Florda Firm Wins Top Shindaiwa Distributor Award

Roberts Supply, a Winter Park, Fla.-based wholesaler of lawn care equipment, won Shindaiwa’s Ichiban award for best distributor worldwide for 2006.

Ichiban is the Japanese word for “Number One.” The award was announced at Shindaiwa’s global distributor summit in Kona, Hawaii in late October. Accepting for Roberts Supply were top executives Mark Vining, Rick Roberts, and Lorri Sklar.

 “Winning the Ichiban award for a second time was a huge honor for us,” says Mark Vining, Roberts Supply president. “Since the first award in 2002, we’ve worked hard to make Shindaiwa a visible player in the Florida and Georgia professional outdoor power equipment markets. This second award confirms that our efforts are paying off. This is terrific recognition, and we plan to share it with employees at our upcoming Christmas event.”

The outside sales team at Roberts Supply comprises five representatives with combined outdoor equipment sales experience of 45 years. Terry Gibson, with 13 years of experience, covers North Florida. Steve Osgood, with 10 years experience, handles West/Central Florida. Marc Scalora, representative for East/Central Florida, and Gerry Sawyer, the Georgia rep, both have been with Roberts since 1999. And Josh White, the “new guy” for South Florida, broke the $4 million dollar mark during the year. Executive Vice President Rick Roberts directs the team.

Shindaiwa presents the Ichiban award each year. All Shindaiwa distributors compete, achieving a minimum sales threshold, exceeding previous year’s sales, meeting sales targets, and improving service levels. Those top distributors are awarded an intermediate level of achievement called Samurai. Each year the Samurai are awarded a Japanese Katana (sword) and a check for $2,500. In order to be eligible for the Ichiban award a distributor must first achieve Samurai recognition.

Ichiban is selected from among the Samurai. There can only be one Ichiban annually. The Ichiban award criteria includes customer service excellence, creative dealer merchandising programs, effective advertising and co-op program participation, effective sales program participation, creative dealer booking programs, proactive technical service and warranty control, ongoing dealer training and development, 5-Star dealer base growth, and incremental sales growth. The Ichiban is then awarded an authentic Japanese Kabuto (warrior helmet) and a check for $7,500.

“We love giving this prize,” says Tom Bunch, Shindaiwa president and award presenter. “People like Roberts Supply are a big reason why we’ve been in business for 25 years and are seeing such tremendous global growth. When we began back in 1981, no one outside of Japan had even heard our name. Today we have a visible profile and respect all around the world. If Roberts Supply is “the little engine that could,” then Rick, Mark and Lorri are “the people that did,” Bunch said.

Shindaiwa products are distributed exclusively through clean two-step distribution and independent servicing dealers. For more information, please contact Shindaiwa, Tualatin, Oregon 800/521-7733. Or visit www.shindaiwa.com.