Exploiting market potential, securing growth
The WUPPER-RING general meeting takes place every two years. This May, they met in Salzburg, where the focus topic was “digitalization” in addition to a great atmosphere and supporting programme. Even though Salzburg has a lot to offer and the participants enjoyed the supporting program, the reports of the management, the office and the advisory board are part of a general meeting. They all had one thing in common: they addressed the operational challenges faced by PVH due to the shortage of skilled workers, national competitors and online providers.
Increased digitalization
However, the reports also had answers to the many changes in market conditions. E/D/E Managing Director Peter Jüngst provided insights into the basic strategic direction of WUPPER-RING and the marketing strategy for the FORMAT brand planned up to 2025. The WUPPER-RING presented itself as a value creation system for its members and as a platform for data-based business development, active market design, integrative financing and efficient logistics management.
Above all, the strategic focus includes placing marketing, logistics and financing even more strongly on the basis of digitalization and data management in the future. For this reason, an ERP cloud solution based specifically on the needs of WUPPER-RING was presented, which also offers a paradigm shift: away from company-specific processes and towards the use of best-practice approaches, more standardization in the backend and more differentiation at the interface to the customer. In addition, scireum GmbH, a provider of retail information systems and e-commerce, presented the SellSite online store.
The General Meeting also included the election of the Advisory Board, which was confirmed in its current composition and re-elected unanimously:
- Karl Vogel, Richard Köstner AG
- Veit Haberzettl, W. Haberzettl GmbH
- Axel Krone, Laeis-Sanitär GmbH & Co. KG
- Gerd Reitenbach, Penning Sanitär GmbH & Co KG
- Sebastian Rusch-Fehrig, Handelskontor Seevetal
For the first time, the program included presentations by selected suppliers. Concentration suppliers Burgbad, Geberit, Hansgrohe, Kaldewei and Kermi from the sanitary ware sector were able to provide information about innovations, sustainability and new products from the FORMAT brand, expand their networks and establish contacts.
Conclusion of the General Assembly: WUPPER-RING is focusing on future topics and is facing up to digital change. The FORMAT brand will play a central role with a focus on managing systematic market expansion.
