As part of its annual Vendor Partnership Conference this week, Orgill invited its top supply partners to get a firsthand look at the distributor’s newly unveiled Innovation Center and honored several manufacturers with Excellence Awards, recognizing their collaboration, partnership and dedication to innovation.
“It is no secret that a big part of our success is owed to the vendors we work with on a daily basis,” says Boyden Moore, Orgill president and CEO. “Without their ongoing support and collaboration, we would simply not be able to fulfill our mission to help our customers be successful. This week, this event and these awards are all designed to strengthen these relationships, reinforce our vision and celebrate the support we get from our vendor partners.”
Announcing the winners of the Orgill Excellence Awards capped off the weeklong Vendor Partnership Conference. This conference has long served as a cornerstone of the company’s commitment to partnership. Originally established as “Vendor Week,” the event was once held alongside Orgill’s Dealer Markets to showcase products and facilitate direct collaboration between Orgill teams and suppliers.
The conference has evolved into a dynamic hybrid event that aligns Orgill’s merchandising, supply chain and retail services teams with strategic vendor partners. By blending in-person collaboration with expanded digital participation, Orgill continues to strengthen relationships and increase engagement across its global partner network.
“Our Vendor Conference is an event where strategy and partnership come together,” says Clay Jackson, Orgill’s executive vice president and COO. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate success, collaborate with our vendors, and plan how we’ll grow together. Every success we achieve as a company is built on the strength of these relationships.”
In addition to the traditional meetings, collaboration sessions and networking, this year’s Vendor Conference offered Orgill an opportunity to highlight its ongoing investment in future-focused initiatives by hosting attendees at the newly unveiled Orgill Innovation Center.
The Innovation Center officially opened this month and sits alongside Orgill’s headquarters, creating a one-of-a-kind campus where the distributor’s collaboration with channel partners is on full display.
The 553,000-square-foot Innovation Center serves as a year-round facility designed to test new retail concepts, merchandising strategies, and technologies.
“The Innovation Center is a game-changer for how we collaborate with our vendors and our customers,” says David Mobley, Orgill executive vice president of sales. “It enables us to advance the level of customization we offer and provide proven solutions that enhance our customers’ competitive edge.”
Along with a sneak peek inside the new Innovation Center, manufacturers, retail service providers and other industry partners attending the Vendor Conference took part in strategic planning sessions, performance reviews and open discussions focused on supply chain efficiency, product innovation and customer success.
“Every year, this event gives us the opportunity to bring our vendor partners up to speed on where we are headed as a company, reaffirm our already strong relationships and work together to discuss mutual goals and how best we can collaborate to better serve our customers, “ says Alan Shore, Orgill’s purchasing department director of seasonal merchandising . “This year’s conference hit on all these high notes. Attendance exceeded expectations, and we had strong participation from both long-time partners and new suppliers eager to align with Orgill’s growth strategy.”
The conference concluded with the presentation of the Orgill Excellence Awards, honoring vendors who demonstrated exceptional collaboration, service and innovation throughout the year.
This year’s honorees include:
- Outstanding Partner of the Year: Stanley Black & Decker
- Hardlines Partner of the Year: Midwest Fastener
- Seasonal Partner of the Year: The Valspar Company
- Innovative Partner of the Year: recteq
- Supply Chain Partner of the Year: Rust-Oleum
“These partners represent the best of what collaboration can accomplish,” says Jackson. “Each one of these vendors were recognized for going above and beyond to help our customers succeed— through performance, innovation, reliability and a shared commitment to excellence. Congratulations everyone.”
For the team at Valspar, being recognized by Orgill during the event was representative of how well the two organizations support one another. “We are very appreciative to win our award,” says Anna Geyfmann, Valspar director of sales. “It’s a true testament to our team’s working together. We value Orgill’s transparency and communication as we remain fully on board with helping our customers succeed.”
Ryan Long, vice president of customer development at Recteq, echoed Geyfmann’s sentiment saying that their company’s partnership with Orgill is built around mutual goals. “We’re thrilled to receive the Innovation Award in just our first year partnering with Orgill,” Long says. “The collaboration between the field and merchant teams has been truly inspiring as we constantly seek new ways to be market leaders in innovation.”
The team from Stanley Black & Decker also recognized the importance of having a partner that is willing to work together to serve the needs of the industry. “We are honored and excited to receive this prestigious award,” says Matt Fletcher, Stanley Black & Decker’s director of sales. “It’s a testament to partnership and team collaboration, in working together as one. We look forward to our continued success and growth within the channel.”
According to Heath Kennedy, Orgill’s purchasing director of hardlines merchandise, bringing Orgill’s vendor partners together and recognizing those who share a commitment to the same goals is key to fostering long-term, mutually beneficial relationships down the road.
“This event isn’t just about recognizing the past year’s achievements—it’s about reinforcing the kind of partnerships that set the stage for growth in the future,” Kennedy says. “Judging by the engagement we saw this week and the shared optimism about where our industry is headed we are all very excited about what lies ahead.”
About Orgill
Established in 1847 and headquartered in Collierville, Tennessee, Orgill is the world’s largest independently owned hardlines distributor with annual sales exceeding $3.7 billion. Orgill provides products and services to over 13,500 retail locations throughout the US covering all fifty states, all Canadian provinces and territories, as well as over 50 additional countries. Orgill serves a diverse range of businesses, including hardware stores, home centers, professional lumber dealers, and farm stores. For additional information, please visit www.orgill.com.
