July 01, 2010
S.P. Richards Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Genuine Parts Company (GPC:NYSE) and leading wholesale distributor of business and office supplies, announced today...
12th Annual Advantage Business Conference takes over Miami Beach.
The 2010 S.P. Richards Advantage Business Conference (ABC), held from Jun 23-27, drew an optimistic and enthusiastic crowd to Miami Beach, Florida to investigate sales and educational opportunities presented over four days of seminars, workshops and networking functions. Attendees enjoyed top-notch educational speakers and the USA’s largest Office Products Vendor Exposition that showcased over 240 exhibitors displaying the best in new office products, services, equipment and technology. In addition, entertainment and networking events made for an exciting and productive week.
This year’s event also played host to OPI’s inaugural North American Office Products Awards where vendors were honored for innovation in new product development.
Wendy Pike, President of Feller Business Solutions commented on this year’s event, “As always, the ABC Show was top notch. As owners, we don’t always have someone there patting us on the back and motivating us, but the ABC Show does that for us! We come back with new, fresh ideas and renewed energy.
Brian Bakken, National Account Manager, Avery Dennison added, “The show from Avery's viewpoint was outstanding. We normally give 370 Starbuck cards away when dealers visit 3 product stations in our booth. This year we went through 400 cards by mid-morning and I bought 100 more that were gone shortly thereafter. We anticipate solid growth from the independent dealer channel and have increased the number of Avery Account Managers in the field to support them.”
“You could feel the energy and enthusiasm from the opening night’s party through the entire event which far and away exceeded our highest expectations,” said Jim O’Brien, S.P. Richards Company SVP of Marketing. “While attendance records were broken, the most important thing is the quality of the overall program. Our dealers and suppliers have overwhelmingly declared this ABC as the “Best Ever!” The keynote speakers, Young Executive Symposium and incredible Expo delivered great results. The inaugural North American Office Products Awards hosted by Steve Hilleard and OPI was tremendous. We continue to be humbled by the support from all of the industry’s stakeholders and look forward to a return trip to Las Vegas in 2011.”
Next year’s ABC will be heading to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from June 26-30, 2011.
S.P. Richards Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Genuine Parts Company (GPC: NYSE), distributes a wide spectrum of business products to office products resellers throughout the U.S. and Canada. These products include consumable office supplies, office furniture, computer supplies, consumer electronics, cleaning and breakroom supplies from all of the major industry manufacturers. S.P. Richards Company markets several private label lines under the brand names of Lorell, Integra, Sparco, Genuine Joe, Nature Saver, Compucessory, Elite Image and Business Source. The company operates 44 Distribution Centers in the United States and Canada.
Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S. and Canada through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S. P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products nationwide in the U.S. and in Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Genuine Parts Company had 2009 revenues of $10.1 billion.
