We improve purchasing, product range and margins for retail, e-commerce and multi-channel.
Ralf Maurer,
Managing Partner
If all the elements of modern category management work well together, rapid improvements in results and profitable growth are guaranteed.
We help you to effectively and sustainably improve your structures, capabilities and processes for purchasing, pricing, product range, margin and inventory management.
Purchasing synergies fizzle out, category strategies are diluted and discount campaigns put pressure on margins. Overstocks and gaps in supply are a constant source of annoyance. Purchasing and sales do not work together effectively and the corresponding product data is missing for customer-oriented digitalization.
Main cause: Complex individual optimizations that hinder each other instead of a holistic category excellence strategy.
Our specialization in the areas of purchasing, product range and margin management makes us experts in our field. We have understood that all areas must be well coordinated and form part of the corporate strategy. We break down silo thinking, improve important skills in purchasing and category management and develop solutions that can be implemented effectively throughout the entire company.
With our individual service modules, we make you even more successful – sometimes a short potential analysis or a moderated results workshop is enough. Or I can accompany your transformation as a professional sparring partner and train your teams in first-class tools for purchasing & category management.
We secure sustainable competitive advantages for our customers with individual consulting projects relating to purchasing, product range and inventory management. But we can also achieve a lot with little effort with the help of structured workshops, results sprints or purchasing audits. This is effective and cost-saving and is almost always worthwhile as a starting point for targeted improvements in results. This is especially true in the run-up to important change projects.
Based on our own system and my extensive practical experience, we develop effective action plans within 1-4 weeks with the help of our tools.
Sustainability is everything. We want you to be successful in the long term and, unlike many other consulting companies, we have therefore developed our own training modules.
These training modules are based on our benchmark for category excellence and teach state-of-the-art purchasing and category management methods.
A special feature: we also train sales staff with the basic knowledge for category management.
Sparring is perhaps the supreme discipline in consulting and is ideally suited to medium and long-term transformation processes. In this way, you can ensure the success of critical change projects with just a few consultant days per month.
Thanks to my top management expertise, I am able to accompany even complex and conflictual situations professionally and unerringly with a steady hand.
The range is the star!
This principle characterizes our thoughts and actions for the benefit of your sustainable success.
In the short, medium and long term, the right product range strategy and the consistent alignment of all service elements with the defined strategy will determine your profitability, growth and competitiveness.
Ralf Maurer is a recognized expert in purchasing and category management.
His expertise and practical management experience are highly valued in the trade press.
Further articles can be found in the press section.
Current procurement – January 2025
The answer to the current challenges in procurement is often: AI. It is considered a miracle weapon, but is currently mainly used for automation and efficiency gains. What is missing are strategic answers. However, through strategic category management and the use of AI and big data, procurement can develop into a value driver within the company.
Machine market – October 2024
If the balance of power shifts towards suppliers, purchasing and supplier management are in trouble. How do SMEs negotiate successfully with global market leaders?
Technology+Purchasing – April 2024
The complex global economy presents purchasing decision-makers with major strategic challenges. In addition to price, quantity and quality, additional requirements due to ESG standards and insecure supply chains are coming to the fore. How can category management help?
The aftermarket magazine – April 2024
The automotive aftermarket has been characterized by rising prices and problems in the supply chain in recent years. How well have retailers emerged from the crisis and how resilient are they in the face of current challenges?
In a 45-minute video call, we discuss possible solutions for your current problem.
We use structured work stores and standardized analysis tools to outline existing earnings potential.
Based on the existing earnings potential, you decide on the action plan and offer – and we get started.
Then book your free 45-minute initial consultation via video call with Ralf Maurer. An initial consultation usually takes place within less than 48 hours.
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