Going For Growth in E-Commerce
Biskit first connected with Quality Bearings Online during the Passport to Export programme for The Department for International Trade (DIT).
Having extensive experience with UK and European businesses, Biskit believed that barriers to export were not necessarily related to a lack of understanding about export policies or procedures, more a lack of leadership time, company strategy or systems.
Biskit collaborated with Mark Robson, former Regional Director of DIT, to develop a comprehensive pilot programme addressing these barriers. Over six months, the programme covered:
- Strategy
- Marketing
- Customer Journey
- Market Research
- Marketing Communications
- Managing Performance
- Exporting
Quality Bearings Online actively participated, learning and implementing strategies from each session.
Post-programme, Quality Bearings Online engaged Biskit for further support in implementation and ongoing strategy.
Biskit’s balanced approach ensured a focus on both future strategy and immediate income generation.
Implementing short term improvements to the online and offline customer journey increased monthly sales, not just in the UK, but also in target countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia.
Over time, we helped set ambitious turnover targets, alongside a renewed vision for the business, that saw exports rise dramatically, attracting multiple awards along the way.
Biskit then worked with the team on company structure, liberating time from the leaders with a supporting management team, underpinned by skills development, KPIs and a system of appraisals.
We also set challenges for different departments, about how they could deliver company strategy, with some excellent results from team members that really bought into the whole process.
From an initial strategy day involving two Directors and Biskit Ltd, through to a full two day annual strategy session attended by 7 team members plus Biskit, we have overseen huge changes in how the business functions and maximises its’ potential.
Corporate Social Responsibility is a big part of our strategy approach with clients, and we really enjoyed seeing some amazing coverage in The Mirror with ‘The Perfect Pint’ project and Leeds University/Saltaire Brewery, along with a challenge to Leeds University students and JCT 600 to design a machine that could change a vehicle spare wheel.
Fast forward over the years, and Biskit became an integral part of the Quality Bearings Online team, attending monthly management meetings and contributing towards the annual strategy days.
Working with the emerging leadership team was especially rewarding, developing a learning programme that included: coaching and leadership essentials workshops, through to organising factory visits and speakers to share their business growth journey.
Client
Quality Bearings Online is a Leeds based, multi-award winning B2B exporter of bearings and ancillary components to over 100 countries worldwide.
Using both traditional sales channels and a highly effective e-commerce website, the company has grown substantially over the last 10 years.
Project Overview
Over the next eight years, Biskit worked with Quality Bearings Online on:
- Company Strategy
- Customer Journey (CX)
- Brand Strategy
- Export Strategy
- Sales & Marketing Training
- Emerging Leadership Training
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Team Development
- Customer Profiling
Quality Bearings Online transformed from a small 4-person business to a multi-award-winning company, including the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
Today, the company employs over 20 people and continues to thrive in the international e-commerce exporting sector, used as an exemplar for business growth.
