NEWS

  February 2010 - New Workshop announced:
     The unique challenges of B2B international marketing - Understanding the
     impacts of local culture and markets

Marketing in an international environment presents many unique challenges. Whilst customers may have the same needs, ways of fulfilling them can be impacted by differences in market structure, local competition and culture. Many an international product manager visiting a new country will have experienced those apocryphal words from local staff 'we can't do that, my market's different'! Undoubtedly there are genuine difference between markets, so how do you get the right balance between standardisation and customisation?

In this three hour workshop for B2B professionals we will concentrate on three essential elements:

  • Market and customer driven challenges - Understanding the real differences between markets and what drives them. How global, regional or local are customers? Do competitive structures vary by country? How can we research the differences?
  • Internal challenges - Structures, channels, cultures and politics can all impact the speed that we can move, so how can we best navigate these potential obstacles?
  • Implementation challenges - Can we produce international marketing programmes, collateral and communications or do we need to modify approaches to take account of local differences?

This workshop will be of value both to those already working in international businesses or who are considering entering new international markets.

This workshop qualifies for 3 hours of Chartered Institute of Marketing CPD credits

Workshop leader: Lynn Mathieson
Organising body: Chartered Institute of Marketing
Date: May 13th 2010, 18.00 – 21.00
Location: The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Moor Hall, Cookham,
Maidenhead, SL6 9QH

To book your place at this workshop click here

  January 2010 - New Workshop announced:
    From Competitive Analysis to Successful Strategy

The recent economic turmoil has resulted in many changes - not the least in how your customers have re-evaluated their product and service buying options. So what does that mean for your competitive environment? Old competitors may have disappeared; new competitors emerged, and changes in customer behaviours created new indirect competition.

This workshop for B2B professionals will concentrate on three important aspects of understanding your competitive environment. Over the course of the three hour workshop we will:

  • Start by defining your markets, developing market maps and competitive frames from the customer’s viewpoint. How do your customers view the alternatives to your products and services? Are different segments served by different channels?
  • Evaluate differing information sources. Finding external information today may be comparatively easy, but how do we evaluate what is most important, integrate it with internal knowledge and set up systems to maintain a competitive watch?
  • Most importantly, how can we use competitive intelligence to develop competitive strategy?
    What theories and techniques can add practical value to gain competitive advantage?

This workshop qualifies for 3 hours of Chartered Institute of Marketing CPD credits

Workshop leader: Lynn Mathieson
Organising body: Chartered Institute of Marketing
Date: April 22nd 2010, 18.00 – 21.00
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Marlow, Bucks SL7 1GJ

To book your place at this workshop click here

  October 2009 - Release of co-authored report on the European EMS market

A biennial report titled ‘The European Electronic Manufacturing Services Industry 2008-2013’ - The Complete Guide to the European Electronic Manufacturing Services Industry co-authored by Peter Brent in conjunction with Reed Electronics Research is now available.

The ninth edition of the report highlights the issues impacting the European EMS industry. With revenues forecast to decline by over 13% in 2009 the European EMS industry is facing a period of uncertainty and rapid change, this comprehensive report provides:

  • An analysis and revenue forecasts for both West and East and Central Europe in a single report
  • The key trends impacting the major EMS companies by market group
  • Detailed profiles of the Top 20 European EMS companies, including a ranking for 2008
  • A ranking of the Top 50 EMS providers in Europe
  • Country and regional profiles including key trends, the role of the Global “Tier 1”
    companies and profiles of the major EMS companies
  • A directory of 699 companies engaged in EMS across over 1,000 European
    manufacturing locations

For more information and to order your copy of the report click here