<August 2, 2011> Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. (Velodyne) surprised many in the industry last week by summarily dismissing their independent sales representative force and announcing that they would begin selling Velodyne subwoofers direct to consumers via a new online ecommerce website. The webstore was already open by the time some of the sales representatives received their termination notice. [Read more…] about Velodyne Vaults into Direct-to-Consumer Sales Leaving Sales Reps Behind
Archives for 2011
Lenbrook President & CEO Miller: On a Mad Mission? Or Simply Misunderstood?
<June 1, 2011> Lenbrook America Corporation President and CEO Dean Miller began with an apology. In a May 20th email communication with BEACON editor Ted Green, Miller apologized for his lack of responsiveness, saying that until he read last month’s BEACON he was unaware that attempts had been made by its editors to contact him. Miller, it seems, was on an aggressive two-week spin through Europe to attend a Tivoli event in Italy, a Munich high-end show in Germany, and finally a Lenbrook International distributor show.
See more on our interview with Lenbrook’s Dean Miller… [Read more…] about Lenbrook President & CEO Miller: On a Mad Mission? Or Simply Misunderstood?
IPRO Prez to the ALERT: Reps Reconceived Remain Really Relevant
<May 18, 2011> Shortly after a story appeared in last week’s BEACON about Lenbrook’s decision to terminate its national independent sales force and transition to a direct sales model, we were contacted by David Humphries, president of IPRO, the nation’s most prominent organization of independent sales representatives. Humphries shared with us the organization’s perspective on the Lenbrook decision and the role of the independent rep in today’s industry.
A strong proponent… [Read more…] about IPRO Prez to the ALERT: Reps Reconceived Remain Really Relevant
Have Tech Industry Trends Rendered Reps Irrelevant?
<May 18, 2011> The specialty segment is still buzzing about the decision by Lenbrook earlier this month to hire Dean Miller and terminate their entire U.S. sales force of independent sales representatives. The story, originally run last week in the BEACON, [ See: Lenbrook Lunacy? Or Crazy Like a Fox? Market Reacts to Recent Moves ] caused an explosion of email messages and telephone calls to the ALERT’s offices and there appears to be no shortage of comments…except from Lenbrook America, who has not yet returned multiple messages left by the ALERT’s editor.
Distress and dire predictions pour in… [Read more…] about Have Tech Industry Trends Rendered Reps Irrelevant?
Lenbrook Lunacy? Or Crazy Like a Fox? Market Reacts to Recent Moves
One Rep Stands Up for Specialty
<May 12, 2011> The specialty market is reacting to the announcement last week that Lenbrook America has hired Dean Miller as President/CEO and will dismiss its sales representative network, its sales manager, and take the sales process direct hiring regional sales managers. And at least one of the affected representatives, Peter Dyroff of Jarmac, went public with his reaction, sending a letter to all Jarmac dealers that has virtually gone “viral” throughout the specialty industry.
The specialty formula…
[Read more…] about Lenbrook Lunacy? Or Crazy Like a Fox? Market Reacts to Recent Moves