Case Studies
Building reputation for lifestyle products
Challenge
A global nutrition company has faced multiple challenges to its reputation in recent years.
Solution
We worked with them across a range of issues and conducted a thorough reputation audit for the company across 6 key European markets. We developed a comprehensive stakeholder map for each market and generated a robust sample to target for interviews. The research identified diverse attitudes towards the brand, the category and the direct-selling model.
It has formed the foundation for strategic communications across the EMEA region, and we continue to provide monthly reviews of media sentiment, message penetration and issue tracking across all EMEA markets.
Public affairs and strategic communications support for a retail company
Challenge
We have been working with a retail company since 2012. During this period, we have been supporting their senior team on a range of legislative and political issues relevant to their domestic agenda.
Solution
We have built a thought leadership campaign which seeks to support the wider development of the company’s core business purpose. We are regularly providing detailed information on key policy developments and creating a ‘playbook’ for senior management to apply to this issue.
Simultaneously, we are building a stakeholder engagement programme with the view of creating a manifesto that can be employed across European markets. Finally, we are supporting the launch of the company’s Foundation by seeking to ensure its objectives match their business purpose.
Developing a sustainability strategy for a global apparel company
Challenge
We partnered with one of the largest global apparel companies to develop and execute a global strategy to advance its reputation for sustainability.
Solution
The initial phase required deep dive insights into stakeholder opinion and shaping a strategy that would match external expectations and be deliverable within the resources and plans of the company. This required a series of workshops with senior leaders to integrate the sustainability initiatives firmly in the operational and business plans of the brands and functions.
We produced a robust sustainability report for the company which documents progress across supply chain and their own estate and brings to life powerful stories from across the globe. Alongside, we developed messaging, high-impact content and engagement initiatives both for employees and to diverse external stakeholders. Finally, we established strategic partnerships with key external stakeholders and supported the team on the roll-out of tactics.
Providing strategic insights and planning support for a multi-channel European business
Challenge
While the company intensely monitors shopping preferences, they had not previously sought to establish a comprehensive reputation baseline.
Solution
The result is a finely tuned strategic tool that measures reputation trends among shoppers and key stakeholders and informs long range opportunity and risk planning.
The comprehensive audit identified strengths and weaknesses and formed the basis for the robust reputation strategy that is now being implemented and is underpinning growth.
We advanced the benchmark further by designing a risk-resilience model that provides a clear view of current and emerging issues, informing business decisions and risk management practices. We also provide a thorough European review of the company’s media coverage and a synopsis of industry or stakeholder movements on the key issues, as well as media and stakeholder engagement support on breaking issues
Launching a new growth strategy for a leader in the oil and gas industry
Challenge
The company wanted to launch a new strategy to grow reserves and enter new markets, which involved needing to develop new oil fields in parts of the world where it had not operated before.
Solution
The transformation programme commenced by an intensive leadership conference for the top managers. We developed a programme that included an explanation of the rationale and components of the new strategy, but the focus was on showing managers how to communicate the strategy and action plan around its elements.
Leaders replicated the workshop around the world and staff understanding of the strategy increased dramatically over the next three months.
Conducting a risk and opportunity assessment for a worldwide FMCG company
Challenge
The company partnered with us to launch a Masterbrand across Europe, targeting highly competitive and high-value sectors.
Solution
We conducted a risk and opportunity assessment looking at every aspect of brand, category, ingredient, source and packaging, deploying our own proven methodology. We developed a full matrix and action plan to resolve or mitigate risk that informed product planning, marketing and PR, as well as proactive communications planning.
There has been a step change in engagement across the supply chain all the way to farm level. The pipeline of stories and case studies provide a solid backbone for the product launch and all markets are equipped to handle.