Experience of Simon Cope...

Simon has gained and applied the following qualifications:

• ‘Masters in Business Administration (MBA) - Major in Direct and International Marketing’ as Auckland Regional Manager for Arrow Inc, the world’s largest electronic component distribution company, and finished the degree as OEM Sales & Marketing Manager at TradeTech NZ Ltd, an importer and distributor business to original equipment manufacturers (commercial and industrial).
• ‘NZIM Certificate in Supervisory Management’ as General Manager of a niche importer and supplier to retail and commercial outlets;
• ‘NZCE - Major in Electronics & Computer Technology’ as an Engineer;
• ‘Advanced Trade Certification’ as an Electrician;

My natural strengths are in Sales and Marketing – Online and Offline.

I have an engineering background to compliment a strong ‘people skills’ orientation.

My background includes extensive experience in Project Management, Key Account Management, Sales Management, Business Development, Advertising and Marketing.

In parallel to these roles, I have created and implemented business and marketing plans either on my own, or with a team of sales people to action in the field.

The areas of business that I have worked in are:

B2C and B2B Clicks and Mortar.
One example: Export of finished New Zealand made gifts and products to the USA and UK direct to offshore retail customers via web store. Distribution to Resellers / Retail stores / Corporate clients via direct marketing in a wholesale capacity. Selling raw unfinished products and goods (e.g. honey, possum-wool yarn) to offshore manufacturers.

I worked as an E-Business Consultant, providing web store functionality, off and online marketing, advertising and sales consultancy for the founder of Products From New Zealand to create the entire company's global marketing communication strategy.

I also worked closely with trade organisations in NZ, Canada and USA providing consultation and strategies on ways to promote Products From New Zealand's products in the American and Canadian markets.

My consulting also included:

• Developing and implementing of business and marketing strategies for Products From New Zealand on a national and international level.

• Developing new wholesale business on the West Coast of the USA/Canada.

• Supplier negotiations involving distributors, retailers, sponsorships and others.

• Project management.

• Operational procedures - creation and implementation.

• Internet / Extranet web research, design and webmaster liaison. Provide significant input into layout and functionality of website - work with software programmers; acting as interface between techies and client. Work with webmaster and 3rd party Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) specialists to create optimised ‘copy’ (text) and excellent rankings in top3 search engines.

• Analysis of suitable IT platform and Content Management package to use, and overall Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) planning and long-term strategy.

• Promotions and special events.

• Manage global relationships management (Business to Business and Business to Consumer) with clients, alliances and suppliers.

• Media planning and buying. Implementation of off and online advertising campaign(s) to budget and exceed clients expectations.

• Successfully negotiating and implementing a major distributor in:
  - The United Kingdom for a range of jewelry
  - South Korea for a range of cosmetics
  The result of these distributors was over USD$2.5 million in new business. Products From New Zealand is still enjoying the ongoing benefit of these negotiations.

• Creating and implementing successful business and marketing campaigns for small home based manufacturers, giving them international exposure and manageable sales growth via Products From New Zealand's retail web store and separate Wholesale Strategic Business Unit (S.B.U.).

• Develop concepts, layout and material for marketing aids (brochures / business cards / fridge magnets / mystery gifts / letterhead / logos / sales pitch etc) and the monthly newsletter: 'The Chocolate Fish Ezine' which goes out to potential customers and client base.

• Growing subscriber/client base from 100 to 3000+ in 6 months for monthly newsletter.

• Increasing the turnover from USD$50 thousand to more than USD$3 million in a 12-month period.

• Establishing successful joint venture in Denver, USA for wholesale distribution of products.

• Creating and launching of company's client reward program and affiliate referral program: 'Chocolate Fish Rewards' to increase subscribers to company newsletter by over 500% in 3 months, and increase referred sales by 200% in 1 month.

Trade Tech NZ Ltd is a niche, boutique importing and distributing company. It has two separate strategic business units (S.B.U.'s). First S.B.U. supplies 'brownware' (DVD, TV, Sky, etc) repair service technicians with parts to fix these appliances. They dominate the market with 85% of all business in this field.
Second S.B.U. supplies the growing OEM electronic manufactures (Fisher & Paykel, Gallagher Group, Tait Radio, etc) in New Zealand with a narrow range of items from typically 'fabless' and 'greenacre' manufacturers based in North America and Asia.

I was employed as the OEM Components S.B.U. Manager.

I had overall responsibility for the division:

• Developing and implementing business and marketing strategies for the company on a national and international level.

• Assess / regularly survey / gather feedback on market demand for individual items through to complete product ranges.
• Supplier negotiations with Asian and North American companies, securing agencies for exclusive distribution rights in New Zealand.
• Creation and implementation of operational manuals, covering sales, technical and administrative procedures.
• Project management.
• Internet web research, strategy, and e-commerce design. Develop with other staff new website to be user friendly, and e-commerce capable. Work with techies to integrate offline parts database into online shopping cart + credit card facility along with wholesale customer ordering via account.
• Sales / Product Manager role employing and training sales reps; provide sales support; and work with logistics/purchasing dept for stockholding etc.
• Create marketing strategy and advertising campaign for launch of supplier product lines to targeted 500+ companies and 900+ clients throughout NZ working within these organisations.
• Business to Business relationship management.
• Negotiation and sale of TradeTech Products Ltd to TradeTech NZ Ltd Directors.
• Presentation and ongoing reporting to both offshore suppliers/manufacturers and the TradeTech NZ Board.

Prior to my arrival, TradeTech Products' OEM Components S.B.U. only offered basic services and had only one major customer and very limited and vulnerable agency lines. During my tenure I successfully guided the company through a constantly changing market.

Some of my achievements included:



• Adjusting pricing to reflect the prevailing market rates, which in turn dropped revenues by 40%. Over the next 3 years I successfully increased the revenues 5 times to what they were prior to the initial market drop. I did this through: - Increasing product representation from 5 to 23 agency lines.
  - Substantially broadening the active customer base from 5 to 200.
  - Creating a new S.B.U. - Wire Solutions Ltd. Predicted annual turnover of $10 million in year 5 @ ~38% mark-up. Year 1 (end of March 31 2004) will have a turnover of $1/2 million @48% mark-up.
• Working with competitors to create mutual channels of distribution for each other's products and services to pivotal customers.
• Securing a range of exclusive niche product lines which I distributed through TradeTech's Spares S.B.U. Potential of $8 million per annum market in NZ alone.
• Developing a team of sales, technical and administrative staff within the division. (I started with just myself running the S.B.U.)
• Opening and staffing an office in Christchurch - profitable within 6 months of trading.


B2C Bricks and Mortar.
One example: Importation and distribution of consumer lighting products throughout NZ retail chains: Mitre10 and Placemakers. Roles included:
• Create company: C+I Solar Ltd (Develop Business & Marketing plan, present to other shareholders and implement).
• Assess market demand via phone and mail survey. Assess that huge potential and demand for product(s).
• Approach offshore manufacturers; get sole distribution agreement, samples and pricing.
• Evaluate and test product for quality.
• Create Point Of Sale (POS) material for ALL marketing requirements (Brochures, Radio, Instore).
• Assess best distribution channels (Direct/Retail Chain/Commercial).
• Approach Retail Chain Head Office persisting until getting interview/review of products/trial then eventual approval.
• Negotiate: Stock holding for outlets/ourselves as buffer stock, Warranty / customer support issues to our favour.
• Visit all retail outlets throughout New Zealand providing POS training of store staff, directing of where best to put displays/merchandise.
• Work with Head Office and local; branch offices on advertising material bring in items; create; train retail staff; provide sales support; logistics and warranty etc.
• Sell business as part of exit strategy to happy buyer.

If you are looking for an edge with a genuine difference, to help you advance your business then please contact us today. We would be delighted to explain the Strategic Marketing Communications.com difference to you, and work with you to achieve you business aims.

Please phone or contact us to discuss this further. Thank you.


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