ATTENDEES AT CASUAL MARKET CHICAGO were the first to hear Agio USA’s plans about its new domestic fulfillment program, intended to help cater to the needs of smaller retailers. According to Andy Sokol, Agio’s vice president for sales/retail stores, effective immediately, retailers are able to begin carrying select Agio collections with no container requirement or minimum order. Agio’s current sales representatives will also coordinate this program with retailers in their territories and will have all the details and terms.

Agio has partnered with Almo, a well-established distribution company. Sokol says, “Almo has served the appliance industry for years and, because of that experience, has earned a great reputation providing that service.” For Agio’s program, Almo will import and warehouse the collections and coordinate delivery with the retailer— or even with the end customer— through a third-party delivery service, Sokol says.

He adds, “Our program is ideal for smaller stores that have been interested in carrying Agio but, until now, have been unable to participate on a container basis. Those retailers who want to order domestically now have access to our bestselling collections (and to the Agio brand) without a large investment or warehousing costs.”

Initially, four of Agio’s most popular collections will be available through the program: San Rafael, Heritage dining, the Haywood firepit chat set, and the Springfield firepit chat set. Retailers who are already container buyers can use this program to balance inventory or place a fall-season order and have it shipped domestically through Almo. Of course, ordering full containers yields the better margin on volume, Sokol says. “This is an opportunity for retailers to get involved with Agio from the ground floor and build their programs with our proven collections,” he reports.