Strategic Business Support
Because being an SME Business Owner, CEO or Managing Director can be a lonely place.
Sectors / Industries
One thing we've learned over the years is that business is business, irrespective of the sector or industry.
If it's a commercial enterprise then the business issues tend to be the same or certainly very similar:-
- Culture, direction or strategy
- People, teams of people or customers
- Communication
- Cashflow, funding or margin
- Sales & Marketing
- Quality or service
- Efficiency
Not only are the problems the same but the solutions are often similar too.
That's why we are happy to work with any SME irrespective of industry or sector.
We think every business could do with a Dash of Blue!
Services
The services we have to offer are not prescriptive. Whilst the fundamentals of every business should be similar, of course every business is very different in the way that it operates. That's because we are humans, not robots and we all think differently and act differently. Our behaviours and decisions impact on how our people act and how our businesses perform.
Relax, we can't all be great at everything and help is on hand for the problems you need addressing or opportunities you want to make the most of.
Strategy
What does the bigger picture look like? How do you communicate that and get people to buy into it? What impact can all employees have on helping you get to where you want to go?
We can help with formulating strategy and getting everyone moving in the right direction.
Forecasting
We can help you get a handle on where you are heading. Forward planning and forecasting is so important in managing aspects from capacity to cashflow. Predicting your lows and highs will help you prepare for what's around the corner.
Under Pressure
Stakeholders breathing down your neck? Business not performing how you'd like?
We can help you see the wood for the trees and look for change and improvement that could improve your outcomes.
Project / Evaluation
We can undertake a review of an area, team or business unit. Provide a report on findings and propose actions where appropriate.
Independent analysis for you to use in decision making.
Sales Performance
To lots of businesses sales is a mystery.
And yet sales is your most important department - without it you have no business.
We can review your sales operation and help steer strategy and performance in the right direction.
Personal & Business Goals
Do you have a handle on your own personal journey? As an owner or business leader what does good look like for you? What are your own personal goals?
We can help you gain clarity on your own goals and help align your business to bring about better job satisfaction and progress towards personal goals.
Business Improvement
When times are tough or even when times are good, reviewing your business effectiveness is important. We can help improve senior teams performance, help identify areas of improvement or assist with turning around under performance.
Risk Management
Understanding your business risks can help you make your business more resilient. You are only as strong as your weakest point. So whether business is good or bad it's always important to know your business is secure from all angles.
Just a Professional Friend
It can be a lonely place running your own business. Sometimes just having someone to talk to who will understand your position, challenges and thinking can help. Somebody once said 'a problem shared is a problem halved' and in the past we've experienced that just saying something out loud will add clarity to your thinking.
Getting Started
Free no obligation coffee and a catch-up
We still firmly believe that people buy people.
So as a first step, it's just friendly chat, normally involving a hot beverage and at a place and time that suits you.
We can talk in confidence and explore what issues you may have or help you might need and then establish if a Dash of Blue can help in any way.
From there it's simple - if we believe we have something worth exploring further then we plan a follow-up. And, If we don't, we don't.
When we do move forward and engage then our goal is simple:-
To fully understand your business needs; agree what good looks like and to then support and challenge as required. Every journey will be different but hopefully 'good different'. Positive first steps to towards progress, improvement or just clarity.
Things can look a lot brighter with a Dash of Blue!
Our Story
Dash of Blue was set up in 2024 by businessman Darren Coxon. Here's his brief story :-
Over time I have lead a management buy out; bought a business; set up a business; grown those businesses to £18m turnover and ultimately completed a successful trade sale.
I've experienced and survived economic and sector downturns; Invested and restructured during a pandemic and recessions and Innovated and diversified to differentiate.
I've re-financed and raised capital; Recruited and trained; Built teams and grown teams; Never taken the easy option and fronted up difficult situations and decisions.
Having sold my businesses in December 2022, I now have a desire to help SME's (Small to Medium Sized Enterprises) to give something back and help people who face the challenges I faced and overcame over many years.
Running a company can be hugely rewarding but can also be very lonely and sometimes stressful.
Some of the difficulties and challenges live with you 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Some of the decisions you face affect peoples lives and families.
Dash of Blue is designed to help business owners, MD's or CEO's.
A place to go to discuss, explore, challenge and seek clarity of thought.
A place to go for help in seeing the bigger picture or identifying the smaller issues holding your company back.
If this strikes a chord, then perhaps we could benefit from that free coffee and conversation. Who knows where that might lead.