aco merchant link: october 2008
DESCRIPTION
ACO's newsletter for merchants and stockistsTRANSCRIPT
ACO MERCHANT_LINKOCTOBER 2008
ACO MERCHANT_LINK | OCTOBER 2008
THE EMIRATES STORYSEE P10 FOR THE EMIRATES STADIUM ANDOTHER ACO PROJECT DETAILS
REFRESH ONPRODUCTS 2008CHANGES TO THE ACO BUILD RANGESee Page 5
SECTOR FOCUSNEW POS AND MERCHANDISING AVAILABLESee Pages 6-8
THE NEWS CHANNEL FOR ACO BUILD STOCKISTS†
Above Al l
ACO HexDrain ProWe consider our plastic channel to be the best on the market.
Every aspect of the system has been optimised for maximum performance. www.aco.co.uk
NEW A
DVERTISIN
G
For further information on ACO advertising please contact theACO Marketing Department on 01462 816666 or [email protected]
REVIEW & COMING UPNEWS4-5 INDUSTRY & ACO NEWS
Industry news and refresh on ACO products 2008.
SECTOR FOCUS6-8 ACO MERCHANT
SUPPORTThe new range ofmerchandising and literature.
OTHER FEATURES9 WHO’S WHO?
Got a question about ACO butyou don’t know who to ask? The Who’s Who at ACO will showyou the right person to get in contact with.
10 PRESS RE-RELEASEFocus on ACO Projects.
10 INTRODUCING… ACO DRAINSPOTTERWe’ll reward all you keen eyed spottersof drains out there with prizes and thechance to become a member of anexclusive club – ACO DrainSpotter.
COMING UP…In the next issue of ACO Merchant_Link our sector focus will centre on landscaping. See what ACO is doing to meet your
customers’ requirements.
ACO MERCHANT_LINK | 3
THE FIRST ISSUE!HELLO AND WELCOME TO ACO MERCHANT_LINK!
“What is ACO Merchant_Link?” I hear you ask. It's a quarterly newsletterfrom ACO Technologies, specifically tailored for you - our merchantcustomers. The aim of ACO Merchant_Link is to provide you with productinformation and give you specific ACO and industry news that is relevantto you and your customers.
ACO Merchant_Link will highlight how you can create profitableopportunities and business using ACO’s increasing product range andmarketing activities. For example, the Sector Focus for this issue is on thenew counter top literature and merchandising material.
Ed the Editor.
Communication is the key to so many things in life. For all of us in theconstruction product supply business, communication betweenmanufacturer and stockist is even more important at this moment in time,due to tightening markets and unprecedented input cost increases. So ourlaunch of ACO Merchant_Link is very timely.
Ed and the team have created a very fresh and modern look to ournewsletter. I trust you can agree and, more importantly, find the contentsuseful. We have made a lot of changes and improvementshere at ACO in the last 6-9 months and it isimportant that you are all aware ofthem and benefit from them.
I hope this newsletter helps in the communication of these changes. Please give us some feedback –remember communication should always be two-way to be really successful.
Richard Hill, Managing Director.
NAMES AND FACESNEW ACO EMPLOYEE PROFILE
Name: Neil HigginsPosition: ACO Academy - Product Training ManagerResponsibilities: Neil joined ACO Academy in
May 2008. Neil is responsible for all the
Academy’s internal and external trainingresources and will continue to deliver the
training roll out for 2008.
4 | ACO MERCHANT_LINK
ACO SPONSOR BUILDERS’MERCHANT NEWS AWARDS FOREXCELLENCE 2008As you are probably aware it is award timeagain and ACO is proud to be associated withthe BMN Awards for Excellence 2008, whichtake place in November at the RoyalLancaster Hotel, London. ACO is sponsoringthe Trainee of the Year Award, a category thatwe are proud to sponsor for the 3rd yearrunning. We hope you’ve submitted yournominations - good luck to all the finalists!
Adam Elwell, EH Smith, Solihull (pictured above) receiving TheBest Builders’ Merchants Trainee Award 2007 from television &radio presenter John Humphrys and Richard Hill, ManagingDirector, ACO Technologies.
The objective of ACO Academy is to provide the
necessary knowledge to effectively sell ACO
products and provide high quality advice to
customers. The training is a free service whic
h
is proven to improve cross-counter sales and
increase stock turnover.
For all your training requirements contact Nei
l
on [email protected] or 01462 816666
The ACO Build Pricelist 8 was issued in August and as youmay have noticed we have made a few changes.
Firstly, we’ve based the pricelist on the ACO Build ProductSelector (see Sector Focus for more details) and grouped ourproducts according to application, to further aid productselection. The new pricelist also provides greater informationon each product, lead times and delivery charges. Oh, and
it’s now in colour!
The ACO Build Pricelist 8 (andACO Drain Pricelist 24 picturedleft) are effective from 1stSeptember 2008 until 28thFebruary 2009. If you have notreceived your pricelist, pleasecomplete the reply card and putit in the post or contact us on01462 816666.
ALL NEW ACO BUILD PRICELIST!
NEWS
NEWS
ACO MERCHANT_LINK | 5
REFRESH ON THE ACO BUILD PRODUCTS: 2008During the past year, ACO has made a number of changes to the ACO Build product range to match the requirements of our customers. To help keep you up to date, here is a quick guide to some of these changes.
TO COMPLEMENT THESE NEW RANGES, NEW PRODUCT LITERATURE THAT FOCUSES ONAPPLICATION AND CUSTOMER CHOICE IS NOW AVAILABLE – SEE SECTOR FOCUS FOR DETAILS.
ACO HEXDRAIN:
High quality domestic drainagechannel. Load Class A 15.
Typical Applications: Driveways,paths, patios, pedestrian precincts.
ACO HexDrain Garage Pack also available
ACO DOORWAY DRAIN:
High quality threshold drainageassembly. Load Class A 15.
Typical Applications:Level threshold.
ACO RAINDRAIN:
Polymer concrete domesticdrainage channel. Load Class A 15 (with galvanised steelgrating) and B 125 (with castiron grating).
Typical Applications: Block-paveddriveways, pedestrian precincts,small private car parks.
ACO HEXDRAIN PRO:
High quality general purposechannel. Load Class B 125 and C 250.
Typical Applications: Commercialdevelopments, light industrialunits, pedestrian precincts, privateand public parking, residentialdevelopments, schools.
ACO RAINDRAIN PRO:
Polymer concrete general purposechannel drainage. Load Class B 125 and C 250.
Typical Applications: Commercialdevelopments, light industrialunits, pedestrian precincts, privateand public parking, residentialdevelopments, schools.
ACO HEXDRAIN BRICKSLOT:
High quality slot drainagechannel. Load Class A 15.
Typical Applications: Buildingthreshold, driveways, garagethresholds, pathways.
NEW!
SECTOR FOCUS
ACO MerchantSupportTHERE IS A NEW RANGE OF COUNTER TOP LITERATURE AND MERCHANDISINGAVAILABLE. THIS RANGE IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EASY PRODUCT
IDENTIFICATION AND PRODUCT INFORMATION BOTH IN THESALES OFFICE AND IN THE YARD.
6 | ACO MERCHANT_LINK
INTERNALMERCHANDISINGDoes this situation sound familiar: Someonewalks into the branch and doesn’t know whichdrainage product to choose? Well, the newproduct selector guide is available to help out.
These new selector guides make it easy foryour customers to choose the right productsimply by selecting the relevant applicatione.g. landscaping. The product selector alsoallows your customer to narrow down theirchoice by product type, load class, material,capacity and grating – It’s that easy!
Once they’ve used the product selector tochoose the product they need, customers canpick up product literature from the newcounter top literature dispenser (pictured left).The dispenser contains leaflets for products inthe ACO Build range. Each leaflet outlines allthe essential product information includingthe key features & benefits of the product,installation details and product accessories.
Some of you may have already ordered thenew ACO counter top literature dispenser(which is also available for the ACO Drainrange, if you were wondering) but if youhaven’t and you are interested please contactthe ACO Marketing department on 01462816666 or by email, [email protected]
DISPENSER BOXIf you would like to make ACO literature available to your customers but don’t have space on your counter for a full dispenser, you can also display literature using the new dispenser box (right). Just tell us which product literature you would like and we will send it to you with a dispenser box.
ACO MERCHANT_LINK | 7
8 | ACO MERCHANT_LINK
EXTERNALMERCHANDISINGOur new point of sale material can also be seen inthe yard with the new ACO pallet merchandisers.The stands sit behind and above a pallet of productoccupying a limited amount of space. The headerboards are interchangeable so can be changed topromote different products according to the palletcontent, including:
• ACO GroundGuard• ACO HexDrain®
• ACO HexDrain® BrickSlot• ACO RainDrain®
• ACO RainDrain® Pro
SECTOR FOCUS - ACO MERCHANT SUPPORT - CONTINUED
External sales team
Our Sales and Business Development Teams are there to help you. For further information on
the representatives in your region, please contact the ACO Build Sales Team on
01462 816666 or email [email protected]
ACO MERCHANT_LINK | 9
Marketing: Charlotte Lloyd and Ed Strangeways
What we’re here for:• Literature requests• POS and merchandising• Media support, e.g. photos for websites
To contact us please [email protected] or phone on 01462 816666
WHO’S WHO?ACO IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE AND TO HELP US DO THIS WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER ANACO DIRECTORY:
External Account Development Team: Nigel Wordley and John Rogers
What we’re here for:• Customer liaison and relationship building• External sales representation• Business plans
Internal Account Development Team: Suellyn Schofield and Chris Hollis
What we’re here for:• Processing orders• Enquiries regarding outstanding orders• Price enquiries• Stock enquiries
To contact the this team please [email protected] or phone01462 816666 Design Services:
Anil Bangher and Zoe Gates
What we’re here for:• Product technical support• Installation advice service• Computer-aided scheme designs
To contact Design Services pleaseemail [email protected] orphone on 01462 816666
ACO Academy: Neil Higgins
What I’m here for:• Bespoke product training courses• In branch training
To contact the ACO Academyplease email [email protected] phone on 01462 816666
OUR TEAM ON THE ROAD
NEXT TIME…
meet the internal sales team
ACO PROJECTSYou already know of the day to day uses for ACO products – landscaping, driveways etc.However, ACO also supplies products, from our Drain and Building Drainage ranges, for anumber of different projects. We’ve included a couple of press releases to give you an idea ofwhat other types of projects we supply product for. Sorry, if you are a Spurs fan!
COMING SOON… ACO DRAINSPOTTERYOUR EYE ON THE GROUND
It’s true to say that once you’ve workedwith ACO for a while you develop astrange tendency, when wanderingabout, to notice things that others miss.Yep, we’re talking drainage.
Despite the obvious health hazardsinvolved when walking about with youreyes fixed firmly on the ground, therewards of this unique pastime aretremendous. And now, with the launchof a rather special competition, we cansafely say that they really are.
We want to reward all you keen eyedspotters of drains out there with thechance to become a member of anexclusive club – ACO DrainSpotter. And itcouldn’t be simpler to get access…
As you trot about the globe, if you see anyACO product anywhere interesting – be itthe country, the setting or for any otherreason, take a picture and send it in to us.
The top pictures we receive as judged byour Spotter-in-Chief (yes, we have one)will receive not only a £50 John Lewisshopping voucher, but a mug, a sticker,lifetime VIP membership of the ACODrainSpotter club and, most valued ofall, the eternal respect of the entiredrainage community.
KEEP ‘EM PEELED!
ACO DrainSpotterSpotter
ACO DrainSpotterSpotter
Dr
PRESS RE-RELEASE
ACO Scores at Arsenal
The ChallengeTo develop an attractive, high
performance channel drainage solution
that could run parallel to the external
curved perimeter of the new stadium.
The ApproachBy installing a series of different lengths
of straight drainage channel with a slight
offset, the appearance of a near-perfect
curve could be created.
The ProductA modular-based, full stainless steel
single-invert system fitted with
compressible neoprene flanges and
perforated stainless steel gratings.
Designer Drainage
This years Urban Traffic Scheme of the Year
Award was won by Blackpool Council for
its regeneration of Layton District Centre.
The successful transformation of the old
dual carriageway into a ‘Shared Space’ for
pedestrians and motorists used close to
1000m of ACO product - ACO KerbDrain®
and ACO RoadDrain®.
However, the standard products colour and
texture did not sit in harmony with the
schemes finish. Working closely with
Blackpool’s engineers, ACO’s production
team devised a new method of treatment to
expose the aggregate beneath the surface of
the ACO KerbDrain® and ACO RoadDrain®
sections, allowing for a precise match to the
designer’s colour requirements.
10 | ACO MER
ACO PRICELISTS The ACO Build Pricelist (issue 8) and ACO Drain Pricelist (issue 24) are effective from 1st September 2008 until 29th February 2009.
ACO MERCHANT_LINK | 11*whilst stocks last
ACO MERCHANT_LINK MUGSTo receive a copy of either price list or a free ACO Merchant Link mug* please fill out theenclosed reply paid card, and put it in the post.
ACO Technologies plcACO Business Park,Hitchin Road,Shefford,Bedfordshire SG17 5TE
Tel: 01462 816666Fax: 01462 815895
e-mail Sales: [email protected] Technical: [email protected]
website: www.aco.co.uk
The ACO Group: A strong family you can depend on.
ACO CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTPrinted on material approved by the Pan European ForestCertification (PEFC) who provide a means of assuring thatproducts come from sustainably managed forests.