Pressure on margins continues to increase
Results shouldn’t be a matter of chance, but of design. Either you need to increase revenue or reduce costs. Sometimes you need both. We have ideas, concepts, and methods for everything. From value selling to lean management—we make your company competitive and ensure long-term profitability.
Challenge
Today, it is virtually impossible to generate revenue growth through conventional sales forces, as new customers are very difficult to acquire—and when they are, it is almost exclusively based on price. There is little profit to be made this way. That is why alternative approaches are needed.
Our Expertise
We optimize your sales strategies, identify attractive product and market segments, and support you in expanding your value chain through digital sales models or innovative services. In this context, “value selling” means moving away from pure price competition toward selling solutions that solve the customer’s actual problem. An interesting alternative is “revenue investment”: Instead of investing years in laborious acquisition, we help you purchase customer bases from competitors. This is done through targeted asset deals, in which you take over the customers and orders of competitors who are withdrawing from the market or consolidating their capacities. We identify these opportunities discreetly and ensure that the transition of customer relationships proceeds smoothly. This is the fastest path to profitable growth without margin pressure. Another lever is expanding your portfolio with complementary services such as warehouse logistics or web-to-print portals. We support you in positioning these new offerings in the market. It is particularly important to us that your sales staff embrace this change. We coach your teams so they can advocate the new strategies with conviction to your customers. This ensures not just a short-lived flash in the pan, but a sustainable increase in revenue based on genuine market relevance and strong customer loyalty. With GC, you’ll find the levers that lead your company into the growth zone.
Task definition
In an industry with high fixed costs and narrow margins, an excellent cost structure is essential for survival. That is why it is necessary to constantly review your own costs.
Our Expertise
We take a holistic and in-depth look at your processes to identify fundamental opportunities for improvement. We develop concepts for making production and administrative processes more efficient. Digitalization and automation always play a role in this. Our primary focus, however, is on implementation. As part of LEAN projects, we eliminate setup time losses, optimize scrap rates, or improve material flow in your production. Often, measurable results can be achieved through small adjustments without the need for expensive new investments. We take care of your overhead costs. We conduct transparent benchmarking, comparing your key performance indicators with the best in the industry. This allows you to immediately see where real potential lies. But cost reduction with GC does not mean “saving at any cost.” On the contrary.
We follow the principle of “ambidexterity” (Latin for being ambidextrous) and ensure that your company remains future-proof. Our goal is an organization that can respond to market changes in a lean and agile manner. Together with your executives, we implement a culture of continuous improvement (CCI). This ensures that the cost savings achieved do not evaporate after a few months, but remain firmly embedded in your company’s DNA. Profitability is not a static state, but a daily process—we provide you with the tools to make it happen.
Gain transparency
Precise planning and control systems are the cockpit of your business. We implement efficient planning tools, controlling instruments, and management dashboards so that you maintain full transparency—and thus control—over your operations at all times, enabling you to make well-informed decisions.
Problem Statement
Many companies in the printing industry operate without a sufficient data foundation—decisions are often made “on a gut feeling.” In a complex market environment, this is dangerous.
Our Expertise
We help you develop or improve your planning and establish a modern reporting system that shows you, at the click of a button, where you’re making money and where you’re losing it. To do this, we develop, for example, customized business plans and ROI calculators for your sales team that truly convince customers, or we optimize your existing MIS (Management Information Systems) solutions. In doing so, we focus on the metrics that really matter, such as contribution margins per order, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), or process costs. In addition to purely financial metrics, we establish control systems for your change processes. When you implement a new strategy, you need to know whether the measures are taking effect. We develop dashboards that visualize the progress of your projects and signal undesirable developments early on.
This allows you to take proactive countermeasures before problems become visible on the balance sheet. Our consultants train your management in the use of these tools so that data translates into action. We create a “single source of truth” within the company that objectifies discussions and accelerates decision-making. For us, maintaining control means creating transparency and giving management the confidence to keep the company on course even in turbulent times. With GC, your controlling shifts from a rearview mirror to a navigation system for your future profitability.
Task definition
It usually happens unexpectedly and is often caused by external factors. The bankruptcy of a major customer, a sudden spike in material prices. When the numbers turn red and pressure from banks or suppliers mounts, speed is the decisive factor.
Our Expertise
We have decades of experience in crisis management within the printing and packaging industry. First, we create transparency: What is the true state of liquidity? We develop short-term cash flow projections and support you in negotiations with financial partners. Our reputation as reputable industry experts often helps restore lost trust with lenders. At the same time, we develop a robust turnaround plan. We don’t hide behind theoretical reports; instead, we go where the pain is. We identify unprofitable business units and work with you to make the tough decisions necessary to preserve the core business. Throughout this process, we always maintain a human focus. A crisis is extremely stressful for owners and employees; we guide this process with empathy and clarity. We provide operational support for the implementation of these measures, either as part of a project or as interim managers. We are your rock in the storm, paving the way out of the red and back to profitability. A turnaround with GC means using the crisis as an opportunity for a genuine fresh start, so that your company emerges from this difficult phase stronger and more modernized.