Introduction
Business turnaround strategy steps are all around us. The retail industry is a prime example of many companies trying to make their businesses profitable. In Canada, Hudson’s Bay Company has been trying to find the right turnaround formula. In the United States, Bed Bath & Beyond has been trying to turn themselves around.
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Corporate restructuring, of course, is not limited by industry type. The retail industry is merely a high profile business sector that has been in the news for years now with the struggles of brick and mortar retailers.
The purpose of this Brandon’s Blog is to provide an introductory view of the world of business restructuring. I will discuss 3 main areas:
- What is a turnaround strategy?
- How do I turnaround a failing business?
- What does a turnaround specialist do?
What is a turnaround strategy in business?
Business turnaround strategy steps involve the practice of taking an ailing company, bringing in experienced and knowledgeable external support and enacting a recovery plan to put the firm back on the straight and narrow. A business turnaround is when an organization needs to drastically improve its financial results in order to survive.
Regardless of what kind of business needs a turnaround strategy, urgency is almost always a factor. There is always a finite time limit for achieving the results of the business turnaround strategy steps. A business turnaround is one of the most difficult maneuvers a business owner will ever make.
If your business has failed to pay accounts on time, or even if rumour and counter-rumour of any business turnaround have reached a supplier before you have discussed it with them, it may lead to the supplier imposing draconian payment terms that most probably would jeopardize the success of any turnaround recovery plan.
Therefore, you must get out ahead of the issues when you first recognize that business restructuring is necessary. Only in that way will the business owner and management remain in control of the turnaround process.
How do I turnaround a failing business?
Before a successful business turnaround can be implemented, it is crucial to understand what got the company where it is now. This is accomplished by first doing a comprehensive study of where the company has been. Many of the questions that must be asked are:
- What are its strengths, opportunities and weaknesses?
- What has led to the continued poor financial results?
- Are all the product lines appropriate?
- Is there one or more new products that the turnaround is going to be based upon?
- What operational changes must take place to streamline the business and make it more efficient?
- What cost-cutting needs to take place?
- What key investments need to be made for the company’s future success?
- How does the company’s balance sheet need to be restructured so that once it comes out of the restructuring there is not too much debt?
- Is there adequate financing available to effect the business turnaround?
Assessing the situation is essential before a successful business turnaround strategy steps plan can be implemented. It is crucial to first understand what got the company where it is now. Ultimately, it is this comprehensive business review that will reveal what the company requires.
Business turnaround strategy steps are more complicated than just consolidating debt. The heavy debt load is the result of all the business problems and losses. A successful restructuring requires fixing all the underlying issues that have created the financial losses and heavy debt load. The business turnaround plan will certainly focus on rigorous cost reduction across all categories and functions will take time to complete it. The results of a successful restructuring will be well worth the effort.
Summarizing the most important business turnaround strategy steps
In my opinion, the most important steps in any company restructuring process are:
- Take control of your cash flow. If the business is hemorrhaging cash money, take action to stop it as quickly as is possible.
- Make certain you have the right group in place.
- Change your company strategy.
- Right size your costs.
- Make certain you have the money to finance your organization’s turnaround.
- Share your plan with crucial stakeholders.
What does a turnaround specialist do?
Business turnaround strategy steps can be completed solely by management. However, my experience shows that seeking expert advice from legal and financial professionals should be strongly considered. It is essential for the company wishing to restructure to retain the services of a turnaround specialist.
Since the business may need to invoke a “time out” to protect itself against enforcement actions by creditors, formal insolvency proceedings may very well be required. More often than not, business restructuring is implemented under a bankruptcy protection filing. If a business turnaround is a possibility, this type of bankruptcy filing makes the most sense.
So, not surprisingly, a licensed insolvency trustee (formerly called a bankruptcy trustee) (Trustee), is the turnaround specialist. In most cases where a business turnaround can be effected, the most important thing is for the owners to take professional advice at the earliest possible point in time.
The Trustee becomes the “traffic cop”. The Trustee makes sure that scarce resources are properly implemented. That the various operational problems identified in the comprehensive study are being addressed and corrected. The Trustee must also communicate and negotiate with all stakeholders.
One of the keys to achieving all business turnaround strategy steps is not only having the alignment of senior management but also having clear alignment and commitment from middle management. Another key factor in a business turnaround is the need for the Trustee to promote a paradigm shift in thinking, behaviour and approach from within the company. Continuing to do the same thing will lead to the company’s death.
The Trustee must encourage discussion and debate. Achieving the results of the business turnaround strategy steps is more art than a science. There are always different perspectives that are worthy of consideration. Companies in need of a financial business turnaround can benefit from the expertise offered by the Trustee. The Trustee is independent of past decisions and therefore is unbiased as to what must be done to save the business. Corporate restructuring and the business turnaround strategy steps are complex. The Trustee must make sure that all the moving parts are being dealt with properly, while management and non-management personnel alike must focus on their individual areas and tasks.
Nowadays, a turnaround is less likely to be completed only domestically, and often times international issues such as having an overseas manufacturing base and business partners are of key importance. In the domestic business segment, business turnaround is the need of the hour and management must work with renewed focus and energy to improve market share, reduce the costs, streamline the supply chain and ensure the launch of products on time. Overall, while streamlining the operations, the focus on the customer cannot be lost.
Combining the experience of the CEO, senior management and non-execs in the business turnaround strategy steps can help steady the ship, identify the blind spots as well as opportunities from the outset. By involving all levels, the entire company personnel will understand what needs fixing, will identify the best solutions and all work together in the business turnaround.
Many times, a turnaround calls for:
- leadership changes;
- improved change management skills;
- ratcheted up customer service, and:
- the introduction of new initiatives.
Trying to push through such significant changes can feel like an uphill struggle. One of the roles of the Trustee is to keep everyone focussed and all new initiatives and necessary changes moving forward and that the implementation is being done on a timely basis.
A company turnaround is a tremendous learning experience. No business turnaround is complete unless you’ve taken time to sit back as a team and think about what you’ve just been through. Reflecting on what went wrong, how it was corrected and the work that still needs to be done on implementing and monitoring the new business plan and the business results is very therapeutic and necessary.
Summary
Completing all the business turnaround strategy steps on time will lead to successful corporate restructuring. A successful company restructuring will result in a healthy operation and a valuable saleable asset. Does your company have too much debt and in need of corporate restructuring? Wouldn’t it be beautiful, though, if you could do a turnaround for your organization?
The Ira Smith Team understands how to do a complex restructuring. However, more importantly, we understand the needs of the entrepreneur or the person who has too much personal debt. You are worried because you are facing significant financial challenges.
It is not your fault that you are in this situation. You have been only shown the old ways that do not work anymore. The Ira Smith Team uses new modern ways to get you out of your debt troubles while avoiding bankruptcy. We can get you debt relief freedom.
The stress placed upon you is huge. We understand your pain points. We look at your entire situation and devise a strategy that is as unique as you and your problems; financial and emotional. The way we take the load off of your shoulders and devise a debt settlement plan, we know that we can help you.
We know that people facing financial problems need a realistic lifeline. There is no “one solution fits all” approach with the Ira Smith Team. That is why we can develop a restructuring process as unique as the financial problems and pain you are facing. If any of this sounds familiar to you and you are serious in finding a solution, contact the Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. team today.
Call us now for a free consultation. We will get you or your company back on the road to healthy stress-free operations and recover from the pain points in your life, Starting Over, Starting Now.
