Recently the business week top 50 companies in terms of business innovation list was released which made interesting reading. As a Business Marketing Strategy Consultant I took a look at the list to see what the key learnings were for me to take and to incorporate into my day to day Consulting, Speaking and Training

 

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activities. For businesses of all sizes, Small and Medium Enterprises as well as large Corporates – we can see that those companies that did not rest on their laurels are the ones that surge forward.

One of the key trends was that of the increase in Asia companies such as :

• China’s high speed bullet trains
• China’s wind turbines
• South Korea’s Hyundai
• South Korea’s LG Electronics

Having worked with Far Eastern companies for many years and having experienced the privilege of residing and managing in the region for a few years I have witnessed first hand the high levels of intelligence and dedication that is to be found in such countries. Rapidly learning from the best practices found in the west and adding where appropriate in order to develop and grown their own brand into global powerhouses.

Herein is the key learning from this post – keep reading, studying, learning and applying new ideas to your business. This applies to managers from large corporates to the small SME and the location in the world that one is operating in does not matter.

HTC were a contract manufacturer for many years for …

• Microsoft
• Google
• Verizon
• NTT Docomo
• T Mobile
• Sprint Nextel

… and learnt from their experiences where we now see the HTC brand standing alone as a quality, sought after brand with a specific message.

To end with this theme of innovation, the question I’d like you to consider is – what are you doing different in your business from what you were doing three months ago ?? Are you implementing specific key innovation strategies, making use of the new technologies and trying new things to reach your clients and to establish exactly what your message is in the crowded marketplace that we can see all around us.

We can all innovate starting by making a list of where we are today, where we want to get to and determining how we are going to get there. To close – I would like you to never underestimate the power of outside consulting expertise to help to get where you wish to get to in as fast as time as possible.

We will speak more about innovation in another posting – for now, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any comments or would like to talk about business consulting in general.

Best,

-Stephen C Campbell

Companies all over the world deliver products and/or services to end user clients – these customers by definition are located at the end of a marketing [distribution] channel.

 

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Whilst Small and Medium Enterprises and Large Corporates by definition will be using some form of distribution channel through which to deliver their products, services and messages – very often we see that they are all but doing more of the same. The recent intensive corporate training seminar that I wrote and ran for Marcus Evans Professional Training was focussed on Enhancing Channel Management Strategies to Maximise Sales Through Distributors. In essence companies face to major decision when it comes to dealing with their distribution channels :-

• The Design of the Distribution Channel
• The Management of the distribution Channel

… as we see that when new employees join an organisation they normally end up sitting with someone who knows how things operate within that company. They learn how things ‘have been done’ and are often judged and measured on how well they measure up to that which they have been taught. However when we look at some of the great business breakthroughs – take for example Dell migrating away from a …

• Direct Only Distribution Channel

…. to that of one where customer can purchase their products via retail and even the television. We see that challenging the norm when it comes to dealing with distribution channels is the same as with everything else in life i.e…. Keep doing the same things and you will get the same results !!! As an Business Strategy Consultant I always aim to look if there is another way as well as looking at what is working and methods for improving on that. It is often said that one cannot change distribution channels easily or taking on new partners is fraught with danger as the existing partners will object, resist and damage the ongoing business relationship. It looks as though many companies are in fact modifying their distribution channel strategies as well as looking to manage exisiting partners and relationships more effectively. As you look to get more out of your business could it be that taking some time out to examine your current distribution channel makeup and management should be the very thing to concentrate on ?? Get in touch if you’d like some outside perspective to help you on your way in your business endeavours. Best, Stephen C Campbell [distribution channel management trainer]

As I continue to bring the lastest, fresh and relevant business news, comment and reviews to the listeners of the radio station – here is a podcast of an interview between Nigel Hutchins [GWE Business West Regional Director] regarding the

 

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role of his organisation and what there is on offer for those who wish to become members.

GWE Business West provides training in the areas of …

• Marketing Planning
• Business Strategies
• Bespoke Business Training

As businesses look for the end of the recession, skills training will be one of the keys that companies will use as a foundation to enable them to take advantage of the rise in the economy [when it comes]. The organisation also provides networking opportunities for business members to get together and to exchange ideas. Business Chambers of Commerce are an important factor in the life of the business owners and as an extension to networking we see that they GWE arrange Breakfast Evenings as well as Evening meetings to give those interested in exchanging business, marketing and strategy ideas to be able to do so in an informal environment.

We touched on the books/authors

• Think and grow rich – Napolean Hill
• Who says elephants cant dance – Louis V Gerstner Jr.
• Dan Kennedy – speaking about getting our of our environment to get ideas

We noted that despite the recession, there are plently of businesses out there that are not only surviving but doing very well.

Take a listen, and let me know if I can assist you in moving closer to your business goals – just comment or get in touch.

Best,

-Stephen C Campbell

I had such a wonderful time and experience managing and conducting business in Japan, we managed to grow the business from within Japan to South Korea, India & Taiwan and were in discussions with the very company who years later

purchased the PC business from IBM – Legend. I found one of my Business Cards so decided to display it here, for no other reason than to be able to remind myself of the very tough [but fun] times I had conducting business in the Land Of The Rising Sun.

Yoji, Hro, Kengo, Makiko and the rest – sorry we lost contact, if you happen to stumble across this, do get in touch.

Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu

Having has the privilege ot have conducted business throughout Europe the United States and the Far East I have to say that the most joy and interest that I had was in conducting business and seeing globalization in action in places such as Indonesia, South Korea, India and Taiwan.

The way that the world markets are structured means that we actually need the world markets in places such as India and China to develop in business skills such as manufacturing, design and joint venturing. As the richer economies continue to innovate we see the other world economies taking on tasks such as co development and low cost manufacturing.

While many kick against the rise of globalization, the fact remains the innovation in the traditional wealthier economies of the world means that business opportunies and economic development paths are given to the less wealthy economies of the world. These emerging markets move on to become established world markets – such as given in the example of South Korea.