Page 12 - D16489 - LBMAO - Jul-Aug-2020 REPORTER - web optimized

Industry NEWS

PAUL WILLIAMS NAMED PRESIDENT, Orgill is partnering with Zoom, might be able to utilize this technology
TORBSA BUYING GROUP the industry leader in online video that has become more and more a standard
The Board communications, to integrate the operating procedure for businesses today,”
of Directors of company’s meeting technology into its Stine says. “The functionality it provides us
TORBSA Limited e-Volution platform. Orgill announced for the online buying experience is just a
is pleased to earlier this year that it would be hosting its starting point for how we might be able to
announce the first-ever e-Volution online buying event integrate it into other areas of the business.”
appointment of August 24-September 4. Orgill first announced plans to host its
Paul Williams as “By partnering with Zoom and utilizing first-ever e-Volution online buying event
President. Paul their state-of-the art technology within in June. The decision to launch the online
will replace Bob our e-Volution platform, we will be able to event came as the distributor announced
create efficient and seamless interactions
plans to cancel its Fall Buying Market
Holmes, GM, between our customers, our sales because of concerns over the Coronavirus
who has been representatives and vendors participating and related travel and social distancing
responsible for the in the event,” says Boyden Moore, Orgill issues.
leadership of the president and CEO. “We are very excited to Through the e-Volution platform,
group for 26 years. offer this groundbreaking technology to retailers will be able to easily browse
Board Member Greg Drouillard said: enhance the online buying experience for through a variety of buying opportunities
“With the hiring of Paul Williams, it means both retailers and vendors.” typically found during Orgill’s live Dealer
exciting times for TORBSA, and to be in The combination of these two powerful Markets including: warehouse item and
transition mode for more growth, with the technology platforms will allow retailers pallet specials, Door Buster Booking, drop-
beginning of a new era”. to see calendar availability for vendors, ship event specials from Orgill vendors, and
Paul was most recently Regional schedule meetings and initiate Zoom a Fall Spotlight area with a range of other
Manager, Ontario, for CGC Inc. and had video conferences all within the e- Volution buying and booking opportunities.
previously spent 8 years with Owens framework. Additionally, retailers will also be able to
Corning Canada, running their National “Our systems will completely manage visit vendors’ “online booths” and even set
Accounts for Canada. the availability of all the participants, appointments with vendors to discuss their
In operation since 1966, TORBSA and their respective time zones, and product lines, product trends and more,
Limited is a $576 million+ shareholder allow retailers to easily schedule time according to Jeff Curler, Orgill’s senior vice
owned organization, with 26 member with Orgill vendors during the two-week president of purchasing.
locations across Canada. Owned 100% by its event window,” says Marc Hamer, Orgill
shareholders, the business is aimed to help executive vice president and Chief Digital About Orgill:
Orgill, the industry’s fastest-growing
Canadian entrepreneurs succeed in the sale Information Officer. “The dealers will also hardlines distributor, was founded in 1847 and
have the option of including their Orgill
of building materials and hardware. TORBSA sales representative in any of the meetings is headquartered in Collierville, Tennessee.
shareholders retain their full independence they schedule allowing them to have a Orgill serves more than 10,000 retail hardware
and have full exposure to all rebate programs, completely interactive experience.” stores, home centers, professional lumber
with its vendors. Because the Zoom software will be dealers and farm stores throughout the U.S.
integrated into the e-Volution platform, and Canada, and in over 50 countries around
ORGILL PARTNERS WITH ZOOM TO ADD Hamer adds that participants will be able to the world.
use the video conferencing capabilities even
ENHANCED MEETING CAPABILITIES TO if they do not have their own Zoom account.
E-VOLUTION ONLINE BUYING EVENT “It’s important that when we look at a note from the editor,
implementing a technology into anything david campbell
we do that it enhances the overall
experience; but it is also important that Our last edition of the Reporter profiled
it adds to the user experience and that it several of our member businesses and
is intuitive,” says Hamer. “We worked very how the pandemic has impacted their
closely with Zoom to integrate their unique business and personal lives. I have received
capabilities into our own systems to ensure several emails commenting that the article
that it is easy to use and adds to the overall was timely and informative, providing
functionality of the event.”
Greg Stine, Orgill executive vice president assurances that we are all in the same
of marketing and communications, adds situation and will survive the “Year of the
Orgill, Inc. has announced that it will that the company’s partnership with Virus”.
be harnessing the latest in interactive Zoom also has the potential to add greater I also want to mention that LeeAnne
meeting technology to make its upcoming communications capabilities outside of Gidwani, sister of Stephen Collins, should
e-Volution online buying event a more buying events. have been mentioned in the article as she
immersive and interactive experience for “Integrating this into our e-Volution and Stephen are partners at Gravenhurst
attendees. platform is just the first step to how we Home Building Centre.

12 LBMAO Reporter - July-August 2020 www.lbmao.on.ca