VOW, part of the evo Group, raised funds during a six-month campaign promoting its exclusive brands to Integra members, marking the dealer group’s 20th anniversary, whilst Integra organised a charity raffle and auction.
The wholesaler’s campaign included raising funds at its exhibition stand during Integra’s national conference, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon. There, Integra’s gala dinner saw the charity raffle bring-in an additional £2,000 and former England footballer and manager Kevin Keegan auctioning a signed shirt, raising £550.
Andrew Tsierkezou, VOW dealer group director, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Integra’s big-hearted members and key partners, who have given so generously to a great cause.”
Providing Integra’s reaction to the fundraising, Aidan McDonough, chief executive officer, said: “I would like to personally thank all of our members and key partners who attended our national conference and who donated to this fantastic cause. Thank-you also to VOW for organising its campaign to help support us in our 20th year and helping us to support Cancer Research UK.”
Cancer Research UK is the world’s largest independent research charity for the disease. It conducts investigations into the illness’s prevention, diagnosis and treatment in institutes, universities and hospitals across the UK. These are undertaken both by its own employees and grant-funded researchers.
The organisation also provides information about cancer and runs campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the disease and influencing public policy. Cancer Research UK’s work is almost entirely funded by the public. It raises money through donations, legacies, community fundraising, events, and retail or corporate partnerships. The charity has about 4,000 employees and over 40,000 regular volunteers.
VOW now has 10 exclusive brands, containing products for workplaces and spanning all its product categories. These cover cleaning supplies, secure packaging and mailing solutions, till and machine rolls, catering essentials, office furniture, technology essentials, drywipe markers and highlighters, notebooks, storage solutions and ergonomic products.
The brands, year-on-year sales of which rose by 40 per cent in the first six months of 2017, comprise not only offerings unavailable from other wholesalers but for which there is often no real alternative elsewhere in VOW’s product range too.