ROUNDUP ORGILL TO REPRISE VIRTUAL SHOW, ROLL OUT HYBRID EVENTS

Orgill Inc. plans to replace its inperson 2021 Spring Dealer Market with what it describes as a more dynamic and flexible approach to how it connects with its dealer customers and vendor partners. The show usually takes place in the third week of February.

Orgill will offer a combination of events, including physical shows like its traditional Dealer Markets, plus online-only buying events like its recent Orgill e-Volution event that was held Aug. 24 to Sept. 4. In future, the giant hardware wholesaler plans to round these out with virtual educational events and blended shows that merge online technology with a physical event.

“Just like the retailers we serve, this year taught us a lot about how to be agile and how to push outside our comfort zones to meet the needs of our customers,” says Boyden Moore, Orgill president and CEO. “We believe that live shows, online buying events and educational conferences should not exist in a vacuum—they should all work together in how we do business in the future.”

“The days of a stand-alone physical event are a thing of the past,” says Greg Stine, Orgill’s executive vice president of marketing and communications. “We believe that this expanded strategy will provide a platform of support for our dealers, allowing them to efficiently buy products and gain knowledge that will help them grow and strengthen their businesses.”

The company’s virtual event last summer attracted nearly 10,000 retailers and helped his team realize that, with technology, Orgill could reach more customers than even a live event, “and offer unique and richer experiences to everyone who participates in them.”

In addition to harnessing the best elements online and live shows offer, Orgill also looks to create a consistent cadence for these events throughout the year that

New Head Of Torbsa Has Focused On Growing Membership

It’s been barely six months since Paul Williams took over as president at TORBSA. He replaced general manager Bob Holmes, who stepped down at the end of 2020 after working with Williams on the transition.

The Ontario-based buying group works to combine purchases for two dozen member dealers that represent about 45 stores, mostly in its home province. Williams says the group is able to keep its costs low because it operates without the kind of supports provided by other groups. These can include marketing, branding and even distribution.

“There’s an inherent value in that approach,” he says, “especially for dealers with a DIY focus or those that cater to walk-in business. But we’re not strictly targeting those types of dealers.”

In fact, the majority of TORBSA’s members are focused on commercial sales, with sales teams on the road selling to all facets of the construction industry. For those kinds of dealers too, Williams sees a fit with the group.

Adding members will be one of his priorities. “Moving forward, there will be a major emphasis on solidifying our core of allows more retailers to participate and is also more conducive to buying cycles. shareholders and building our purchases with our vendor partners. I’ve been given carte blanche to spread the TORBSA message and talk to prospective members.”

Orgill plans to hold its first Online Buying Event of 2021 from Feb. 8 to 19, with a pre-event planning period from Feb. 1 to 7. The company still has its sights set on a live Fall Dealer Market in Chicago in August 2021.