Jul 23, 2008

Ivystone Launches Eco-Friendly Division

Exton, Penn. — Ivystone Group, the leading professional sales agency covering the Upper Midwest, the Ohio Valley and the New York/Mid-Atlantic region, has launched a new division of the company focusing on green, eco-friendly products, a move that will strengthen the company’s endeavor to support lines made with the ecology and environment in mind. The launch is a strategic business decision to meet the growing consumer demand for organic, green products within the gift channel.

“I believe the natural products part of our industry is an underserved segment,” says Doug Cofiell, president of Ivystone Group. “It is our attempt, through this initiative, to encourage the concept of green products amongst retailers as well as aid them in embracing, promoting and selling such product — by providing education, marketing materials, merchandising techniques and training.”

The company is building its “green” product portfolio and has already signed on several strong vendors in addition to their already existing eco-friendly lines like Soy Basics, Design Ideas and Fresh Wave. The division will encompass a group of sales reps specializing in selling and promoting such product lines. Sales Reps will not only make a combined presentation of this group of vendors to a store that is looking to work with eco-friendly companies, but will also provide marketing materials and training to retailers, to help them understand how to present green products to their customers.

Ivystone Group has enhanced its product offering to include lines from the following companies:
* W.S. Badger Company — Healing Balm and other pure organic body care products. Badger is now a USDA Certified Organic Line.
* ImagiPLAY — high quality educational toys for children made from natural materials and eco-friendly sources
* iPlay — natural baby wear products
* Bucky — natural buckwheat hull pillows. Product line also includes items that help people relieve tension, soothe stress, and stay comfortable at home, at work, or on the go.

To date, the company has received an excellent response to this endeavor, both from vendors and retailers.

“Interest in eco-friendly products is very strong, but there is also some confusion about the benefits provided by these vendors,” says Cofiell. “We are hoping to make the process easier for a regular store that doesn’t specialize in the natural market.”

About Ivystone Group:
Ivystone Group is the leading professional sales covering three primary regions: the Upper Midwest, the Ohio Valley and the New York/Mid-Atlantic region. The company is the largest exhibitor at the Philadelphia Gift Show with over 12,000 square feet of space and also exhibits at the New York International Gift Fair, Chicago Merchandise Mart, and Columbus Gift Mart. Ivystone Group’s home office and year-round showroom are based out of Exton, Penn. For more information, visit www.ivystonegroup.net.