struggling to book clients to generating $20,000 in revenue with a six-figure pipeline already in progress.
Julie’s final message is simple but powerful:
If you’re thinking about it, you’re already late. Just do it.
👉 Book your demo with GigRadar today and take the first step toward scaling your agency with consistency and confidence.
