Philips Enters Pact With Almo

PHILADELPHIA — Philips Consumer Electronics, North America (PCENA) has tapped CE/majap distributor Almo Corp. to handle the logistics of its premium and incentive operation.

Under terms of the deal, Philips and Almo will jointly market to the premium channel — which includes sales incentives, awards and gifts for credit card point redemptions that range from clock radios to projection TVs — with Almo handling all aspects of the back-end product distribution.

Explained Philips Consumer Electronics VP Bill Clark, "Philips is committed to growing our presence in the specialty market channel. Now, with Almo's distribution capabilities and PCENA's excellent product offerings, our customers will be receiving a powerful combination of cutting-edge products and excellent distribution services."

Added Mark Rue, president of MR Group, which sales reps for the Philips Incentive Channel, "Philips has proactively responded to the incentive channel's needs with the creation of the partnership between Philips and Almo. The partnership has dramatically improved customer service response time and shipping capabilities."

Almo senior VP/sales Mark Harris will head up the effort within a newly created Almo Fulfillment Services unit. Almo, headquartered here, distributes CE, majaps, high-end kitchen appliances and outdoor cooking and living products throughout the U.S. from six sales and warehouse facilities in Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The two companies have also forged closer ties on the professional A/V front, with Almo creating a ProAV division to service the professional and contractor industries with Philips' ProAV products, including institutional TV and LCD goods. "This is the natural extension of what Almo has been doing successfully for over 56 years," said Almo senior VP Warren Chaiken.