Marian McDonald & Associates, trading as Think Outside the Box, will meet with entrepreneurs to assist in devising a plan to survice the current economic climate while also developing good, innovative business strategies to help position the business correctly, for the future.

Contracts undertake to date include:

• Working with entrepreneurs in the development of new ideas
• Working with established businesses which require some growth or assistance in investigation of potential developments
• Working with co-operatives (new & established) in developing good day-to-day business practices and promotion of new ideas and enterprises
• Working with state and semi-state organisations in the development of complexes (craft, sports & youth)

Tasks undertaken include:

• Raising the necessary finance for the projects through the combination of investment, loans & european grants
• Dealing with the relevant Planning Authorities while co-ordinating the work of surveyors, architects & builders in the design of projects
• Completion of business plans
• Sourcing fixtures & fittings
• Sourcing suitable tenants plus devising Tenant Agreements, etc.
• Assisting in the development of Co-Operatives
• Securing Business Expansion Scheme Finance
• Assisting with marketing strategies, both for the home market and abroad
• Assisting with costing and pricing strategies
• One-to-one mentoring - assessments and advice on the way forward