Case studies

We provide straightforward advice and clear direction with excellent value. Our service is tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

See below a list of clients we are currently working with on a long-term retainer basis and links to their websites where appropriate. Our involvement with these clients has been in helping them with their marketing, business solutions, advice, strategic development and ongoing coaching and mentoring.

As part of this we have worked closely with design agencies to implement marketing materials and website development. This has taken into consideration the business requirements of the individual clients. (Companies included have an annual turnover between £500,000 to £20 million and employ 10 plus employees)

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Ritec International - Increase in worldwide sales

www.ritec.co.uk

This company is a world leader  in the manufacture and marketing of low maintenance easyclean glass.More information on www.ritec.co.uk

    

Prefix Lead Consultant: Prerana Phadnis

We are currently working with the company to help formulate and implement their strategic plan.  Our work includes sales training, marketing planning and one to one support to sales staff. We also carried out staff surveys and identified training for management and staff. The company is developing new markets and customers at both home and abroad.

Results:

Sales achieved in India

Growth achieved in US and Europe

Excellent customer feedback from customer Surveys

Achieved ISO 9001

Client quote

“Prerana made us more focused on achieving our objectives with a marketing plan and hands on implementation to help our sales targets”

Serge Perkoff, International Marketing Manager, Ritec International

  

Galton Flowers - Improved selling skills

www.galtonflowers.com

Prefix Lead Consultant: Alison Swaden

Galton Flowers are widely recognised as one of the leading florists in London with retail outlets in Brent Cross and Westfield Shopping Centres. The company employs nine people and creates distinctive floral displays for many well-known retailers, hotels and restaurants including Brent Cross Management, Jo Malone and Salvatore Ferragamo amongst others.

 The company wanted to train their staff to improve their selling skills. We ran training sessions for the staff using practical examples and role-play. We also work with the owner of the business, Sayeh Rafiei to develop marketing activities including communications, point of sale materials, promotions and digital marketing to grow the business.

Results:

-         More motivated sales staff

-         Increased sales across the range of products and services

-         More pro-active, targeted marketing

Client quote

“Alison helps to motivate me and the staff to get things done and achieve results. I really value her input and the difference she has made to our business. She allows me to get on running the business while she does my marketing.” Sayeh Rafiei, Director, Galton Flowers.

 

 The Cherry Tree - More efficient and focused

 www.thecherrytreeuk.co.uk

In the heart of East Finchley lies a wonderfully unique gift shop – “The Cherry Tree”

The business opened in 2006 and has grown to cater for the needs of local customers. This gift shop is a fantastic local treasure.

 We have helped the owners, Haylee Millar and Sue Tollerfield, to review their marketing activities and look at new ways to increase sales. As a result, the Cherry Tree is launching a  loyalty scheme, selling new products, running new promotions, developing a catalogue for mailing purposes and making their website e-commerce to attract a wider customer base.

Client quote 

“Alison has been key in helping us to be more focused and pro-active in moving the business forward. She has made us more efficient and accountable - it is like having a non-executive director - we know we have to get things done before her next visit”. Sue Tollerfield, Director, The Cherry Tree.

 

Alexandra Tool Hire - Several industry awards won

www.hiretools.com

This  tool hire company in North London has won several industry awards.

Prefix Lead Consultant: Alison Swaden

 The Prefix team has worked with Alexandra Hire for several years. We helped with their marketing, business planning, pricing and development of marketing materials and website. The company has become much more productive and profitable with a more professional image. They have won Hire Company of the Year by the Hire Association Europe for 3 years and have been finalists too.

Client quote

“Alison has worked with us for many years helping us to focus on the key business issues. She acts as an external sounding board and marketing department”

Bob Rist, Managing Director, Alexandra Tool Hire Ltd


OEM Group of Companies - Strategic plan for growth

www.secureseal.com

The OEM Group are manufacturers and distributors  of niche security products for the logistics industry worldwide.

Prefix Lead Consultant: Prerana Phadnis

The OEM Group are manufacturers and distributors of niche security products for the logistics industry worldwide. They employ 10 staff at their offices on The Innova Science Park in the Upper Lee Valley

How the Prefix team helped

The Prefix team has worked with OEM since 2004, providing a practical and valuable external resource to the business. Prerana assisted with the following:

Client quote

Prerana has been an invaluable external resource during our periods of growth and change over the past four years. Her particular strengths have been in being a sounding board and helping us clarify and focus on important issues in a very sensitive manner.”

Ben Grant, Managing Director, OEM Group


Giffords Bakers - Standing out from the crowd

A family run bakery business with 5 retail outlets in East London.

Prefix Lead Consultant: Prerana Phadnis

The Prefix team were called in to review the branding and image of the business and come up with recommendations for improvement

A visual audit of all the retail outlets was carried out to identify opportunities and areas for improvement. A competitor analysis was carried out by visiting these bakeries for mystery shopping. Giffords bakeries were compared and benchmarked against the competition.

A unique selling proposition and new positioning was determined for Giffords. This was used to design new logo and signage and a marketing plan put together to launch the new bakery proposition.

The bakeries are now attracting a new audience and the staff are more motivated.

Client quote

“We are delighted with our new branding and it makes us stand out from the crowd” Nicholas Pearce, Director, Giffords Bakers


United Patients - Increased membership

www.upa.co.uk

This is a membership organisation in the health insurance sector.

Prefix Lead Consultant: Prerana Phadnis

The company offers an annual free health check and a hospital cash plan to its members and several other unique benefits. The company was finding it difficult to retain its membership and attract new members.

Prefix reviewed the offering o f the business and helped them to come up with a different communication angle to be able to market their unique offering and membership to existing and prospective members and find new members.

Client quote

“Prefix came up with fresh ideas to help find members from different sectors and our membership is growing”

Warren Brendon, Chairman, United Patients


Horizon Food - Turnover quadrupled

www.horizonfood.co.uk

Horizon Food, producer and distributor of exotic fruit and nuts products.

Prefix Lead Consultant: Prerana Phadnis

Launched in 1998. Its founders, Michael and Constantine Azar, had ten years of experience in the food industry and a great idea for a new product line. 

We worked with them and helped them to bring the idea to market, with advice on design, packaging, branding and distribution. Horizon won “ Best New British Product” at the 2004 Barcelona Food and Drink Expo.

Results:

Turnover increased from £100,000 to £400,000 in two years

Successful expansion into European markets

Expanded product range from less than ten to more than 70

Brand recognition

Client Quote

"Prerana and Alison gave us the tools and the confidence to transform our business from a small player to a credible, profitable supplier of exotic fruit and nut products worldwide."

Constantine Azar, strategy co-ordinator, Horizon Foods


Gradav - Reaching a wider audience

Founded in 1987, Gradav Hire & Sales has become an established player in the sound, lighting and associated equipment market in the South East of England.

Prefix Lead Consultant: Alison Swaden

Alison has been working with the MD to help develop a marketing strategy, marketing plan and marketing communication materials. As part of this, she helped to develop a new website in conjunction with a graphic designer.

Results:

Doubling of catalogue enquiries

Raised the company profile

Enabled the company to reach a wider target audience

A well designed website that is easy to update

Client Quote

“ If there is one thing that Alison Swaden is good at, it's making you view your marketing in a different way. Not always a comfortable experience, but if you persevere, the results will speak for themselves. Gradav has used her services for a number of projects, and have always been pleased with the results. And she's easy to get along with which always helps".

Graham Threader, Managing Director, Gradav Hire & Sales Ltd.


Lawrence Webb - New contracts and prospects

www.lawrencewebb.co.uk

Lawrence Webb specialises in managing and refurbishing high quality residential properties.

Prefix Lead Consultant: Prerana Phadnis

Sales were static and the company needed to find new customers.

Prefix team worked with the company for six months to develop a marketing action plan, re-brand and create a new corporate identity, as well as build a database of new prospective clients.

Results:

Laurence Webb won three new contracts worth £150,000

New marketing literature has opened the door to higher-value contracts

The company has 50 new prospective clients

It has lined up 20 face-to-face appointments

Client Quote

"Alison and Prerana’s sensitivity to our specific style of business has been very beneficial in helping us achieve the right pitch. We have felt well-supported during a difficult period – and we are now marketing savvy!"

Lawrence Webb, Managing Director, Lawrence Webb

 

Classic Miniatures - Increasing sales from the website

www.classicminiatures.co.uk

Classic Miniatures supply medals, awards, ID badges, plaques and signage to public, private and government organisations. Clients include GE Finance, Connexions, Reed, Badminton England and British Gymnastics to name but a few.

Prefix Lead Consultant: Alison Swaden

Alison has been working with Classic Miniatures for over 18 months to help them establish and develop their sales and marketing activities within the company.

Results:

Established a marketing plan and strategy which the company are implementing

Developed new website which has the flexibility to become e-commerce

New customer sales via the website

Better use of Search Engine Optimisation to increase traffic to the website

Increased sales by targeting sectors of industry that are resilient to the economic downturn

Regular Email and other marketing activities

Raised the profile of the company

Client Quote

“ Alison has brought invaluable marketing skills and experience by helping us to generate sales in new areas using a whole range of marketing activities. We knew that we did not have these skills in house and needed to bring in an independent expert. Alison is practical and constructive with her advice and ideas and helps us to implement them ”. Fiona Park, Operations Director, Classic Miniatures Ltd


Secomak Ltd - Planning for growth

www.secomak.com

Secomak manufacturers industrial equipment such as drying systems, speakers and microphones for the MOD, latex stability measuring equipment, gas boosters and components. The company was recently bought from a large group by its management and has 29 employees. 

Prefix Lead Consultant : Alison Swaden

The purpose of the project was to create a business strategy by developing a Balanced Business Scorecard and a practical implementation plan that would

Workshops were run with the senior management team to

Results:

Client Quote:

Alison has helped to focus on the importance of planning. She has helped us to prioritise what’s important for the business and how to take this forward. The senior management team have more involvement in the company and feel more motivated to achieve the business objectives and a result the business is experiencing good growth”.

John Moore, Finance Director, Secomak Ltd

 

 AMS Acoustics- Export to India

www.amsacoustics.co.uk

 We are currently working with the company to help formulate and implement their strategic plan for India. Our work includes  finding partners in India, attending trade shows and finding potential customers . We are helping the company directors in understanding the Indian culture and business environment for maximum success.

Client Quote

'We initially used Market Research reports for India but found them irrelevant. Prerana  provided valuable and practical information which helped us move forward. Her knowledge and contacts in India have proved invaluable' Barry Goddard, Business Development Director, AMS Acoustics Ltd.

 

Some of the clients we have provided consultancy services to:

 

Government

London Development Agency   //  www.lda.gov.uk
Business Link for London  //  www.bllondon.com
Enfield Council  //  www.enfield.gov.uk
Enfield Children and young persons’ service  // www.ecyps.org.uk
Manufacturing Advisory Service  // www.mas-london.co.uk

Some of our clients growing their business

Ritec International   //   www.ritec.co.uk
OEM Group   //  www.secureseal.com
Prodiverse   //  www.prodiverse.co.uk
Giffords Bakeries
Secomak   //  www.secomak.com
Alexandra Tool Hire   //  www.hiretools.com
United Patients   //  www.upa.com
Gradav   //  www.gradav.co.uk
Kevin Glashier   //  www.kevinglashier.co.uk
Kellmat   //  www.kellmatt.com
Citysocialising   //  www.citysocialising.com
Classic Miniatures   //  www.classicminiatures.co.uk
Vatan Catering   //  www.vatan.com
Anne Kyyro Quinn   //  www.annekyyroquinn.com