16 Oct IBC Recognizes Top Distributors and Suppliers for Excellence in Business and Customer Service at its 12th Annual National Meeting
East Granby, CT – IBC hosted its 12th annual National Meeting September 29 to October 1 in Rosemont, IL for stakeholders in its buying group network. Suppliers and distributors from across the country met to make new connections, strengthen business relationships and share best practices to grow their businesses. During the three-day event, IBC also recognized 13 distributors and suppliers for excellence in business and customer service.
IBC prides itself on the dedication, quality and standards of excellence maintained by each of its buying group stakeholders. At the 12th Annual Recognition Luncheon on Sunday, September 30, IBC honored the following distributors and suppliers for going above and beyond to serve their customers:
· Distributors of Excellence: Bass Tool (Houston, TX), Hub Industrial Supply (Lake City, FL), P.F. Markey (Saginaw, MI)
· Distributor of the Year (Suppliers’ Choice): Haggard & Stocking (Indianapolis, IN)
· Distributor of the Year: HCI Supply (Jackson, TN)
· Contract Sales Leaders: Tool Crib, Inc. (Knoxville, TN), McAuliffe’s Industrial (Marysville, OH)
· Strategic Account Management Support: Frank Slagle – Tool Crib, Inc. (Knoxville, TN)
· Suppliers of Excellence: Fullerton Tool (Saginaw, MI), Protective Industrial Products (Albany, NY), ORS Nasco (Tulsa, OK)
· Supplier of the Year (Distributors’ Choice): North American Tool Corporation (South Beloit, IL)
· Supplier of the Year: EMUGE Corporation (West Boyleston, MA)
The recognition luncheon was just one of the highlights of this year’s National Meeting. IBC continued its tradition of hosting one-on-one meetings between distributors and suppliers, larger group discussion sessions and a variety of other networking events to bring its buying group together. “The value of this level of engagement between business partners and colleagues is what brings distributors and suppliers to the National Meeting each year,” said Rich Poole, IBC’s Vice President – Industrial Division.
Gabriel Curry, President of HUB Industrial Supply, stated that one of the benefits his company receives from attending the National Meeting is the opportunity to build relationships with other distributors and share best practices on how to run his business better. “That relationship with one another and with the suppliers has greatly helped us remain competitive in the marketplace,” said Curry. HUB Industrial Supply is one of the original members of the IBC network with a relationship spanning 13 years.
Eric Pfeiffer, Sales and Marketing Director with Hyde Tools, said he found a number of potential partnerships for his business at the meeting. “The National Meeting is probably one of the most beneficial things that IBC does for us. In a two-day period, we are able to meet with 18-25 different distributors’ accounts. To do that on our own would be a huge expense and time commitment.”
Pfeiffer also praised IBC’s commitment to its network. “They really want to see distributors and suppliers both succeed,” said Pfeiffer. “It’s more than just building membership, it’s about getting both sides to intermingle and work with each other for the common good. IBC affords us that opportunity, especially with meetings like this.”
James Martin, National Account Manager with Makita, said that in a number of his meetings with distributors both parties realized that there was more they could be doing together to drive business. “The one-on-one meetings with distributors at the National Meeting provided a terrific opportunity for me to get a handle on where some of the individual businesses are headed. It was very valuable for us to be a part of those conversations.”
Ron Nuñez, President and COO of IBC, remarked that this year’s National Meeting was one of IBC’s most successful. “We look forward all year to being able to connect with so many IBC distributors and suppliers at one time. As we grow, we are thrilled for the new opportunities to serve and to find new business connections within our network.”
The theme for this year’s meeting was “Ready, Set, Grow: Planting the Seeds for Your Success.” In Nuñez’s “State of the Union” address, he spoke about the evolution of IBC’s business strategy to more effectively and proactively focus on securing end user business in the form of national and minority account contracts.
IBC is one of North America’s leading alliances of industrial, bearing & power transmission, electrical, and sub-assembly distributors with over 550 locations and total sales in excess of $6.64 billion. The organization provides multi-location customers a streamlined, cost-effective, dynamic purchasing source for national and regional contracts. IBC provides its member-distributors and preferred suppliers the tools, resources and market access needed to thrive in today’s competitive marketplace, as well as a unique collaboration forum. IBC is a Hispanic Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).
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