ECP WORKBOOKStep by Step

Export Marketing Plan

Vision To provide a creative tool to guide participants in developing their

Export Marketing Plan

To provide a creative method for participants to compile their notes, visuals, references and ideas from the workshop and surgery sessions

To provide a creative format for completing assignments set during w/shops, TAM’S or by Distance Guidance in an incremental approach to developing the Export Marketing Plan , using the prompts provided in the work book

To create a permanent record of the above, which can be continued to be referred to, and built upon during the on-going steps of the ECP - My EMP Log Book

What will it look like?Brainstorming ideas:

To allow for note taking AND sketching/sticking/visuals

To allow for compiling/filing of hand-outs/references

To allow for EMP ‘Steps’ to be inserted/incorporated

To be customised

Ideally A3, professional, designer, creative, handmade feel appropriate for sector

To have a business AND an artistic feel about it

How will it be used to build the EMP?

The work book will incorporate guidelines/prompts on the sections of the EMP

These could be provided as physical printed tabbed inserts in the work book, or as printed sheets as an introduction to each section, and also could be worked on digitally

A digital version of the steps/prompts could be created via a ‘private’ blog –both the physical and digital versions should be workable with each other

The digital blog ‘pages’ could be copied by participants into ‘Word’ or to into their own private blog

Summary of Ideas Ideally A3 hardback cover

Customised Cover

Black or Natural (Leather/wood/bamboo)- Sustainable use of materials

With lined writing and plain sketching paper included

Tabbed index system related to each step of the EMP

Pocket/Folder for filing hand outs

Flexible binding/filing system to allow for removable inserts/paper etc.

Approx.- 100 pages-tbc

The physical workbook should also translate digitally, so that participants can work both ‘hands-on’ and digitally

ResearchExtensive research for an existing suitable product was carried out. This involved:

Extensive on- line research

Retail research in the UK

Retail research in South Africa

A number of enquiries were made to both European and South African retailers/wholesalers/manufacturers during the research process

This process helped consolidate ideas on the final requirements/format of the workbook

Research: Sketch books

Research: Plain and and Notebooks A4 AND A3

Research: Leather Journals/Albums

Research: Scrap Books

Research: Sketch Diaries

hahnemuehle

Ring Binders- Leather/wood/bamboo

http://www.papyrus.uk.com

http://www.binderfinder.com/wood-binders.html

Project Books with Index

Research: Filing Systems-Customisable Systems

Moleskin

Arc by Staples

Research: Storage

Moleskin

Wooden Bound Albums/covers/journals

Customisable Bamboo or Wood Presentation Folio’s

http://www.studioeqdesign.com/11-x-17-bamboo-portfolio-wood-presentation-book.html

Conclusion There is no ideal ‘off the shelf’ solution that totally meets our needs

We have found some nice folios/folders on line, but these would require importing, would be very expensive, would not meet the time dead line, and would not necessarily be customised.

Ideally we want to find a local South African solution/source, to reduce time, costs and allow for complete customisation

Therefore we have concluded the following:

To have an A3 hard cover made with a sustainable materials (bamboo/wood/leather) with screw post/or ring binder system which can be customised with CBI/Company logo

To customize the interior (lined and plain paper, with printed tabbed inserts for printed ECP steps, and pocket/folder for storage?)

To POSSIBLY create a digital/blog version of the ECP steps, and include workshop material/links/comments in each relevant blog page

Final Proposal To create a custom made birch ply sustainable wood A3

‘landscape’ folder with leather spine, and screw post filing ‘system’

The front cover will be ‘engraved’ using laser cutting with

‘My CBI Export Coaching Programme Log Book’ or ‘MY EMP LOG BOOK’ (tbc) and personalised with each company logo

The back cover will include the CBI logo

The folder will contain printed card tabbed inserts for each step of the EMP, lined and plain paper, and plastic folders

How the ‘Workbook’ concept will be used The log book is designed to guide participants through the steps of the EMP providing

helpful questions and prompts which are printed on the tabbed inserts representing each of the EMP steps

Responses/related notes/visuals/’workings’ can be recorded on the plain/lined paper provided under each corresponding step.

Related hand-outs/reference materials can also be filed in the folders provided for each Step.

Text or image documents created digitally can also be inserted into each relevant section.

IDEA: The Steps and related questions and workshop materials could also be viewed on a ‘CRAFTED IN SA ECP’ private wordpress blog. Questions/text could be copied from the blog into word documents if required in order that a digital version of the EMP could be created/summarised. Participants may also want to create the EMP in their own private blog rather than a word document as a digital record.

The EMP will be discussed/reviewed with the consultants during the surgery sessions or by e-guidance and finalised during the EXPRO ‘Exposure To Market’ Training in September.

A digital written summary of the EMP (with each of the Steps of the strategic process completed) will need to be submitted to CBI at the end of EXPRO

Costs As the workbook is custom designed, it is made up of a number of component parts

from a number of sources in South Africa

A total of 8 different local suppliers will be used to manufacture it.

At this point we do not have final final costs, but estimate that it will come in at around €50 each

The final product will be: A custom made, A3 Workbook, with Birch ply (wood) laser engraved covers, leather spine binding, custom printed board inserts, plastic sleeves and quality lined and unlined paper.

We are proposing producing 35 copies (32 for the companies and 1 each for Solly, Aileen and CBI). Perhaps we should make 1 more each for CCDI and SEDA?