| Arley Wholesale, Inc., a family-owned, third generation wholesale supplier of ceramic, porcelain, stone, glass mosaic tiles and installation materials, once again provided three successful days of business, fun and major league networking. The firm hosted its 13th Annual Arley Wholesale Tile & Stone Exposition on June 16th at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel in Scranton, Pennsylvania, concluding a three-day non-stop celebration that included the hugely popular Arley Golf Classic on Monday. Without question, this was the most successful Arley Wholesale Tile and Stone Exposition to date. Jim Carra, Arley’s Northeast Regional Vice President stated, “Our customer base keeps getting stronger. Our product line is constantly updated to best meet their needs. And every year, our June event is better than the previous year’s. What can I say, life is good!” Joe D’Agostino of Madison Carpet One, Tonawanda, NY, a longtime Arley customer added, “We look forward to coming here every year. There are so many positives gained by attending. In particular, the great networking opportunities.” A major highlight was the annual keynote speech delivered after Sunday’s dinner by Scott Levy, Arley Executive Vice-President of Operations. He paralleled WWE wrestling champion John Cena’s catchphrase “The Champ is here!” to the swagger successful retailers should take regarding privately branded products. For the last few years, a key Arley theme, “We want to help make you the brand,” has focused on helping retailers become more involved in private labeling. Levy was emphatic that consumers simply do not come into a tile & stone showroom requesting products by brand name; they depend on the retailer to be “The Champ” relative to offering the strongest product and installation recommendations. Furthermore, Levy explained the myriad of benefits gleaned by those offering products under their own brand. “In particular,” he emphasized, “Your customers will realize that you’ll stand fast behind any product bearing your company’s name.” He continued on how flooring retailers must be “The Champ” not just to their customers, but to their co-workers and suppliers, as well. Levy stated, “You are in business… this is your life. This is not merely a job to any of us… it is everything. Your family, your employee partners…. they are all counting on you to continually be ‘The Champ.’” Michael Dean Ester, a comedian nationally recognized for working the college and cruise ship circuits, followed Levy’s speech. Exceedingly entertaining, part of his high-energy “shtick” involve bantering with those in the audience; a highlight being the back-and-forth between Ester and David Lowe, Arley’s Vice President of Sales, one known for having a unique sense of humor of his own, as well. The golf outing held at the nearby Glen Oak Country Club included well over 100 participants vying for lowest net team score, closest to the pin and longest drive prizes. Post-golfing was topped off by a patio cocktail hour, followed by Arley’s awards dinner at the Glen Oak main dining room. Directly thereafter, David Lowe functioned as Master of Ceremonies, delivering the post-dinner golf awards. Semih Susleyen, sales manager of Ege Seramik, perhaps best described the three-day experience. “This event mirrors our collective feelings about Arley. Everything is always professional. We started doing business with Arley just last year, seeing them as a strategic, reliable partner who promotes our products in 26 different states. Needless to say, they are doing a great job. I think the way we communicate strengthens our relationship and mutual trust with Arley, helping us focus on results. We have been doing business together just for 12 months, but it feels like we have known them for at least 12 years!” |
Family-owned for three generations, Arley Wholesale remains the tile and stone supplier of choice by providing exceptional customer service, selection and stability to its customers. Arley Wholesale, Inc. | 700 North South Road | Scranton, PA 18504 | Call: 800.233.4107 | www.arleywholesale.com
