The Metolius Agency
Strategy and Implementation Summary
The Metolius Agency’s marketing and sales strategy will utilize networking and referrals to develop visibility for the company. Prospective customers will be turned into qualified sales through a professional showing that displays Kiev’s portfolio of past work. The portfolio is key for making a positive impression regarding Kiev which illustrates his skill set and capacity as a creative designer.
5.1 Marketing Strategy
As noted previously in the target market segment strategy, The Metolius Agency will rely on three activities in their marketing efforts. These include:
- Networking: leveraging relationships to build more relationships within Eugene’s relatively intimate community.
- Client referral: by providing outstanding customer attention, current customers are more likely to become a long-term customer and are more likely to refer their friends.
- Targeted customer acquisition: the first step of this process is to target who the ideal customer is, determine how Metolius can offer them value, and then network to come into contact with the decision maker at that company.
5.2 Sales Strategy
The sales strategy will be to utilize Kiev’s portfolio of past work to qualify a sales lead. Using a portfolio is very common within the industry to show past examples of work. Kiev’s strategy will be the development of several different portfolios, each one customized to a specific type of work. By having different portfolios, Kiev is able to better illustrate his proficiency with that specific skill set. In addition to the use of the portfolio, Kiev will do research on the prospective company and their industry so that he has specific knowledge of the needs the company may have and solutions that he can offer.
5.2.1 Sales Forecast
The first month of operation will be used to get the office set up and ready for business. Some of the time will be working with the interior designers to create a modern looking office space.
Months two through four will be somewhat slow as Kiev is developing clients. He is forecasted to take on some smaller projects. By month five Metolius will have developed larger projects and will continue to grow steadily.
| Sales Forecast | |||
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
| Sales | |||
| Small companies | $29,339 | $50,697 | $58,849 |
| Medium companies | $40,058 | $74,554 | $86,543 |
| Total Sales | $69,397 | $125,251 | $145,392 |
| Direct Cost of Sales | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| Small companies | $880 | $1,521 | $1,765 |
| Medium companies | $1,202 | $2,237 | $2,596 |
| Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales | $2,082 | $3,758 | $4,362 |
5.3 Milestones
The Metolius Agency will have several milestones early on:
- Business plan completion
- Office set up
- Establishment of the first major account
- Profitability
| Milestones | |||||
| Milestone | Start Date | End Date | Budget | Manager | Department |
| Business plan completion | 1/1/2001 | 2/1/2001 | $0 | ABC | Marketing |
| Office set up | 1/1/2001 | 2/1/2001 | $0 | ABC | Department |
| Establishment of the first major account | 1/1/2001 | 5/15/2001 | $0 | ABC | Department |
| Profitability | 1/1/2001 | 9/31/01 | $0 | ABC | Department |
| Totals | $0 | ||||
5.4 Competitive Edge
The Metolius Agency’s competitive edge is based on Kiev’s diverse background of business and creativity. Typically, most creative agencies are staffed by right-brain creative types. These people are extremely aesthetically oriented. While this is certainly an asset in the field of graphic design, it can be limiting because while their work might be extremely creative, it might not “hit home” with non-creative types which make up a large portion in the business world.
Kiev’s background is based both in aesthetics and business. While Kiev always had a creative streak that he would use, his education was business oriented. This competitive edge allows The Metolius Agency to offer similar creative services other firms can offer, but also provide a unique business perspective.
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