International electronics and appliance distributor Almo Corp. has joined the Azione Unlimited (AU) buying group as a vendor member.
Almo, which already supplies the group’s dealers and custom integrators with Samsung electronics, will be represented among AU’s vendor partners by its Almo Professional Audio/Visual division (Almo Pro A/V), which provides tech products for the commercial channel, including the hospitality, government, education, restaurant/bar, and corporate sectors.
See:The ‘New Kid’ On Almo’s Block
According to AU president Richard Glikes, the commercial channel represents about 15-25 percent of dealer members’ business. Until now, he said, “Azione members have been buying products for commercial applications from a number of different sources. This new relationship fits right into our model of focused partnering and will provide our members with one fantastic supplier. Members moving business to Almo Pro A/V will be a ‘win, win’ for everyone.”
Sam Taylor, executive VP/COO for Almo Pro A/V, said that in addition to supplying AU members with commercial tech products, his business development team will also provide them with technical and design support.
“As the largest distributor in the professional audio visual industry, we are able to offer our partners ongoing ways to grow their businesses, such as free training and education, and third party services that provide recurring revenue,” Taylor noted.
Almo and its commercial division grew dramatically with last spring’s acquisition of International Audio Visual Inc. (IAVI), a Florida-based distributor with a significant presence in Latin America. The company was ultimately integrated into Almo Pro A/V.
