Bristan Group VP of Sales, Ian Hansell shares the steps his team is taking to help keep life flowing for its customers post lockdown:

“It’s been fantastic to hear so many positive experiences from our merchant and showroom customers who have successfully found their way through the uncertainty of recent months, by remaining flexible and customer focused. With many adopting digital and ecommerce strategies to ensure they continue to deliver for their customers.

“A recent survey by the National Buying Group found that, while many merchants are asking suppliers to stay away from branches to enable safe social distancing for their customers and staff, communication is still top of the agenda. And it’s brilliant to see how people have been adopting technology to help keep the lines of communication open.

“The survey found 69% of merchants are now using video conferencing and a further 13% are choosing to invest and upskill their teams to become more digitally savvy. Zoom is the preferred software for video conferencing, favoured by 70% because of its simplistic style that allows multiple on screen with interactive functions such as voting and reactions.” 

Kellaway Building Supplies commented: “The world has changed with video being the new way we will transact. It is more efficient and will cut costs with immediate delivery potential.

“As our customers have adapted, so too has the Bristan Group. Video conferencing programmes including Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Skype have been rolled out across all of our teams, meaning we can be as flexible as possible when having virtual meetings. Ensuring we can maintain a rapport with our partners and focus on important information such as new products, promotions and general business updates.  All of which can be presented as a group or one to one, with the opportunity to ask questions in real time. 

We are also developing our digital marketing communication programme with a suite of regular news bulletins, social media activity and online training to ensure we continue to keep our customers informed an engaged, even if our sales teams are unable to enter the branch.

“The Bristan Group is doing everything it can to meet the needs of our customers as by working together, we are one brilliant team. Delivering on our Next Day Delivery promise with good stock levels has been a key aim for us through the last few months. I am incredibly proud of our supply chain, warehouse and ops teams for maintaining such high standards and continuing to deliver for our customers.”

Bristan Group brings together Bristan, Heritage and Cascade to offer sanitaryware, furniture, taps, showers and accessories for domestic, commercial and industrial specifications.




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