Well well, what a day it’s been….
Importantly and somewhat self indulgently I’ve returned to blogging ways, prompted by future guest blogger and OFDA scooter/snowboarder Paul Green
Scooter crazy men are we......
More importantly the unstable business of selling paperclips,staples,pens, pads and millions of other fiddly bits that is the normal state of affairs has been replaced this day by news of some fascinating changes in the personnel at the two major UK office products wholesalers
As one man goes....
George Adams, CEO of Spicers heads the list of movers and err,, movers by stating his intent to leave for pastures new and other interests. There is a tumultuous shake up going on at Spicers and in recent weeks news of directorial level changes affecting primarily the sales and marketing functions has been in the air but not officially circulated. It seems people are leaving (or not!) like ships in the night.
another seizes the moment....
i guess they all say that now, don't they?
The same however can be said for Vow. Finance and logistics are two of the vital functions that need to work in harmony in any organization underpinning the sales drive. In times of recession costs need to be controlled and realistic budgets worked to. It seems that the recent incumbents of those positions are apparently looking at pastures new. Shame, we had a good working relationship with Mark Johnson and will be sad to see him go. The Operations Director, Frans is also part of the changes, but less surprisingly after Normanton issues and pressures.
One of many in days of wholesale long knives
It seems that the new CEO, Robert Baldrey is putting down his marker with clear intention to drive a customer focused business forward, and at the same time adding realisation that targets need to be achieved and quality must run through the business. Blue sky logistical thinking is all well and good when the bread van turns up every day on time and with the goods the customers want and can actually sell on.
bread van
For too long the customer has come a poor second to the internal machinations of the wholesale channel. There are still, I hear, other changes in the pipeline, and the odd! mutual transfer is still to take place, with no fee in sight??
awesome changes to strategy
We, as major customers to one, and potential to the other have sat on the sidelines baffled at the lack of customer focus and desire to produce instability. The reseller channel we represent is committed to a route to market that involves distribution and we need their consistent high service performance that is an essential ingredient and mandatory requirement.
So, come on wholesale guys, some of the stuff you do is magnificent, and the platform you’ve given us over the years undeniably our mainstay, but nows the time to go back to what you really need to be – World Class logistics providers and true supporters of the reseller channel, and completely customer centric.
lead the world boys...you can do it!
I totally understand the point above relating to Vow needing to be a world class logistical provider, but surely this should be something that should be concentrating on internally, or so you would think. Many friendlies may be interested to know that as of 15th November ALL Vow logistics will be handled by Gist distribution. For companies like ourselves who have an overnight delivery on a ‘key drop’ basis may have some cause for concern, as Gist are not necessarily, or atually obliged to take on any members of the current Vow distribution team. I for one have concerns as to who will be entering our premises overnight, in the past Vow have used agency drivers to cover holidays etc. who have no understanding of how our businesses operate and have caused no end of problems.
I think it would have been a good idea for Vow to let us know of these impending changes as soon as any decision was made, instead we have to find this information out from drivers who will unfortunately have no employment after 15th November.
Comment by Ashley Abell — October 15, 2010 @ 1:06 pm