Celebrating 5 Years with a Special Announcement

By Mark Tarchetti

This week is a special week for me, marking the 5th anniversary of launching Alchemy-Rx.? The time has flown by.? We started the firm because organic growth in consumer products was at a 20-year low, and we wanted to help address that.

The alchemy theme was designed to convey a focus on growth transformations.? Equally important was the Rx, the methodical and proven approach built up over decades of operating experience.? We passionately believe by applying activity-based management you can achieve the same rigor, specificity, and business case with growth plans as with cost savings or supply chain management.?

It has been a great ride so far. ?We have met and worked with some amazing clients, and I am grateful for the trust they have shown in us.

We have assembled our own team of experts, a talented and highly experienced group that I am very proud of.? There are 15 of us now, in 3 continents.? We are a boutique, and we intend to stay that way. This forces us to focus on the core growth practice, and leave the things beyond that to others. We have learned a lot from the journey.? How to “productize” operating experience into a truly impactful and differentiated offer.? We still aren’t much good at selling.? So, our work comes almost entirely from word of mouth and our networks.? We get a lot of repeat work as people see the value in what we deliver.?

Approaching the anniversary, we took time to reflect as a team.? The roster of leading brands that have worked with us makes us proud.? As we looked back, we realized how grateful we were to those early adopters that took a chance on us.? It takes a lot to pick the new firm over the big consultants.? So that gave us an idea.?

As a team we have decided we will put 10 percent of our resources into “pro bono” projects helping the next generation of brands.? Growth businesses but lacking the financial resources to hire firms like us and with untapped potential in their business, brand, and innovation strategy.? We will give back to those brands with real project work at no cost, and try to help them develop faster.? Partners in growth.

• Can we afford it?? Not really, but that’s what makes it a real commitment from all of us.?
• Do we have every detail worked out? Not at all, we will launch it shortly and learn by doing.?
• What will we get out of it if we are not being paid?? We believe you learn a lot from entrepreneurs and high growth situations and we will benefit from that.

So more news to come on this exciting new initiative from Alchemy-Rx.?? Meanwhile happy birthday team!

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