Page 22 - Hardware July 2019

20 NZHJ | JULY 2019 MORE AT www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
“So I’m bringing ‘town prices’ to the rural sector and people are loving our ‘town quality’ service, so they’re getting the best of everything!”
Winner of the supplier-voted Store of Year for the second year in a row, Milton James of Matamata Timber & Hardware prefers to spread the love, saying: “Everyone tries their hardest and everyone deserves an award.”
Rod Wilson of Cocky’s Corner was a bit more fulsome in his appreciation of being appreciated: “It was it was really unexpected, I have to say, and very humbling. We were absolutely thrilled to receive the award.”
The win was also welcome recognition for smaller BuildLink members, he says: “Traditionally this award has always gone to the larger stores who obviously have a much larger turnover than a store such as ours.
“So I think it’s really refreshing and a great move forward for the BuildLink group to recognise a smaller store who can still make the same contribution to the group, both supporting the brand and supporting the preferred suppliers that support us.
“So yeah, I’m humbled, thrilled – tremendous!”
The following morning, conference turned to addressing business matters including, as previously reported in NZ Hardware Journal, further discussion and details around implementing central billing as the important next stage of the co-op’s EDI strategy.
With his words backed up by a range of members, BuildLink Executive Director and founder, Kevin Marevich, says the meeting “went very well, with some key input from some experienced members and a very clear presentation and discussion getting a favourable response from the members to continue to develop our EDI strategy and move to a central billing platform.”
“EDI will give us a position in the market equal to our competitors,” Kevin has previously said in these pages.
“The only way for the organisation to be really efficient is for everyone to be connected.”
www.buildlink.co.nz
To view, share or download the photos from this year’s BuildLink Annual Conference and Supplier Trade Show visit https://bit.ly/2XnYrSe
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