This past few months has been extremely business for me – but I super excited to be a part of something new. It has always been my dream to be involved in the process of creating a brand new FMCG company. The thrill seeing how things unfold have kept me glued. I happen to be playing a major role in the process – so far I have poured my heart into this project. The truth is that FMCG is 50% branding and most people do a very bad job at that, most especially this part of the world. When the Topic is FMCG we tend to think about brands like Unilever, Nestlé, Johnson and Johnson. Why is this so? because these brands are deliberate about their online activities and branding. When it comes to FMCG brands should make they give adequate resources and time to their business model, Marketing and Branding Strategy, Regulations and Supply Chain Management. We will take it one after the other. Before I go deeper into this point, the FMCG brand I’m involved with is called Topwidecare. This reason for the name is because the parent brand Topwide Ventures was founded on May 5, 1996 as a trading company for Dreams Cosmetics in Abijan. Basically there business model was importation and distribution. Because importation was becoming hugely unsustainable the company decided to branch out into manufacturing of its own personal care products – this was how Topwidecare was born. But we want to do things differently from every other brand. Times are changing and FMCG brands should be more innovative in their approach. We are poised to set a new standard in the personal care industry with a commitment to transparency and clean, organic ingredients. We are not just another personal care brand – we aim to shape the future by developing products backed by rigorous research

 

The past few months have been a whirlwind of activity for me, filled with excitement and anticipation as I’ve embarked on a new journey. I’ve always harbored a dream of contributing to the creation of a brand-new Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company, and now, I’m living that dream. The unfolding of this process has been nothing short of thrilling, and I’ve found myself deeply engrossed in it, playing a significant role.

I’ve dedicated myself wholeheartedly to this project, a venture called Topwidecare. This FMCG brand is an offshoot of Topwide Ventures, a trading company established on May 5, 1996, that initially focused on the importation and distribution of Dreams Cosmetics in Abijan. However, as importation became increasingly unsustainable, the company decided to branch out into manufacturing its own personal care products, giving birth to Topwidecare.

In the FMCG industry, branding accounts for 50% of the game, and unfortunately, many fail to do it justice, particularly in this part of the world. When we think of FMCG, brands like Unilever, Nestlé, and Johnson and Johnson often come to mind. Why? Because these brands have been deliberate about their online activities and branding.

For FMCG brands to succeed, they must allocate adequate resources and time to their business model, marketing and branding strategy, regulations, and supply chain management. Each of these aspects is crucial and deserves individual attention.

At Topwidecare, we aim to break the mold and set a new standard in the personal care industry. We are committed to transparency and the use of clean, organic ingredients. We are not just another personal care brand – our goal is to shape the future by developing products backed by rigorous research.

We recognize that the FMCG landscape is changing, and brands need to be more innovative in their approach. We are poised to lead this change, differentiating ourselves from other brands. We are ready to embrace the challenges of the FMCG industry and navigate them with innovative solutions, leveraging technology, and creative strategies.

 

 

Business Model

The business model of FMCG companies is centered around selling products that can be made quickly, are small and inexpensive, and provide a higher margin. These products are typically non-durable consumer goods like food, cosmetics, toiletries, cleaning products, and medicine. The profit margin of FMCG products is low, so to earn a standard profit margin, one should invest a large amount to produce many kinds of products. FMCG companies have to undertake all sorts of marketing, including advertisement, to sell the products to retailers and directly to customer.

 

 

Marketing Strategy

FMCG companies traditionally marketed their products through mediums such as door-to-door salesmen, radio advertisements, newspapers, and banners. However, with the advent of digital marketing, companies are shifting their strategies. Increasing social media frequency, creating well-designed packaging, and choosing effective product names are some of the strategies used and this is one of the strategies I have adopted for Topwidecare. For what is worth I was able to secure the .com domain ( www.topwidecare.com ) and also secured the name Topwidecare consistently across all the social media platform. We also have some of the best product names like: Topskin, Miracle White, Top Nova and Top Baby.

 

 

 

Regulations

FMCG companies are required to comply with various laws and regulations, such as good manufacturing practices (GMP), hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), product packaging and labeling regulations, and occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) regulations. Non-compliance with regulations can have severe consequences, including loss of consumer confidence, revenue drops, and business collapse. Therefore, FMCG companies must exercise particular care to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

 

 

 

Supply Chain Management

The supply chain in the FMCG sector consists of all the operations and actions necessary in the manufacture and delivery of the product, from the supply of raw materials to consumption by the end customer. This supply chain is driven by different flows: product flow, financial flow, and information flow. For the supply chain to be successful, there has to be constant interaction between the supplier and the customer. In many cases, other partners like distributors, dealers, retailers, and logistic service providers are involved in the information network

In conclusion, building an FMCG company requires a comprehensive understanding of the business model, marketing strategies, regulatory compliance, and supply chain management. It’s also important to stay updated with the latest trends and changes in the industry to ensure the company’s growth and success.