The retail landscape has changed almost beyond recognition in the last 15 years and not just because of the internet. Pressures on profit margins, the need for product differentiation, legislation changes and consumers’ value expectation have all played a part in making the retail industry very challenging.
At PENNY TUNNELL, we have a core expertise in this industry and have helped our clients develop long term brand strategies to attract customers, both wholesale and consumer, building sustainable business models. Creating a brand that people want to be associated with, and products they want to buy is absolutely key. We realise it’s not as easy as it sounds, and it’s often about what you have to stop doing that is sabotaging the brand. At PENNY TUNNELL we help you create the clear and simple proposition that will have the difference.
Whilst some of our clients are exclusively B2B wholesalers, and others exclusively B2C retailers, the reality is that most companies now need a multi-channel strategy in order to grow a sustainable business. That strategy must be focused on meeting specific customers’ unmet needs. To understand and to reach those customers requires a layered and more complex approach to sales and marketing than in the recent past.
At PENNY TUNNELL we help with the analysis and the action plan. Even small producers need to build a direct to consumer presence, over time, to ensure their business is not at risk if they lose a key trade customer. For small retailers, where the key consumer driver is experiential, competing in the high street means a need for clear differentiation, a great store environment, and service that will attract and retain customers.
With great product, a growing customer base, and an inspired team, the operational detail can still let you down. Some clients come to us feeling overwhelmed by the huge list of things there is to think about. Our team of experts covers all areas of multi-channel retail and can help you navigate the day to day operational issues. In stores your headache might be sales and customer service training, retail operations or safety compliance, visual merchandising or simply making a profit. In the office, issues are typically those around cash flow, stock management, product sourcing, distribution, and sales promotion. At PENNY TUNNELL, there isn’t a problem our experts haven’t faced so do call us and see if we can help.
COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS
NET PROFIT ANALYSIS
INTERIM DIRECTOR SUPPORT
STEERED BRAND DEVELOPMENT
TRADE AND CONSUMER MARKETING PLAN
PACKAGING AND PRESENTATION
SOURCING AND SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT
PRODUCT ANALYSIS AND RANGE PLANNING
MARGIN AND PRICE STRATEGY
LONG TERM STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT GROWTH
ROLE PROFILES, INTERVIEWS AND CONTRACTS
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT COACHING
PITCHING TO MULTIPLES
RETAIL OPERATIONS TRAINING
EFFECTIVE E-COMMERCE
An E-commerce service tailored to your needs
Having a website is essential for any business. It is often the ‘validation’ of who you are after you have given someone your business card or a brochure. You will find hundreds of people out there happy to help you build your website; or you can do it yourself with some of the inexpensive online tools.
But what is different about a website built by PENNY TUNNELL and why should you think about using retail honed experts to create your site?
Firstly, if we don’t think a new website is needed we will tell you so! Our purpose is to help you get the right solution from the internet; our purpose is not to build websites. For some of our clients we have recommended simple refinements to their current websites.
If, together, we do decide that a new website is required, our knowledge of the retail market is hugely valuable. It allows us to design and build a site which navigates visitors quickly to your goal, whether that is to buy and checkout, or to contact you.
The E-commerce support at PENNY TUNNELL, is unusually broad and completely independent, because we aren’t tied in to any particular platform or service provider.
We can help with:
Sourcing
Penny’s corporate background included a 5 year stint living in SE Asia and sourcing product all over the region. Specifically, 2 years of going into Chinese factories every week on behalf of US and UK clients developed her knowledge of how things work and what the problems usually are when they don’t work. Thankfully, there is a resurgence of interest in more locally produced product, and we are working with clients to help them build sustainable brands based on UK made principles.
The bulk of product for many markets, though, is manufactured overseas and our expertise can help an importer with every stage of production, providing support from ad hoc trouble shooting to product sourcing, to a complete vendor management strategy.
Quality Assurance, including risk assessment, product testing and factory audits is something that worries many, but it needn’t. We can help you build it into your normal processes and de-mystify the jargon.
PENNY TUNNELL can help with your sourcing from SE Asia, Europe, and India, though many the principles will apply globally.
We have a particular expertise in India. We understand how local market and manufacturing developments in India can impact on our clients and through our partners on the ground, we pride ourselves on providing guidance that is sound and secure, timely and reliable. We work with you flexibly to meet your specific needs and are committed to the highest operational standards.
