Jun 22, 2009

Four Companies Form New Independent Sales Organization

In an effort to achieve product line sales focus and enhance in-field customer service, four separate gift companies have joined forces to develop and maintain a national independent sales organization. Participating companies are Precious Moments, Inc., Fenton Art Glass, Cathedral Art Metal, Inc., and About Face Designs.

“Our companies are all similar in that we cater to the same customer base, yet different in that our product lines do not conflict,” said Scott Fenton, Fenton Art Glass vice-president of sales.

The newly formed alliance consists of independent representatives who will cover gift and specialty retailers in all 50 states. The sales organization is comprised of highly experienced individuals with extensive relationships among the retailer community.

“We just concluded our first three-day national sales conference in Chicago, and we are very excited with the level of enthusiasm, confidence, and cooperation between the four hosting gift companies,” added Cathedral President Leo Tracey. “More importantly, we are extremely impressed with the caliber and quality of salesperson we have managed to amass in only 90 days.”

“We have total respect and appreciation for the multi-line sales agency business concept, but we felt that in order to increase our company and product exposure, the number of lines represented had to be limited to channel sales and to insure highly trained and knowledgeable sales people,” said Scott Bryson, Precious Moments Inc., vice president of sales.

About Face Designs Vice President Steve Ulrich noted that there are many “highly trained and experienced sales professionals in the gift industry who are seeking an opportunity of this kind.”

“The opportunity to represent a group of respected gift companies holds special appeal,” explained Ulrich. “It affords an individual the ability to remain independent, feel appreciated with a sense of loyalty, travel the road to generate sales successfully and profitably, and to earn a very good income for their efforts.”

Echoing this sentiment, Illinois representative Dean Gray said, “Being one of the first sales people in the U.S. to test the new sales territory strategy. I’m very encouraged by my initial road success and confident in my continued success through the association with these four professional and forward thinking companies.”

“I am very happy and excited to be associated with this new sales organization,” added John Hedmond, Ohio representative. “To represent four great companies with fantastic product and back office support affords me the opportunity to be successful on the road while at the same time maintain my independence.”

“The experience of only representing four companies and their lines is wonderful. Being able to have complete product, policy, and program knowledge provides a higher lever of service to the customer and the companies we represent,” – a recurring sentiment expressed again and again during the sales meeting, noted Steve Ulrich.

Illinois-based About Face Designs creates and markets social expression giftware; Fenton Art Glass designs and markets fine home décor from its West Virginia base; Cathedral Art has its own design and production facility in Providence, RI, manufacturing sentiment driven giftware and jewelry; and Precious Moments, Inc., headquartered in suburban Chicago, is the owner of the world-renown Precious Moments Collection®.