Channels of Distribution Slowing You Down?

Channels of Distribution are key alliances a business can enter into. As pointed out by Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary on almost every episode, not getting distribution kills a company. Channels of Distribution move your product to potential customers.

For manufacturing companies, your distribution channels will be wholesalers and retailers Continue reading

Alliance Building in a Sharing Economy

Alliance development and management used to be simple. Find the group of potential allies you wanted, find where they meet, and get involved there. In the sharing economy, allies have become easier to find and encounter, but harder to know. With mega-gurus like Richard Branson, Elon Musk, and Daymond John taking to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media sites, alliances bridge geographic and sociological boundaries. Linking and touching others has never been easier, but is that an alliance? Continue reading

Succeeding with Business Alliances

Why enter into a business alliance? The main motivations include cost reduction, the improvement of service or capture more customers. Here are 5 kinds of business alliances that business-oriented minds need to know about: Continue reading

Pitfalls and Benefits of Strategic Alliances

There’s an old saying that “two heads are better than one,” and it has never been truer than today. There are several benefits to connecting with another company in forming a strategic alliance, the corporate equivalent of putting two heads together.

Leverage knowledge and expertise from another company, without having to hire additional employees

Working together with another company in a formal strategic alliance provides your company access to additional experts, without having to hire them. Continue reading

Strategic Planning Must Include Important Strategic Alliances

A business’ growth to a higher level is often a perilous journey. From a start-up’s  first unsteady step into the business arena, through each acquisition and investment that follows, risks surround those bold enough to take on the challenges.

The foundation of the company is built on skills, capital, an idea and a vision. Often the starting team has some form of expertise in manufacturing, procurement, marketing, engineering or design. Continue reading