CASE STUDY | FMCG : QULA

 

Qula is shaking up the beverage scene, offering drinkers the opportunity to “drop a tab” (an effervescent kombucha tablet) “and change the world” (of water)! The business knew it needed to add something a little stronger to really get the party started – a finance arm.

Led by Wellington entrepreneur Rebecca Cass, development of the world’s first effervescent kombucha tablets got Qula fizzing early on. Their biggest challenge up front? How to scale the business quickly to support their ambitious launch and growth plans.

Balanced was engaged by Qula to provide robust commercial and operational support in the lead up to their U.S. launch. Strong financial modelling and cashflow management, a healthy amount of empathy and a solid ‘number 8 wire’ attitude combatted common new-product issues like delays to market and cost overruns.

More recently, Balanced proactive focus on margins analysis means that Qula now makes more from every effervescent tablet sold. Thorough margin calculations have driven better performing product bundles across the differing routes to market.

With a finance partner on board managing their full finance function – commercial strategy, tax compliance, accounting, forecasting and bookkeeping – Qula owners are able to focus on their zones of genius (marketing and product development). And genius they are. Despite their public launch coinciding with the onset of Covid-19, Qula continue to smash targets left, right and centre.

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“Being responsible for the full finance function and operational management, we’re in constant communication with the Qula management team. This meant we could help the business pivot quickly in response to the Covid pandemic. In knowing margin by product up front, we were able to drive the products that worked best with Qula’s updated strategy.”

In the early days, Balanced worked with Qula to drive quick solutions and control cash burn. Once the business started to hum, we extended the breadth of our financial and operational support, which now also includes:

  • Shopify and Amazon financial integration
  • Operational management of outsourced manufacturer
  • Inventory management
  • Monthly management account preparation
  • Ongoing commercial management of margins across distribution channels.

We love being part of the vibrant, global, driven Qula team. And the perks? The perks taste damn good. Drop a tab and see for yourself – Qula.co