The 1st Time God Delivered A £72,000 Blessing
In late 2012, living life in sin, with no faith at all, my 2 person company PRWD developed our 1st retainer proposition, to hopefully provide us with a new revenue stream to give us some financial stability over a longer period. My one employee was called Matt, and we got on really, really well.
It was the 17th December 2012. We didn’t have much in the way of sales for early 2013, so things were quite tight financially.
Before developing this proposition we simply worked on projects, typically between 2-8 weeks, sometimes having a couple of projects ongoing at the same time.
These were the features of the new retainer proposition we developed:
Service titled a “Conversion Optimisation Strategy Programme”
Minimum initial 6-month client engagement
3 service levels available - £8,000 a month, £10,000 a month, £12,000
Travel and accommodation for any workshops payable separately
This was a new, highly specialist service that larger companies were starting to look for
We could deliver most of the proposed service between the 2 of us, without having to hire anyone else, through learning some new skills on the job
We were happy with the new retainer proposition, and we added it to the agency website, but without having any particular marketing plan in place to promote it.
2 Days Later
2 days after launching our 1st retainer proposition on the 17th December 2012, we received a phone call from Chris, who was a senior manager at VF Corporation, whom I had delivered a 1 day training course for earlier that year.
He started to ask about whether we had anything to offer for how he is planning to start getting in to conversion optimisation at the start of 2013, for The North Face and Vans.
He hadn’t been on the website to see the new retainer proposition, but from what he was asking about, our new Conversion Optimisation Strategy Programme seemed like it could be very suited to what he is looking for.
I started explaining about this new retainer service, the approach we will take, the specific services we will provide and how we propose to work with his team.
Chris then asked about the cost of the retainer, so I explained the 3 monthly levels of £8,000, £10,000 and £12,000.
As the conversation progressed it was clear that Chris was incredibly interested in our new retainer proposition. The conversation just flowed. It was like it was a perfect match.
What Chris said next almost floored me. He said words to the effect of:
Chris: So this all sounds great Paul. I don’t have anyone else that I need to seek approval of, so how can we get started?
Me: OK that sounds great Chris (whilst being stunned, looking at Matt my colleague). We are flexible in January so we can get started in the New Year. I recommend that Matt and I come over to have a kick-off workshop with you and your team in early January.
Chris: Fantastic, that works really well for us.
Me: So which level of service would you like to go for?
Chris: The top one, that sounds great, I really want to get moving on this in the New Year.
Me: OK that sounds great (whilst being even more stunned)
Chris: Now we up to our year end here, and I have some budget left over to allocate. Are you able to get my an invoice over in the next day or so if I give you our accounts information?
Me: Yes sure no problem (even more stunned). So will it be for the 1st month, so £12,000?
Chris: Are you able to do an invoice for the full 6 months, so we will be paying up-front, rather than invoicing each month? I need to get my remaining budget for this year allocated in the next few days.
Me: Yes OK we can do that, so we’ll send through an invoice for £72,000?
Chris: Yes that will be great, thank you Paul
Me: OK we will get on with that, I’ll just need you to email over your invoicing address and any PO number (Absolutely floored)
20th December 2012, a date I will never forget
We sent over by far and away our biggest ever invoice, of £72,000, to VF Corporation, ready to start the 6 month partnership in early January 2013.
In early January 2013 Matt and I travelled to Switzerland for our kick-off workshop. Towards the end of January 2013 one day, £72,000 appeared in the agency bank account.
This one miraculous sale and invoice was the catalyst to being able to grow PRWD between 2013 and 2018 in to, at its height:
a 15 person agency, with different levels of seniority
recognised as one of the leading agencies in the field of conversion optimisation across the world
Working with some of the worlds biggest brands like Red Bull, Nike and Allianz
2 offices in Manchester City Centre
£1,100,000 turnover
I became a keynote speaker, author and trainer
To think how God gloriously blessed PRWD when we were just 2 people, with zero faith, and to think how God will now bless everything that I do, both for the ministry and for the consultancy, as I know that every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from our Father in Heaven, who never casts a shifting shadow.
Wow God, wow. How you bless the sinners, the ungodly, the unrighteous.
16th August 2023, is another day I will never, ever forget
On this day, God brought a truly profound, miraculous financial blessing in to me and my families lives, through the consultancy that I steward www.becomecustomercentric.com.
Never before in over 20 years has my consultancy time being rewarded to such a profoundly high level. ALL glory goes to God alone.
“What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:16-21 NLT
