VOW is reporting many positive reactions from resellers who attended the southern launch of its exclusive First office furniture range.
The UK’s largest business products and facilities supplies wholesaler, part of the evo Group, staged the event at Allianz Park, Hendon, north London, the home of Saracens rugby union club. The day included a new sub-range of steel furniture being unveiled.
Forty-five resellers in the VOW Venture enhanced partner accreditation programme attended the interactive event.
Intended to provide an unsurpassed combination of quality and value, First range contains more than 170 products, covering 85 per cent of all furniture enquiries VOW receives from resellers. Elements include desking, storage and seating suitable for multiple office environments, plus items for reception, bistro and breakout areas.
The range encompasses both established VOW offerings, which have had their prices reduced to fit its affordability principle, and new products, including a selection of steel tambours, cupboards, pedestals and filing cabinets.
Those steel products: are available in various colours, such as cupboards in grey or white and filing cabinets in grey, white, black, or coffee and cream; are suitable for both A4 and foolscap filing; have 100 per cent drawer extension, to ensure maximum usability; are fitted with an anti-tilt mechanism, to ensure product and user safety; and come with component warranties lasting seven years on tambours, cupboards and filing cabinets, and five years on pedestals.
Reacting to the southern launch, attendee Paddy Dobbin, of Suffolk based Compleat Office Solutions said: The event was more than I anticipated. The format worked really well, with the interactive sessions, and it was great to see the quality of the products, discuss with the specialists and receive feedback directly.
“Overall, it was an excellent day and my colleague and I feel well informed of what is available in terms of VOW’s service and offering. What’s more, the event provided a great networking opportunity with other dealers.
“VOW is now an unrecognisable company, in terms of price and service for the furniture range, compared to 12 to 18 months ago. I very rarely receive queries regarding our deliveries today.”
Jamie Bloomer, of Northampton-based Halcyon Office Solutions, said the VOW team clearly understood the challenges of supplying furniture to a multi-channel customer base and have unveiled a winning package.
He said: “The event was informative and delivered with passion. We now look forward to working with a great and enthusiastic team.”
Dana Whitehouse, of BOS Sales (Office Equipment), based in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, said: “It’s great to know that VOW is investing time and money into offering us an improved and extremely competitive furniture proposition. I feel increasing confidence after meeting the team that I could trust VOW with more of my furniture business in the future.”
First range, all of whose elements have guarantees, ranging from two to five years, and on which bundle and volume deals are available, is reinforced by VOW’s service. This includes a uniquely late deadline of 4.30pm by which customers can place orders for next day delivery to the vast majority of UK locations, and free carriage for orders worth over £250.
In addition, training and support is available from Matt Allaby, VOW’s furniture business development manager, and the delivery and installation service – provided by trained, specialist furniture fitters – includes full packaging removal, product cleaning and tutoring on the furniture’s functionality, if required.
Resellers attending the southern launch, who could touch and feel First range’s elements, heard presentations from VOW furniture category director Vanessa Warne and Matt Allaby. The event also featured a market update from Dan Wooler, managing director of Bristol-based furniture reseller TC Group, which operates the outsourcing service for VOW and online resellers.
The schedule additionally included presentations from two VOW suppliers: business machine, record storage and office accessory manufacturer Fellowes; and science-based technology company 3M.
Summarising the event, Vanessa Warne said: “It was a great day. First range, including our new steel lines, was extremely well received and resellers were impressed by the high quality of the products, underpinned by our range of services and next day delivery as standard.
“Resellers reported that they walked away with some new ideas that would immediately benefit them when speaking with their customers. We’re now planning many more interactive events over the coming months.”