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Inside distribution
Export, reseller and retail relationships across the UK, DACH, Nordics, Benelux and wider Europe.
Rafael Frankow · European commercial operator
Build your sales channels across the UK and Europe.
For 16 years, I have worked inside brands, distributors and European markets—building partnerships, opening channels and turning commercial plans into execution.
View Rafael's LinkedIn profile ↗
FRK / OPERATORBuilding European channels since 2010
01Market entryDIAGNOSE
02DistributionBUILD
03MarketplacesACTIVATE
04Commercial leadershipOPERATE
01 — Experience from inside the channel
I have been the distributor, the brand operator and the person responsible for making Europe move.
My career started in export sales in 2010 and developed through distribution, brand management, European market expansion, Amazon, B2B partnerships and connected-product commercialisation.
A strategy is only the start. Growth depends on the brand, partners and buyers working together—and someone driving the day-to-day execution.
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Inside brands
Market entry, partner development, account ownership and the commercial follow-through needed after an agreement is signed.
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Across business models
Physical products, marketplaces, B2B partnerships, connected software, integrations and recurring revenue.
Smart access · European operating experience
Building igloo's European business from the ground up.
As General Manager Europe, I built and led the commercial operation for a smart-lock and smart-access business—connecting market entry with the infrastructure needed to support growth.
- Built European distribution and partner channels
- Built Amazon UK and EU marketplace operations
- Set up Shopify sales and direct customer operations
- Established EU 3PL, stock and distribution processes
- Developed smart access, integration and recurring-revenue opportunities
02 — Four ways I create value
Enter at the point where your growth has stalled.
These are connected capabilities, not a compulsory sequence. Start with the decision, channel or ownership gap that is holding the business back.
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Market entry
Choose the right markets, routes and commercial priorities before committing significant stock, budget or headcount.
Explore service →// 02
Distribution
Find the right European partners—and create the local commercial cadence that helps them perform.
Explore service →// 03
Amazon & marketplaces
Build marketplace growth that works alongside distribution, retail and the wider European commercial plan.
Explore service →// 04
Commercial leadership
Add senior European commercial ownership without immediately hiring a complete permanent regional team.
Explore service →03 — Experience in motion
The segment changes. The commercial motion stays consistent.
Market entry. Partner development. Retail conversations. Marketplace execution. Software attachment. Each case makes Rafael's role, the work completed and the commercial lesson clear.
// CASE 01 · Software, integrations & partnerships
Kayakomat self-service rental integration
How connected padlocks, booking-system integration and automated PIN access helped Kayakomat scale an unattended rental model.
Read the case →
// CASE 02 · Retail execution & distribution
Harvey Norman Ireland store launch and retail rollout
Coordinating the distributor, retailer and point-of-sale manufacturer for a connected-product rollout across 16 Harvey Norman stores in Ireland.
Read the case →
// CASE 03 · Software, integrations & recurring revenue
iglooConnect integrations and recurring software revenue
Developing European integration partnerships, marketplace activity and commercial campaigns that attach recurring software value to connected hardware.
Read the case →04 — Software & recurring revenue
The hardware sale can be the beginning of the relationship—not the end.
I have direct commercial experience helping a connected-product business move from hardware-only sales toward software-linked solutions, integrations and recurring B2B revenue.
01Physical productENTRY POINT
02Software & integrationsADDED VALUE
03Partner ecosystemDISTRIBUTION
04Recurring revenueCOMMERCIAL MODEL
// COMMERCIAL MODEL
Design the attachment
Define where software, services or partner integrations create enough ongoing customer value to support subscription or revenue-sharing models.
// PARTNER MODEL
Build the ecosystem
Coordinate integration partners, internal product teams, joint marketing and customer development around a shared commercial proposition.
// MARKET EXECUTION
Sell the outcome
Help channels move beyond a one-off device conversation toward the operational result the combined hardware and software delivers.
05 — AI-assisted operating system
Sixteen years of judgement, strengthened by structured AI.
I built the Frankow AI Brain around the work I already do: researching markets, comparing routes, preparing account decisions and keeping commercial actions accountable.
It combines a curated knowledge base, market and competitor research, AI Board reviews, decision memory and an Outreach Engine that researches prospects, prepares personalised messages and keeps follow-ups moving. Every client-facing conclusion remains operator-reviewed.
01MARKET & COMPETITOR SIGNALSCOLLECT
02ROUTES, ACCOUNTS & RISKSCOMPARE
03PROSPECT RESEARCH & OUTREACHACTIVATE
04MULTI-LENS BOARD REVIEWCHALLENGE
05RAFAEL'S OPERATOR REVIEWREQUIRED
06DECISION & NEXT ACTIONACCOUNTABLE
06 — What partners say
Commercial trust is built in the work.
Recommendations from people who have worked with me across distribution, export, brand development and European market growth.
“I have known Rafael for many years and have had the pleasure of working with him on several occasions. His outstanding skills in sales, B2B project development, and distribution never fail to impress me. What I value most about him is his ability to build strong networks and foster lasting business relationships. Rafael is solution-oriented, delivers exceptional results, and his positive energy makes working with him both effective and enjoyable.”
Patrik SchöpferLeiter onit & Next, Alltron
“Rafael worked in the Computers Unlimited Export Team, developing business across a number of Apple 3rd party brands, into the Nordics, Benelux and the DACH region. Thorough, articulate with an easygoing personality he was able to build trust quickly with the APR’s and as a consequence was able to build the business very quickly within a very short period of time. He was well liked by his customers, and it doesn’t surprise me that his career has developed further, I enjoyed working with him, and have no hesitation in recommending him to any future employer.”
Charles KennardSales Director EMEA, Mobile Pixels
“Rafael consistently demonstrated creativity, proactiveness, and a high level of strategic thinking. His ability to analyze market trends and anticipate customer needs was remarkable, and his customer-oriented mindset ensured strong and lasting relationships with our clients. Thanks to his efforts, we successfully enhanced our presence in key European markets, further solidifying Platinet S.A.’s reputation as a trusted and innovative brand.”
Grzegorz WaclawskiExport Director, Platinet SA
07 — Fit
Clear fit creates better work.
Good fit
- Your product, software or offer already works in at least one market.
- You want to enter or strengthen the UK or European market.
- You need distribution, marketplace, retail, partnerships or commercial ownership.
- You can support expansion with budget, responsiveness and operational capacity.
Probably not the right fit
- The product or business model is still unproven.
- You only need advertising, design or a distributor contact list.
- There is no operational capacity to support market entry.
- You expect guaranteed retailer listings or immediate sales.
08 — Practical questions
Before we discuss the market.
Clear answers on fit, geography and how I work.
What kind of companies does Frankow work with?
I work with established product, hardware and software businesses that already have a credible offer and want to enter or strengthen the UK and European market. The strongest fit is a company that needs practical channel development, local commercial ownership or help connecting distribution, marketplaces, retail and partnerships.
Which European markets can you support?
My experience covers the UK, DACH, Nordics, Benelux and wider Europe. I work in English, German and Polish, then bring in specialist research or local delivery support where a market, category or project requires additional language, technical or account-level capability.
Can you support both Amazon and traditional sales channels?
Yes. I treat Amazon, marketplaces, distributors, retailers and direct sales as connected commercial routes. The right mix depends on margins, local operations, category behaviour and the evidence already available—not on forcing every brand into a single predefined channel model.
Is Frankow a consultancy or an agency?
Frankow is an operator-led commercial partner. I can diagnose a market opportunity, build the route and remain involved in execution. The work is closer to adding experienced European commercial capability than buying a report, a contact list or a standalone marketing campaign.
Do you guarantee distributor agreements or retailer listings?
No credible operator can guarantee a buyer decision. I provide focused research, positioning, account development, negotiation support and disciplined follow-through. The aim is to improve the quality and speed of commercial decisions while making progress, evidence and next actions visible.
09 — Start the conversation
Your offer already works. Now build the channel.
Tell me where you sell today, where you want to go and what is currently blocking progress.