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MONTHLY UPDATE: AUGUST <strong>2016</strong><br />
Sales <strong>Update</strong> Schon Duke, v.p. sales<br />
July is always a very busy month for<br />
the Sales team… We completed our<br />
Summer Classics National Sales<br />
meeting, Pre-Market in Chicago and<br />
a successful Atlanta market… New<br />
introductions of compelling styles<br />
and innovative products were front<br />
and center. Summer Classics alone has<br />
180 new items for 2017… Gabby has<br />
added more than 100 new product<br />
introductions since April! Summer<br />
Classics and Gabby are fashion and<br />
trend leaders in our industry and our<br />
commitment to that is reflected in all<br />
of these new and innovative products.<br />
<strong>2016</strong> National Sales Meeting<br />
Summer Classics had its entire sales<br />
team and supporting cast assembled<br />
in the Merchandise mart in Chicago.<br />
We had over 27 sales representatives<br />
spend two days in intensive strategy<br />
and product training. The topic of<br />
the meeting was embracing change.<br />
Benjamin Franklin’s quote summed<br />
it up best “When you’re finished<br />
changing, you’re finished…” The New<br />
Early buy and Essentials program was<br />
rolled out for 2017. Essentials is our<br />
new stocking program this year and we<br />
are going to stock pre-made cushions<br />
in our bestselling fabric, Linen Dove.<br />
This will be a huge “quick ship”<br />
opportunity for our Summer Classics<br />
Dealers. The Sales team had breakout<br />
meetings focused on CRM, Inside<br />
Sales Support, New Product Training<br />
Program and the ECAT order entry<br />
system… These 4 meetings are the<br />
structural backbone of the support<br />
we are providing for sales team in the<br />
field. The team left Chicago with a<br />
united strategy and family feeling and<br />
excitement for the upcoming season!<br />
Pre-Market Chicago<br />
The New 2017 products were<br />
introduced in Chicago in our fantastic<br />
showroom in the Merchandise Mart.<br />
Wright Curry and his team have<br />
done an amazing job of redefining<br />
and balancing the line with these new<br />
introductions. Clean transitional lines<br />
with new combinations of materials<br />
like stainless steel and teak make the<br />
line very appealing. The dealers loved<br />
the new introductions! Especially<br />
those dealers in key target areas with<br />
many committing to purchases for<br />
2017. When you stand back and look<br />
at the Summer Classics range, we are<br />
truly the fashion leader in the outdoor<br />
category. I walked the halls of the at<br />
our competition, Summer Classics<br />
is truly set apart in our designs. Our<br />
merchandising and innovative use<br />
of multiple materials is unmatched.<br />
We plan to build on the momentum<br />
started with last year’s successful<br />
product launches with these new looks<br />
for Summer Classics in 2017.<br />
Atlanta Market at the AmericasMart<br />
The Atlanta market was back to<br />
back with our Pre-market show in<br />
Chicago. The sales team flew from<br />
6 of 13<br />
Chicago, got off the plane and started<br />
selling in Atlanta. We have been a 25-<br />
year partner with the AmericasMart<br />
and it was one of our very first<br />
showrooms for the Summer Classics<br />
brand. We have the opportunity to<br />
expose our brand to the design trade<br />
in Atlanta. The Design trade is one<br />
of the fastest growing segments in<br />
the Furniture Industry. Allowing this<br />
important group to see what Summer<br />
Classics is all about is important.
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