Call VOW: 0844 980 8220
06
TECHNOLOGY GUIDE
WHY VOW?
Investing for growth
VOW is continually developing growth markets to drive further sales for resellers.
A £500,000 investment in facilities supplies this year, for example, has already
produced a 10% rise in sales.
This year’s most popular facilities
supplies lines include hygiene and
janitorial products, such as chemicals,
mops, buckets, cloths and wipes,
and catering and vending supplies,
including cups, cutlery, napkins, sugar
and drinks, such as tea, coffee, cola,
water and fruit juices.
VOW Managing Director Adrian
Butler is delighted with the results
of the company’s investment. “We
knew that our resellers were making
purchases of facilities supplies
products from providers other than
us. We also realised we could help
resellers increase revenue, through
supplying an enhanced level of
expertise in areas such as sales and
merchandising, and improve efficiency,
by enabling them to make multiple
purchases on single orders. I’m
pleased to say this decision is proving
successful,” he said.
Another big factor in VOW’s
success, according to Butler,
is its consultative approach to
customer service. “Our next day
delivery contrasts with many of our
competitors who supply in three to
five days. Alongside the rest of our
service, this means we now offer a
genuinely stockless solution, saving
resellers from having to buy in bulk. In
addition, we provide thorough training
and marketing support to resellers and
deliver an after-sales service that’s
second-to-none.”
VOW’s support for some resellers
this year has included using their
purchase ledgers to help them
optimise pricing structures and
therefore attract more revenue.
The investment has enabled VOW to
recruit additional personnel, including
two specialist business development
managers, working directly with
resellers to increase their product
sales; to improve marketing support
for resellers; to offer a more complete
product offering, including the VOW
exclusive 2Work range of cleaning
products; to deepen its stock holding
to aid availability; and to develop a
better understanding of the facilities
supplies marketplace among staff and
the reseller community.
VOW now offers over 5,000
facilities supplies products, in areas
such as catering, janitorial supplies,
premises management and health
and safety compliance, and has direct
relationships with over 100 major
manufacturers.
“There’s been a step change from VOW this year in
the facilities supplies area, a really important growth
category for Irongate. They’ve clearly introduced
increased price flexibility and seem to have really
listened to their customers over broadening the range
of products they offer.”
Adam Noble, Managing Director
of Irongate Group
manufactured by sponsor brands,
including 3M, Acco, Bic, Durable,
Energizer, ExaClair, Hamelin, Henkel,
Newell Brands, Alba, Dahle, Muggi,
Schneider and Securit, Q-Connect
Toners, VOW Interiors and all of the
VOW Exclusive brands.
This year’s Heatwave winners can
look forward to three nights at the JW
Marriott Resort & Spa on an exclusive
private island in a lagoon near Venice.
The Whiteout participants will spend
four nights at the Hotel La Chaudanne
in Méribel, one of the world’s finest
skiing resorts.
For VOW Commercial and
Marketing Director Heather McManus,
these incentives have proved very
popular and a great way to increase
sales. She said: “Our unique Heatwave
and Whiteout incentive trips continue
to go from strength to strength. Last
year, the number of Heatwave and
Whiteout participants rose by over
40%. Resellers increased sales on
participating brands by up to 35%
during the incentive period. The early
signs are that
this year’s
delegates will
be even more
successful.”
...continued...
