A thousand customer attendees and 150 suppliers gathered for the 2015 MEDCO Customer Appreciation Show held in Philadelphia Oct. 2 and 3.
This event served as an opportunity for customers to gain access to new products for the automotive aftermarket, enjoy special deals and promotions, as well as benefit from training seminars and one-on-one time with suppliers.
“The whole purpose of the Show is to be able to bring our best customers together in an environment where they can find new opportunities for their business, both short term and long term,” says Andrew Keim, president of MEDCO.
This year marked the 85th anniversary of MEDCO and the 2015 Show commemorated the history of the company with a 1930’s-style theme, complete with newsboys handing out informational flyers at the event.
“(The theme this year) really spoke to the longevity of the business and our commitment to the automotive industry,” says Keim.
The fourth event of its kind, the MEDCO Customer Appreciation Show saw a 30 percent increase in attendance over a year ago. Approximately 200 of its 1,000 attendees were mobile tool dealers, and the 150 suppliers in attendance brought a combined 400 representatives to staff their booths. Last year’s event saw about 125 suppliers participate.
“The Show continues to evolve every year, which is one of many reasons why customers are excited to come back year after year,” says Bill Craig, Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising for MEDCO. He adds, “One of the evolutions this year centered around enhanced training where we not only focused on important product categories and industry trends, but also included training on subjects like effective sales strategies and salesforce management. These sessions were designed to help our customers to better manage their own businesses.” MEDCO notes that these sessions were very well received by customers.
MEDCO also gave away nearly 100 prizes to attendees this year.
“We’ve always focused more on making a large number of prizes available to a broader set of customers,” says Keim, noting that an ATV, a Wave Runner and a motorcycle were among the giveaways at this year’s Show.
The Show concluded with a dinner where Richard Bell, the founder of MEDCO who retired earlier this year, was honored for his 45 years of service to the company.
“It was great to be able to celebrate the longevity of MEDCO and even more importantly, the contributions that Richard Bell made to the business over 45 years,” says Keim. “To share with so many of the customers and vendors who have known him for years was really special.”
According to Keim, the MEDCO Customer Appreciation Show will take place in Philadelphia next year on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Those who choose to attend will definitely gain value from their participation in the event, he says
“Attendees always look forward to the opportunity to come together as one team focused on growing our business together,” says Keim. “The customers who attend the Show, when they leave, feel more connected to the MEDCO organization and more connected to how we are investing in supporting their business, and how we are going to continue to invest in their business in the future.”
