ESC – Entry Strategy Canvas

Press ESC to Enter: Select the most effective penetration model for your business

Bringing a product to a foreign market involves crucial decisions: should you rely on an agent or a distributor? Should you invest in a local subsidiary? Should you focus on cross-border e-commerce? Without a thorough analysis, you risk making the wrong investments or ineffective collaborations.

THE' Entry Strategy Canvas (ESC) helps define the most appropriate entry approach, evaluating possible alternatives in terms of risks, costs, required skills, and potential return on investment. The service is based on business model analysis methodologies and extensive practical experience gained in various product sectors.

How we work on the ESC

1. Goal Mapping: clarify why you want to enter a market (e.g. sales volumes, brand awareness, strategic partnerships).
2. Internal Resources Review: language skills, commercial presence, available budget, timeframes.
3. Evaluating different options: franchising, licensing, joint venture, partnership with an exclusive distributor, local subsidiary, direct e-commerce, etc.
4. Cost-benefit analysis: quantification of start-up costs, estimate of expected revenues, payback period, operational and legal risks.
5. Action Plan: definition of implementation steps, monitoring KPIs, and contingency plans in case of critical issues.

The result is a structured process that enables the company to make informed decisions and avoid missteps. With the Entry Strategy Canvas, the company reduces uncertainty and can organize resources coherently, ensuring it gets off to a good start in its chosen market.