RWC Member Spotlight: Nicolas Vincent of Africa Sales Up
Today in our member spotlight we bring you the story of Nicolas Vincent, the founder of Africa Sales Up , an agency specializing in representing international companies seeking to expand into West African, namely Ivorian market. We sat down with Nicolas to learn about his professional journey and what motivated him to start Africa Sales Up after a successful career in senior positions at leading international companies.
1. What was your professional path before starting Africa Sales Up?
I worked for more than 20 years in the professional trade, around supplies and equipment for industry and building: 4 years in Gabon (early career), 10 years in Barcelona as Director of agencies and subsidiary, then 8 years in Lyon, France as Key Account Director. In total nearly 20 years for the French group Descours & Cabaud, former owner of the Bernabé companies in Africa, for whom I left as a cooperant (International Volunteering in Business today) at the end of the 90s in Port-Gentil.
I returned to Africa in 2017 to take over the General Management of Bernabé where I stayed for a year.
2. What was the moment you decided to start your company and what motivated your decision?
It came really naturally, early 2019 with my wife we were wishing to settle down in Abidjan where there are many business opportunities. It was a logical development for me, now that I am 47 years old and after having worked in large international organizations, I had the desire to build an activity that creates value, sustainable and responsible from a societal point of view.
3. Tell us a little bit more about Africa Sales Up and what are the current projects you are working on?
AFRICA SALES UP (AS'UP) is a brand agency whose mission is to support and accelerate the commercial development of companies in West Africa through 3 parts:
- A representative office based in Abidjan, for European manufacturers of quality, technical, innovative, in building sector that wish to develop their business in Africa (SINIAT partition and ceiling solutions, site consumables and SIDAMO equipment), agro industries (packaging lines PATTYN), for handling and lifting (IDMAT slings & moorings), in industrial maintenance and automotive (hand tools SAM Tooling, welding machine-battery chargers-body equipment GYS).
- Strategic advice to local companies wishing to grow in certain target markets
- A purchasing office in France to support projects, offering optimized technical and logistics sourcing
4. What do you like the most about the work you do?
Responsibilities and developping new technical business by listening to customers.
5. What are your top 3 favorite places in Abidjan?
Around Abidjan for Saturday afternoons HHH running (especially the Banco forest)
Ivory Golf hotel
And the Royal Work Club ... of course!