DISTRIBUTORS, VENDORS FOCUS ON GAINING MARKET SHARE: Executive Planning Conference valuable opportunity for attendees

Thirty-two distributors representing the Charlotte-based Distribution America and Denver-based PRO Group, Inc. conducted over 3,443 one-on-one meetings with 145 manufacturing companies at the November 16-19 event at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in Tucson, Arizona.

The central goal for the 2009 Executive Planning Conference was to position wholesalers and manufacturers to gain market share in the year ahead.  The distribution groups conducted the conference jointly to reduce costs and increase value for attending manufacturers.

Bruce Fischer of the Werner Company said the conference is especially valuable given the current economic environment. “These are our distributor partners. There is nothing more important that we can do right now than to be discussing plans, ideas and a strategy of how to best position going into what appears to be a tough year ahead.” 

Steve Synnott, CEO of PRO Group, Inc., said, “PRO Group positions the annual Executive Planning Conference as a venue to conduct strategic meetings between top-level manufacturer and distributor executives.  The turbulent economy combined with an anemic financial forecast for 2009 have amplified the importance of the event’s objective.  Everyone seems to be focused on cutting waste while improving service levels, inventory turns and lead times. The conference facilitates the strategic and tactical discussions necessary to realize stronger channel efficiency.”

Sherman Weiss of Great American Marketing said his company considers Distribution America and PRO Group as valuable channels for getting the company’s products to market. “These functions bring us closer together each year,” said Weiss, who promoted new paint brushes and roller covers.

During the meetings with its distributor members, PRO Group rolled out its new online brokerage commission reconciliation project and covered the Distribution Center Workshop, Hardware Show Members Meeting and Group Merchandising Conference, as well as discussed vendor updates.

Special conference events included the 33rd Leadership Prayer Breakfast with musical guest, Psalms IV, a Gospel Barbershop Quartet and a golf tournament pairing distributors with manufacturers. Representatives from the North American Retail Hardware Association and the National Hardware Show presented at the conference as well. 

Both distribution groups used the conference format to reward and recognize distributors and manufacturers. 

Best New Product Awards (as judged by both PRO Group, Inc. and Distribution America Distributors):

Electrical: Leviton Manufacturing Co. – Compact Florescent Lamp Holder Kit

Hand Tools: Stanley Tools – Tripod LED Flashlight

Hardware:  Honey-Can-Do – Six Shelf Hanging Closet Organizer

Lawn & Garden:  Ames True Temper – Total Control Elite Axe

Paint:  Great American Marketing – “PX” Eco-friendly Angle Sash Brush

Plumbing: Larsen Supply Company – Stainless Steel Water Flex Supply Line

Power Tools: Shop Vac Corporation – 1.5 Gallon Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum

Overall Winner:  LDR Industries – Double Bowl Kitchen Sink w/Faucet & Spray

PRO Group, Inc. Key Suppliers of the Year: 

Tools: Irwin Industrial Tool

Plumbing: Genova Products, Inc.

Hardware: Master Lock Company

Paint Sundries: DAP Inc.

Electrical: Coleman Cable, Inc. / Woods Industries

Seasonal:  Ames True Temper

Key Supplier of the Year (all product categories): Cooper Hand Tools

Key Suppliers of the Year - Tools: Irwin Industrial Tool – Jerrel Flatt and Kurt Schwahn, Irwin Industrial Tools / Newell Rubbermaid, Brendan Sullivan, PRO Group, Inc., Nick Mastrone, Irwin Industrial Tools / Newell Rubbermaid		Key Suppliers of the Year - Plumbing: Genova Products, Inc. – Dwight Van Steenkiste, Genova Products, Inc., Bob Reiling, PRO Group, Inc., Jeanette Kellogg, Brian Morey and Tom Palmer, Genova Products, Inc.
Key Suppliers of the Year - Hardware: Master Lock Company – Al Gustafson, Master Lock Company, Brendan Sullivan, PRO Group, Inc.		Key Suppliers of the Year - Paint Sundries: DAP Inc. - Bob Reiling, PRO Group, Inc., Greg Ballein and Jeff Baderian, DAP, Inc.
Key Suppliers of the Year - Electrical: Coleman Cable, Inc. / Woods Industries – Todd Herman & Rick Brambley, Coleman Cable Inc., Brendan Sullivan, PRO Group, Inc., John Pappas, Coleman Cable Inc.		Key Suppliers of the Year - Seasonal:  Ames True Temper  - Gary Varney, Ames True Temper , Joy Smith - PRO Group, Inc., Mike Coyne & Geoff Brownrigg , Ames True Temper

	Key Supplier of the Year - All Product Categories: Cooper Hand Tools – Gary Cosgrave and Brendan Sullivan , PRO Group, Inc., Doug Laird and Lynne Wallis, Cooper Tools, Richard Paige and Steve Synnott, PRO Group, Inc.

2008 PRO Group, Inc. Member Awards:

PRO Hardware Distributor of the Year: Wallace Hardware Company, Inc.

Merchandising Distributor of the Year: H.G. Lipscomb & Company, Inc.

FARM*MART Distributor of the Year: Horizon Distribution, Inc.

Best Target Vendor Support:  Long-Lewis Hardware Company

PRO Hardware Distributor of the Year: Wallace Hardware Company, Inc. - Gary Cosgrave and Shari Kalbach, PRO Group, Inc., Richard Snowden and Lynn Dawson, Wallace Hardware Company, Richard Paige and Steve Synnott, PRO Group, Inc.		Merchandising Distributor of the Year: H.G. Lipscomb & Company, Inc. – Shari Kalbach, PRO Group, Inc., Henry Lipscomb, IV and Bonnie Lipscomb Davis, H.G. Lipscomb & Company, Inc.  , Gary Cosgrave, Richard Paige and Steve Synnott, PRO Group, Inc.
FARM*MART Distributor of the Year: Horizon Distribution, Inc. – Gary Cosgrave and Shari Kalbach, PRO Group, Inc., Mike Dawson and Ken Marble, Horizon Distribution, Inc., Richard Paige and Steve Synnott, PRO Group, Inc.		Best Target Vendor Support:  Long-Lewis Hardware Company - Gary Cosgrave and Shari Kalbach, PRO Group, Inc., Charles Vann, Tre Brannum and Michael Brady, Long-Lewis Hardware Company, Richard Paige and Steve Synnott, PRO Group, Inc.

Attending manufacturers also pre-registered for next year's Executive Planning Conference, scheduled for November 2nd - 4th, 2009 at the Marriott Marco Island Resort & Spa in Marco Island, Florida. 

If you attended the 2009 Executive Planning Conference please remember to visit http://www.executiveplanningconference.com/Evaluations/surveyform.html to complete the conference survey.