PICTURED: GRAHAM KINGABY
Members of The WISE Group convened in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus recently for their first annual conference since the group was formed over three years ago, becoming the UK’s leading independent vending organisation.
The subjects considered by the delegates focused primarily on how best to develop Group strategy for the next three years in order to to ensure that the customer always remains at the heart of the group’s activities.
Graham Kingaby chaired the conference. He told PV “We had a clear objective, which was to focus totally on ‘Blue Sky’ thinking. We want to make sure that we don’t get stuck in the rut that many vending groups find themselves in, because that disappoints so many customers. There was unanimous agreement that we need to implement new ideas, new ways of doing things for both the enhancement of the customer experience and the improved efficiency and profitability of the members.
“In addition, it was agreed there is an on-going need, either to create or to find unique offerings that will help WISE Group to continue to thrive, in what is an increasingly competitive and demanding business environment”, Graham said.
To accomplish this effectively, WISE Group members believed that they needed to get ‘totally away from day to day business’.
“The suggestion to travel to Cyprus was a brilliant idea”, Graham said. “The conference was a resounding success. Several new product initiatives were shown and adopted and other areas for sales development opportunities were identified. The conference established a framework for a detailed strategy plan for implementation over the next three years.”
Winding up, Graham commented on the close relationships between group members and on the unique contributions that each made to the success of the event. He believes that the sum of the WISE Group is greater that its individual parts. “Everyone agreed that the future of the WISE Group looks especially secure”, he said.
