Business Development/Consultant - What am I looking for?

[JaFool1]

My current business (operating for 8 years) is in the e-commerce sector.

I have been working on a side project - developing a new type of fast charging battery for electric vehicles such as electric mopeds, which is now ready to launch. The solution is a complete package - moped, battery & fast charger

This solution will be marketed direct to large companies in the takeaway, grocery delivery and ride sharing sector. (Deliveroo, Getir etc basically anyone using electric mopeds on a large scale)

I am well aware that I do not have experience in this field - B2B sales, reaching out to companies of this scale, building new relationships etc.

Therefore I am looking to bring someone in to head up this operation - someone who is experienced in this field, has dealt with companies of this size and stature before, knows how to get their foot in the door, market this solution correctly etc..

However, I am not sure how to find this someone. My current thoughts are to do this through a 'Business Development Consultanty/Service' of some type, they could either:-

- Hire the correct person - as they would know exactly what type of person I am looking for and how to find them as they have access to a large recruitment pool.

- Carryout the operation themselves as they have inhouse talent.

Does anyone have any experience in this field? Or am I thinking about this the wrong way? I'm in need of general advice of how to carry this out.

[akirk]

JaFool1 said:

My current business (operating for 8 years) is in the e-commerce sector.

I have been working on a side project - developing a new type of fast charging battery for electric vehicles such as electric mopeds, which is now ready to launch. The solution is a complete package - moped, battery & fast charger

This solution will be marketed direct to large companies in the takeaway, grocery delivery and ride sharing sector. (Deliveroo, Getir etc basically anyone using electric mopeds on a large scale)

I am well aware that I do not have experience in this field - B2B sales, reaching out to companies of this scale, building new relationships etc.

Therefore I am looking to bring someone in to head up this operation - someone who is experienced in this field, has dealt with companies of this size and stature before, knows how to get their foot in the door, market this solution correctly etc..

However, I am not sure how to find this someone. My current thoughts are to do this through a 'Business Development Consultanty/Service' of some type, they could either:-

- Hire the correct person - as they would know exactly what type of person I am looking for and how to find them as they have access to a large recruitment pool.

- Carryout the operation themselves as they have inhouse talent.

Does anyone have any experience in this field? Or am I thinking about this the wrong way? I'm in need of general advice of how to carry this out.

Do you not need a headhunter?
If you are looking to recruit, then you ideally want someone who has a track record in your sector - will have an address book with the right contacts etc. and the easiest way to find that person will be to use a headhunter / recruitment company

A Business Development Consultant tends to be more of a generic person who helps build the business where perhaps the new markets are less well known - as you can probably list precisely the companies you wish to sell to, and therefore arguably the exact people you need to sell to, your market is very defined - what you therefore need is a person who can open those doors... that will be someone already with experience of doing exactly that...

[JaFool1]

akirk said:

Do you not need a headhunter?
If you are looking to recruit, then you ideally want someone who has a track record in your sector - will have an address book with the right contacts etc. and the easiest way to find that person will be to use a headhunter / recruitment company

You are right, this is the best case scenario. My only concern is the electric moped market is fledgling and the recruitment pool with experience/contacts will be small.

Do you have any suggestions of a headhunter in this sector?

[akirk]

JaFool1 said:

akirk said:

Do you not need a headhunter?
If you are looking to recruit, then you ideally want someone who has a track record in your sector - will have an address book with the right contacts etc. and the easiest way to find that person will be to use a headhunter / recruitment company

You are right, this is the best case scenario. My only concern is the electric moped market is fledgling and the recruitment pool with experience/contacts will be small.

Do you have any suggestions of a headhunter in this sector?

Are there other businesses who have had contacts into those sectors? The person you need might not have sold electric scooters, but could for example have sold anything from bags to funding to the sector... equally it might be a matter of plugging into the investment / PE world as most of these businesses are PE driven...

The head hunters I know are in a different sector, but if you can finesse your description of who you need, I suspect there will be someone on here with links into that world... you sometimes only need to open that first door...

[JaFool1]

akirk said:

Are there other businesses who have had contacts into those sectors? The person you need might not have sold electric scooters, but could for example have sold anything from bags to funding to the sector... equally it might be a matter of plugging into the investment / PE world as most of these businesses are PE driven...

The head hunters I know are in a different sector, but if you can finesse your description of who you need, I suspect there will be someone on here with links into that world... you sometimes only need to open that first door...

Both good points, hadn't thought about it that way. You're right about the PE angle as well, most of the companies we are looking at targeting have had heavy PE investment.

I'll get cracking on a more detailed description and take it from there. Appreciate the info

[DSLiverpool]

You need a sales agent, appoint one on a retainer plus commission and let them get on with it.