Our operating experience is a big differentiator of our team and the products we have developed. Reality bites around resources. Growth transformations need to self-fund new ideas as far as possible. This can be achieved by giving up lower priority activity, compensating long-term investment with bolder short-term commercial plans, and minimizing the costs of developing growth programs both internally and with agency partners. We support defining and lowering the cost of growth either on a project basis or as part of strategic interventions. We also help you understand and manage the volatile external conditions, e.g. COVID, supply chain, and inflation, which if not well understood can compromise the ability to grow and invest.

 

We have assessed COVID impacts on several brands, both in M&A situations and for established brands in large companies. While no one can predict the future, by blending market data, P&L data, consumer research data, and studies it is possible to understand what has happened and develop scenarios for the future. Going beyond the data we are then able to advise on specific brand tactics to minimize risks and foster positive consumption dynamics. We have also found value in contrasting customer and competitor tactics and performance where established norms have been lost through the disruption. This work has led clients to revisit several aspects of their financial planning by illuminating the external perspective and the trade-offs that are being made.

 

Our marketing services practice delivers a full range of services for agency selection, management, and negotiation. We look at providers across media, creative, and research with detailed benchmarks and case studies to inform and optimize your activity plans. When a full review is not required we are also able to use this team to validate in detail the cost of growth of a new strategy, something we have used in M&A assignments to understand the right competitive investment levels and the cost of growth.