‘Thank God for Force Majeure’ – Why You Need Professionals for your (Business) Writing Jobs

While working on contract documents and agreements for clients at Hoopla Hive, I ensure we never omit the vital sections, no matter how simple the client wants it. I am meticulous by nature. I pay attention to details and would rather give too much than too little; but besides that, I have a basic understanding of how business operations work, having served in various capacities across industries. I also have a full grasp of how various business elements interact with the macro and micro environment from my professional marketing experience and training in the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM UK) pathway.

Having served in both customer-facing and managerial capacities in the IT, Telecoms, Retail, FMCG, Publishing and Aviation industries, my experience gives my team an edge when working on corporate documents like company handbooks, business contracts, publishing agreements, pitch documents etc. in my present role. It is usual for clients to thank us for doing a thorough job (‘over-syllabus’ as some choose to call it) and for micro small businesses to thank us for including clauses they never ~~heard~~ thought of.

I sometimes felt including certain details would be unnecessary for (some) micro small businesses to be sincere, but I still ensure they are captured anyway… to ‘fulfil all righteousness’.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed that feeling forever, and I’ll explain how in a bit, with my various ‘encounters’ with the Force Majeure clause.

Force Majeure… What’s that?

Force Majeure is a french expression which means ‘superior force’. Let me explain further with the simplest definition to the clause as stated by investopedia.com

Here goes:

Force Majeure is a clause that is included in contracts to remove liability for natural and unavoidable catastrophes.

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In other words,

Force majeure clauses are contractual clauses which alter parties’ obligations and/or liabilities under a contract when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond their control prevents one or all of them from fulfilling those obligations.
from prinsentmasons.com’s Outlaw Guide

Such events include war, political unrest, extreme industrial actions, acts of God like natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics and similar unforeseen, uncontrollable circumstances.

In my experience, applying clauses such as Force majeure to respective business contexts is a venture I personally find booorrrriiiinnngg, and each time I have to do it , I wonder how any circumstance or event could disrupt business operation to such an extent as to make it worthy of mention in this clime; since we don’t have natural disasters or wars, nor would any investor set up any vulnerable venture in regions dominated by terrorism.

I still remember how finding words to craft the clause felt while working on an Exclusive Sales and Marketing agreement we drew up for a dear client mid last year. The client company was seeking to partner with an FMCG company towards introducing one of their STAR products in other regions (BCG Matrix) into the West African regional market, starting from Nigeria. It is a huge venture covering distribution, sales and marketing in this region, so there was no way we would have omitted Force Majeure.

Existing Product, New Market, or (as applies to this region) New Product, New Market, I knew what that contract entailed, as a marketing professional, and I did justice to it.

My client called few days into the lockdown … and midway into our discussion, it struck both of us at the same time – FORCE MAJEURE! Oh! Thank God for Force Majeure! @funmie_adebayo
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Fast forward to now that the product is newly launched (it was launched earlier this year in a modest event which had dignitaries, and top government officials, including a state governor in attendance) and is just in the Introduction Phase on the Product Life Cycle, the COVID-19 pandemic struck!

My client (also a dear friend) called few days into the lockdown to discuss marketing, retailing, merchandising and the likes… and midway into our discussion, it struck both of us at the same time – FORCE MAJEURE! Oh! Thank God for Force Majeure!

Fast forward to now that the product is newly launched… and is just in the Introduction Phase on the Product Life Cycle, the COVID-19 pandemic struck! @funmie_adebayo
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This was remarkable, especially when my friend had mentioned jokingly in a thank you call after the contract that the FMCG company representatives did mention that we left no stone unturned.

The Sales and Marketing Strategy for the product remains intact, and the product still stands a very good chance regardless, being a STAR product. In the words of my client, ‘a good product is more-than-half sold’, and as a matter of fact, it is as though the lockdown is an advantage sort of, as it gives more room to explore and execute strategic market penetration.

In the words of my client, ‘a good product is more-than-half sold’ @funmie_adebayo
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Nevertheless, FMCGs (fast-moving consumer goods) are meant to move through the distribution channel without restrictions, as they usually come with a shelf life, which also advises why they should be ‘fast-moving’ in the first place. In any case, no one envisaged the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown, which has disrupted major business/ economic activities both locally and globally.

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We all do hope that the curve gets flattened enough to warrant that the lockdown be called off soon, so that business activities can resume across the world. President Donald Trump cannot be blamed for being eager to reopen the US economy, as it is the responsibility of any government to also keep an eye on the economy at times like this, while NOT compromising the wellbeing of the populace; lest it gets to a point where even the coveted healthcare and wellbeing is no longer sustainable. God forbid.

In the case of my client, we do not, in any way, wish for a situation where sales activities get so disrupted as to result in any major financial loss; but even if, the effect of any liability or loss from this or similar unforeseen circumstances on the client company is already buffered to a great extent – thanks to Force Majeure. My friend will likely still call back to say another round of thank yous.

Why you need Professionals for your (Business) Writings

The moral of my story is this:

You need seasoned professionals, who understand the rudiments of business operations and marketing to handle the business writing needs of your company.

You need seasoned professionals, who understand the rudiments of business operations and marketing to handle the business writing needs of your company. @funmie_adebayo @hooplahive
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Not just any good writer or storyteller is good enough: You need proven professionals who understand, not just the what, but the why.

That is the …
icing on the cake,
the Blueband margerine on the Agege bread,
the engine in the train,
the spirit in the body,
the… (please add to the list)

It is true that writers with good professional background/ history are generally pricier than others in your network, but hiring someone like us from the onset will definitely save your company fortunes in the future.

On the other hand, it is usual for micro-small business operators to think they’re too small for our services, but please understand that when you grow to the level where you need global attention someday, you will thank your stars you did it right from the onset; as you wouldn’t have to run another budget fixing what could have been perfect all along.

Enough said: Now you know whom to call when next you have professional writing needs for your company or business.

Hoopla Hive is a Content and Marketing Agency with a Marketing Strategies arm, and a vibrant Editorial arm which renders Editorial / Publishing Services like Ghost (writing), Academic Writing, Business Writing (Business Proposals, Company Handbooks, Policy Documents, Contracts and Agreements, Pitch Documents etc.) Editing, Book Cover Designs, Book Marketing, premium Book Publishing services and similar Editorial / Book services.

@hooplahive is a Content and Marketing Agency with a vibrant Editorial arm which renders Editorial / Publishing Services like Ghost (writing), Academic Writing, Business Writing, Editing, Book Cover Designs, Book Marketing, premium Book Publishing services etc.
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More about Hoopla Hive soon, but in the meantime, for all your writing, editorial and book publishing needs, please reach Hoopla Hive via bit.ly/ContactHooplaHive or 📧 hello@hooplahive.com.

for all your writing, editorial and book publishing needs, please reach @hooplahive via bit.ly/ContactHooplaHive or 📧 hello@hooplahive.com.
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Till we hear from you, please stay safe, stay home and help flatten the curve, stay happy, stay productive, and do reach out to a needy friend. Do not forget to pray for the healing of the nations, and do note that this pandemic will soon end, by God’s grace. Amen.

Until next time, let me leave you with this line. Thank God for Force Majeure