Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandro Espinal.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alejandro. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Back in 2000, I wanted to open a business that has four cornerstones: sells knowledge instead of information, technology will be the core for development and communication, it could be conducted and nourished anywhere in the world, and it will focus on consumer products, consumers, and consumption. I have an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird, Arizona, and started marketing AF International through the contacts that I had at that time. This year we completed our 17th year in business; we have conducted more than 1300 projects in 10+ countries including France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Brasil, Mexico, China, Taiwan, Chile, Colombia, USA, Canada, and others. We have supported companies’ business development plans, worked with more than 4,000 executives and helped our clients to grow in their natural markets as well as in international markets.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all. Growing a company is a tough task from financing to human resources to keeping up with the core values that inspired the idea. Once Jack Welch was asked why small companies do not survive or fail in the path of growing and his answer was: “Because, frequently, in the path of growing, the core values and the values that inspired the company are lost” I keep that in mind because one of the big challenges is keeping the energy and the motivation that sparks the creation of the company. Selling is easy but innovating, surprising, and motivating customers all the time is a tough challenge.
AF International – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are in the business of “sharing knowledge”. We do competitive intelligence for supporting our clients’ efforts to grow and specialize in the consumer products industry; consumers, manufacturers, and retailers all interact in the point of sale whatever it is today. We identify retail trends being in the retail format, a product line, a consumer experience, or a new market. Then we develop that knowledge and sell it to our clients in the form of a trends report, go to market strategy, store assessment, product category assessment, market insight & Immersion, and other types of deliverables.
One of our most demanded services is called “Market Insight & Immersion”. We work with a company on a specific topic or to answer a specific question they have about a new product line, a change in its store formats, or to understand innovation and trends. We choose a city where the immersion will take place; New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and many others. For two days in that city we meet in the mornings and make “ideation and co-creation” sessions and in the afternoon go to the marketplace to immerse in the dynamics of it and understand trends, consumers, and innovation. That service is very unique; we have done more than 210 “Market Insight & Immersions” in 20+ cities around the world, interacting with 1000+ executives from 70+ companies.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is simple; loving what you do is the greatest maker of success. Money is a consequence. A job well executed powers innovation, creativity, and motivation. Another maker of success is being fair with your co-workers, with your clients, and with the people around you so you see them growing and being successful as well.
Contact Info:
- Address: 20807 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 100, Aventura, FL 33180`
- Website: www.afiexpress.com
- Phone: 305 371 7746
- Email: aespinal@afiexpress.com
- Instagram: intelivalue
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