Revitalizing D’Marie: Bpeace’s Impact on a Family Business

Irene’s company, D’Marie, a family-owned window coverings manufacturer and installer in Guatemala, was facing challenging times. With declining revenue and a sales team that lacked direction and leadership, Irene recognized the urgent need for a more coherent sales and distribution strategy. Seeking guidance and expertise, she turned to Bpeace and joined their Maximizer program, hoping to revitalize the company and secure its future.

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Enter Peggy Cohen: A Skillanthropist’s Guidance

Bpeace paired D’Marie with Skillanthropist Peggy Cohen, a seasoned expert in building and transforming sales teams. Her leadership was exactly what D’Marie needed to turn their situation around. 

Together, Peggy and Irene set out to revitalize the company. They launched the D’Marie website, implemented a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, and created two new key roles: Sales Manager and Marketing Coordinator. These changes were instrumental in providing clear guidance to D’Marie’s employees on how to increase sales and expand market share.

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Strengthening the Family Business: a Transformative Experience

Working in partnership with her brother, Irene was able to leverage these new strategies to position the company for success. The new roles and technologies provided a structure that empowered the team to work more efficiently and effectively.

For Irene Arenas, the Commercial Director of D’Marie, the experience was transformative.

“The Bpeace program felt like I was in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’! The Bpeace volunteer woke me up and pushed me outside my comfort zone,” Irene shares. “She boosted my self-confidence and empowered me to own my role in the organization.”

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The Importance of Female Mentorship

Irene found that having a female advisor made a significant difference. “We’ve worked with other consultants in the past, but having a woman advisor made all the difference,” she explains. As the younger sibling, Irene often felt less important than her brother. An unexpected benefit of the Bpeace program was that it helped her brother recognize the value she contributes to the company.

“We now know that we are both equally important and can work together to move the company forward. It was important to recognize the role family dynamics play in managing a company.”

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Beyond Sales: Enhancing Operations and Technology

Peggy’s guidance was not only about improving sales and distribution but also about enhancing overall operations and adopting new technologies to remain competitive.

“Peggy showed us that we needed to improve the company’s operations and adopt new technologies to be more competitive in the marketplace,” says Irene.

Despite Peggy usually working with large U.S. corporations, she devoted her time, energy, and passion to advising a pair of siblings running a small business in Guatemala. This dedication made a world of difference for D’Marie, providing them with the tools and confidence needed to thrive.

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A Brighter Future for D’Marie

Through the Bpeace program and Peggy’s mentorship, Irene and her brother have gained the skills and insight necessary to lead their family business into a prosperous future. With a renewed sense of purpose and direction, D’Marie is now well-equipped to navigate the challenges of the modern market.

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Remembering Peggy Cohen’s Lasting Impact

We are very grateful for the time our volunteer Peggy dedicated to business leaders like D’Marie. Her impact was profound, and her passing is a great loss to all who knew her.