Steve Hurford
Director, Firststyle Ltd
* B.A. (Hons) Modern Languages
* Fluent in French, Italian, Spanish and Welsh.
* Working knowledge of German and Portuguese
* Fellow of the Institute of Sales & Marketing Management
* Associate of the Institute for Independent Business
* Member of the Institute of Export
* Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing
An experienced Business Consultant/Advisor with a proven track record of success delivering sales, marketing, business development and growth strategies at all levels from market trading to government contracts in sectors from FMCG to heavy capital equipment. Providing high-level strategic planning and development skills to drive through changes and facilitate consistently improved business performance, enhanced profitability and increased market presence.
A strong pro-active leader, providing coaching, training and mentoring to build teams all working together to achieve individual targets and company objectives.
Experienced in business start up, benchmarking, budget control, competitive monitoring, distribution management, sales force management, forecasting, licensing, product management, recycling, retail, business turnaround strategies, short & long term business growth forecasts with strategies and business plans to achieve goals.
• Agents Set-up and Management
• Alternative International Commerce
* Benchmarking
• Blue Chip Sales
• British Standards technical committees
• Business Development
• Business Plans and Strategy
• Business to Business Sales (B2B)
• Capital Equipment Sales
• Cultural Awareness
• Customer Care
• Customer Profiling
• Customer Service
• Distribution Chain Set-up and Management
• Education
• European Distribution
• Exhibitions
• Export Market Research, Planning, Strategies
• Field sales management
• Growth management
• Import
• International Commerce
• International Communications
• Language support
• Licensing
• Marketing
• Market entry plans
• Marketing Plans
• Market Research
• Monitor competitor activity and performance
• Product launch (B2B / B2C / FMCG)
• Product Management
• Recruitment
• Retail sales
• Translation services
58 contactsStephan runs his own small business offering advice and practical help in all aspects of business in conjunction with the Institute for Independent Business (IIB).
Clients vary in size from the sole proprietorship to subsidiaries for multinationals where, he manages and directs entire sales and marketing strategies for Fast Moving Consumer Goods, industrial products and services.
For these clients, he:
o Advises on start ups
o Aids with business plans and strategies
o Takes products through from the original concept to launch
o Works with Laboratories to examine new applications and initiate test programming
o Participates in meetings and on technical committees to draw up British Standards.
o Produces sales forecasts for existing and future products.
o Identifies markets and produces export and marketing strategies and plans
o Finds new markets and introduce new marketing strategies for existing product lines.
o Undertakes market research in the UK and internationally, producing market reports and marketing plans
o Provides line management of field sales staff
o Recruits and approves licensees, agents and distributors, supporting the growth of associate companies.
Fluent in French, Italian and Spanish, Stephan can also act as a freelance translator and proof reader, being involved in confidential legal and contractual arrangements internationally and using the internet to secure business world-wide.
EOS Associates is a partnership of business people specialising in working with SMEs. We are probably the most experienced team of advisers in South Wales and can call on our worldwide network of over 3000 associates for expertise in all areas, especially, but not exclusively:
- Business Strategy and Planning
- Benchmarking
- Sales and Marketing
- Executive Coaching and Mentoring
- Finance-Cost Reduction and Funding
- Human Resources
- Operations and Systems
- International Trade
- Health and Safety