Success Stories
Events Company Going Global
Challenge: The owner of this outside events business (MF) had the opportunity to sell into a large corporate for the first time. An interview had been scheduled for the next week and she asked for us to coach her through the interview process.
Solution: We met with MF and discussed her proposition, the benefit to the client and how her company was ideally placed to provide the work. We underlined the true market value of using her company over another and how to work in overseas markets (one of the criteria for acceptance).
Result: The interview was a success! They asked alot of questions that we covered, the company was accepted on the Preferred Supplier List and work from both the UK and overseas poured in.
Response: "Great work! Great result! Are you free for another meeting? I need to build a bigger team and you're the people to help me." MF
The Case of the Edible Seaweed
Challenge: This company (AK) whilst small, had been accepted to supply a major high street retailer, but didn't have the systems in place to operate at the requested capacity or the cash flow to support the order.
Solution: Fordham Henderson met with the two Directors and process mapped the logistics of the supply chain from farming to harvesting, packaging to distrbution. Our consultant then introduced AK to a previous client; modern invoice factoring business, and a match in heaven was made.
Result: AK were able to stagger supply the retailer, and therefore supply in smaller quantities at first. We paid particular attention to ethical farming methods and allowed them to reduce costs on packaging and distribution through a leaner process. The Invoice factoring company agreed to factor one invoice at a time and only those that were needed at the right time for the business overall.
Response: "Once again excellent work from you guys! Some really useful points and our road to discovery is clearer as a result of your work. Can we talk about our next round of funding?"
Saving the Lives of Furniture Restorers
Challenge: This well established company (PC) had lost its mojo. The Directors were very hands on, married, with kids, order book full, but with no time to enjoy the money they were making, which wasn't very much. Clients loved their bespoke furniture offering, but were reluctant to pay bespoke prices and the small factory was not a great place to show clients around.
Solution: Fordham Henderson met with the Directors and carried out a review of their work practices, pricing policies, market value testing, client feedback, showroom location, gallery placements, process review, branding, marketing and sales strategies, employment of two apprentices.
Result: Within twelve months PC had grown from three employees to six inc. two apprentices gained from a local art and fashion college. The furniture was now being displayed in art galleries, they gained a new client following and they received commissions where they could charge a much improved price. This increased both turnover and profitability, enabling them to employ a manager, giving them the time and space they needed to once again enjoy their business and their young family.
Response: "To be given the opportunity to get our business and our lives back means the world to us. Just having you around has inspired and motivated us to keep going, when we were actually considering closing down. Can you imagine that now? Thank you so much, we can't wait until our next meeting."