= Using our network to provide key consultants in specialist areas
= Assessing the feasibility of a business idea without commitment
      to permanent resource
= Providing in-depth research across a range of channels and sectors
= Development of brand identity and style guide
= Ongoing client support - preparation of the business plan and proposals
      for potential sponsors and partners

The Background
Our client, the owner of a well-loved and instantly recognisable brand, was, like many organisations, faced with the threat of increasing competition in their core market. However as the brand benefits from enormous public affection, our client wanted to consider the feasibility of stretching the brand outside the core business, by developing a character to appear in a series of children's books.

The Brief
The brief was to explore the project's feasibility in terms of the match between our client's strategic and financial objectives and existing market opportunities. Initial recommendations from the Virtual Marketing Company extended the scope of the brief to cover merchandising, music and TV. VMC went on to assist the client further by preparing the business plan, creating a brand identity and style guide and accompanying the client to meetings with potential partners and sponsors.

Research into tourist, publishing, merchandising, music and TV markets
The VMC team tapped the contacts, skills and knowledge of our network of specialists from the music, publishing and TV industries. The insight gained alongside our own extensive qualitative and desk research helped us to produce a detailed study of the opportunities in the individual markets and make recommendations of the routes to increased brand presence and profitable business.

Building a bespoke team to meet the needs of the client
The VMC put together a team with strong strategic planning, research and analysis skills working remotely from the client's office. The client achieved the benefit of a mainstream consultancy service and a tailor-made team appropriate to their needs without the attendant overhead.