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volume sales proďŹ le of a highly engineered, high value product range. That does not lend itself to a China model. We have people with a wide span of skills, who can move to different roles in the factory to satisfy the business demands. Again, that’s not how it works in China. “One thing Dave Carr, our head of operations, does is constantly look at how to develop his staff, to satisfy their interests and our needs.â€? Bringing the trio of mixer-makers together was a “very cuteâ€? move, says Beaumont. “The three brands stand alone – but you have this greater experience,â€? he says. “So, if I have a problem with something, or Patrick [Warrington] our technical director has a problem, he can pick up the phone and talk to DiGiCo or Allen & Heath about it – and vice versa.â€? All customer facing functions – sales, marketing and support - are brand speciďŹ c, he reports. No one is treading on anyone else’s toes within the Audiotonix group because there is very little overlap between the product ranges. “But in the back office, we help each other. You think it might have been hard to get this big group of people to work together, but it’s been like ďŹ nding your long lost twin. No one’s fallen out with
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Nutclough Mill, a former textile factory, with the new extension to the left/rear
each other, we’re all still here and we’re still learning from what we’re all individually best at – which tells you a lot.â€? A pause. Then, emphatically: “The biggest opportunity we have in terms of synergies in the group is in R&D, because we all have bright people. Put them together and it’s just phenomenal! It’s deďŹ nitely a case of the whole being greater than the
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sum of the parts.� How much does the ‘money’ – Electra Partners – get involved with the brands? “I think the Electra guys have struck the right balance of involvement,� he considers. “As long as we deliver, we’re left to get on with it. They want the growth, but they are very interested in products and
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L AUNCHING 5TH APRIL 2016
www.psneurope.com/business 18 19 20 Strategic position FIN.indd 2
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