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MKT 425 (Professor Elmer) Consulting Project Research Guide

How to Analyze Collaborators?

The collaborators of the company can include the business partners, stakeholders, suppliers, shipping providers, credit card payment processors, inventory and warehouse operators, the providers of the e-commerce platform, etc.

Some questions to investigate include:

  1. Does the client have a business partner
  2. Does the client have investors or stakeholders?
  3. Who creates or supplies the products the client sells?
  4. Who is the client's shipping provider?
  5. Who processes credit card payments?
  6. Who provides an eCommerce platform?
  7. Who handles inventory or warehouse operations?
  8. Does the client have anyone helping me create my website?
  9. Does the client have anyone writing product descriptions, articles, etc.?
  10. Does the client have anyone helping me with marketing or advertising?
  11. Does the client have anyone distributing or selling the products?
  12. Does the client have someone running social media accounts?
  13. Does the client work with freelancers or contractors?
  14. Is there anyone else that the client works with on a regular basis?

Where to Look for Information?

Based on the client's need, we may be able to help the client identify some collaborator opportunities. Such opportunities can be identified through online search or use the business directories (such as Reference Solutions).

Suppliers Directory: Thomas 

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