System and method for forming business alliances
OwnerScott Mueller, Richard Cahoon +1inventors
InventorsScott Mueller, Richard Cahoon, Dean Mueller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for forming a strategic alliance between two or more entities is disclosed. The strategic alliance may be formed between the two or more entities to jointly manage the development, marketing, distribution and/or sale of a product and/or service sold to consumers through retailers. A joint business plan may define the goals and requirements of the strategic alliance. Each entity may contribute personnel and resources to program units for implementation of the joint business plan. The described methods of forming a strategic alliance may be used in any industry.
Claims19
A method of forming a strategic alliance between two or more entities, wherein an objective of the alliance is to jointly manage the sale and marketing of at least one of a product and a service through one or more retailers, the method comprising:
- investigating one or more possible partners;
- selecting a partner based on one or more criteria;
- meeting with the selected partner;
- describing aspects of a business model to the selected partner;
- presenting a specific business model to the selected partner;
- presenting a letter of intent to the selected partner;
- designing functional requirements of a program;
- developing a joint business plan to manage the program;
- executing a contract with the selected partner detailing the terms of the joint business plan;
- developing an implementation plan to implement the program at one or more retailers;
- launching the program at the one or more retailers;
- maintaining the program using input gathered over time;
- creating a growth plan for the growth of the relationship between the two or more entities over time;
- and
- implementing the growth plan.
A joint business plan for a strategic alliance between two or more entities, wherein an objective of the joint business plan is to jointly manage the sale and marketing of at least one of a product and a service through retailers, the joint business plan comprising:
- a marketing/program management unit;
- a merchandising unit for coordinating product selection and pricing;
- a sales unit;
- a supply and logistics unit;
- and
- an administrative unit,
- wherein each of two or more entities contributes personnel and resources to at least one of the units, wherein at least one entity is a manufacturer, wherein at least one entity is a distributor.
A method of creating and implementing a joint business plan for a strategic alliance between two or more entities, wherein an objective of the joint business plan is to jointly manage the sale and marketing at least one of a product and a service through one or more retailers, the method comprising:
- using personnel and resources of two or more entities to establish functional requirements of a program that govern one or more retailers' sale of at least one of a product and a service;
- developing a joint business plan to manage the program;
- agreeing, by the entities, to the terms of the joint business plan;
- selecting one or more launch locations;
- creating a launch plan including a launch plan schedule;
- initiating the program at one or more retailers;
- and
- managing the program according to the joint business plan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.