02 — Market entry
Enter with the right partners
Between the decision to enter and the first order lie a compliance file, a list of partners to verify and meetings to secure. That is exactly what this assignment covers: we prepare the ground, we open doors, and we stay beside you until the first contract.
Who it is for
- A company that has decided to enter and is looking for a distributor or direct customers.
- A brand already present through parallel importers that wants to regain control.
- A manufacturer that needs a compliance file before shipping.
Deliverables
- An entry roadmap, dated and costed in working days
- A compliance file: applicable texts, formalities, contacts
- Profiles of 3 to 5 verified partners, with our reasoned opinion
- Written notes on every meeting obtained
- An end-of-assignment review and a recommendation for the next step
Stages
The six stages of the assignment
1
Entry roadmap
Objectives, geographic scope, selected products, schedule and success criteria, agreed with you at the kick-off meeting.
2
Compliance
Registration, applicable standards, labelling, import regime, duties and taxes. We bring in legal and customs advisers whenever the file requires it.
3
Partner selection
A shortlist of 8 to 10 distributors or customers, verification of their legal existence, actual activity and reputation, then 3 to 5 documented profiles presented to you.
4
Qualified meetings
Meetings arranged — by video or during a visit on site — with an agenda, translated documentation and a written note after each conversation.
5
Negotiation and first contract
Support during commercial discussions: terms, territory, exclusivity, targets, landed prices. We never sign on your behalf without a written mandate.
6
Logistics and review
Setting up the first flows, with GK General Shop where useful, then a written review and a recommendation for what comes next.
The method
From the first question to the first contract
The same path for every file, whichever service you choose.
01
First conversation
Thirty minutes to understand your product, your objective in Côte d’Ivoire and the questions you want answered. No commitment.
02
Proposal within 5 days
Scope, method, schedule, team, deliverables and terms, on a document you can read in one sitting. A confidentiality agreement is signed on request.
03
Contract and kick-off
Signature, deposit, kick-off meeting, then a two-page scoping note: agreed plan, named contacts, dated milestones.
04
Execution and progress reviews
We work on the ground and keep you informed at fixed intervals: progress point, interim summary, and an immediate alert if anything changes.
05
Handover and next step
Delivery of the report, a spoken debrief, open questions. Then, if you wish, the next stage: market entry or representation.
Typical situation
A Turkish manufacturer of professional kitchen equipment wants to sell to hotels and restaurants in Abidjan. We check the import regime and the electrical standards that apply, identify nine resellers and installers, retain four after verification, arrange a week of meetings on site, then support the negotiation of the distribution contract and the first shipment.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Do we need a market study first?
Do we have to travel to Côte d’Ivoire?
How do you verify a distributor?
What if no partner is suitable?
Next step
Request this service
Describe your product and your objective: we reply within 48 working hours, under a confidentiality agreement if you prefer.