The reason for the season couldn’t have been better illustrated - this year’s clothes and food donation drive was all about giving. Thanks to everyone at Indoff's corporate office who participated in bringing in the mounds of clothes and stacks of food! What a success!

Blogging is the best way to get your Partner Marketing Site to the top of the search engines for consumers to see. By updating his website via the weblog, Galloway has been able stay on top of the search engines. So Partners, here’s the $110k question – have you blogged today?

For more information about Indoff's Partner Marketing Sites, please contact Amanda Goedken or Kathleen Larsen in the Marketing Dept. 

Congratulations, Bill, and keep up the great work!

 All weather issues aside, the meeting proved to be a complete success.  Thursday kicked off the meeting with a General Session for the Office Interiors, Material Handling and Promotional Products Partners while the Business Products Partners were bused off to the United Stationers Show.

Friday started off with select vendors hosting Indoff University sessions. Over 35 classes provided a chance for Partners and vendors to discuss everything from promotional apparel to pallet handling conveyor systems. The Indoff Vendor Show officially began after lunch, and included over 100 vendor booth. It was a great opportunity for our Sales Partners to reconnect and talk with vendors face-to-face.

Saturday morning was yet another opportunity for Indoff Sales Partners and Corporate staff to share ideas and information through roundtable discussions. A few topics discussed included social media, Confluence order entry, e-marketing, using company store websites, cross selling and specialty product selling. As always, all classes were very informative, with only complaint - there were too many “good classes” to choose from!

Wrapping up the weekend event was the dinner and much anticipated awards banquet. Many corporate and Partner anniversaries were celebrated this year. We even had a 40th birthday celebration for our CFO Julie Frank. Julie received a special birthday message from Jim Malkus, Indoff President and CEO, as well as a group sing-a-long to “Happy Birthday” started by Indoff Partner Marsha Olinghouse.

The most important announcement of the night, though, came from John Temple, Indoff Vice Chairman, who announced his retirement from Indoff after 38 years. Partners and Corporate staff were able to wish him their best at the Saturday night dinner reception.

As all good things do, the Sales Meeting had to come to an end. Friendships were renewed, classes were taught, sales techniques refreshed, and the Indoff camaraderie strengthened. We believe every Sales Partner in attendance left the meeting with a pride in their company and the momentum to “Map a Plan for Success!”

Since 1971 Indoff has grown into a $120 million distributorship with 375 Sales Partners nationwide. Indoff’s Sales Partners work from satellite offices sprinkled across the country, stretching to the far corners of the map, making it nearly impossible to hold companywide meetings on a weekly, monthly or even quarterly basis. So to keep the company thriving, Indoff has made communication priority one.

Although the sales force works remotely, Indoff Material Handling Partner Mark McCullough, from Dublin, Ohio says he feels more connected with Indoff than with any of his previous employers, “Indoff’s level of communication, creativity and forward business thinking has impressed me as much as anything. When they brought me [to the corporate office] for orientation I was overwhelmed by the level of energy and enthusiasm they radiated. It's contagious. Independent sales people work by themselves most of the time, but I feel much more connected now than ever before. My old company had less than 20 employees. Indoff has over 300 nationwide. I’m looking forward to meeting them at our national sales meeting in October.”

Indoff’s corporate office currently houses 59 employees (58.5 according to the latest admin count – they’re still searching for the ½ person) within 13 departments. Their responsibility is to support the Sales Partners by taking care of back office functions, and to supply them with numerous marketing and vendor resources.

An astounding number of corporate employees and Sales Partners have stayed with Indoff for several years - 37 of the 59 corporate employees have been with Indoff for more than 5 years, and of those 37 employees, 19 have been on staff for 10 years or more. Of the 370 Sales Partners, 104 have been with Indoff for 10 years or more, and 213 Sales Partners have been Indoff employees for 5 years or more. Even during these slow economic times Indoff has no intention of cutting anyone from their payroll.

Melinda Ligos, editor-in-chief of Counselor Magazine said after the publication of the top 60 list, “We were initially surprised to find that employee morale in the industry is so high in these more challenging economic times. While many firms have had to undergo staff reductions, it’s obvious that the employees who have remained feel valued and are confident in their company’s leadership.”

Jim Malkus, Indoff President and CEO, believes that Indoff’s sense of community has everything to do with their remarkable retention. “Our stability in personnel helps create a feeling of community (dare I say of family – dysfunctional, but family).  We “come to work” with people we know and who know us.” Malkus continued, “I think we’re a good place to work because we have nice people working here.  Almost without exception (and you know who you are, Mr. Exception…), Indoff Partners and staff are good people who care about their jobs and each other.”

To build a solid employee foundation, Indoff strives to generate a healthy level of employee job satisfaction by maintaining an open and honest communication style. And as many of Indoff’s employees can attest – it’s working.  

Adam Heck, Indoff Recruiting Manager says, “I have a very open relationship with my boss, who happens to be the President and CEO of the company. He has a lot on his plate, but always makes it a point to keep his door open. He likes hearing what’s going on and always asks me what I think. I really enjoy working for someone who values my opinion.”

Ron Brewer, Indoff Material Handling Partner from Rossville, Tennessee, also appreciates the open lines of communication, “I cannot say enough about the wonderful corporate staff. When you can call the President and Vice Presidents of a $120 million company and talk to them directly at any time, it’s just wonderful.”

Malkus believes Indoff’s stable program is an ideal home for business owners and sales professionals. “Due to our structure and commitment to our program and philosophy, we are able to continue operations in the same fashion and style we have been pursuing each of these past 18 years.  The Partner Program works, and we remain committed to it.  We have started over 70 new Partners thus far in 2009, again, a testament to our financial stability and commitment to the future.”

Indoff announces Audrey Moran as the 2009 recipient of the Marjie Vorel Award. The annual award is presented to an Indoff employee who best exemplifies what an Indoff employee should be – conscientious, reliable and dedicated to their job and co-workers. The award was named for Marjie Vorel, an Indoff employee who dedicated 22 years of service to the company.

Jim Malkus, Indoff’s President and CEO, commented, “Audrey’s desire for excellence hasn’t gone unnoticed. Like Marjie, Audrey defines accuracy, integrity, reliability and teamwork.”

Audrey has been with Indoff since August 11, 1999. She is the Senior Accounting Clerk on the Data Processing team at Indoff’s corporate office in St. Louis, MO.