AIEW Annual Trade Show

Hitting the target

With more Members than any other UK Electrical Wholesaler Buying Group, an ever increasing turnover and Member’s branches now over 100, Associated Independent Electrical Wholesalers (AIEW) continues to be the fastest growing purchasing consortium in the UK. AIEW’s Membership makeup has a unique blend of young and established businesses. (The average AIEW Member’s trading age is now over 10 years). This offers AIEW’s preferred suppliers both volume and unrivalled growth potential.

With AIEW continuing to grow throughout 2009, its Members and suppliers gathered at De Vere Carden Park near Chester for their Annual Trade Show and AGM.

With the weather good all weekend, 26 suppliers and Members teed off for a stableford match over an engaging 9 holes on the Cheshire Course.

The overall competition was won by Will Rich of Wiska (left). John Davies from Bilcourt (centre) won the nearest to the pin prize sponsored by CED and Paul Hughes (right) of Base Lighting and Fire won the award for the longest drive.

AIEW TRADE SHOW & AGM 2009 Hitting the target With more Members than any other UK Electrical Wholesaler Buying Group, an ever increasing turnover and Member’s branches now over 100, Associated Independent Electrical Wholesalers (AIEW) continues to be the fastest growing purchasing consortium in the UK. AIEW’s Membership makeup has a unique blend of young and established businesses. (The average AIEW Member’s trading age is now over 10 years). This offers AIEW’s preferred suppliers both volume and unrivalled growth potential. With AIEW continuing to grow throughout 2009, its Members and suppliers gathered at De Vere Carden Park near Chester for their Annual Trade Show and AGM.		Carden Park
Despite the national media’s air of gloom many AIEW members were reporting record sales with others having moved to newer more prominent and bigger premises.
With the weather good all weekend, 26 suppliers and Members teed off for a stableford match over an engaging 9 holes on the Cheshire Course. The overall competition was won by Will Rich of Wiska (left). John Davies from Bilcourt (centre) won the nearest to the pin prize sponsored by CED and Paul Hughes (right) of Base Lighting and Fire won the award for the longest drive.
Other delegates used the driving range or took advantage of the many leisure activities available at the venue including quad biking and archery.
AIEW Trade Show

This year, AIEW’s continuing development has been further highlighted by additions to an already impressive list of preferred suppliers.		Bell System, Elnur, FAAC, Heat Mat, JCC Lighting, LED Robus, Legrand, Manrose and Termination Technology all became AIEW partner suppliers during the last 12 months. . A full list is available here
	The way Members and preferred suppliers work together to mutual benefit is of great importance to the progression of the group. This was clearly illustrated by a Trade Show where much business was done at the Trade Stands set up by the 43 partner suppliers supporting the event.
Europa Components ran a competition leading up to the Trade Show and Aurora, Contactum, Gewiss, National Ventilation & Greenbrook all ran competitions on the day, with prizes handed out at the Gala Dinner in the evening.

AIEW thanks its suppliers for their help and support for this years trade show & AGM

During the evening meal David Dunning, AIEW’s non executive Chairman toasted the health of the suppliers without whom the Group would not be where it is today. Robert Ayre of Europa Components graciously responded on behalf of the suppliers. Following dinner, award winning comic, author and screenwriter, Dominic Holland amused the young and young at heart with his quick wit and topical observations . AIEW Members’ Supplier of the Year 2009 awards were announced by Andy Gardner at the Gala Dinner
	Click Scolmore was announced as the winner with Paul Dawson & Steve Eyre collecting the award.from AIEW director Anne Dunning

Dietzel Univolt was voted as runner up. Ansell a regular in the top 3 was awarded third place. Following the awards, Members and suppliers spent an enjoyable evening together in the bar. Dancing continued until midnight at which time the hardy ones retired to the main bar until the early hours where some of the best deals were negotiated.
AGM - SUNDAY
The AGM on Sunday morning started at 11:00. The 2008 accounts were presented and approved. It was reported that AIEW’s top suppliers had seen their turnover with AIEW Members continuing to grow year on year up to 20%. In general this was well ahead of the suppliers overall growth, resulting in improved trading terms and rebate agreements. AIEW firmly believes that Members are reaping the benefit of working in partnership with and buying from partner suppliers. Membership is still growing, standing at 92 Members at the time of AGM. With three member wholesalers now in Scotland there are AIEW member branches across the UK. With several active requests to become members AIEW is aiming to maintain its strong growth. Andy Gardner highlighted the benefit of AIEW central stores to Members and the advantages of pulling together to enable him to negotiate bulk deals on their behalf, particularly with cable and lamps. .
AIEW is a Member of the European Group, GEWA and Andy highlighted the way GEWA is establishing itself as a major influence in the industry across Europe and the bennefits to AIEW.
Edition 9 of the AIEW Members Catalogue is available from members now		Andy Dunning, AIEW’s Managing Director thanked suppliers for their help and support at this year’s Trade Show and in the production of the recently published Edition 9 of the AIEW Members’ catalogue. 500 copies of the catalogue, branded for their business, are provided free to each Member annually. Additional information and resources available to Members were demonstrated including access to HR information and data resources..

AIEW TRADE SHOW & AGM 2009

Hitting the target

AIEW Trade Show

AGM - SUNDAY