December 2006 - Exmark and Roberts Supply Celebrate Twenty Years

On December 9th, Exmark and Roberts Supply took a moment to reflect on their long and beneficial partnership. Exmark Regional Sales Manager Lou Caputo presented employees with a commemorative plaque in recognition and appreciation of the past twenty years.

“Roberts Supply has grown along with Exmark over the course of the last twenty years and evolved into the leader of commercial power equipment distribution in the State of Florida," Lou Caputo stated during the presentation.

Here's to twenty more years!

Wayne Roberts, Billy Roberts, Exmark Regional Sales Manager Lou Caputo

Ralph Staab, Mark Vining, Mary Roberts, Billy Roberts, Shirley Resnick, Wayne Roberts and Rick Roberts

 

December 2006 - Territory Manager Honored by Exmark

Congratulations are in order for Territory Manager Josh White. Josh was named Exmark's Southeast Region Distributor Salesman of the Year for 2006. The award was presented in a ceremony that took place during Roberts Supply's dealer trip to Mexico. Josh has worked at Roberts Supply for eight years. His territory covers Southern Florida including Miami, West Palm Beach and Naples. Congratulations Josh!

Exmark Regional Sales Manager Lou Caputo congratulates Josh White

 

December 2006 - Dealer Trip & Awards

Thirty four dealers along with representatives from Roberts Supply, Shindaiwa and Exmark ended the year with a trip to Mexico. The purpose of the trip was to reward dealers for a year of hard work. This year, dealers enjoyed a four day stay at the luxurious all-inclusive Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico!

While in Cancun, Roberts Supply, Exmark and Shindaiwa held an award ceremony honoring the top dealers of the Southeast.

The following dealers won Exmark awards: Al's Lawn Care, Seavey Garden & Equipment, Tools for a Time, Green Thumb Lawn & Garden, and Trail Saw & Mower. Click here for award photos.

This year Roberts Supply and Shindaiwa introduced the new Shindaiwa Warrior Dealers award. Originating in Japan, the hachimaki was a thin cotton towel or strip of cloth that was worn tied around the head. Theories suggest that these cloths were worn in ancient times by samurai warriors as a means of keeping their helmets on securely, to absorb perspiration and keep hair out of their eyes. Today the hachimaki is worn as a symbol of perseverance, or effort, as an expression of one's determination. They are usually a red or white cloth, and feature the rising sun motif along with an inspirational slogan.

"It is for these reasons, that Roberts Supply has chosen the hachimaki as the official symbol for our Shindaiwa Warrior Dealers," Lorri Sklar, Roberts Supply Vice President and Director of Marketing explained. "The hachimaki representing our 2006 Warrior Dealers says Hissho, or Determination to Win."

The following dealers were named the 2006 Shindaiwa Warrior Dealers: Green Thumb Lawn & Garden, Lawn Equipment Center, Tools for a Time, Royal Edger, Boca Raton Small Engines, and Seavey Garden & Equipment. Green Thumb Lawn & Garden also won Shindaiwa's Ichiban award for being the number one Shindaiwa dealer of the Southeast Region. Click here for award photos.

November 2006 - Annual Founders Club Trip

The Founders Club was established by Roberts Supply in 1998 to reward long-term employees for their hard work and dedication. Membership in the club is reserved for full time employees who have worked at least five years for roberts Supply. Perks of being a Founders Club member include annual trips and an increased number of vacation days. Currently over 75% of Roberts Supply's employees are Founders Club members. The first founders Club consisted of 16 members including five officers. Today's Founders Club has 25 members including seven officers. The average years of service for current members is 11.8 years!

This year the Founders Club trip was to the Bahamas.

The company expects a lot from the Founders. They agree with and are able to adapt to the Roberts Supply corporate culture yet are able to find their own niche. They find a place within their job where they can contribute the most. The founders are also a shining example to the other Roberts Supply employees. They set the standards of what the company needs and expects of an employee.

Several founders celebrated milestones at roberts Supply this year. These employees were honored in a special ceremony during the trip.

Click here to learn more about the Founders who celebrated anniversaries this year.

July 2006 - Pepsi 400 Exmark Summer Spectacular

Once again, Roberts Supply and Exmark joined forces for the Pepsi 400 in Daytona, Saturday July 1st. Qualified dealers were invited to enjoy the view from the open-air Paddock Club Suites located directly above Pit Road in the infield. Dealers were also provided with NEXTEL FANZONE tickets allowing pre-race access to the track surface, grassy Tri-Oval area and Pit Road. Those with the pass could also check out all kinds of racing merchandise, view the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series' garages and inspection bays and honor Daytona's greatest racers in the Goodyear Legends of Daytona. Dealers also had access to DAYTONA USA, a 60,000 square-foot interactive motorsports attraction with one of a kind hands-on shows and experiences.

Roberts Supply grilled hotdogs and bratwursts throughout the afternoon and a barbeque dinner was provided in the evening. The seating offered an amazing view of all the action during the race including the front stretch, finish line and pit stops! A fireworks show was the perfect ending to a funfilled day.

Roberts Supply would like to thank all of the dealers who made it out to the event!

 

April 2006- Roberts Supply Territory Sales Managers win Shindaiwa Speed-Feed Sales Contest

Shindaiwa recently sponsored a promotion for the top distributor territory sales managers selling the most Speed-Feed trimmer heads. The winners were treated to an all expense paid trip to Las Vegas to see the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The event began with a business meeting to discuss exciting introductory plans for the next generation of Speed-Feed trimmer head - the patented trimmer head that loads in 30 seconds or less. The business meeting followed with an award presentation to eight territory sales manager winners, including three Roberts Supply Inc salesmen: Josh White, Marc Scalora and Steve Osgood.

"Your Shindaiwa sales achievement over the years has placed you in the upper echelon of Shindaiwa distributor sales representatives. From everyone at Shindaiwa, thank you for yet another job well done!" said Tom Bunch, President of Shindaiwa, Inc.

A world leader in producing commercial-grade outdoor power equipment and environmentally-friendly small engine technologies, Shindaiwa products are distributed exclusively through clean two-step distribution and independent servicing dealers.

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January 2006- Ralph Staab wins Exmark's First Extreme Cup

Ralph Staab, the purchasing coordinator of Roberts Supply, has been honored by Exmark Manufacturing for outstanding service in parts distribution and sales.

Staab was the recipient of the inaugural Exmark Extreme Cup, which will be awarded annually to a parts department manager of an Exmark distributor. Staab was given the Extreme Cup during a reception in his honor on January 18, 2006, in Orlando, FL.

“Ralph showed dynamic leadership, an intimate knowledge of Exmark and has solid relationships with our customers,” said Mark Aldendifer, parts and accessories marketing manager at Exmark. “This year, sales at Roberts Supply increased by more than 150 percent, which is just another indication of Ralph’s hard work and dedication to this industry.”

To determine the winner of the Extreme Cup, Exmark evaluated parts distributors nationwide in several categories, such as order fill rate to dealers, rate of increase in sales and marketing efforts for Exmark parts. Staab was nominated for the award by Lou Caputo, Exmark’s territory manager for the southeast region.

Staab has worked for Roberts Supply for 21 years. “We only carry top-notch merchandise, which makes the job of servicing our dealers easier,” Staab said. “I’m totally honored to be given this award by Exmark, and I wouldn’t have won it without my coworkers. At Roberts, our team does what it takes to help our customers.”

In addition to the trophy, Aldendifer presented Staab with airfare and tickets for an upcoming Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game. Staab is a native of Pittsburgh and is a longtime fan of the NHL team.