About me

About Successful CRM

Nick Bird MA,BSc (Hons),MIDM

Nick Bird is an accomplished individual with a strong educational background, including a BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Statistics from Brunel University, awarded with a 2:1 distinction. In 1987, Nick earned the Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma, followed by the Institute of Direct Marketing Diploma in 1992. His educational journey continued with a 2012 graduation, where he received an MA in Social Philosophy. Adding to his diverse skill set, Nick achieved Microsoft Certified Professional Status in 2010. He now specialises in supporting smaller businesses with his ZOHO partnership.

How I add Value:

My difference is that, unlike most CRM Consultants, I have spent a lifetime in Sales Marketing and Business rather than in technology. That means because I understand what you are trying to do, I can find practical answers rather than complex and expensive technical ones. It also means I am focused on delivering results that matter to your business.

You will also gather that I am a sole trader. That means I don’t carry the costs of larger consultants and have the flexibility to work the way you want to work. It also means that when I commit to something, I do so knowing that I am going to have to make it work, not throw it over the wall to a technical team and walk away. For that reason, I spend time and effort making sure I understand what you need and that I can deliver it before we start working together.

But it does mean I take on just a few clients each year, and EVERYONE of them is my priority. Actually, I don’t want clients, I want friends.

1984

Graduation

Graduated from Brunel University with a Psychology and Statistics Degree and began working for the J Bibby group providing Laboratory supplies to the NHS and Major Pharmaceutical businesses

1986

Sales & Marketing

Joined a J Bibby distributor (Griffiths and Neilsen) as a Sales and Marketing manager and became a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing winning over £500,000 of annual contracts to supply Microbiology departments of Hospitals across the South East.

1987

Career Progression

Joined Safeguard Business Systems who supplied specialist overlap printing to manage accounts (before businesses used computers) as a Distributor Support Manager. I was eventually promoted to Marketing Manager.

1988

Increasing Turnover

Became a Safeguard Distributor in Devon and increased turnover in the area from £30K annually to £280,000 in 18 months selling to Small Businesses. This included general accounting systems and specialist ones for Travel Agents and Solicitors as well as developing Visitors Passes for schools. Built my first CRM system.

1990

Institute of Direct Marketing Diploma

Joined a small outsourced payroll business specialising in the foreign banking sector as a Sales lead. Was promoted to Sales and Marketing Director (registered with Companies House) and passed my Institute of Direct Marketing Diploma and becoming a member. The business was losing money but within four years we had grown the business from turning over £400K a year to £2m and profits to more than £500,000. Built a CRM System in Microsoft Access.

1995

Customer Relationship Director

The payroll business was so successful that it was acquired by Ceridian a global Payroll and HR outsource provider who employed me as an account manager. I was promoted to Customer Relationship Director managing accounts such as Starbucks, Mothercare, Rabbobank. I was promoted again to lead the introduction of the first online Recruitment system into the UK. Then I joined a team selling a complete Payroll and HR system to SME's hitting over £500K of sales for four years.

Microsoft Technical Specialist

Sub Label

Microsoft Technical Specialist

Joined Kent County Council to head up sales of IT infrastructure (Thin Client Oracle System) to the education sector then promoted to Marketing Manager for their Utilities procurement business - Laser. Here I implemented Microsoft Dynamics and gained my accreditation as a Microsoft Technical Specialist.

2012

Joined Hydra

Joined Hydra to manage major client accounts using their Project Management software and managed the move from an "on premise" Dynamics CRM system to the online Dynamics 2011.

2015

ZOHO Partnership

Started my ZOHO Partnership in Kent and continue to run this business to the present day as a fully accredited Alliance Partner specialising in supporting smaller businesses, gaining my Certified CRM Administrator badge.

What Our Clients Say

Claire Fenwick

I would thoroughly recommend Nick’s workshop. We have been using ZOHO for some time and Nick really
opened my eyes to some of the functionality we hadn’t realised was there all along. Nicks obvious knowledge of ZOHO shone through and we will definitely call on his services in the future.

Nathalie Banaigs

Nick was recommended to me as I was looking for a CRM system. I had tried quite a few and never found one that did what I wanted and needed. One always need a certain level of customization… Nick made himself available to discuss my needs and understood them pretty much immediately. Not only did he know what he was talking about but he was helpful and interested in the system I wanted to build. I suspect he also enjoyed the challenge! As far as I am concerned, I received a five star service…

About Successful CRM

Nick Bird MA,BSc (Hons),MIDM

What Our Clients Say

Claire Fenwick

Nathalie Banaigs

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