
Introduction
At The Bridge Between, our mission is to connect businesses with their ideal clients and customers through creative qualitative research and actionable strategic insights. Recently, we had the opportunity to work with The Fungi Folks, the UK’s largest organic cordyceps growers. Through our collaboration, we helped them achieve their goals of increasing revenue and laying the foundations as market leaders in the medicinal mushroom industry.
“We had our best month yet revenue-wise and some good developments. We’re in touch with a small handful of companies including one who was talking about a 125kg order. We’re going to London to connect with the chefs from a restaurant in London who are going to do a feature with us and put it on their Instagram of 1 million followers. The research and consultancy has been handy including having the info sheet to send out and we did a video too which is now on the site on the wholesale page.”
Understanding The Fungi Folks
The Fungi Folks had a unique product offering, but they faced challenges in standing out in a competitive and progressive market. Despite being the largest organic cordyceps growers in the UK, their potential wasn’t fully realised due to a lack of market awareness and an underdeveloped sales strategy. They needed a partner who could bridge the gap between their current positioning and their growth aspirations in a short space of two months through research.
“I didn’t know what I needed. When I came to The Bridge Between I didn’t know what market research was. It’s a whole world that’s completely foreign to me.”
“What I found most useful was talking through different strategic options. That was very useful.”
Our Approach: Research and Strategy Development
We began with preparation and data collection to conduct a 360 audit of the company and all its available assets.
- Gather Existing Data: Collect all available business data including sales figures, client feedback, business plan, current strategy, marketing materials, and competitive landscape analysis.
- Conduct Stakeholder Interviews: Interview key stakeholders, including team members to gather insights on strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
- Conduct External B2B Expert Interviews: Interview experts in the space of medicinal mushrooms and business-to-business selling to ensure success.
Desk Research
With a better understanding of the business, we then conducted a comprehensive SWOT analysis of The Fungi Folks and their competitors to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This analysis revealed key insights:
- Strengths: High-quality, organic, and sustainable products with a traceable supply chain.
- Weaknesses: Limited team resources focused more on production than sales and a product mix that didn’t significantly differentiate from competitors.
- Opportunities: Leveraging a content strategy, exploring new sales platforms, and capitalising on select markets.
- Threats: Regulatory risks, potential client retention issues, and growing competition.
Strategy
We then took these insights and conducted extensive client research on connecting with the brands The Fungi Folks wanted to work with authentically. With the insights learnt, we developed a multi-channel communication strategy to enhance The Fungi Folks market presence. This included:
- Content Strategy: We helped create the fundamentals for The Fungi Folks to be thought leaders in the medicinal mushroom space, linking them with content creators using thought-provoking knowledge and their products to engage with potential clients.
- In-Person Engagement: We encouraged participation in where their products could sit. Whether that’s restaurants, cafes, and lifestyle stores.
- Direct Mail/Communication: From the client research, we created different communication approach methods to engage with clients through email, phone, and digital.
- LinkedIn Activation: A focused LinkedIn strategy to connect with businesses in the wellness and health sectors, sharing valuable content and fostering relationships.
- Website Optimisation: The addition of a video on their wholesale page to showcase product quality.
- Business Information Sheet: We developed The Fungi Folks a business information sheet to simplify client communication.
- Brand House: Finally, we created a brand house to establish a clear and compelling brand identity that reflects The Fungi Folks business’s core values, market position, and growth strategy, based on the data collected throughout the project.
The Results
The impact of our collaboration was swift and significant:
- Record Revenue Month: The Fungi Folks had their best month yet driven by increased visibility and new business connections, including discussions for a substantial 125kg order.
- Strategic Partnerships: High-profile collaborations, such as a feature with a restaurant in London, provided valuable exposure on social media platforms like Instagram with 1 million followers.
- Enhanced Client Communication: The newly developed information sheet and video content became key tools in their sales process, improving client engagement and conversion rates.
- Sustained Growth: The Fungi Folks are now well-positioned to continue their growth trajectory, with a solid foundation for both B2B and B2C markets.
- On-Going Consultancy: The Bridge Between provides ongoing consultancy to ensure The Fungi Folks have the expertise to grow.
Client Testimonial
Tom Richer, Founder of The Bridge Between, was thrilled with the results: “Seeing The Fungi Folks thrive after implementing our research is incredibly rewarding. They are now connecting with top-tier clients and are solidifying their position in the market.”
Conclusion
The Bridge Between is proud to have played a role in The Fungi Folks’ success. By leveraging strategic research and creative content, we’ve helped them not only increase their revenue but also lay the groundwork for sustained growth and market leadership. If you’re looking to bridge the gap between where your business is and where it could be, let’s talk.
Contact Information
Tom Richer
Founder, The Bridge Between
Email: thebridgebetweentbb@gmail.com
Phone: 07398240422
Bridging The Fungi Folks and the B2B Mushroom Market
We’re here to help you grow.