SUCCESS STORIES: Business Consulting
Uncontrolled Growth
Client Challenge: Client was a seven month old company in need of capital for rapid expansion. There were also operational issues that needed to be addressed in order to support the growth.
Soaring Phoenix Solutions: I began by conducting a reassessment of Vernon’s business strategy with a focus on controlled growth. Then I developed a business plan to secure the needed capital and Vernon was awarded a $250,000 LOC. The next step was to address the staffing problems he was experiencing. Most important, Vernon and I worked on his financial education so he could really take control of his company.
Client Comments:
“Seven months after I started my company, Fisherman's Marketing; I was facing some difficult decisions regarding the growth of my business. I faced challenges in operations, human resources and financially. I had to get the day to day operation under control, get the right support staff, and raise capital.
Your insight into my business and assistance helped me come to the right decisions and turned my company around in three months. I now have a smoother day to day operation, great staff, and because of your business plan, a loan of $250K. Our last two months have been profitable and we are on the path to double our sales this coming year. I have learned many things going through this process with you.”
Vernon Lingenfelter
President, Fishermen’s Marketing
Business Plan
Client Challenge: Client had basic idea for a business, but lacked capital and a well supported plan to get it. Client also had deadline from interested parties of three day turn around time.
Soaring Phoenix Solution: I worked extensively with Gregor to understand his business vision. I proceeded with intensive market research and built a well supported plan in three days time. Gregor’s company was awarded $250,000 loan on the basis of the plan.
Client Comments:
“I first contacted Soaring Phoenix with a business sketch and a tight time schedule for putting a business plan together, and I have nothing but positive things to say about the service I received.
From a sketch, Leili has helped me to put together a comprehensive, professional and very readable business plan, from which I was able to begin soliciting funding for my start up venture.
This service has been worth a small fortune in both the time and resources that I could have wasted trying to put something together myself, as my time has been much better spent putting the actual business together....”
Gregor Welpton
President, Black Feather Boats, Inc.
www.blackfeatherboats.com
Sales
Client Challenge: Client was facing several challenges: poor sales, limited marketing because of strained cash flow, and had difficulty managing all of the different demands on her time.
Soaring Phoenix Solution: Jeannine needed a system for client acquisition and retention. So we created a sales system customized for her working style and market. Then I designed a marketing strategy that allowed the limited resources to be used in phases and thus build on the last one. Finally, we worked together on a time management system customized to help Jeannine realize what was profitable for her to work on and what was not, allowing her to make the best use of her time.
Client Comments:
“Leili is great at assessing the specific and unique needs for each business. She can see the larger vision as well as the detailed pieces that need to be in place to make day-to-day operations contribute toward reaching goals.
Before working with Leili I wasn’t sure if the business would survive – it felt like a hobby or an experiment and I was just hanging on for the ride, hoping it would all be okay. Now, I feel like it has great potential and it can become more than I dreamed of.”
Jeannine Copp
Mana Web Design
www.manaweb.com
Business Process Improvements
Client Challenge: Clients sales reached a plateau for the last three years and were in danger of declining.
Soaring Phoenix Solution: Chris originally approached Soaring Phoenix for a new sales system. After the initial assessment, it became clear that several gaps in the day to day operations were negatively impacting the profits and that a greater influx of sales would only overload an inefficient system. An organizational design and development overhaul was implemented.
Client Comments
“After 10 years in business, our sales growth was stagnant. Your “outside eyes” were able to see where we had some problems with our business processes. Unlike many book-smart consultants I’ve worked with, your real world business experience and results oriented approach has been refreshing.
In addition, employee moral has been improved by implementing your suggestion for concise job descriptions and reassignment of some duties to employees more suited for certain tasks.”
Chris Jones
President, Carefree Office Technology
www.carefreeoffice.com
Human Resources
Client Challenge: Clients growth created need to hire more employees. However, staffing mistakes in the past had been costly in both time and money. (see eBook Human Capital Toolkit)
Soaring Phoenix Solution: After making a $50,000 mistake, Tom realized he needed a hiring system. Customized to Tom’s Auto Repair business, Soaring Phoenix developed a Human Capital Toolkit which provided a system of benchmarks, allowing Tom to make sure to hire the right person for the job.
Client Comments:
“I had reached a plateau. I couldn’t grow anymore because I could not get out from under all of the small details in my day to day operation. I was stuck behind my desk, constantly distracted by small issues instead of being able to concentrate on the big picture and growing my company. I knew I wanted to hire some more people, a support staff. But, in the past I had hired people that did not work out. I didn’t want to make another costly mistake.
Honestly, I was hesitant to hire a consultant. I thought it would be expensive. But, I knew that hiring and firing more people, and not getting the work done so my company could grow would cost me more. I needed help to get a hiring system that would work for me.
I purchased the Human Capital Toolkit from Soaring Phoenix. I also spent some time having them coach me on the interviewing process and overseeing my implementation of the new performance based benefits system for my employees.
Now everyone is happy. I have a newly hired support staff who is working out great. My employees are enjoying all of their new benefits. Most of all, I now have peace of mind and have watched my sales soar another 20%!”
Tom Ivey
Tyson’s Auto Specialties
www.tysonsauto.com
Marketing
Client Challenge: Client wanted to expand the customer base of its auditing department. Client faced rigorous competition in the market and needed to differentiate in order to capture market share.
Soaring Phoenix Solution: While Joey has one of the best auditing departments in the metro DC area, the competition for clients is fierce. I identified the most promising market niche for capture and developed a marketing plan for the department.
Client Comments:
“Leili worked closely with me while we were strategizing new directions for our company’s marketing campaign. I found her to be very knowledgeable and professional but and more importantly, easy to work with. I would not hesitate to work with her again and believe that she would be a great asset to any company she decided to work with.”
Joey Musmar
MillerMusmar CPA’s
www.millermusmar.com
SUCCESS STORIES: Business Coaching
Sales Executive
Client Challenge: After recently changing employers, the client wanted to reframe her goals and work on developing the qualities she needs to be a top producer for her company.
Soaring Phoenix Solutions: Kendra needed to identify the principles that would make her an influencer in her customers’ decisions. I helped Kendra organize her sales process in a way that would best benefit her customers. The next step was to work on how she set her goals and various methods to achieve them.
Client Comments:
“I was having a lot of trouble adjusting to my new work environment. I wanted to impress my new boss and really grow my sales because I work on commission. I knew I had the ambition to make it work, but not the tools. I needed someone to guide me, to help me organize and structure my sales process so that I was working smarter not harder.
Leili really helped me understand what works for me in terms of goal setting, getting new clients, and making bigger sales. Leili is more than my coach, she is a real friend.”
Kendra McDougal
Small Business Owner
Client Challenge: Client was transitioning from a home based business to commercial location. Client was also interested in acquiring another competitors business.
Soaring Phoenix Solution: I coached Karen on what to look for in a space and how she should negotiate a lease. We also weighed the pros and cons of acquiring another business. She was then able to make an offer from a strong position that gave her the assets of the business and merge them into her own seamlessly. We then worked on increasing her sales which resulted in Karen’s busiest holiday season ever.
Client Comments:
“Thank you for your contribution to our growth. I liked the way you broke down the various aspects of the business and we worked on them as situations arose. The role playing while we were working on sales was extremely helpful (and difficult). I now have many strategies to use to get more sales. The strategies have proven to be effective when talking to prospective clients. We also worked on identifying strategic alliances and crossover markets. We have put many of the programs in use already.
Best of all, I look at my business in a completely different light. You have given me he tools to help grow my business from a personnel standpoint, inventory controls, quality controls, customer retention and growth, growth, growth.”
Karen McKinney
Baskets-n-Bags, Inc
www.baskets-n-bags.biz
Client Challenge: Clients needed a strategy and a plan to get their business started.
Soaring Phoenix Solution: Natalie and Michelle are both extremely dedicated specialists in eating disorders who needed coaching on some basic business skills to help them succeed. They needed guidance while they wrote their business plan, set up their operation, and hired employees.
They worked with me to better understand sales, marketing and public relations, cash flow management, and financial management. I coached them on how to write a business plan and implement it, create a marketing plan, make use of public relations, and better understand their cash flow.
At times their partnership also required a third party to help to negotiate a win/win outcome for issues that are common to partnerships. I helped them both recognize the positive dynamics in these situations and how they could use that to arrive at an optimal solution.
Client Comments:
“Leili is the key ingredient to a successful company. She has been our cherished consultant for over 3 years, taking our business aspirations to soaring new heights that we only could have imagined. Her personal dedication and business savvy combined with her exceptional professionalism are just some of her attributes that have aided in our success. She continues to go above and beyond our expectations as she adds her personal touch on all that she accomplishes. We have been blessed to have her as a part of our team!”
Natalie Leon
Partner
Nova Luna Center for Eating Disorders
www.novalunacenter.com
