Case Studies
In providing an insight into some of our work Manthorpe Grint has adopted a policy to protect the identity of our clients. This has been done to respect the confidentiality that is vital to every client relationship and to eliminate the risk to clients' businesses of any information disclosed in a reference being used against a client. Every reference has been agreed with the client prior to publication.
The following case studies provide an insight into the nature of the client's business and the role performed by Manthorpe Grint.
1. Software for the vehicle finance broker market.
2. Traditional baker.
Software for the vehicle finance broker market
Over the past 8 years our client has developed a market leading product to facilitate on line transactions between fleet brokers and the automotive franchise dealers. The software introduces efficiency to the purchasing process and enables brokers to protect margins in a highly competitive market place dominated by some very large competitors.
Recently the company entered a joint venture agreement which will enable the product to be enhanced further and cement its position as an industry leader.
The shareholders approached Manthorpe Grint to review the company’s strategy, identify critical success factors for the joint venture and provide a series of recommendations to improve short and long term returns to shareholders.
Manthorpe Grint embarked on a significant engagement process with all major stakeholders at the end of which a number of performance inhibitors were identified. The management team is now working on removing these inhibitors and is focused on a clear and common strategy.
Traditional Baker
This client is a business with a foot in both the old and the new world. The old world bakes and supplies fresh cakes and slices to coffee shops in London on a daily basis. The new world, and the source of this company’s massive growth potential, is as an internet based supplier of birthday cakes. Initially targeting the London market where there are some 35,000 birthdays every day, customers of the company can place an order, pay on line, choose their cake decoration (including pictures) and 24 hours later the cake will be delivered.
Transforming the business from a traditional baker to an online operator is an ongoing and challenging task. Switching off one part of the business to kick start another was not an option because of the dependency on revenues and cash flows. Manthorpe Grint was asked to review the business and identify some of the steps that management could implement to facilitate this transformation process.
The recommendations focused on increasing business efficiency and creating resource from the existing pool to support the new sales channel without increasing the cost base. To support this strategy Manthorpe Grint recommended low cost work flow changes, system updates and improved record keeping to substantially improve the quality of management information available for decision making purposes.
As with a lot of small businesses trying to grow resource is always tight. The Managing Director says “Manthorpe Grint has focused our attention on a small number of changes we can make that will significantly change our business performance. We’re convinced of the potential, it’s up to us to make those changes but we know that we have a trusted partner in Manthorpe Grint to keep us focused.”
