Boots, Carphone Warehouse and other retail giants reap the benefit at sdea event
05 February 2010
Once again the Shop and Display Equipment Association’s recent Meet the Buyer event was a huge success and saw some of the top names within retail doing business with the industry’s shopfittings and display specialists. Andrew Talbot, purchasing manager for Boots was delighted with the opportunity it presented him. He says, “I met 21 companies (each having 10 minutes) to understand what they had to offer and to match it to our display requirements. It was an efficient use of time, enabling me to assess quickly whether each company warranted a follow-up discussion at Boots. We are now starting to organise those follow-up meetings."
Organised by sdea for the sole benefit of its members, the fast moving event gave them the enviable opportunity to showcase their latest products to prominent retail display buyers on one day, in one place and on a one to one basis. One satisfied member, Gay Spanton-Briggs, managing director of Rare Basic reports, “Meet the Buyer is always of immense value. Major industry buyers are, by nature shy, reclusive and difficult to pin down. The sdea achieves what can be impossible for suppliers.” Sebastian Smith, retail divisional director of Leggett & Platt comments, “Great interest was generated in our offer through the meetings we had and further discussions will take place in the near future hopefully leading to orders! The day was well organised, fun and relaxed we look forward to being involved in days like this again.” And Debra Jamieson, sales manager of UK Point of Sale Group added “Another excellent day. This is the second year that I have attended and find it a great opportunity. Not only to meet the buyers but also networking with fellow sdea members.”
sdea Vice President and managing director of United Aluminium Ltd, Nick Wraith sums up the event very well, “A fantastic business development opportunity with some of the UK’s leading retailers and one that represents outstanding value. Just one of the many ways the sdea brings commercial benefits to its members.”
Organised by sdea for the sole benefit of its members, the fast moving event gave them the enviable opportunity to showcase their latest products to prominent retail display buyers on one day, in one place and on a one to one basis. One satisfied member, Gay Spanton-Briggs, managing director of Rare Basic reports, “Meet the Buyer is always of immense value. Major industry buyers are, by nature shy, reclusive and difficult to pin down. The sdea achieves what can be impossible for suppliers.” Sebastian Smith, retail divisional director of Leggett & Platt comments, “Great interest was generated in our offer through the meetings we had and further discussions will take place in the near future hopefully leading to orders! The day was well organised, fun and relaxed we look forward to being involved in days like this again.” And Debra Jamieson, sales manager of UK Point of Sale Group added “Another excellent day. This is the second year that I have attended and find it a great opportunity. Not only to meet the buyers but also networking with fellow sdea members.”