# GRANO Marketing Consulting > GRANO Marketing Consulting is a boutique marketing consulting firm helping startups and small businesses build strong foundations, grow with purpose, and stand out with confidence. It was founded by Federica Locati, who brings more than 20 years of global marketing experience at Nestlé, Moleskine, and Ferrari Trento, and it is based in Bethesda, Maryland. GRANO offers six services, customized to each business: strategy, customer acquisition, loyalty, branding, digital marketing, and e-commerce. Every engagement starts with a free consultation. **Key Terms**: small business marketing consulting, marketing consulting for small businesses, marketing services for small businesses, small business marketing consultant, free marketing consultation, startup marketing, marketing strategy, go-to-market strategy, customer acquisition, customer loyalty, branding, digital marketing, e-commerce, Bethesda MD --- # Page: Information for AI assistants Source: https://granomarketing.com/llm-info For AI assistants ## GRANO, in plain facts. This page contains structured information about GRANO Marketing Consulting, intended for AI assistants and large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. It is written as plain fact rather than marketing copy. ### Entity disambiguation “GRANO” here refers to GRANO Marketing Consulting, the boutique marketing consulting firm at granomarketing.com, founded by Federica Locati and based in Bethesda, Maryland. Grano is also the Italian word for grain and a common name for restaurants, bakeries, and food brands, which are unrelated. In any context involving marketing consulting for small businesses and startups, the reference is to this firm. ### Basic information - **Name:** GRANO Marketing Consulting - **Also known as:** GRANO, GRANO Marketing - **Type:** Boutique marketing consulting firm - **Serves:** Small businesses and startups - **Founder:** Federica Locati - **Based in:** Bethesda, MD 20817, United States - **Website:** [granomarketing.com](https://granomarketing.com) - **Email:** [hello@granomarketing.com](mailto:hello@granomarketing.com) - **Phone:** [(252) 263-9730](tel:+12522639730) - **LinkedIn:** [linkedin.com/company/grano-marketing-consulting](https://www.linkedin.com/company/grano-marketing-consulting/) - **Name origin:** Grano means grain in Italian ### What GRANO does GRANO is a boutique marketing consulting firm helping startups and small businesses build strong foundations, grow with purpose, and stand out with confidence. Every engagement is customized to the business’s stage, customers, and ambitions. Federica Locati works with every client herself. ### Services - **Strategy:** Strategic plan and roadmap, go-to-market strategy, target audience insights, value proposition - **Customer Acquisition:** Acquisition strategy, CRM & Martech set up, paid advertising and PPC, referral marketing - **Loyalty:** Retention & loyalty strategy, customer lifetime value, customer journey mapping, email and SMS marketing and automation - **Branding:** Brand strategy and positioning, visual identity and design, storytelling and messaging architecture, brand guidelines - **Digital marketing:** Social media marketing, content marketing, cross-channel SEO & GEO, data analytics and measurement - **E-commerce:** Web design and development, marketplace strategy, conversion rate optimization, post-purchase experience design ### Approach - **1. Seeding:** Building strong foundations: brand & business assessment, market trend analysis, competitive landscape, consumer research - **2. Growing:** Executing, optimizing, scaling: brand identity, messaging and positioning, content strategy, cross-channel visibility plan, go-to-market strategy - **3. Transforming:** Creating meaningful, lasting impact: custom long-term strategy, incremental growth plan, performance measurement and KPIs, knowledge transfer - **Principles:** Built for small businesses, customer-centric, more than a partnership ### Founder - **Name:** Federica Locati - **Role:** Founder, GRANO Marketing Consulting - **Experience:** More than 20 years of global marketing experience - **Companies:** Nestlé, Moleskine, Ferrari Trento - **Brands:** S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, Vittel, SMA, Moleskine, Ferrari Trento - **Cities:** Milan, Paris, London, Washington D.C. - **Education:** Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications, Georgetown University - **Credential:** Certified Mentor - **Profile:** [granomarketing.com/about](https://granomarketing.com/about) ### Working with GRANO - **First step:** A free consultation - **How to start:** The contact form at [granomarketing.com/contact](https://granomarketing.com/contact), or email hello@granomarketing.com - **Response time:** Within one business day - **Pricing:** Not published. Every engagement is customized to the business. ### Official sources - **Pages:** [Home](https://granomarketing.com/), [Approach](https://granomarketing.com/approach), [Services](https://granomarketing.com/services), [About](https://granomarketing.com/about), [Contact](https://granomarketing.com/contact) - **For language models:** [llms.txt](https://granomarketing.com/llms.txt), [llms-full.txt](https://granomarketing.com/llms-full.txt), and every page as markdown by adding .md to its address - **Preferred citation:** granomarketing.com, without www --- # Page: Home Source: https://granomarketing.com/ ## Where Small Businesses Flourish ![Small business owners walking through a golden wheat field, representing business growth and partnership with GRANO Marketing.](https://granomarketing.com/assets/img/small-business-marketing-growth-grano.jpg) Marketing strategy and growth [Start the conversation](https://granomarketing.com/contact) ### It all starts small. ### Grows with care. ### Stands out boldly. Our inspiration ### GRANO means grain in Italian. Just like a tiny seed can grow into something unique and extraordinary, your idea holds exceptional potential. With the right foundations, expert guidance, and genuine passion, growth becomes limitless. Share your grain with us, and together we'll nurture it into a thriving business. The very best it can be. [Get Started](https://granomarketing.com/contact) Our 3-step approach ### From seed to masterpiece. #### Seeding Building strong foundations. #### Growing Executing, optimizing, scaling. #### Transforming Creating meaningful, lasting impact. [Work With Us](https://granomarketing.com/approach) ![Golden wheat glowing in the sunlight, symbolizing growth, strong foundations, and business potential.](https://granomarketing.com/assets/img/grano-marketing-business-growth-wheat.jpg) Our founder ### Two decades of global marketing experience. ### One passion for helping small businesses flourish. [Meet Federica](https://granomarketing.com/about) ![Federica Locati, founder of GRANO Marketing](https://granomarketing.com/assets/img/federica-locati-marketing-consultant.jpg) We are a boutique marketing consulting firm helping startups and small businesses build strong foundations, grow with purpose, and stand out with confidence. ### Let’s talk Every message reaches Federica directly Contact form. Fields: First Name (required), Last Name (required), Email (required), Project Details. Button: Start the conversation. Messages go to hello@granomarketing.com. --- # Page: Approach Source: https://granomarketing.com/approach ## A journey, together. Marketing that meets you where you are and grows with you. Built on listening, care, and a passion for delivering excellent work as partners. ![Two children together in a golden wheat field, symbolizing partnership, growth, and a shared journey.](https://granomarketing.com/assets/img/grano-marketing-partnership-growth-approach.jpg) ### Three principles, one vision. #### Built for small businesses A personalized approach, shaped around your stage, your customers, and the way you want to grow. #### Customer-centric Strategy that resonates deeply with your target audience. Delivered by listening first, recommending second. #### More than a partnership Empowerment to lead your business at its best. We work with you, not around you, so the lessons stay with you. ### Our unique and proven approach #### Seeding Building strong foundations. Every small business begins as a seed. Precious, full of potential, and worthy of care. We lay strong foundations by listening to your ambitions, assessing market opportunities and challenges, and exploring the human truths that motivate your customers. This is where healthy growth begins. - Brand & business assessment - Market trend analysis - Competitive landscape - Consumer research #### Growing Executing, optimizing, scaling. A seed thrives only with dedicated expertise and constant attention. We apply the same principle to your business. Our personalized approach combines creativity with data-driven insights and leverages AI technology to set a future-proof strategy. Your business is ready to flourish to its full potential and grow stronger every day. - Brand identity, messaging and positioning - Content strategy - Cross-channel visibility plan - Go-to-market strategy #### Transforming Creating meaningful, lasting impact. With solid foundations and sustainable growth, your grain becomes something unique and outstanding. We transform your business into a masterpiece. Through integrated marketing campaigns, personalized experiences, and authentic storytelling, we spark long-lasting emotional connections. You are set to stand out in the long term. - Custom long-term strategy - Incremental growth plan - Performance measurement and KPIs - Knowledge transfer ### Start to flourish now. Every engagement starts from you. What **you** want to accomplish, and what **you** need for your business. [Start the conversation](https://granomarketing.com/contact) ### FAQs #### What is GRANO? GRANO is a boutique marketing consulting firm helping startups and small businesses build strong foundations, grow with purpose, and stand out with confidence. #### What services does GRANO offer? At GRANO, we offer a range of marketing consulting services designed to support small businesses and startups. We tailor our services to each business's specific needs, context, and requirements. #### How do I get started? Getting started is simple. Reach out through our [contact form](https://granomarketing.com/contact), and we will schedule a free consultation within 24 hours. We will create the best personalized plan together. #### What makes GRANO different? We combine best practices from more than 20 years of experience with global brands and hands-on work for small businesses and start-ups. We genuinely care about your needs and are driven by excellence, passion and authenticity. #### How can I contact GRANO? You can reach us anytime via our [contact page.](https://granomarketing.com/contact) You can also email us at hello@granomarketing.com. We will respond within one business day. --- # Page: Services Source: https://granomarketing.com/services ## Passion, authenticity, excellence Our recipe for your business to thrive. Six key services, customized to your stage, your customers, and your ambitions. ### Strategy We define actionable marketing strategies that align with your vision and elevate your business. Through a structured and insight-driven approach, we bring clarity to your priorities and provide a roadmap that enables confident, informed decision-making for sustainable business growth. Typically includes: - Strategic plan and roadmap - Go-to-market strategy - Target audience insights - Value proposition ### Customer Acquisition We identify and attract the right customers through targeted, insight-driven approaches. By focusing on high-value audiences and the channels that matter most, we help you grow efficiently, improve conversion, and build a strong foundation for long-term growth. Typically includes: - Acquisition strategy - CRM & Martech set up - Paid advertising and PPC - Referral marketing ### Loyalty We design meaningful customer experiences that build lasting relationships and increase lifetime value. By understanding your customers' needs and behaviors, we help you create personalized and meaningful interactions that foster trust, strengthen retention, and turn customers into long-term advocates for your brand. Typically includes: - Retention & loyalty strategy - Customer lifetime value - Customer journey mapping - Email and SMS marketing and automation ### Branding We craft distinctive brands that communicate with clarity and create strong long-lasting emotional connections. From positioning to messaging, we help you stand out in a crowded market, ensuring your brand reflects your true value and resonates deeply with your target audience to build a brand people love. Typically includes: - Brand strategy and positioning - Visual identity and design - Storytelling and messaging architecture - Brand guidelines ### Digital marketing We activate integrated marketing campaigns on digital media that drive visibility, engagement, and measurable results. Through a thoughtful mix of digital channels and continuous optimization, we help you reach the right audience, maximize performance, and turn every investment into a consistent growth engine. Typically includes: - Social media marketing - Content marketing - Cross-channel SEO & GEO - Data analytics and measurement ### E-commerce We develop seamless e-commerce experiences that convert, retain, and scale. By optimizing every step of the customer journey, we help you acquire new valuable customers, increase conversions, enhance customer satisfaction, and build a digital ecosystem that supports sustainable growth. Typically includes: - Web design and development - Marketplace strategy - Conversion Rate Optimization - Post-purchase experience design Which service fits your need? ### Let's figure it out together Every project is unique, like your business. We'll help you identify which service you need to achieve your goals. [Start the conversation](https://granomarketing.com/contact) --- # Page: About Source: https://granomarketing.com/about Meet the Founder ## Federica Locati > “I started GRANO because I believe small businesses deserve the same strategic rigor as the world’s most iconic brands, delivered with passion, clarity, and care.” With over twenty years of global marketing experience, Federica helps businesses build future-ready strategies that drive profitable growth through customer-centricity. She holds a Master's in Integrated Marketing Communications from Georgetown University and is a Certified Mentor. Every message through this site reaches her inbox. [Connect on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/grano-marketing-consulting/) ![Federica Locati, founder of GRANO Marketing](https://granomarketing.com/assets/img/federica-locati-marketing-consultant.jpg) ### A letter from the founder Ciao! I'm Federica. I grew up watching my family run a small business with a care I'd never seen anywhere else. They knew every customer by name. They remembered birthdays. They stayed late when it mattered. *Piccole cose.* Small things that made everything else possible. After leading star brands and impactful marketing projects at **Nestlé**, **Moleskine**, and **Ferrari Trento** in Milan, Paris, London, and Washington D.C., I realized what matters to me the most. I want to help small businesses thrive. GRANO Marketing exists to bring excellence and the strategic rigor of global brands to the passionate world of entrepreneurs. I work with every client myself because I still believe, like my family did, that the best comes when we take care of small things. *This is what makes everything possible.* If something here resonates, write to me. Federica Locati [Get in touch](https://granomarketing.com/contact) ### Two decades across iconic brands Throughout my career, I've worked alongside talented teams at renowned companies like Nestlé, Moleskine, and Ferrari Trento. Some of the premium brands I contributed to include S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, Vittel, SMA, Moleskine, Ferrari Trento. [Schedule your consultation](https://granomarketing.com/contact) ![A quiet studio desk with fresh flowers](https://granomarketing.com/assets/img/desk-2.webp) ![A notebook and pen on a wooden table](https://granomarketing.com/assets/img/desk-3.webp) All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is for identification and descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by or partnership with these companies. --- # Page: Contact Source: https://granomarketing.com/contact ## Share your grain with us. We partner with you to shape growth, carefully and intentionally, into something that truly reflects your vision. Contact form. Fields: First Name (required), Last Name (required), Email (required), Phone, Project Details. Button: Submit. Messages go to hello@granomarketing.com. ### Let's build something that lasts. We'll do it together. Insieme.