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F.A.Q.
We only mention here the most relevant and important questions: click on the question to go to the explanation of it.
For any question not tackled here, do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail, and we will be glad to come back on it a.s.a.p.
- What is the implication of the term "Associates"?
- How do I proceed in order to know if a project I have in hand can be handled by A-bd-A?
- On which countries does A-bd-A work?
- How will you charge and invoice me?
- Since when is your company working in the different fields?
- Why do you distinguish between Catalonia, Madrid and the rest of Spain?
A-bd-A is a company, but we prefered to use the term "Associates" in its name in order to indicate our way of working.
As you will have noticed, our activity field is rather wide, which implies this needs the involvement of many experts and specialists in all those different fields. Should all those experts be hired on a stable basis by A-bd-A, this would imply a huge fixed cost account, cost that finally we would be forced to pass on to all clients in a proportion not equal to their particular project, but as a part of the total payroll and costs of the company.
So, we chose to work the other way round: only a core team of project managers is hired on a stable basis, and besides this team we have a wide range of freelance experts and specialists associated with us, experts who will be involved in the project by the project manager, under his guidance, coordination and responsability, and only as far as necessary.
This has a a big advantage for our client: he will only and exclusively pay for the work done by the experts in his project, not for all the other experts not involved in it.
So, you only pay for what you get, not for wat we have...
As you will have noticed, our activity field is rather wide, which implies this needs the involvement of many experts and specialists in all those different fields. Should all those experts be hired on a stable basis by A-bd-A, this would imply a huge fixed cost account, cost that finally we would be forced to pass on to all clients in a proportion not equal to their particular project, but as a part of the total payroll and costs of the company.
So, we chose to work the other way round: only a core team of project managers is hired on a stable basis, and besides this team we have a wide range of freelance experts and specialists associated with us, experts who will be involved in the project by the project manager, under his guidance, coordination and responsability, and only as far as necessary.
This has a a big advantage for our client: he will only and exclusively pay for the work done by the experts in his project, not for all the other experts not involved in it.
So, you only pay for what you get, not for wat we have...
We
opted for a completely open and transparent way of working, and only
accept those projects we actually can handle with the necessary
expertise. So, the way to proceed is the following:
- you contact us, preferebly by e-mail, explaining us in a few words the project you have in hand, and your aims concerning our intervention;
- if necessary, we then will contact you, be it by e-mail, be it by telephone, be it in person, in order to collect complementary details, so that we have a concrete and precise idea of what will be expected from us;
- once this is clear, we will confirm you if we dispose of the necessary expertise and experts to handle the project successfully: we think that it is in the interest of both our client and us to accept only those projects we are able to handle with expertise and success, and if we see that this is not so, to abstain from further intervention;
- we then proceed to the appointment of the project manager, the constitution of the core project team (if necessary) and core expert team associated to the project (if necessary), and work out a project and invoice proposal with schedule, which, once agreed on, will imply the start of the project;
- the client has a direct line with the project manager, so that he can get information on the progress of the project at any time.
A-bd-A
has been working on and in several countries, even outside Europe (as
in Argentina, Mexico, U.S.A. and Marrocco). Nevertheless, as we
explained earlier (when explaining our proceedings - see here),
we prefer, in the client's interest, to focus only on those projects
where we have the necessary expertise for, in order to maximise the
chances of full success.
And in this context we already can advance that we do not have all those experts at hand for any European country, so that we centre activities in the following countries:
- Spain (with possible distinction for Catalonia, Madrid and the rest of Spain - see also below);
- Belgium (with possible distinction for Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels);
- the Netherlands;
- France.
In some of other countries of Europe, in U.S.A. or Latin America, we do have business contacts and associations, so we eventually can indicate you possible partners.
And in this context we already can advance that we do not have all those experts at hand for any European country, so that we centre activities in the following countries:
- Spain (with possible distinction for Catalonia, Madrid and the rest of Spain - see also below);
- Belgium (with possible distinction for Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels);
- the Netherlands;
- France.
In some of other countries of Europe, in U.S.A. or Latin America, we do have business contacts and associations, so we eventually can indicate you possible partners.
As we explained earlier, once we have evaluated and circumscribed the project with our client, we
decide if we can accept it, and it is once it is accepted that we
present you a schedule of progress of the project (with punctual
deadlines), schedule that will include also the invoice procedure.
In general, we can state that the invoices and payments are done on partly basis, with a primary down payment (of 10, 20 or 30%) at the beginning, and further payments to be agreed on.
In principle, all invoices are done in Spain, according to the Spanish law, although sometimes, exceptionally, it is possible to do the invoices through partners of ours in the client's home country.
In general, we can state that the invoices and payments are done on partly basis, with a primary down payment (of 10, 20 or 30%) at the beginning, and further payments to be agreed on.
In principle, all invoices are done in Spain, according to the Spanish law, although sometimes, exceptionally, it is possible to do the invoices through partners of ours in the client's home country.
Our company
was created in 1992, starting as a sales representative for national and
international magazines and trade fairs; we afterwards expanded
activities, and the respective years of starting the different branches
and areas of activity can be resumed as follows:
- business development and market studies: in 1995 we did our first market studies and business development project, activity that was intensified in 1996, so that it became, from that year on, the core activity of the company, more important than the original one of sales representation;
- creation and starting up of new branches and departments developed hand in hand with the former activity, but was tackled for the first time in 1997, with the creation of an international lobby department "International Partnership Department";
- B2B event organisation: started as a core activity, separate from sales representation from 1994 on, with the associated organisation of "Food Ingredients Spain", but the company's C.E.O., as well as other associates, were involved in these activities of B2B events since 1990;
- acquisitions: the first negotiations we dealt with, with some international groups as U.N. plc., were developed in 1998.
As a matter of fact, we do not, and we do...
Economically spoken, Spain is one market, so here we should not distinguish.
Nevertheless, once we are talking of business development and market studies, there are some differences in the way of doing business, the way to focus on partnership or new branch creation, the way markets are responding to new services or products, etc. So, then, we do have to distinguish between Catalonia (Barcelona) or Madrid, or other regions inside Spain (as Galicia, Andalusia, Canarian Islands,...).
So, the fact of having to make the distinction will depend on what your project contains and implies, and it will be our task or obligation to apply those distinctions where necessary.
Economically spoken, Spain is one market, so here we should not distinguish.
Nevertheless, once we are talking of business development and market studies, there are some differences in the way of doing business, the way to focus on partnership or new branch creation, the way markets are responding to new services or products, etc. So, then, we do have to distinguish between Catalonia (Barcelona) or Madrid, or other regions inside Spain (as Galicia, Andalusia, Canarian Islands,...).
So, the fact of having to make the distinction will depend on what your project contains and implies, and it will be our task or obligation to apply those distinctions where necessary.