Service description

We offer professional consultancy for the companies interested in sourcing or purchasing in ELC-Countries. The benefits of sourcing in CEE for the international business community is more than just good value for money (when it applies). The European culture means that the clients of the producers are more similar in mentality and to some extent life style than for instance South American producers. If the world economy is gravitating to the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) as many increasingly argue, Central Europe is a natural supply base for the European market.

Typical services:

The range of services we provide is customized to specific client requirements and can be grouped into several main categories.

Sourcing opportunities evaluation:

We conduct a study of whether there is a sourcing opportunity for your company in Central and Eastern European country at all. We ask the fundamental question: "Can you source here?".
This service gives an overview of the sector you are interested in, your potential partners and main competitors, their prices and tariffs, and your likelihood of success according to the objectives you specify. The study may include our recommendation for your sourcing strategy in the region. It does not always make sense to assume that there will be a sourcing opportunity in Central and Eastern Europe for every product or service. The purpose of this study is to save our client money by honestly assessing their chance of succeeding in the region.

Sourcing partner search:

Due to our experience and presence on the market we can assist you in identifying the best candidate to become your sourcing partner. We are able to help you find Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) as well Original Design Manufacturer (ODM). This service includes partner selection, introduction, assistance in negotiations, legal advice and anything else that helps our clients gain benefits from sourcing in Low Cost Countries (LCC).

Supplier Qualification process evaluation:

Does your supplier qualification process work in the region? If you believe that only suppliers who fall into line with your existing process will be considered, you may miss many of the most interesting sourcing opportunities. We may help you improve your supplier qualification process and make it more effective in CEE business environments.

Meetings and negotiations:

CEE suppliers are often inexperienced in dealing with international companies' purchasing departments. They are cautious, not always completely fluent in international languages, and may not have the scale financial capacity or willingness to provide large shipments on open invoices at the start of a business relationship. They may not know the jargon of international trade and although it does not necessarily mean that the company is not a competitive supplier it may cause difficulties during the negotiations process. Successful talks call for an understanding of the intricacy of cultural differences. We are familiar with the way of doing business in Eastern European countries and will help support meetings and negotiations.

Mergers and Acquisitions

If our client's route to market is blocked by well-established competitors, or they want to set up production in Central or Eastern Europe to cut costs, an acquisition may be a recommended route to achieving business success. We support target identification and the negotiation process, and can bring in tax and legal specialists as needed for due diligence and legally binding agreements.