Sometimes Business Acquisitions Just Don’t Work

Sometimes Business Acquisitions Just Don’t Work

I occasionally attend a training/sales meeting that is held with a number of business brokerage and M&A firms in Northern California.  At this Wednesday’s meeting (April 2, 2008), a broker announced that he had a business for sale that he originally sold in January.  He felt bad about how it turned out, and wanted to ask if the group had any buyers that wanted a business for very little money.

About three brokers at once said, “which January?” “This January, 2008” he said.  The room erupted.  All of us wanted to hear the story.  What had gone so horribly wrong that someone who bought a business would give up within a few short months?   Usually within three months the new buyer is still figuring out the accounting system. 

In this case the business was a specialized cleaning service with three employees.  The buyers were a husband/wife team, and the husband was going to keep his job and the wife was going to run the new business.  Plain and simple, the wife just plain didn’t like the business.  Sales slipped, and the employees were let go. 

The problem, of course, is that without employees and without the sales volume, where is the business?  In other words, the value of the business is far less, and most buyers would be very reluctant to pay much of anything for this business.  A sad story, to be sure. 

We try to help the seller qualify the buyer, both financially and in the ability to run the company.  But sometimes it just doesn’t work. 

I’ve personally sold a company in which the seller thought the buyer had a drinking problem.  I didn’t witness any drinking, but the buyer and seller went to a trade show together before the deal was closed, and he witnessed some heavy drinking.   I completely concurred that this could be a serious problem, but in the end the seller sold the company to this buyer.  I’ve talked to the seller a few times since, the last time about 18 months after the transaction.  Yes, the buyer drinks and it is a problem.  Fortunately the seller works as a consultant for the company and he helps run the company.  He is actually pretty happy with the arrangement, since he gets paid to work there part time, and has plenty of time off without having the stress of business ownership.  I feel very lucky, since it obviously could have been a whole lot worse for both of them.

 

Marketing-organizations-Rajgurunagar

Consumer-Sales-Promotions-company-Pune

Interactive-marketing-company-Pune

Marketing-company-Erandwana

Sales-company-Erandwana

BTL-Activities-company-Erandwana

retail-branding-agencies-Pune

Outsourcing-firm-Bhosari

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Brand-Building-agency-Akurdi

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retail-sales-company-Bhosari

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Interactive-marketing-Agent-Deccan-Gymkhana

A Huge – and Well-Hidden – Resource for Small Manufacturers

A Huge – and Well-Hidden – Resource for Small Manufacturers

 
Job One here at AllBusiness is to help you find ways to become more productive, more competitive and… more profitable! Recently I chatted with Carrie Hines, Executive Director of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC) http://www.smallmanufacturers.org/, an organization that has exactly the same goals, plus boots on the ground to give individual manufacturers help on specific problems.

Providing more detail about the ASMC involves wading through a few government acronyms, but, believe me, if you’re looking for some objective advice about how to improve your business, it’ll be worth it. Here goes.

The ASMC is an association of Manufacturing Extension Partnership members(MEPs), which are in turn part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) .http://www.nist.gov, While NIST is probably best known for its annual Baldrige Award,  the MEP program is the most interesting one that NIST offers.

MEPs are basically consultant organizations that study your business and provide technical assistance to improve the way you do things via well-recognized approaches such as Six Sigma for quality and lean/kaizen techniques for improved efficiency. In addition, MEPs can help companies take advantage of existing government programs that can directly affect the bottom line. Some companies, for example, may be eligible for R&D tax credits, but don’t have their accounting systems set up in such a way as to capture the data the government requires in order to become eligible those credits.

MEPs are located in all fifty states, and, according to Hines, there is no manufacturing plant in America that is more than three hours’ drive from an MEP. Most MEPs are non-profit organizations, and many are associated with universities. MEPs have worked with over 300,000 businesses over the past seventeen years, and have accumulated some impressive stats. In 2006, they could boast of

·   an 80% track record of success improving client productivity

·   creation and retention of over 52,000 jobs

·   increased/retained sales for all their clients taken together that added up to over $6.7 billion

Eighty-two percent of MEP clients in 2006 reported they became more competitive.

The easiest way to find an MEP near you is to look at the ASMC’s interactive MEP map http://www.smallmanufacturers.org/membermap.html.

It is absolutely, positively worth taking a little time to do this. At minimum, you’ll get an unbiased outsider’s point of view about your processes, and advice about potential improvements you just can’t see yourself because you’re too busy with all your other responsibilities. As the old saying goes, “When you’re up to your *** in alligators, it’s hard to remember your objective was to drain the swamp.” An MEP can help you remember.

Marketing-consultant-Koregaon-Park

Interactive-marketing-company-Pune

Marketing-activation-company-Pune

Marketing-firm-Kondhwa

Sales-firm-Kondhwa

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Channel surfing: How partners help manufacturers reach the customer

Channel surfing: How partners help manufacturers reach the customer

One of the most important functions your channel partner performs is customer service. For some customer accounts, your channel partner will be the “face” customers associate with your product. Sales channels are structured to serve a specific kind of customer base, and today we’ll look at the best way to reach the accounts your company wants to target.

Manufacturers’ reps: Reps can serve both large and small accounts, but they are most effective in targeting new or emerging customers. Reps can take the time to educate new users on your product or work with designers that integrate your product into a subassembly that’s part of an end-product. A good rep will sell product lines that are complementary to your product: in a simple electrical assembly that may mean a switch, wiring, a mounting device and an indicator light. Reps should also bring your newest products to market and assist customers in transitioning from an older product to a newer model. Sales volumes: prototypes to production orders.

Distributors: Distributors are the “warehousers” of an industry: they procure products in high volumes, warehouse those products, arrange delivery and manage many supply chain functions. Manufacturers reps frequently work with distributors: if a rep successfully books a sale, a distributor will deliver the number of products the customer needs. Often, a sales commission will be split between the rep and the distributor. Distributors primarily target purchasing agents that order products in high volume; but they may also have outside sales reps that call on designers; recommend or sell complementary products; or provide value-added services such as assembling product components into a “kit.” Sales volumes: medium to high.

Retailers: Retailers are the grocery stores, convenience stores, automotive after-market shops and department stores that target consumers. Retailers have the broadest reach in the resales channel but typically carry a number of competitive products or brands. Products are on the sales floor and in stock. Retailers work with brand owners on sales promotions, rebates and other marketing programs that target consumers. Sales volumes: small to medium.

Value-added resellers (may also be contractors): VARs assort and package products according to customer needs. VARs typically call on and sell to small businesses. This channel typically performs some kind of pre-sales service for customers. In the electronics industry, a VAR takes disparate computer components such as a hard drive, a monitor, a motherboard etc. and assembles them into a system and downloads the software necessary for the product’s performance. Volume: small to medium.

VARs, retailers and reps—which prefer to carry no to low inventory—may buy direct from manufacturers or rely on distributors for warehousing and supply chain management. The best channel for your product depends on how much volume you want to sell and manage and how much support your customer needs.

Next: What kind of services to expect

Marketing-organizations-Rajgurunagar

Consumer-Sales-Promotions-company-Pune

Interactive-marketing-company-Pune

Marketing-company-Erandwana

Sales-company-Erandwana

BTL-Activities-company-Erandwana

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Interactive-marketing-Agent-Deccan-Gymkhana

Why buy art and craft supplies?

Why buy art and craft supplies?

Home » Business Tips » Why buy art and craft supplies?
May 4, 2016 Frank Bullock Business Tips
The world is filled with fun and interesting things. All you have to do is take the time to find them and enjoy them. Luckily for you, the online market has opened its gates and you are now able to find a variety of items that can bring you joy and happiness. You might be wondering what these items actually are. Well, these are many. You can find music, clothing items, jewellery, anything that could put a smile on your face. However, one category of products seems to bring a great deal of happiness in the hearts of so many people. Art and craft supplies are these items that can help you see the bright side when you are tired and troubled. The Internet, as mentioned is a great source of products of this kind. Before you hurry to find a trustworthy provider, which won’t be an impossible mission to complete if you choose to treat it with the importance it deserves, here are a few interesting ways you could make use of these items.

Getting rid of stress

Unfortunately the modern world is simply consumed by stress and few methods function, when it comes to setting your mind free and completely forgetting about problems. One seems to stay on top and help all individuals that are fighting stress. Art is that solution you are looking for. When you finish work and you return home, the crafting items you have purchased online should be waiting on the table. You sit down and focus on making Easter cards or hand made jewellery. The options are much more varied than that. You can try to create anything you put your mind to. Before you know it, all your problems have vanished from your head and you are left with happy and peaceful thoughts.

Focus on family activities

You would be surprised of how exciting and engaging activities involving crafting and art are. You can call the family together, set them around the dinner table and start creating. Having the much-needed supplies, you could make interesting looking items that can be used in so many different purposes. For instance, you could make lovely Christmas decorations and you could think of them as family treasures, ones you will most likely cherish for many years to come.

Set up a handmade business

It might seem as a far-fetched plan, but in the end, you live in a time when everything is possible. With the growth of the online market and the rise of social media, you could easily sell the items you create at home on your own or together with your family. Art comes in a variety of forms. You could design jewellery, beautiful cards that can be used for different occasions, home decorations for the holidays and not only and so on. After you have purchased your crafting supplies, considered the designs and realised them, there is really nothing keeping you from selling them online. You would be surprised of how appreciated handmade items are at the moment. You should have no difficulties in finding a public for the items you are selling.

 

More Business Ideas

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Why is Singapore a good location for starting your life over?
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Marketing-consultant-Koregaon-Park

Interactive-marketing-company-Pune

Marketing-activation-company-Pune

Marketing-firm-Kondhwa

Sales-firm-Kondhwa

BTL-Activities-firm-Kondhwa

Customer-Acquisition-organizations-Pune

selling-agency-Kothrud

Brand-Activations-agency-Kothrud

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Sales-Promotion-organizations-Kondhwa

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Make your brand stand out using customized envelopes

Make your brand stand out using customized envelopes

Home » Business Tips » Make your brand stand out using customized envelopes
August 29, 2017 Frank Bullock Business Tips
 

The business world is tough and competitive by imposing certain standards for all the entrepreneurs who earnestly want and seek success. The mission of making your brand known on the market becomes very challenging if we take into consideration the fact that many business owners have the possibility of choosing from a great variety of efficient ways of advertising. In terms of marketing, the goal is to adopt a well-thought strategy that will draw the attention of a large number of people turning them into your loyal customers. Therefore, in order to stand out from other brands, you must resort to a creative and cost-effective method that will differentiate you from your competitors. Customized envelopes represent a perfect solution because it can help you express your brand’s identity and have a strong impact on your clients. No 10 envelope is very popular among business owners.

Why customized envelopes

You probably wonder why customized envelopes represent the best solution for your business. The answer is simple: it offers many benefits compared to other methods of advertising because it makes your clients aware of your presence on the market by increasing the brand visibility while helping you save money. Moreover, it allows you to not only send important documents but also unique messages that will create a powerful first impression. Therefore, before your clients open the envelope they are captivated by the image. Whether you personally write on the envelope or you use a software program, clarity and accuracy are key factors in order to obtain a visually appealing element.

Customize it!

The plain white envelope used for correspondence is history considering the fact that nowadays you have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of styles and colors in order to obtain a distinctive appearance. Therefore, you can easily obtain a branded envelope that will help your business stand out. If your logo appears on the envelope, it will cause more than recognition for your business because it will also convince your clients of your business legitimacy. You also have the possibility to alter the size and the quality of the envelope to differentiate it from other items that you can usually find in the letterbox because this will add a touch of professionalism and your clients will immediately recognize it. In terms of design, you should keep an elegant yet sophisticated style that will remain in their memory.

Contact a team of specialists

You should not underestimate the power of this seemingly insignificant item because if you really put attention and thought into it you can create a customized envelope that will practically mesmerize your actual and future clients. Contact specialists that can provide an adequate design for your type of business and communicate with them in order to bring your vision to life accurately and professionally. You will soon realize that due to their experience and extensive knowledge, you definitely need their contribution and the result will meet your expectations. Choosing customized envelopes as a way of advertising will grow your business without considerable expenses and efforts.

More Business Ideas

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Saying yes to promo staff: 3 key benefits
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Marketing-organizations-Rajgurunagar

Consumer-Sales-Promotions-company-Pune

Interactive-marketing-company-Pune

Marketing-company-Erandwana

Sales-company-Erandwana

BTL-Activities-company-Erandwana

retail-branding-agencies-Pune

Outsourcing-firm-Bhosari

Brand-Outsourcing-firm-Bhosari

Direct-Marketing-agency-Erandwana

Sales-Promotion-agency-Erandwana

Brand-Building-agency-Akurdi

Retail-Marketing-company-Bhosari

retail-sales-company-Bhosari

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Brand-Identity-Development-firm-bosari

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