How to find a distributor in the UK
Where to look for a UK distributor, what British distributors ask before they say yes, and the pack to prepare before your first meeting.
7 min read
Author
Nicholas Perpiglia.
Founder & Director of Perpi Ltd, the London business consultancy for SMEs and startups. Formerly at Sony Europe, he writes about strategy, branding and doing business in the UK.
Background
Nicholas graduated in Business and Management from the University of Sussex with First Class Honours and began his career at Sony’s European headquarters.
As Pan-European Business Controller he supported decision-making in the Video & Sound division across 30 sales companies: P&L reporting to Sony Corporation in Tokyo, margin and commercial investment analysis, currency impact. As Pan-European Area Business Manager he then ran portable audio for the whole of Europe: €28m in annual net sales, a team of 10 product managers, and Walkman’s rise to No.1 brand in Europe for portable music players, ahead of Apple’s iPod.
In 2020 he decided to try his luck and founded Perpi Ltd. Since then he has worked with companies in media, blockchain gaming, property management and tailoring, often taking a direct role in running them.
Before Perpi Ltd: Nicholas’s track record at Sony Europe
No.1
Walkman became Europe’s No.1 portable music player brand by volume, ahead of the iPod, while he managed the category.
€28m
Annual net sales under his responsibility as Pan-European Area Business Manager.
30
Sales companies managed across Europe, coordinating a team of 10 product managers.
Career
- Since 2020Founder & Director, Perpi LtdLondon
- 2017-2019Pan-European Area Business ManagerSony Europe
- 2017Product Manager, Headphones & Wireless SpeakersSony Deutschland
- 2015-2016Pan-European Business ControllerSony Europe
- EducationBSc Business and Management, First Class HonoursUniversity of Sussex
Areas of expertise
- Business strategy
- Branding, sales & marketing
- Financial & management accounting
- Banking & payment services
- Operational efficiency
- Stakeholder management & government relations
Blog
Articles by Nicholas.
How to find a distributor in the UK
Where to look for a UK distributor, what British distributors ask before they say yes, and the pack to prepare before your first meeting.
7 min read
How to set up a UK company: a practical checklist for founders
How to set up a UK limited company: Companies House, identity checks, tax registration, banking and the yearly deadlines, in one founder checklist.
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Selling Italian food in the UK: a practical guide for first-time exporters
Selling Italian food in the UK: which channel to choose, how to price for the whole chain, labels, border rules and what British buyers ask first.
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Five pricing questions every CEO should ask
Pricing strategy for SMEs: five questions every CEO should ask to check real margins, value, competitors and price increases, with a worked example.
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Five mistakes Italian companies make when entering the UK market
Entering the UK market from Italy: the five mistakes we see most often, from factory-gate pricing to post-Brexit paperwork, and how to avoid each one.
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When should an SME invest in branding?
When should an SME invest in branding? Five signs it is time, where to start without wasting budget and how to protect your brand name in the UK.
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