Background and aims

The company, a US based eBusiness company based out of Philadelphia, had registered a UK subsidiary company to act as the platform for the expansion into the UK and Europe several years previously. However this was run as an offshoot of the US office and was seen as very American in a traditional European cultural sector. Add to this the misdirection of investment in developing the European offering, meant that the company was struggling to meet its business objectives. We were asked through an intermediary company, to review all the business plans, and to propose a rescue strategy to take the non-US business forward.

Description

Initial research with the client base and suppliers suggested the company had a very strong product offering, and was unique in its ability to meet this market needs. However we needed to change the cultural image of the company and to give it a more European feel, plus to review and rewrite the business plans to reflect the market needs in Europe. The first move was to place one member of the Infozyme staff as the role of acting CEO to drive the business forward on an interim management basis. This has enabled a positive drive forward to achieve the changes needed. This included not only a new corporate style, business cards, letterheads and web site, but also a repositioning and expanding of the offering with a price plan to match local market expectations.

We also initiated a programme of ‘franchising’ the offering throughout Europe on the basis that the company did not have the resources to meet its aggressive expansion plans and yet its market offering was time dependent. Also to offer commissions to partner companies for sales and sales leads to be generated, and a series of ‘partner’ technology programmes to offer added value services.

Results

We were given the challenge of crafting an effective business plan for the UK and Europe then guiding the launch the company in those areas. We completed both of those tasks on time and within budget and positioned the company for ongoing success and positive cash burn rate. During the implementation phase of the plan we initiated relationships with Strategic partners and continue to follow through projects on behalf of the company on a part time basis. These relationships have proven to be, and will continue to be, the cornerstone of the client’s global reach initiatives. We also revamped the client company corporate style to reflect a more European mark that is required for a successful business venture of a US centric organization in the UK and Europe. We have shown success in helping run the UK and European business by addressing key financial issues to include but not limited to late debtors and other activities.

Currently the client is going through an expansion phase as a result of our activities after a period of static growth in Europe.

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