Happy New Year and welcome to the 2020 winter issue of IMARK Plumbing NOW!
2020 marks the one-year anniversary of IMARK Plumbing. Over the past year our group has created a platform that has enhanced membership profitability while increasing supplier’s market share and strengthening business relationships. Highlights of recent accomplishments include the following:
- Migrating all members to our common SAP operating platform, which has gained significant benefits including quicker
- (monthly) rebate distributions, more detailed rebate statements and greater back offi ce operating effi ciencies.
- A robust website (imarkgroup.com), which is the primary resource we use to deliver information to members concerning IMARK suppliers, planning tools, marketing program and other resources. All IMARK suppliers have a profile page on the website. Key information available includes:
- Key executive contacts
- New and/or high-impact products
- Training and educational resources
- Merchandising resources and support
- Promotional opportunities and resources
- Vendor company terms, such as freight terms, co-op/marketing development funds and return goods policies
- Introduction of progressive marketing programs designed to drive sales growth, build market share and increase profits for both members and suppliers.
- GainShare Joint Planning is a performance-based incentive designed to increase sales and profits for both IMARK suppliers and members. The supplier gains additional sales growth and displaces competition while the member earns additional rebate dollars when their goals are attained.
- The Platinum Program recognizes and re-wards IMARK suppliers that participate fully and effectively in support of IMARK members and IMARK marketing programs.
- IMARK University provides IMARK member personnel with access to high-quality web-based learning materials concerning product knowledge and applications. IMARK University provides practical, efficient training so members can grow sales and solve customer problems.
- Digital Impact is a digital advertising program designed to create awareness of opportunities to increase sales, educate IMARK Plumbing member personnel and/or increase produc-tivity and efficiency. Each Digital Impact ad includes a call to action, which alerts the membership of new opportunities and motivates them to take action. Member employees who review and respond to a call to action will be rewarded $25 gift cards.
- Introduction of the IMARK FIRST program, which is designed to maintain and grow the group’s purchasing power by alerting member companies of fellow IMARK Plumbing member companies that are in acquisition mode. Within IMARK Group, (IMARK Electrical and BLUE HAWK-HVAC/R) we are reviewing cross-vertical IMARK First opportunities.
Effective Jan. 1, 2020 IMARK Plumbing and BLUE HAWK will be become members of EDT GmbH, Essen, Germany. EDT is an international organization that negotiates on behalf of its collective member groups in 13 European countries. Our new membership in EDT will provide international networking opportunities as well as additional incentives from global suppliers that would otherwise not be available to our members. Achim Zimmer, executive director of EDT, will be attending our 2020 Spring Meeting in San Diego.
Look forward to more exciting times ahead as we continue to utilize our member-owned, member-governed business model to provide best-in-class marketing solutions and superior returns to our members while delivering above-average market growth to our preferred supplier partners.