Source: www.PIDA.org website on September 7, 2010
PIDA presented the 2010 awards during the Annual Management Conference in Indian Wells, California in January. View the list of winners at: http://www.pida.org/awards/winners.cfm.
PIDA Performance Benchmarking Awards Program
PIDA has a long history of recognizing its supplier partners for outstanding service to the pet products industry. The first Packaging & Labeling Awards were presented in 1970 to manufacturers that did an exceptional job in packaging and labeling their products. In 1980, this award was succeeded by the Best New Product and Point of Purchase Display Awards. For more than 20 years, PIDA annually recognized manufacturers whose products and displays were superior in design, quality, usefulness and packaging.
In 1984, PIDA also began recognizing a single manufacturer each year whose business policies demonstrated an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the wholesaler-distributors’ position in the channel. This Wholesale Policy Award soon became the most prestigious award presented by the organization.
In 2003, PIDA modified the awards program to expand the Wholesale Policy Award and recognize manufacturers for specific policies and practices that are distributor friendly. PIDA recognizes suppliers in four categories of achievement. And in 2007, PIDA expanded the awards again to also recognize Distributors in three categories of achievement. Awards are presented during the Annual Management Conference in January/February each year. Members should contact PIDA at pida@ksgroup.org, for more information
Supplier Performance Benchmarking Program
CATEGORY #1 — SALES
This award recognizes manufacturers’ sales staff in how well they support distributors in areas such as:
- Frequency and effectiveness of sales calls
- Sales ride-alongs — willingness and frequency
- Training — Provides training and support literature to inside and field sales team
- Accessibility
- Prompt follow-up resolutions to problems
- Timely information regarding new products, packaging changes and discontinued items
- Providing information on industry trends and addressing marketplace issues with the help of distributors
- Maintaining a distribution network that allows for adequate market coverage without too much overlap
- Addressing marketplace issues with the help of distributors
- Maintaining price and margin programs that provide competitive market prices while allowing adequate margin for distributors
CATEGORY #2 — MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
This award recognizes how well manufacturers provide direct retail support to distributors' customers, in such areas as:
- Dealer promotions — Providing effective and appropriate pull-through promotions, initial stocking offers, etc.
- Participating in Road Shows/Open Houses
- Trade Advertising to support brand recognition in the marketplace; offers coop advertising support
- Merchandising in store
- POP/POS materials
- Training for retailers and distributor sales staff
- Merchandising Aids
- Return Policy—fair and reasonable
- Focusing on serving retailers via distributors
CATEGORY #3 — LOGISTICS AND OPERATIONS
This award recognizes the extent to which manufacturers demonstrate exceptional customer service in the following areas:
- On-time delivery
- Fill Rate
- Packaging—durable, legible, using proper bar codes & labeling (inner and outer packs)
- Helpful Customer Support Staff
- Return Policy/ Discontinued Items, SKU rationalization
- Compliance with good shipping practices—scheduled delivery times, pallets properly loaded, packing slips, etc.
- Use of current technology to enhance efficiency and remove costs from the system (i.e. EDI ordering, website for product artwork and product information, etc.)
- Products are available in quantities and order minimums that allow for adequate distributor ROI and service levels
Distributor Performance Benchmarking Program
SALES
This award recognizes the distributor’s sales staff in the following areas:
- Frequency of sales calls with dealers
- Availability for sales "ride-alongs"
- Order "makers" vs. order "takers"
- Accessibility
- Prompt follow-up on problems
- Feedback on market trends
- Maintains adequate size sales force to effectively build business in their market
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
This award recognizes the distributor’s level of retail support through:
- Dealer promotions—assists in creation and execution
- Road shows/Open Houses (dealer attendance, location, overall ROI)
- Advertising/Flyer programs
- Merchandising in store
- Training
- Returns policy
LOGISTICS AND OPERATIONS
This award recognizes the distributor’s service in the following areas:
- On-time delivery of product
- Fill rate
- Helpful Customer Support staff
- Timely communication of price/terms/program issues
- Pays within terms
- Pays complete without unauthorized deductions
- Provides effective returns policy
- Maintains integrity of product (adheres to date codes, keeps clean and damage-free)
