A contract electronics manufacturer, with a turnover of almost 18m a year, which has bucked the economic downturn with new contract wins worth millions of pounds in the last year, has been hailed as a role model business for the sector. Axiom Manufacturing Services in south Wales, which employs 186 staff, credits much of its success in attracting new clients, and retaining existing ones, to good marketing and PR. As a result of its success, Axiom has been taken part in a prestigious business programme backed by the Welsh Assembly Government, and has been held-up as an example for other businesses to emulate.
Axiom recently hosted a seminar sharing the secrets of its successful marketing strategies with businesses throughout Wales, via the prestigious Inside Welsh Industry (IWI) programme. IWI brings businesses together from all sectors to share their skills, knowledge and experience first hand. Funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, IWI is managed by the Wales Quality Centre, and also aims to help companies and organisations beat the recession.
Axiom has successfully generated new business over the last year despite the recession, through focusing on key marketing strategies centred on highly targeted email marketing, PR, and workshops as well as targeting potential clients through telemarketing. Axiom has been careful to optimise its marketing budget which is worth 120,000 annually.
Axioms marketing manager, Jacqui Malpass, said: Marketing plays a pivotal role in any business, at Axiom we work hard to target the right fit customers and really get to know our customers value, which in turn has resulted in us continuing to win new business.
Its not just about winning new customers thats important. In business its also about keeping your existing ones happy. We have such great relationships with our customers that some of our account managers even have desks in their customers offices!
David Phillips, chief executive of Wales Quality Centre, said: Axiom is a great example of a company that has consistently done well and continues to innovate.
Inside Welsh Industry has been successful because seminars are relevant, up-to-date and diverse. Its important we keep industry moving forward, especially in the current economic crisis. In fact, part of the IWIs unique strength is that businesses from completely different sectors are able to learn from each other.
We regularly receive positive feedback from participants on how they found the seminars useful and how they will be incorporating what they have learnt into their business.
IWI seminars have benefited almost a thousand Welsh companies and there are currently 40 role model firms across Wales. These include flagship firms such as: SA Brain & Company; BBC, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water; Corus; BAMC; British Airways Interior Engineering; Bosch; Ford and Axiom.