Not lonely together
The members of the WUPPER-RING will work together in communities of interest in future. With the new concept, distributors benefit from transparent and fair conditions.
Strengthening strengths, promoting exchange, expanding cooperation – these are the goals of the new WUPPER-RING concept. At a meeting on September 29, 2023, Tanja Kalina, Product Manager at E/D/E, and Daniel Berresch, Head of the business division building services, presented the plans to a total of 70 distributors. For the first time, they broadcast live from the E/D/E studio so that participants could follow the presentation on their own screens.
Selected partners from the industry were already introduced to the new concept during the half-yearly talks in the summer. “The feedback was extremely positive,” says Tanja Kalina happily. She explains: “The new strategic direction is intended to set the course for joint growth in the current uncertain market situation.” The implementation of the concept is already planned for the turn of the year. An official kick-off event has already been scheduled for January 2024. Members and suppliers are invited to attend.
Responding to feedback
WUPPER-RING previously had a “building services performance group” consisting of 16 members. The admission criteria were quite high and the common goals were ambitious. Many distributors have found the cooperation “less fun” over time, as Daniel Berresch explains. Smaller companies, which had previously been left out of the performance group, also felt increasingly marginalized and disadvantaged. “We naturally had to respond to this feedback,” he reports. “So we asked ourselves: how can we find a common path that benefits all distributors?”
The new concept
The new concept, which is based on transparent and fair conditions, was developed in response to this question. In future, members will be able to work together in communities of interest. Initially, there will be nine communities, mainly in the sanitary sector. However, an expansion to other branches is already being considered. Distributors are free to decide which interest groups they want to participate in. The only prerequisite for participation is the fulfillment of certain performance criteria.
E/D/E determines the performance criteria individually with the suppliers. They relate primarily to strategic cooperation and the strengthening of joint local sales activities. For example, distributors are to present the manufacturers’ products in their exhibitions and take part in training courses and sales activities. In return, members benefit from attractive conditions for a full year.
An active part of the group
Daniel Berresch and Tanja Kalina are convinced that the new concept will further strengthen cooperation and cohesion within the WUPPER-RING Group. “We are pleased to give all members the opportunity to become an active part of the community. From now on, the main focus will be on communicating conditions transparently and rewarding performance.”
