PURCHASING WITH MARC

PRODUCT CONSULTING

MARC is dedicated to helping our clients by making product procurement as simple and straightforward as possible. As your specialist business-to-business purchasing partner we are able to assist in product sourcing, development, manufacturing, logistics, branding, packaging and inventory management.

We are proud of the trust placed in us by our clients, confident in the reliability of our suppliers, and committed to the highest levels of professional service. We successfully supply and services some of the largest retailers and distributors in the UK, USA and Europe.

MARC have established offices and our own employees on the ground in China and Vietnam, and are thus able to offer a superior range of products in a wide and diverse array of categories. These include Outdoor Leisure, DIY & Hardware, Housewares, Garden Furniture, Bathroom and Pet Products; to mention just a few of the ranges available through the MARC global network.

“When service is so much more than price” MARC

Our clients vary in size and focus.  Whether you are a senior buyer for a large multiple, a retail chain or a wholesaler, we will work with you to define a specific programme or source a product line.  We will be your global “eyes and ears” identifying new product or developing new purchasing programmes.

Key to our continuing success is the development of relationships with our global manufacturers who now span Hong-Kong, China, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Africa and India.

Over the last 20 years we have developed a rigorous vendor selection methodology.  We have heavily invested in this ongoing process, which is supported by our own local employees in core overseas markets.  Vendors are chosen on their ability to consistently deliver quality product on a timely basis to exact product specification.  MARC review production and quality control procedures and assess product portfolio.  Vendors are also chosen according to strict criteria of product quality, depth of range, product development and price.

Our continual visits to our supply base ensure we are up to date with their product ranges and new products.  Each of these products is available to view on our product database, which you can Search by Category or Search by Keyword.

Once an order is taken we will manage the complete process from inception until delivery- point to point – we also call this “Shop floor to your door”.  We are in constant contact with our local offices and we will keep you up-to date on any issues affecting delivery timescales and shipping.  Each container is inspected for quality control before it is shipped ensuring the correct product, labelling and container specification. Banking, shipping documentation and road transport can be arranged and monitored by our team.

As part of our vendor management process we are constantly developing new and existing ideas to propose to our client base.  We often run product focus groups with selected clients to assess our vendor’s new product innovations, product packaging and product design.  Based upon these focus groups we have successfully: assisted in the development of new exclusive product ranges; developed new ranges of client’s own brands; worked with clients to re-engineer key product specifications.

Our product knowledge and vendor linkage means that an idea can be rapidly developed allowing our clients to gain a critical time advantage over their competitors and with product life-cycle times shrinking this means genuine revenue gains.

Where clients prefer to use a recognised brand rather than their own we have developed our own brand: Oak Glade.

“Don’t follow the herd” – be different as there is space for everybody providing you differentiate!

We at MARC are developing a new client service.  We realise that certain components of this offering are “rolled-up” in some of our existing services.  However we are experiencing strong demand to have these services discreetly delivered to our new and existing clients.  We recognise that not all of our potential clients wish to take advantage of our purchasing programme and may rather engage our consultants on fee based consulting assignments.

This service leverages our vendor knowledge and existing domain knowledge in certain niche retail areas.  We are constantly updated with new product information and innovation.

We recognise that many clients continue to sell based upon “price” whilst adopting similar product ranges as their direct competitors.  Whilst we understand that this is essential there are many other ways to differentiate a product line and achieve full margins in the process.  We are able to advise on product labelling and packaging, colours and new and exclusive product ranges.   Being the first out with a product range allows you to leap frog the competition.

Product audit
We will review pricing, product design, labelling and product positioning.  We will assess the depth and quality of clients product range (design, colour and packaging).  If required we also review store layouts. The audit is concluded by a written report with finding, recommendations and proposed timescales.

Market Analysis
We can review product domains and analyse market trends and analyse new product developments.  The report may cover many areas such as: trends in other channels (Multiples, direct mail, wholesaling and buying groups), product design, quality standards etc.

Benefits
An independent review carried out by consultants can assist in benchmarking your existing external procurement processes.  More importantly clients are able to explore new ideas in an open and refreshing manner.

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