BUSINESS consultant Edensilk will use its recent acquisition of a Kalgoorlie company as a testing ground for a proposed expansion on the east coast and overseas.
The SME-focused operator acquired Kalgoorlie company DSR Business Coaching this month and, according to Edensilk managing director Paul Curtis, if the transition to a regional market is successful the company will look to launch its services nationally and internationally in 12 months.
“Managed growth is what we are aiming for and we have a unique model for expansion. We’re about becoming a one-stop shop for small to medium businesses,” he said.
“They are too small to afford lots of things and they struggle in IT, sales and marketing, and web development because they don’t have full-time people in those jobs.
“What they do is go out to suppliers and get advice from sales people and people who have a bias.
“We are like a part-time member of staff, and because we don’t sell products, we can give impartial advice.
“That means we are always looking for people who are self-employed consultants who target SMEs and want to come under a bigger umbrella and offer clients a broader range of skills.”
Edensilk has grown from a staff of three to 13 in three years and Mr Curtis wants that figure to reach 30 by the end of 2004.
DSR Business Coaching now comes under the Edensilk banner and its former owner Jeff Austin is the principal business coach.
Mr Curtis said the expansion into Kalgoorlie would provide a test case for growth into new markets.
“It’s a test run for us for expansion interstate and overseas. We have a model that works locally and we need to perfect and develop it,” he said.
“I’ve had approaches from companies in Melbourne to do what we do over there but I want to make sure the model works first.”
