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Manufacturing & Distribution Case Studies

How Pauline & Logical BI have helped businesses in the Manufacturing and Distribution industry

Client: Firefly Merch 

Sector: Merchandise Distribution 

Services Provided:  • Manufacturing & Distribution CFO Support • Cash flow Forecasting

About Firefly Merch

Firefly Merch is a merchandise company specialising in organic, recycled, and sustainable products. As the business grew, Carol wanted stronger financial clarity, better insight into profitability, and the confidence that her decisions were grounded in professional financial guidance. 

She chose Pauline’s Outsourced CFO project support, which focuses on helping businesses get control of margins, forecasting, and financial processes. 

Logical BI founder Pauline Healey wearing a black t-shirt looking at the camera and smiling
Logical BI's Pauline has years of business & finance experience - especially in the manufacturing & distribution industry

What Pauline Worked On

1. Finding Where the Real Profit Was Coming From

Carol from Firefly Merch came to Pauline because she felt she needed financial help and “a professional view” on what she was doing. 

Carol says: 

“Within the first couple of sessions Pauline had me fine tuning my profits on products and nailing down where most of my good business was coming from.”

2. Practical Advice With Real Business Impact

Pauline brought fresh commercial ideas and strategic clarity to the business. 

In Carol’s words: 

“Pauline offered tips and advice which I had never considered or thought of and because of that I’ve put things in place, from which I’m already benefitting from.” 

3. Forecasting & Managed Accounts Spreadsheet

One of the key deliverables of the project was giving Carol a usable system she could continue managing after the project ended. 

Carol says: 

“I’ve got a working spreadsheet which I can now manage going forward for forecasting and managed accounts.” 

This meant Carol left the six-month project with tools she could confidently run on her own. 

 

4. Insightful 1:1 Meetings & Ongoing Support

Carol emphasised how valuable the meetings were: 

“Our 121 meetings were always insightful and not only is she a fabulous person but she knows her stuff.” 

Pauline offers Finance Team Mentoring – often as part of the outsourced CFO services she provides. 

The Impact

These are the key benefits Carol gained from the 6-month project with Pauline: 

  • Clear understanding of where the business’s best profit was coming from. 
  • Fine-tuned product profitability. 
  • Strategic tips and advice that Carol is already benefiting from. 
  • A forecasting and managed-accounts spreadsheet she can run independently. 
  • Deeper insight into her financial performance. 
  • A solid plan for moving the business forward. 

 

“I can personally highly recommend the 6 months project as it was enough to really dig deep into my business and help me with a plan to move forward. Thanks so much Pauline!” 

~ Carol (Firefly Merch) 

Client: Learning by Numbers (LbQ)  

Sector: Software (and previously hardware distribution) for the education sector

Services Provided: Fractional CFO Support • Manufacturing & Distribution Supply Chain Expertise • Finance Team Mentoring

About Learning by Numbers

Learning by Questions (LbQ) develops and provides award-winning, curriculum-aligned software for schools, combining real-time assessment and instant feedback to drive faster learning and improved attainment. They also used to provide hardware to schools across the UK.  As demand grew, Pauline was hired to support the team across supply chain management, finance processes, internal reporting and forecasting. They brought Pauline in as their fractional CFO to strengthen all these areas.

What Pauline Delivered

Supply Chain, Sourcing & Supplier Management

When LbQ was selling hardware into schools, Pauline’s background in supply chain and logistics became essential. 

Greg from LbQ explains: 

“Her experience in the supply chain (specifically sourcing from the Chinese market), logistics and supplier management provided just what we needed to operate a smooth process.” 

Pauline focused on strengthening supplier relationships, negotiating better commercial terms, and ensuring the business had the right agreements in place to protect both the company and the end customer. 

As Greg puts it: 

“Pauline was key to getting the correct contract terms and agreements in place with our suppliers, as well as ensuring our warranty and support processes met customer expectations.” 

Finance Process Review & Systems Upgrade

Alongside the operational work, Pauline took a leading role in reviewing and improving the company’s finance function. 

From Greg: 

“Pauline also came in to help review and overhaul our finance processes.” 

“She led the upgrade of our internal systems as well as the design and implementation of day to day rigorous processes.” 

This work created stronger structure, better controls, and clearer visibility across the numbers – all essential for a growing distribution business. 

 

Management Reporting With Real Insight

Pauline also rebuilt LbQ’s internal management reporting and forecasting processes so the team could make confident, data-driven decisions. 

Greg says: 

“Pauline… led work on our internal management reporting processes, helping to get us to a point where we have excellent insight to all the data we need to make the key decisions on an ongoing basis.” 

This reporting framework now supports operational planning, financial forecasting, and strategic decision-making across the team. 

 

Mentoring & Upskilling the Finance Team

Pauline continues to act as a key part of the LbQ team, providing ongoing fractional CFO support with oversight of both finance and operations. 

Greg highlights: 

“Pauline continues to operate as a key part of our team on a fractional CFO basis, with a keen oversight of the internal finance and operations processes.” 

A core part of her role includes developing and mentoring the internal finance lead and supporting the senior leadership team: 

“[She provides] mentoring [to] the day to day financial lead, and valued input and counsel to the SLT.” 

This long-term relationship has strengthened the financial capability inside the business, not just the processes. 

The Impact

Every outcome listed here comes directly from Greg’s testimonial, summarising the value Pauline brought: 

  • A smoother, more reliable supply-chain process 
  • Correct commercial terms and supplier agreements 
  • Warranty and support processes aligned with customer expectations 
  • Upgraded financial systems and rigorous day-to-day processes 
  • Clear, high-quality management reporting and forecasting 
  • Stronger decision-making across the business 
  • Ongoing CFO-level input, support, and mentoring 

 

Greg concludes: 

“Working with Pauline has been an excellent experience.” 

“As a strategically focused, results oriented person, she has helped shape the way we have built the business over the last few years.” 

Looking for Support with Manufacturing, Distribution, or Supply Chain Finance?

If your distribution business needs stronger supply-chain structure, clearer financial processes, or fractional CFO support, Pauline brings hands-on experience and proven results across all three. 

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