No single solution will fit all businesses.
Below is a list of services we offer. Click on any service to view how we can help you in this area, how to identify you may need help in this area and a brief description of the service.
Business Coach / Mentor
Enhance the skills of senior personnel so they make better decisions and become more effective as managers.
That you just want a casual “sounding board” – someone to discuss the “hard issues” with from time to time – someone that understands your business and can be a good listener but who is prepared to offer suggestions and help you make the “hard decisions”.
Provision of ongoing professional advice to proprietors, directors and managers so that they can be confident about the business and marketing direction being planned for their organisation, and adequately informed about the effectiveness with which marketing is being undertaken by their organisation.
Usually includes:
a) Regularly scheduled meetings to discuss business performance, variances to budgets and plans and corrective action required.
b) Telephone and e-mail contact for advice throughout the month.
c) Continuous thinking about and making proactive suggestions to improve business performance.
Business Diagnostic
Identify and prioritise issues and develop a list of actions.
That the business may not be performing to its full potential and you’re not sure if changes should be made to achieve improved performance.
With an organisation-wide focus, we spend time in the business asking questions of a wide range of staff and analysing financial data, customer files, quotations and correspondence. We speak with customers and non-customers. We undertake desk research to obtain a perspective of the market and competitors. Finally, we document all findings and prepare a report outlining opportunities for improvement and work with the management team to develop a prioritised top level management action plan.
Business Planning
Facilitate the preparation of a business plan which will involve all stakeholders and inspire them to commit to its implementation.
That you don’t have a documented business plan and believe that the business might benefit from having one.
We start with a Business Diagnostic and then work with the management team to develop a detailed action plan with each departmental manager.
Contract Domestic Marketing
Obtain domestic sales expansion without having to employ additional personnel or redeploy existing staff.
That you need to get a rapid improvement in domestic sales but just don’t have the people, time or perhaps skills to get the job done quickly and effectively.
We select and appoint appropriate domestic partners (distributors) and prepare marketing plans with them.
Contract Export Marketing
Obtain rapid entry into export markets without having to employ additional personnel or redeploy existing staff.
That you need to get a rapid improvement in export sales but just don’t have the people, time or perhaps skills to get the job done quickly and effectively.
We select and appoint appropriate export partners (agents, importers or distributors) and prepare in-country marketing plans with them.
Customer Feedback
Confirm what customers think of a company’s products and service levels and identify opportunities for improvement.
That the business has insufficient information about what its customers think about the company, the level of service it provides and how it compares with the service and products offered by competitors.
Telephone and personal in-depth interviews and / or focus groups are conducted to collect information from customers and intermediaries.
Establish Customer Advisory Boards
Use customers to contribute to the development and assessment of marketing plans in a proactive and positive manner.
That it would be a really good idea to use a sample of existing loyal customers to guide your new product development, marketing and other business activities.
Establishment (and management if required) of customer groups that can guide certain aspects of new product development, new product introductions and marketing activities.
Export Diagnostic or Export Plan
Develop a professional, efficient and effective plan for exporting.
That the business is already exporting, or about to start, but you’re not convinced that it’s getting the very best out of its export activities, or you want to make sure that your first investment into exporting is the very best it can be.
We undertake a detailed investigation into and analysis of global markets and match to your company’s products and competitive advantage to prioritise markets. Then we develop a market entry plan that matches the business’ capacity to implement and manage into the high priority export markets.
External Director to Company or Advisory Board
Add significant marketing and business expertise to their organisation at the most senior level.
That a commercially astute and experienced individual might be able to act as a “sounding board” and act in a formal manner to assist the business to develop, at the same time be a source of training.
Provision of the services of an experienced person to complement the skills and experience of a new or existing Board of Directors. This involves preparation for and attendance at a monthly meeting (which we can chair if required) and availability to assist with issues and questions during the month.
Feasibility Study
Gain confirmation that a business proposal is financially viable before committing to the final investment.
That you want to invest in a new product or business enterprise but are not yet 100% confident that it will provide adequate returns.
A detailed assessment of the likely demand for existing or yet to be developed products is undertaken. Once we have an estimate of demand and predict competitor retaliation we prepare cost estimates for the establishment of new manufacturing facilities, estimate sales and administration costs and prepare detailed budget projections.
Global Prospecting
Increase sales and profit by us finding and qualifying and introducing prospective customers in high priority markets. We can prioritise markets when required.
That you want to increase your company’s export “reach”, obtain more export customers, appoint more distributors or enter new markets, but just have not got the people or resources to do this quickly enough.
We use extensive desk research and telephone calling for the identification, qualification and education of potential buyers, end users, distributors, agents or other potential customers internationally; create awareness of the client, communicate the benefits of the client product and service and prepare the potential buyer for a formal sales approach from the client.
Market Research
Obtain rational market or competitor intelligence which can be used to benefit their competitive situation.
That the business might benefit from more information about the domestic or international markets in which it is competing including market size, competitor products and companies, and whether prices could be increased.
Thorough and methodical identification, collection and analysis of market and competitor intelligence to identify opportunities and threats facing a business. We use a wide range of innovative approaches to collect information.
Marketing Audit
Review the effectiveness of an organisation’s complete marketing and produce a list of suggestions for improvement.
That only half your advertising, sales or other promotional activities are working, but are not sure which half!
With a focus on sales and marketing activities, we spend time in the business asking questions of a wide range of staff and analysing financial data, customer files, quotations and correspondence. We speak with customers and non-customers. We undertake desk research to obtain a perspective of the market and competitors. Finally, we document all findings and prepare a report outlining opportunities for improvement and work with the management team to develop a prioritised top level management action plan.
Marketing Planning
Identify or confirm direction and develop a holistic and coordinated plan for marketing activities.
Unsure of the relationship between all the marketing elements (including personal selling, advertising, promotions, publicity, public relations, pricing, product development, branding, product benefit strategy, distribution) and how to coordinate them all for best results in your business.
We analyse all aspects of the market in which you are competing including competitor offerings and evaluate how customers and non-customers respond to your business and products compared with competitors. We then work with your marketing management team to Prepare a formal but practical marketing plan for a defined territory and product range.
New Products and Idea Search and Screening Process
Look for additional income streams by the addition of new products, but are not sure which products or ideas to pursue, or even looking for those products and ideas.
That your business would benefit by increasing its product portfolio but simply have not generated sufficient ideas, or are unsure how to screen and manage new product ideas.
We facilitate a process to identify and screen product ideas that have most potential for sustainable growth and profits. This is a great process to introduce a formal discipline into NPD programs.
Organisational Change
Obtain long-term improvement in marketing effectiveness.
That your sales and marketing are simply letting you down, but because of your technical background and orientation you just are not sure how to correct the issues.
Assist sales & marketing managers become more accountable for results by introducing a new or enhancing an existing culture of continuous improvement through planning and controlling marketing & sales management activities.
Sales Coach / Mentor
Enhance the effectiveness of sales teams in domestic and international markets.
That your technically-oriented sales team would benefit from training and coaching.
Work along salespeople to train and coach, even attending sales meetings and presentations, providing feedback after each meeting as a form of training. We can also become a part of a sales process, providing selling, commercial and negotiation skills to complement the technical sales skills of your sales people.
Tailored Programs
Spend time discussing your needs and develop a specific program.
That you’re not sure which, if any, of the programs included and offered by CBE can help.
Designed to suit the specific needs of a business and can include any combination of the services we provide, tailored to suit.
Temporary Manager
Make a rapid and significant improvement to the financial performance of a business unit. Especially useful for situations in which the existing management team does not have the time or the talent to do what’s needed.
That the business is failing and you just need someone to come in, assess the situation and effect change.
Provision of the services of an experienced manager to make changes as required.
The only way to know how and whether we can assist you and your business is to speak with us. Click here to arrange a telephone discussion or meeting today. Alternatively, we can send you additional information if you would like that first