Innovo在中國(guó)設(shè)立的分公司的市場(chǎng)范圍包括Asia(亞洲),Asia-Pacific area(亞太地區(qū)),Australia(澳洲)和South America(南美洲)。根據(jù)地域差異和市場(chǎng)形勢(shì),亞洲地區(qū)還被具體地分成東南亞、東亞、西亞和中亞四個(gè)市場(chǎng)。東亞這一部分是Innovo目前在亞洲區(qū)的最大市場(chǎng)。而東南亞市場(chǎng)卻還是a land to be explored(一個(gè)尚待開發(fā)的領(lǐng)域),雖然之前Frank和他的前任也曾做過多次嘗試,但由于各種原因,效果并不令人滿意。Nancy擔(dān)任Marketing Department Director之后,公司的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層決定讓她先去啃這塊難啃的骨頭。Nancy明白,這是公司在考驗(yàn)她的能力,所以無論將面對(duì)多大的困難,她這“新官”的第一把火一定得燒起來。
Nancy認(rèn)為,如果要打入并占領(lǐng)一個(gè)相對(duì)不成熟的市場(chǎng),借助distributor(分銷商)的network(網(wǎng)絡(luò))和influence(影響力)是最有效的方式。但是要找到合適的distributor卻不是一件容易的事情。首先要確定和保證對(duì)方的experience and quality(經(jīng)驗(yàn)和資質(zhì))能夠幫助企業(yè)打開市場(chǎng),還要充分了解自己的企業(yè)情況和產(chǎn)品信息,并且有濃厚的興趣為這些產(chǎn)品做distribution(分銷),從而實(shí)現(xiàn)win-win(雙贏)。
為了確保這個(gè)計(jì)劃順利地實(shí)施,Nancy認(rèn)真地研究了一下到底什么是分銷模式和分銷渠道,她詢問了有豐富經(jīng)驗(yàn)的同事,對(duì)方告訴她,distribution是營(yíng)銷的一種方式,它需要借助go-betweens(中間人)幫助實(shí)現(xiàn)產(chǎn)品順利到達(dá)消費(fèi)者的過程。這個(gè)營(yíng)銷過程也叫distribution chain(分銷鏈)或distribution channel(分銷渠道)。
經(jīng)過仔細(xì)地研究,Nancy找出了實(shí)施計(jì)劃的幾個(gè)關(guān)鍵因素:
A Number of Alternate 'Channels' of Distribution May Be Available
Distributor, who sells to retailers.
Retailer (also called dealer or reseller), who sells to end customers.
Advertisement typically used for consumption goods.
而Innovo這次要尋找的distributor就是能夠完成sells to retailers的中間商。
Nancy和Marketing Department的team members仔細(xì)針對(duì)東南亞市場(chǎng)做了一次深入的research(調(diào)研)。在經(jīng)過了前期細(xì)致的篩選之后,就開始和幾家有實(shí)力并有合作前景的distributor進(jìn)行溝通。
經(jīng)過十幾次的信件傳真往來,終于與一家新加坡的軟件經(jīng)銷商有了合作的意向。Nancy緊接著邀請(qǐng)對(duì)方代表來北京參觀公司并見面商談,對(duì)方也答應(yīng)了。為了拿下這個(gè)potential customer,Nancy做了充分的準(zhǔn)備,并且還為對(duì)方安排了緊湊的參觀行程,訂了hotel和restaurant。她還特意醞釀了如何向?qū)Ψ奖磉_(dá)合作的熱情,力求達(dá)到最佳效果。Nancy覺得她的寒暄應(yīng)該包括:
Greet the distributor.
Show interest and eagerness of cooperation.
Inform the distributor about negotiation procedure.
Suggest business tour and invite him to dinner.
因?yàn)樘鞖獾脑?,新加坡?jīng)銷商的飛機(jī)晚點(diǎn)了,Nancy的助理在機(jī)場(chǎng)足足等了四個(gè)小時(shí),終于接到了人。經(jīng)銷商一到公司,Nancy趕快去迎接:“Good afternoon, Mr. Cheung. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Nancy Cui from Marketing Department of Innovo. I hope you had a pleasant flight. Please take a seat.”
對(duì)方落座以后,Nancy繼續(xù)她的介紹:
As you know, our company is looking to find a new opportunity in South-East Asia. What we need to get our foot in the door is a reliable distributor with good reputation. We are trying to set up a distribution channel with chain of intermediaries, each passing the product down the chain to the next level, before it finally reaches the consumer or end-user. To be honest, it would be quite a head start for us if we could secure a deal with a good distributor like you.
I'll be responsible for the first round of negotiations here in Beijing. I hope that we can make some definite headway during your stay in Beijing. As the stakes get higher, so to speak, our VP, Mr. Timberland, will join us at the bargaining table. I hope that we can have a very good cooperation. Now, if you like, I can show you around our company. You are invited to dinner afterwards.
接著,Nancy帶著這位新加坡經(jīng)銷商參觀了公司,之后又邀請(qǐng)他共進(jìn)晚餐。因?yàn)橛兄嗨频娘嬍沉?xí)慣和禮儀習(xí)俗,接待亞洲客戶還是相對(duì)less challenging(挑戰(zhàn)較?。?。分銷商對(duì)今天的reception(接待)非常滿意,流露出進(jìn)一步合作的意愿。
distributor 分銷商
influence 影響力
win-win 雙贏
distribution 分銷
go-between 中間方
consumption 消費(fèi)
channel 渠道
intermediary 中介,媒介
distribution chain 分銷鏈
take into account 考慮到,包括在內(nèi)
retailer 零售商
eagerness 急切,渴望
research 調(diào)研
negotiation 談判,洽談
potential customer 潛在客戶
be looking to 期待,計(jì)劃
get one's foot in the door 開始涉足于
reliable 可靠的
good reputation 良好聲譽(yù)
head start 搶得先機(jī)
secure a deal 做成一筆生意
first round of negotiation 第一輪談判
headway 進(jìn)展
bargaining table 談判桌
Nancy的職場(chǎng)筆記本
回到家時(shí)已經(jīng)很晚了,緊繃了一天的情緒也終于可以稍稍放松一些了,Nancy簡(jiǎn)單地吃了點(diǎn)兒東西,就拿出筆記本,記下這一天的感受和心得:
1. 新官上任三把火,需要展示能力的時(shí)候要勇于接受挑戰(zhàn),這樣才能在業(yè)務(wù)上有新的突破。
2. 選擇有效的營(yíng)銷渠道對(duì)拓展市場(chǎng)而言至關(guān)重要,前期的篩查工作量會(huì)很大,但卻絲毫不可馬虎。
3. 一旦選定合適的分銷商,就要及時(shí)表達(dá)合作的誠(chéng)意,并迅速采取行動(dòng)贏得對(duì)方的信任。
4. 真誠(chéng)邀請(qǐng)對(duì)方進(jìn)行face-to-face的面談會(huì)比郵件和電話溝通更直接有效。
5. 見面后的熱情寒暄也大有學(xué)問,要適當(dāng)贊美對(duì)方的聲譽(yù)和優(yōu)勢(shì),表示對(duì)對(duì)方的信任。
6. 適時(shí)介紹相關(guān)程序和自己公司的相關(guān)負(fù)責(zé)人,讓對(duì)方有所準(zhǔn)備,也知道遇到問題時(shí)該去找誰反映。