Consumer Channel Consulting
Relationships. Success in the consumer channel is based on relationships forged between retailers and vendors, the kind of solid relationships that the Levin Consulting team has built with national and key regional retail players.

These rich relationships allow our people to understand the retail business models and the requirements to not only partner with the key accounts, but to be successful in the consumer channel.

The relationships we have forged, supplemented by our proven track record of expertise and vast experience in the high technology industry, allow us to add speed and savvy to your go-to-market efforts.

Meeting your needs
Through our broad array of services, we cover all contingencies in your go-to-market efforts on the exact level you need.

Retainer   Under a retainer, there are defined scopes of work, deliverables, and timelines, but the scope of work is a moving target as market conditions change and competitive concerns impact the project. Retainers allow for ad hoc support as dictated by client needs.

Project    We also offer our services on a project basis for those who have tightly defined scopes of work, with clear deliverables and shorter timelines. Projects range from a two-day channel audit to a three-month product launch.

Core competencies
Our core competencies, combined with our experience and knowledge, strengthen your team to help you reach your goals. The following is a sampling of the many strategic elements we bring to the table.

Channel strategy
Our team works with clients on each of the following strategic elements: branding, product positioning, pricing, marketing, sales, finance and account level. A major part of the consulting project is the development of a strategy that will work as additional products and customers are rolled out.

Channel programs
We work with clients to develop a successful channel program. In addition to identifying potential prospective partners and facilitating introductions, we are able to help clients with benchmark terms and conditions, program elements, pricing, returns, budgets, inventory, and merchandising for targeted accounts.

Channel promotions
We work with clients to develop channel promotions customized per targeted key accounts. In addition to scheduling and planning, we will work with third-party tie-ins and redemption management.

Channel budgets
Our team develops both a financial and a marketing budget. The financial model incorporates the program and soft dollar costs, and factors in the costs of merchandising, marketing, promotions, returns, distribution, sales coverage and operations. We also prepare a marketing budget which recommends spending levels by account, by quarter, and the best vehicle for the products with the targeted accounts.

Product strategy
Levin Consulting work with clients on product evaluation and strategy including competitive overview, packaging evaluation, pricing, and more. We are able to help clients with areas of product development support including voice-of-the-customer process and product life-cycle management. Retail specific evaluation and tracking in terms of merchandising, advertising, POP, and store shopping.

Product launch
A major part of our work is assisting clients with product launches. We handle all the elements, ranging from meeting the needs of the retailer, to resolving store level issues, creating a plan to motivate salespeople, to persuading the end-user to purchase the product. Our team works with clients' sales, marketing, merchandising, operations and finance teams to develop and implement plans covering the steps necessary for launch, ongoing placement and sales.

Account strategy
We recommend a set of targeted accounts, emphasing key accounts which set the tone for the rest of the market. We suggest a sales plan of action, budget, forecast, performance tracking, as well as identifying critical issues and risks for the client.

Partnerships, OEM and Licensing
Levin Consulting works with clients on developing and selling content to round out product lines, and jettisoning unrelated and/or unprofitable products. We assist in the purchase and/or sales of OEM products, and work with clients on potential licensing of products. Levin Consulting often chooses product(s), negotiates prices, and ensures the fit with ongoing programs.

 

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