Black Label Grading

The Challenge

Black Label Grading already had a website when they first got in touch with us. On paper it was functional. In practice it was holding them back.

The site was not doing what they wanted.

It looked okay but it was not reflecting their personality, why they got into the hobby, or the fun of what they do alongside the professionalism their clients expect. For a business built on passion, on the nostalgia of collecting, the thrill of a high-grade pull and the trust required to send a valuable card across the Atlantic, a generic website simply was not good enough.

They had a very strong idea of what they wanted.

The aesthetic they were after was rooted in where they came from: a distinctly 90s feel, representative of the era that shaped them as collectors. They knew their brand colours, a striking combination of purple and yellow, and they knew those colours needed to be used with confidence, not watered down. Strong, bold and unapologetically them.

The challenge was not a lack of vision.

It was a lack of time and the technical capability to bring that vision to life themselves. They needed someone who could take what was in their heads and translate it into something that would work online. Something that would reflect their identity, attract the right collectors and give them the professional credibility to stand alongside the major grading organisations they partner with.

They were also expanding.

Their team was growing. They were moving into live events and shows, an important new dimension of the business, and they needed a platform that could grow with them. A static, template-built website was not going to cut it.

The Solution

We approached this project as more than a website build. Black Label Grading needed a digital identity, something that would communicate their expertise, their enthusiasm and their edge, all at once. Here is how we delivered it.

Phase 1: Discovery and Brand Alignment

Before we touched a design tool, we spent time understanding what Black Label Grading actually stood for. What came through clearly was that this was not just a logistics business. It was a brand with personality, rooted in collector culture. The 90s aesthetic was not a passing preference; it was core to who they are and why their clients trust them. We took that seriously.

Working closely with the team, we documented the brand direction: the bold purple and yellow colour palette, the tone of voice (enthusiastic but authoritative), and the visual language they were drawn to. This discovery phase meant that by the time we moved into design, there was no ambiguity. We were building toward a shared vision.

Phase 2: Website Design and Development

With the brief locked in, we set to work on a series of design concepts. We produced several variations, each playing with the angular energy of the yellow and purple palette, exploring how to make a bold brand feel polished rather than garish. The results were a lot of fun to make and they looked great.

The final design leaned into the brand’s personality: strong visual hierarchy, confident use of colour, clear calls to action for collectors ready to submit their cards, and a structure that communicated professionalism at every step. We made sure the site clearly explained the grading process, highlighted the three major partnerships (PSA, BGS and CGC), and gave prospective customers the confidence to trust Black Label Grading with their most prized cards.

The build was handled end to end by Sokada, with the client able to manage and update the site themselves once handed over. That handover capability was important: they needed ownership of their platform, not dependency on an agency for every change.

Phase 3: Social Media Content and Management

A strong website needs equally strong social media to back it up, particularly in a community driven niche like trading cards. We created custom social media content for Black Label Grading, building out a content approach that matched the energy of the brand and gave them a consistent voice across their channels.

We also managed their social media directly for a period following launch, giving them time to focus on growing the business while we maintained their online presence. When they were ready to take the reins themselves, we handed over and they have not looked back. Their team now runs their social media with confidence, and their channels reflect the same distinctive identity as the site.

Phase 4: Ongoing Growth Support

The relationship did not end at launch. As Black Label Grading has grown, taking on new team members, partnering with agencies and resellers and expanding into live events and shows, the website has evolved with them. New sections, updated content and an expanding range of services have all been absorbed into the platform we built together.

The Results

The most immediate result was simple: the client absolutely loved it. In a project like this, where so much of the brief is about capturing identity and personality, that matters enormously. A website that the business is proud of is one they will actively promote, share and stand behind.

Beyond the reaction at launch, the results have been sustained and practical. The site has become a genuine platform for business growth, not just a digital brochure. Black Label Grading now operates with a fully functional customer facing presence that supports their entire service offering, from card submission and pricing information across their PSA, Beckett and CGC partnerships, to events listings and a growing brand ambassador programme.

Their team has grown and the website has grown with them.

New partnerships and agency relationships have come on board. They have diversified into live shows and collector events, a significant step for a business that started as a mail order grading intermediary, and the website supports all of it. The events infrastructure is live, bookable and promoting their presence in the collector community.

Social media, which we established and initially managed, is now run confidently in house. The content strategy and visual identity we set up gave the team a foundation to build on and they have done exactly that. Their channels are active on brand and driving awareness within their niche.