Business Development & Sales Promotion

The range of companies using our services to get their product or service in front of the consumer is growing daily. From gourmet coffee, to supplemental insurance, the list just keeps growing and the successes keep piling up. The only way a company can get itself through the deep economic recession is to sell more and more.

Food and beverage products are doing very well, as consumers look to quality and convenience, and after they see a team of well trained merchandisers in the field will buy their featured products. The demonstrations can be from one on one, to major presentations featuring celebrity chef's. They can involve presentations before a group of business leaders, or eager shoppers in major shopping outlets. The promotions get results.

International Meetings & Promotions

A good friend who manages major US corporations interests in Shanghai, China called with some interesting updates on trends in China. The future of manufacture and marketing is definitely global, with the new emphasis on China and India. The question then becomes "How do you plan an event thousands of miles away?"

Well firstly you need to be an expert with remote employees, and remote vendors. International planning needs special care as what may be the normal in the USA may be completely opposite in the country you are dealing with. A knowledge of cross culture marketing and sensitivities needs to be evident throughout the entire planning and production team.

What may be a response to you that sounds like a "Yes" may only be a "I hear you", or even worse "No way but I will be polite and say Yes" . Many international vendors will go to any lengths to get business, regardless of their ability to complete the task. There is no easy way to verify their ability to complete the task on time, even at the right venue. Experience is the key to sensing the risks involved. The US client has to been made familiar with the challenges up front. Allowing an eager salesperson to promise them the Earth, as they do with US meetings, hoping some planner will pull the Rabbit out of the Hat to save the day is not a winning strategy.

Communication Links, Inc., PO Box 2808, Easton, MD 21601 Tel: (410) 820 0491