I have had the chance of working with some very interesting clients often helping director-owners get ideas and new ventures off the ground. All business starts as the result of an idea and happens as the results of a relationship. The most successful companies are those whose owners possess a natural energy for sales, not necessarily accomplished marketeers, because everything stems from relationships. Marketing executed with flair and verve is a great ally though.
A sample of marketing and business development projects showing my breadth of experience:
Mantel Automotive Engineering Limited
Development, Branding and company registration for specialist automotive product.
Key facts:
- Developing a specialist automotive produce targeted at vintage race Porsche cars whose value in recent years has rocketed skywards presenting associated security risks and insurance costs. Laser folded heavy duty mild steel and screen printed with MANTEL logo. Development of all branding, design and all prototyping.
WeStore Limited
Planning and implementing a new business development strategy for a VC backed tech start up based in dynamic Hatton Garden tech hub.
Key facts:
- Developing targeting, segmentation and positioning strategy for new business out reach. Presenting to directors and investors and securing agreement.
- Vertical sector approaches with revenue share deal to key markets. Signing all major London University Student Unions
- Generating a revenue for the company to test proof of concept and to serve as a platform for winning second-round funding.
Precision Porsche Limited
Over the past couple of years I have planned and implemented an integrated marketing communications and new business plan for a specialist Porsche venture including website, social media, visual collateral, press. The results are highly measurable and have yielded a significant uplift in both new and existing customer work and commissions.
Key facts:
- Business has increased by over 180% in the past two years. This has been the result of talented, hard working owners, good judgement and timing but also an impetus delivered by a strong, awareness raising publicity campaign focused on PR, press, social media, web, and word of mouth in a competitive market heavily influenced by opinion.
www.precisionporsche.co.uk
Delve Software
A business development and marcomms campaign which won a reference base for a South African backed venture targeting the asset management sector. The campaign included a concerted sales drive, direct marketing, hiring and managing a telemarketing team in house and developing relationships with key city institutions.
Key facts:
- The campaign I managed and delivered for Delve won the company a reference base of users which it successfully used as proof of concept and this paved the way for a private sale to one of the asset management sector’s leading analysts. The technology that we introduced into the marketplace through the Delve venture now powers online client reporting for some of the World’s leading financial institutions.
Nicobond Limited part of the Nicholls & Clarke Group
A complete rebranding for a national supplier and manufacturer of products to the building and DIY trade including an integrated marketing communications plan
Key facts:
- Winning Nicobond an Enterprise Initiative Grant, a scheme sponsored by the Department of Trade & Industry, was the start of a marketing campaign I managed and implemented for the company, at the time an old fashioned British manufacturing firm based in the East End of London. The plan was rolled out across a chain of national offices, warehouses and factories.
- The major part of the communications plan was a full rebrand to be applied to all packaging, literature, trucks, warehouses etc. This was in the days before the Brand-Mania hit the marketing world. The relvenace of including this piece of work is that the brand type script and logo were designed expressly for the company and have stood the test of time. The design and identity was the work of talented young London agency, Leuty Owen and remains in use across Nicobond’s full brand range 30 years on.
Scotts Restaurant and Bristol Scotts Holdings Mayfair
A pre flotation spruce up for one of London’s best loved restaurants including terribly conservative re brand- the classic oyster shell which has been the brand mark of Scotts for many decades. I interviewed final year graduates from Central St Martin’s and gave them the chance to produce one of their first pieces of real commercial work which was rewarding for all involved.
Key facts:
- The Scotts Restaurant Group was owned by the Kerman family and included society establishments such as Drones, Sheekeys and Overtons. The company had rescued these restaurants with a strong brand heritage but which were struggling after a long period of decline and economic recession. We applied a consistent Scotts design across the group but allowing each restaurant to remain distinct under its original branding. It was a tidying up exercise which delivered a more coherent image and helped towards the smooth flotation of Bristol Scotts plc.
ITIM Ventures
A business development campaign which won a reference base for a niche software venture within the finance funtion of some of Britain’s leading FTSE 100 companies.
Key facts:
- The project for ITIM involved taking a concept from scratch, building a compelling story and winning a reference base of clients to attract second round funding. This was primarily achieved through a focused sales drive using a consultative approach. Over 50 appointments were secured with the finance directors and financial controllers of Britain’s largest blue chip companies such as Rolls Royce Aerospace, Reuters, Glaxo. We developed these initial relationships through delivering a professionally prepared cost benefits case analysis and presented this back to the directors. Myself and other consultants worked for the clients in preparing this which was an important exercise in building relationships and winning their trust.
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