Find the Way Forward Together
Total strategic clarity for businesses that want to unlock their hidden potential
Welcome
Hi, I’m Tim Sargeant
I’m a strategist, advisor to CEOs, and founder of clarity first.
Who do I help?
I help CEOs and MDs at a strategic crossroads find clarity — fast
Over the years I’ve seen that most businesses don’t struggle for lack of effort…
…they struggle because they don’t really have a strategy.
They can’t articulate…
— what they stand for
— what they want to achieve
— and how they plan to get there.
Too often…
— their customers have fallen out of love with their brands
— and their people just can’t articulate the strategy
I built clarity first to fix these issues.
I focus on…
— revitalising your brands
— driving efficiency in your business model
— and helping you articulate your strategy in 37 words or less…
…so everyone in your business knows what to do
What do I believe?
My work is built on three fundamental truths...
— Every business is a profit-making system that gives value to customers and collects cash in return
— Every brand needs managing through its lifecycle
— Every brand does something that nobody else can
The challenge is that most businesses…
— Focus on the profits they take not the value they give
— Don’t really understand where they sit in their lifecycle
— And haven’t really figured out what makes them unique
Work with me and you’ll see your business in a new light.
We’ll discover what makes you unique and turn it into a strategy that will focus everything you do.
Because strategy drives everything
— brand
— products
— pricing
— sales & marketing
— supply chain
— distribution
— culture
At the end of the process you’ll have...
— complete clarity and confidence in where you’re going
— a business that stands apart in the market
— a team that’s inspired and engaged
— and outsized returns for shareholders
Is this for you?
If any of these sound familiar, then this work is just what you need
An indistinct Brand
— nobody really knows what your brand stands for
Drift
— no one’s clear on the strategy; effort is diluted
Waste
— projects start, then get shut down, because they ‘don’t fit the strategy’
Frustration
— a lack of clarity erodes morale, especially among high-performers
Falling sales
— after years of growth you’ve hit a ceiling and don’t know how to stop the rot
Squeezed margins
— everything seems to be conspiring to erode your margins – customers want lower prices, costs are going up
What makes me unique?
Like every other consultant I research your market and analyse your data.
But my focus is always on finding secrets.
Those observations that are…
— obvious in hindsight
— hidden until revealed
— yet can act as a point of leverage for your strategy
The most powerful can transform your brands
Yet they also shape your…
— pricing
— sales approach
— product design
— supply chain
— financials
— culture
A transformation in performance is never just the product of analysis…
…it always comes from seeing things that nobody has seen before
Show me some proof
Lion Nathan Australia
— Reversed a decade of decline by spotting that a select few ‘regional’ brands (like XXXX Gold, Tooheys Extra Dry and James Squire) had the appeal and potential to be sold nationwide, delivering volume and margin growth
Steinlager transformation
— Doubled the size and profitability of Steinlager by identifying and addressing its two flaws – its hoppy taste and old fashioned Euro-lager image – and relaunching it as Steinlager Pure with a crisp lager and contemporary identity
CUB transformation
— Reversed a decade of decline by advising senior leaders to switch horses from a failed VB (Victoria Bitter) restage to backing the appealing and up-and-coming Great Northern, taking the brand from Queensland nationwide
Armadillo rugs growth strategy
— Developed a strategy to grow the busines by redesigning the portfolio, focusing on a single channel and customer group, and recruiting sales people with the ‘DNA’ of the best
Bundaberg soft drinks
— developed the market entry strategy that allowed Bundaberg to build a strong presence in the US market
Campari Group
— partnered Campari teams in Australia, the UK and New Zealand.
— In the UK we identified the two growth engines that have unlocked the fastest growth of all of Campari’s markets.
— In New Zealand we have put in place the building blocks to return to profitability and growth: brand reinvention, new pricing, new salesforce structure, and cost reductions in product and supply chain
What do clients say?
“You are practical and get sh*t done – big differentiator to other consultants”
“You get to the crux / root cause quickly (time saved)”
“Your plans are executable”
“You work in well with different internal stakeholders – my team like working with you, and trust you”
“You are flexible and agile – always willing to provide support on burning platforms as they arise (thank you!)”
“Provocation (in a good way)”
“At the end of the day I trust you and your judgement – doesn’t mean I always agree with 100% however I know you are a straight shooter which I truly value”
How can we work together?
I work in one of three ways
A full strategic review
(my preferred starting point)
— We take stock of your business in its entirety
— We identify what’s holding you back and what opportunities you could explore
— We crystallise your strategy into a 37-word strategy statement (to force choice on what’s most important)
— We develop the initiatives to take you forward
Implementation initiatives
(as a follow on from your strategy)
These could include
— Brand repositioning and revitalisation
— Innovation
— Price and promotion optimisation
— Salesforce structure
— Driving efficiency and cost reduction in supply chain and distribution
— Cultural realignment and identification of 'best' people
Ongoing partnership
— Ongoing advisory
— Quarterly re-alignment sessions