AGIO USA No Longer ‘Container Only’
On September 18, 2015, In Industry News by Greg Thompson
CHICAGO - Agio USA’s new Domestic Fulfillment Program, intended to help cater to the needs of smaller retailers, recently made news at the Casual Market Chicago.
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 firm, Sokol said. “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 said.
“Our program is ideal for smaller stores who have been interested in carrying Agio but until now have been unable to participate on a container basis,” Sokol explained. “For those retailers who want to order domestically they now have access to our best-selling 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, Haywood fire pit chat set, and Springfield fire pit chat set. Retailers who are already container buyers can use this program to balance out 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 said.
“This is an opportunity for retailers to get involved with Agio from the ground floor and build their program with our proven collections,” said Sokol.
By announcing the program at the Chicago Market, Agio is offering retailers in much of the country a chance to capitalize on fall’s “second season” for outdoor, Sokol explained. “Three of the four initial sets have matching fire pits, and September, October and November are great months for selling fire pits and fire pit chat groups.”
