Customer Loyalty - What and Why?

Customer Loyalty

Here at ODM Ltd, we understand our market and the marketplace our clients have to deal with. One area is that of customer loyalty.
We are often approached by our clients and by new prospects with ideas of what would make a good customer loyalty programme. From here we develop these ideas and then work on employing them to achieve their maximum potential.

Why Customer Loyalty?

Who doesn’t want to feel appreciated? That is the philosophy of many that drives their customer loyalty programmes. There are many definitions of customer loyalty. Yet most of them fail to realise that loyalty runs hand-in-hand with the emotions and values of the referred to generation. Given the highly commoditised competitive landscape today, customer loyalty programmes are the most effective way to differentiate an organisation from its competition and retain its customers.

You have no doubt heard of the expression 'going the extra mile'. This can be thought of as GEM.
Think of GEM as a stone, a ruby or sapphire or diamond.

A big driver for many is their belief that customers deserve more for their loyalty.

Many businesses find that the idea of 'going the extra mile' is also felt internally. They tend to not treat their staff like a number; they understand that just like each generation in the consumer market, their staff, likewise, has their own set of peculiar needs.

Here at ODM Ltd, we do not develop customer loyalty programmes, however, we are experts at putting them into place. All you need to do is book a consultation with us to read through what we have already achieved.
There are many within our client base that are enjoying a fantastic relationship with their customers as a result.

If you think of your current market position, you may well have a great data service, the potential to work with a large network, you may excel in customer services or you might just happen to have a great range of products. Whatever your situation, couple this with the right Customer Loyalty programme and you will notice the movement that you desire.

What are your thoughts?
Is this something you are considering? Something you are wanting to develop further?

Feel free to get in contact with our team www.odmltd.com
Please 'Like' our Facebook page and 'Follow' us on Twitter.

Part 4 - Interviewing the Founder of ODM Ltd

Interview with Simon Dawes

We are now published the final part of our interview with Simon Dawes, the Founder and Managing Director of ODM Ltd.

What did the bank manager have to say?

"I often reminisce about the early days with him over a beer and he is very proud to tell everyone in earshot that it was the quickest turnaround of a new company in NatWest’s history!

He often uses odm in his business presentations as a case study for new start ups. He even proposed us for Hertfordshire business of the year in 2000, where we where pipped at the post by a very large leisure group."

Were there any hard/harder years?

"Of course there have been hard years and even harder years!! and of course there will be more.

It is painful to watch hard earned retained profits disappear during the tough times but I look back on these periods as a big learning curve."

What have been your highlights?

"Winning a new key account is always very satisfying, especially if it has been a competitive bid!

But the most rewarding element is when we can get the whole team out on an away day. To see 30-40 colleagues smiling, laughing and enjoying themselves makes me feel pretty good."

How did you go about recruiting such a successful team?
"This can be a tough business, lots of people have had poor experiences in the world of Field Marketing and Sales, myself included! At my previous employer I learnt how erosive and de-motivating it can be if you don’t care about your employees.

My primary objective with odm was to build a reputation as a caring, honest and trusted employer.

We are lucky to have a very loyal and committed team, who all share the same ethos of care for your employees and they will care for the company.

If it goes the other way you are building a house of cards! So get ready to sweep up the mess!"

Where will you be taking ODM over the next couple of years?

"The next year will have a heavy focus on developing the business to fit with the tighter regulatory pressures of the consumer finance industry.

New markets are opening up to us as we demonstrate our levels of compliance."

Are there any new avenues you wish to venture into with ODM?

"There are many Field Marketing disciplines that odm are more than capable of executing and we are talking to a number of potential clients to develop out tactical business.

Training and compliance assessment will also form part of the business development next year and with the advent of the digital wallet we are beginning to see a demand from our retail clients for our services to help with customer/staff education and functionality demonstration."

What advice would you offer any upcoming entrepreneurs out there?

"Scrutinise your business plan then get somebody else to scrutinise it then halve your sales budget and then scrutinise it again. If it still stacks up – Go for it!

Remember cash flow is king! Negotiate payment terms over profit levels.

And whatever your IFA tells you, don’t bleed the cash out of the business until you are 100% certain that you are stable and can fund the business in a crisis for an appropriate period of time!"

What has been your most successful 'main driver'?

"A unique client proposition, in that they only pay us if we deliver!
Not a wise model unless you know your market!"

We would like to thank Simon Dawes, for taking the time out of his schedule for this interview.

What are your thoughts?

Learn anything new about our Founder or ODM?

We invite you to 'Follow' us on LinkedIn, 'Like' us on Facebook and 'Follow' us on Twitter.

For more information about us please visit www.odmltd.com

Part 3 - Interview the Founder of ODM Ltd

Part 3 - Interviewing the Founder

Following on from our last article, we are now publishing the next snippet of the interview with Simon Dawes.

We are now going to look at what helped, how it all came together and what happened next.

Who helped you?

"According to my Bank Manager and the appointed Chairman it was an impossible task! And they were very sceptical about the business plan. But I truly believed I had all the ingredients for a successful business.

So my wife to be, took on the wedding plans solo and left me to get my ducks in row; creating a business plan, Incorporating a company, , raising finance, appointing lawyers and accountants, finding and equipping an office, recruiting admin staff, opening bank accounts, setting up accounting/payroll functions and presenting and winning my first contract."

And it all came together?

"Yes, in no particular order and much assisted by Martyn Sanders and the future field management team, including Magdelene Taylor, both of whom are still with odm after 13 years! Things finally fell into place at the eleventh hour on the Friday evening before getting married.

So I turned up to the church in Warwickshire, said hello to Suzie whom I had not seen for 10 days, apologised for missing the rehearsal and promptly got married, had a one night honeymoon and opened the new office on Monday morning."

And then what?

"We hit the ground running and over achieved all targets in the subsequent year one. Client recommendations came in thick and fast and we grew the business at an exponential rate.

odm has gone on to grow from strength to strength having built a great reputation for our service, now employing a head office team of 24, Field Management of 23 and a sales force in excess of 200 staff.

Oh yes and I am still happily married to Suzie and have two wonderful kids, Jenna and Jonty."

So, did you know all of this? What are your thoughts so far?

Do you have a question you would like to ask? Please use the contact form on the right if so.

Next time we will release the part of the interview where Simon talks about - the bank managers feedback, the harder years and the highlights.

Can we invite you to Follow our LinkedIn page, Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter.

For more information about us please see www.odmltd.com

Interviewing our Founder - part 2

Part 2 - Interviewing the Founder of ODM Ltd

Following on from our last article, we are now publishing the next snippet of the interview with Simon Dawes.

Previously we shared the initial story of how ODM Ltd began, and what Simon had going on at that time.

Following on from our last article, here are the questions we asked next and the answers we received:

So what next?

"The next two weeks are a blur but, were one of the most exciting periods of my life.
I had learned a lot over the previous four years especially the mistakes that my previous employer had made and I knew what worked well. There were also a number of clients that had lost their key supplier and a lot of sales staff that had lost money and were keen to get working again and they trusted me.
It was all there, the perfect scenario to set my own business up."

What did you know about starting a company?

"Not a lot! I didn’t know the first thing about incorporating and running a company or the responsibility of a Director. For those of you who have not (yet) set up a business, it can be a long and painful process and then of course you need customers to buy you service or goods.

All that aside I knew that this was my opportunity, I had to go for it and I set myself two weeks to get it all done."

What do you think of that? Inspiring? The growth of ODM has been nothing less than fantastic.

Next time we will show what helped Simon and how it all came together.

If you have not already please Follow us on LinkedIn, Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.

For more information regarding ODM Ltd, please see www.odmltd.com

Simon Dawes - Interviewing the Founder/Owner of ODM

An Interview with the Founder/Owner of ODM

We were finally able to book time into Simon Dawes busy schedule to arrange an interview with him.

There were various points to cover and various highlights from this.

We aim to release these articles over the next week or so, with snippets of the interview within.

First off, we asked Simon to tell us a bit about the 'roots' of ODM Ltd, and how it was founded.

How did it all start?

"Well my first involvement in Field Marketing was taking some temporary work whilst studying Estate Management in 1992. The money was far better than the usual bar/restaurant work and was more sociable hours. My job consisted of sales/promotions for banks and credit card companies at sporting event and exhibitions– basically the job that most of odm’s field staff do today!

At the end of my studies I fell into working full time for the same agency, hoping to earn enough money to travel and fish around South America. Somehow I must have impressed them and the next thing I know is I am commuting daily from Warwickshire to Hertfordshire, working at head office as an Account Manager for the GM Card, the first ever UK co-brand credit card!

Things progressed and travel plans were ditched, Estate Management fell off the radar and my career in Field Marketing began in earnest. Over four years I progressed to become an Account Director running a number of key accounts and then was sent to Scotland for six months to set up a new office. I met my future wife who was a Sales Manager for the same company and everything was looking great on the surface.

However, behind the scenes there were problems with the business and morale was not good.

The end result was the owners of the business deserting the sinking ship and leaving employees floundering. The inevitable happened and the business folded leaving all of the office and field staff unpaid and redundant.

After spending a week unpaid, explaining to an angry group of staff the situation and trying to help the field team recover their money, I decided I had a looming priority – a big wedding in two weeks time that needed paying for!!"

So what do you think of that? Did you know all of that?

Next time we will follow on with what took place next.

Please 'Like' our Facebook page.

Please 'Follow' us on Twitter.

You can also 'Follow' our company page on LinkedIn.

For more information about ODM Ltd please visit our site www.odmltd.com

Sales & Field Marketing positions

Field Sales Representative Positions Available

Are you interested in a position with a leading Sales & Field Marketing company?
A position with great earning potential?

Here at ODM, we are currently recruiting In-Store Sales Executives to carry out permanent full time and part time work.

About these roles:

• The shifts are at least 6 hours minimum and start times vary from 10am, 11am or 12pm. Weekend work and evening shifts are also available
• £25,000 OTE per annum, however some earn significantly more (Basic, Commission and Bonus)
• Equivalent 25 days holiday, travel/mileage contribution, uniform provided

We have an exciting opportunity for individuals who enjoy selling and interacting with people. You will ideally have field sales experience, be extremely personable and able to develop immediate customer rapport.

As an ODM Field Sales Representative, you will actively sell the exclusive Sainsbury's Bank Credit Card offer to customers in Sainsbury's stores in your surrounding area.

Flexibility and confidence are key attributes, so you will need to be experienced in face-to-face sales or field marketing however, this is not essential.

You will ideally have a full driving license, access to a  car and you must be over 18 to apply.

We offer comprehensive training and the ongoing support of a great team.
The role is full time however, part time can be considered.

You'll receive a competitive salary, commission and a bonus package, in addition to this you will have a mileage allowance.

If you think you have what it takes, please apply today and speak to one of our recruitment specialists.

If this is not of interest to you, do you know someone that would excel in this kind of position?

Please contact us to discuss this further.

Please 'Like' our Facebook page.

Please 'Follow' us on Twitter.

For information about us please see our website www.odmltd.com

FMBE Awards 2013

FMBE Awards - What are they?

The Field Marketing and Brand Experience Awards (FMBE) were originally launched in 2005.

The first ever turn out for this event totalled 450 guest. As you may have guessed from the events immediate popularity, the FMBE Awards continue to fill its spaces at an incredible rate.

In the marketing industry, this particular event has become one of the most popular and the most talked about events to date.

The awards are designed to recognise the most successful of all face to face marketing campaigns. They are judged by the industry clients.

The evening itself is quite impressive to say the least. The catering is overseen by Gordon Ramsay, and the entertainment at the event is no less than first class.

In 2009 and 2012 a highlight of the evening saw the full 17 players from Ronnie Scott's Orchestra powering out their big band sound to a packed dance floor.

This year the FMBE Awards shortlist is as follows:

• Outsourced Sales Performance of the Year
• Sales Demo or Sampling at Retail
• Field Insight Award
• Instore Marketing
• Tactical Marketing
• Perfect Service Award
• Sponsorship Activation
• Shopping Centre/Roadshow
• Immersive Event (Mass Consumer)
• Immersive Event (By Invitation)
• Integration/Amplification
• Interruptive
• Brand Conversation Award

FM&BE Categories

• Brand Ambassador of the Year
• New Business Award (and New Agency of the Year)
• Small Scale/Low Budget
• Product Launch of the Year
• Creative Sampling
• Innovation in Action
• Stand or Display Unit
• Operational Success
• Team of the Year
• Staff Performance of the Year

For more information regarding the FMBE awards and the shortlisted categories please visit www.fieldmarketing.com

So if you were previously not familiar with this event, we hope this has proven to be helpful.

Please 'Like' our Facebook page

Please 'Follow' us on Twitter.