Insights
A deeper dive into what drives middle market success.Our team of experienced, multi-industry veterans at FortéOne have assisted hundreds of middle market businesses, just like yours. We hope you find their insights interesting and valuable for your company. If you would like to discuss these topics in more detail, contact us.
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Can a Virtual Middle Market Business Transformation Program be Successful?
Given the reduction or even elimination of brick and mortar presence for middle market businesses during the pandemic, an experienced partner in virtual transformation is the asset you may not have known you need. …
Middle Market Perspective on Distribution and Transportation
Middle market companies often view distribution operations as an inbound receiving function to support manufacturing—necessary to receive, store, and ship …
Inventory and Obsolescence Management
Middle Market Inventory Management Like most consultants, we ask a lot of questions when we begin an engagement. At the …
Order Management and Customer Service Optimization
Middle Market Perspectives Order management and customer service in the middle market has evolved slowly over the past 20 years. …
Manufacturing Optimization
Manufacturing and the Middle Market Across the US Midwest from the end of WWII to the 1980s, most towns and …
The Evolution of Procurement to Spend Management
Companies large and small underestimate the importance of effective procurement management. Over the years, we have seen that most of …
Inventory Planning and Optimization
Inventory and the Middle Market Middle Market companies often have a love/hate relationship with inventory. Inventory provides a feeling of …
Operations Diligence – Assessing the Foundation for Future Performance
Years ago, Fram oil filters had a catchy commercial; “pay me now or pay me later” – which meant you …
The Six Factors
Each middle market business has a number of elements that must function effectively to sustain profitable growth. At FortéOne, we …
Middle Market ERP – A Process for Eliminating the Drama
ERP – the Fear of Failure The business battlefield is littered with failed Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects, and the …
Recruiting Executive Talent for the Middle Market
Challenges Faced in Upgrading Middle Market Leadership The most common issue we encounter when working with Middle Market companies is …
Supply Chains Post-Pandemic: Balancing Risk and Cost
Business owners and supply chain professionals have rarely experienced the supply chain disruptions and failures that have occurred in recent months due to the travel and production breakage resulting from this COVID-19 pandemic. These supply chain challenges are likely to continue for many months, and there is a critical need to react appropriately to minimize the impact and build a more resilient supply chain for the future. …
COVID Management for Private Equity: Do not Waste this Opportunity
The rapid turn of events brought on by the COVID crisis has dramatically changed priorities for PE groups across all their initiatives—including portfolio company management, pending sales and purchases, and overall investment strategy. For PE Partners, the focus needs to be first on surviving the disruption but also looking for opportunities to leverage the crisis to build a stronger business. …
The Value and Characteristics of a Competent CFO in Middle Market Companies
Having worked with hundreds of middle market companies over the past 20 years, FortéOne has learned that a competent Chief …
Private Equity as a Maturing Asset Class
In the last 20 years, the world in which private equity firms acquire, build, and sell businesses has changed drastically. …
A Guide to Effective Sales Leadership
What does it take to increase a company’s top line? There are a number of steps you can take, but …
Preparing Your Private Business for Sale
Once you officially begin the process, selling your business can take between six and nine months, on average, to complete. …
Voice of the Customer
Studies show that acquiring a new customer can be anywhere from five to 25 times more expensive than retaining and …
Maximizing Manufacturing Margins with Value Engineering
Manufacturers large and small all hope to achieve the same thing: manufacture more products, with higher margins. Of course, in …
Why you Need to Conduct a Supplier Risk Assessment in 2020
An unreliable supplier can cause irreparable damage to middle market businesses. Economic growth or decline, newly imposed tariffs, or issues …
Why You Need a Supplier Relationship Management Program
Despite the many benefits, it’s rare for middle market businesses to have contracts with suppliers or even a supplier relationship …
The impact of a slowed global economy on Middle Market U.S. supply chains
Despite the fact that the U.S. economy is strong, farmers, manufacturers, and U.S. companies are experiencing serious distress because other …
How to Achieve Position of Choice
As a business owner, you want to develop options for how you position your business as it grows. Will you …
Optimizing your supply chain to avoid distributor chargebacks
To reach the largest market possible, many middle market businesses use distributors to take their goods from a warehouse or …
How the 2018 Transportation Crisis Affected Middle Market Businesses
The economic boom in America over the last several years has created jobs, boosted consumer spending, and driven up profits …
How to avoid these 4 common accessorial fees
Up until very recently, middle market companies contacted carriers on an as-needed basis and paid the spot pricing determined at …
The FortéOne Way: Delivering Value, Knowledge, & Strategic Decision
Lessons learned & Finding Solutions for the Middle Market. …
Private Equity-Owned Tool Distributor
Improved performance through enhanced operations, process, and leadership. …
Privately-held National Technology Distribution Company
Revised Strategy with new Client Targeting, Pricing, and Sales Approach. Revenues up by 2.5X in 4 years, and Profits improved over 300%. …
$30MM Business Services Provider
Keeping up with the demands of a large customer was taxing production capability and created concern about losing the customer if delivery expectations were not met. …
Private Manufacturing Firm with Seasonal Demand
Revised Strategy with new Financial Controls, Internal Processes, Pricing Approach, and Sales Targets. Margins up over 20% in first 6 months. …
$180MM Industrial Components Manufacturer
Keeping up with the demands of a large customer was taxing production capability and created concern about losing the customer if delivery expectations were not met. …
$280MM Industrial Building Manufacturing & Construction
Understanding how to manage the complex relationship and decision-making structures inherent in multiply family ownership businesses. …
Privately-held Consumer Product Company
Taking immediate control to stabilize a chaotic organization and turn around issues with cash flow, profit projections, and supply chain in China. …
$260MM Snack Food Manufacturer
Working alongside business owners and Investment Bankers to implement change and demonstrate improvements that add value. …
$200MM Food Manufacturer and Co-Packer
Effective solutions and rapid implementation to turn around declining performance and train management on how to sustain long-term improvements. …
$85MM Protein Manufacturer
Working with the Family Board to return company to profitable status in order to sell at the highest value. …
$35MM Sugar-free Bakery that Ships Frozen Products Nationally
Partnering with ownership and management to rapidly improve sales and operating results to maximize company value. …
$30MM Frozen Baked Goods Manufacturer
Focusing on opportunities for material improvements in profitability and enterprise value. …
