Experts of execution

Let’s Put a Stake Through That Moving Target

As an engineering leader, are you looking for some help locking down sales and marketing on the specification, schedule, or cost of a product offering? Do you want better market intelligence or clearer direction? Simply need someone to manage the project? You’re in the right place!

Two people discussing engineering
Step by step

our solutions

Given enough time, we know you could figure it out yourself. Yet the constraints don’t make it possible. Having lived in each seat of the new product development process, we have a unique understanding of how elements work together to help drive a project. We will be your utility man to help keep things moving.

Step 1:
Investigation

  • Market Prioritization
  • Market & Competitive Gap Analysis
  • Contact Database
  • Qualitative Research
  • Quantitative Research
  • User Preference Mapping
  • Kano Analysis
  • Product Development Roadmap
  • Customer Journey Analysis
  • Strategic Roadmap

Step 2:
Feasibility

  • Specification Development
  • Test Plan Definitions
  • Project Business Case
  • Sales Forecasting
  • Product Concepting
  • IP Applications

Step 3:
Activation

  • Product Design
  • Bill Of Materials
  • First Article
  • Field Testing
  • Certifications
  • Pre-Production Build (Alpha)
  • MarCom

Step 4:
Validation

  • Pre-Production Build (Beta)
  • Quality Review
  • Validation Checklist
Man stressed on computer
Pressed for time?

Ambiguity and Time Are Not an Engineer’s Friend

As an engineer, you know the challenges of sales and marketing shifting the requirements. Maintaining Spec, Schedule, and Cost are always difficult. So often, you wish you didn’t have to make a change based on what a customer told sales. Or with all the daily interruptions, you can’t focus on anything new. You are not alone!

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Key Benefits

You’re technical and like to fix things, yet sometimes there just isn’t enough time to address all the items that need to be done. Sometimes it’s as simple as getting an outside perspective to help generate a new concept or process that will move things forward. Many hands make light work and we’re here to help.

What Success Looks Like
• More Time for You
• Better Market Intelligence
• Additional Resources
• Less Stress

Engineering team
Time to clarify

THE PROCESS

Our goal is to keep it simple. We work together to ensure we understand the core value of the company and the offering to the customer. With that, we map the elements and metrics to define success. Then we execute!

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FILL OUT YOUR CONTRACT FORM

Start by filling out a form and letting us know your company values, your offers to your customer, and your vision.
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GET A FREE CONSULTATION

We'll meet to talk over your goals. Then, we will discuss the best way to tackle the tasks you bring our way.
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Build a Business Plan

We will take your goals and turn them into steps and recommendations for success. We will run the plan past you and refine it.
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Map Out Timelines and Deliver

Finally we will set objectives in order to implement your vision efficiently, and execute the plan.
testimonials

What our clients say

We have a history of making other business leaders' lives easier. Manufacturing to marketing, our clients have achieved their visions and grown their business with our help. Hear their story and take your business goals to the next step.

TONY NORRIS

I started working with The Next Step Inc. as I was entering a new company and new role.  Their understanding of the markets and ability to map out what buyers are thinking was critical for me to get up to speed quickly.  It’s great to have a metric focused marketing firm that is always pushing to drive value and uses the data to bring clarity to where we need to put our resources.  I have really been impressed and enjoyed working with them.

TONY NORRIS

VP Sales and Marketing, Lion Precision
STEVE SOWADA

I worked with Jeff and his team to build out our first Google Ad campaign. We hadn’t done one before and their team was able to do the heavy lifting. They understood my market and products, mapped out the forms, built the content, and launched the campaign. Within a few weeks the new ad was driving 25% of our website traffic with one ad! I didn’t need to write content, project manage or really get involved. This is the way a marketing firm should work.

STEVE SOWADA

VP Sales & Marketing, Motion Tech Automation
DAVID KENSINGER

I was given Jeff’s name as a recommendation from a friend.  The front-end assessment of our business and market helped align our team quickly.  Within a matter of a week, they built out the highly professional content with a clear value proposition message. They helped us focus on a few key materials that would drive value in the sales process. The Next Step team managed everything so I didn’t have to, and also were able to get grant money in the process to help pay for the efforts.

DAVID KENSINGER

President, Tower Solutions
JOHN GETTER

I sat down with Jeff to talk about building a new website for my business. He quickly assessed that before we could build anything, let’s first go work on selling a system so that we could understand what was actually needed to market the product. His approach of finding the key elements to close business was impressive, and I enjoy working with someone who understands the technical nature of my product.

JOHN GETTER

Owner, Can Cyclor
JAMES WERLER

Jeff was hired on a consultant basis and got busy. 6 weeks down the path, we now own a clear vision and template for New Product Development predicated on market data. This guy is 110% devoted to the science of business and product development.

JAMES WERLER

President, Chemstar Products Company
DENNIS STOFFELS

We have been working with Jeff at The Next Step for about two months and we have made more progress than over the last 5 years. He was able to come in and work with our Team and create systems to eliminate wasted time and effort. He was also good at working with the different personalities involved and uncovers the underlying issues. I would highly recommend him.

DENNIS STOFFELS

Owner, Ursa Major
KIRBY SNEEN

Jeff has served as a board member for Manufacturers Alliance since 2012. His insights have always challenged our thinking and helped us to get to the next level. Having someone I can trust that will take over and drive a program so I don’t have to is so relieving. It allows me the ability to stay focused on running the business. If you have a project that needs to get done, give them a call.

KIRBY SNEEN

President, Manufacturers Alliance
JUSTIN JOVLE

I served as a board member for a small manufacturing company Jeff was working on. Within 6 months of starting the company had built out a new brand, found new channel partners, moved the facility, gotten to profitability, and started their lean journey all while evaluating and hiring staff to meet the company objectives. Jeff’s well rounded business knowledge makes him a key resource that can solve any business challenge. If you are struggling with a problem and need some support to drive through it. The Next Step Inc. is your team.

JUSTIN JOVLE

COO, Hydra-Flex Inc.