AGENCY CAPABILITIES

SALES AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Our agency works diligently to continually implement new programs.  We contact key customers on a daily basis in an effort to maximize sales for them as well as for our manufacturers.  Relationship building is a key element in this area and is responsible, we believe, for our success.  We are experts in our field and are self-sufficient in effectively selling new programs to our expanding customer base.

IN-STORE SERVICE
Service to retail stores has become increasingly important each year.  While chain stores with headquarters in our territory do not always require regular store service, we do provide that service for those customers who require it.  Much of our in-store time is devoted to selling new products and programs, developing endcaps, setting up planograms, and re-setting and maintaining displays.  Our goal is to provide high-caliber store service personnel who are knowledgeable about the products that we service.  Unlike some agencies, we service only manufacturers that we represent, so we can maintain a very high level of product knowledge.  Our computer system provides an in-store service reporting system including digital photographs, allowing us to accurately manage and track our in-store service programs.

CUSTOMER SERVICE
Berry Marketing is known throughout the industry for our excellent customer service program that is responsive to our customers' immediate needs.  An increasing percentage of our customers' orders are sent through Berry Marketing, which means that we can trace them for accurate and complete shipments.  We are fully EDI capable and transmit many customer orders directly to our factories.  We maintain an extensive supply of catalogs, line art and other related materials so that we can respond quickly to our customers' needs.  Our "800" telephone and FAX lines help us stay in constant contact with our customers.

MARKETING
Our sophisticated computer system allows us to respond quickly to a variety of marketing needs.  We use Intercept and Pegman planogram software to develop accurate and timely planograms for our customers, either on disk or on hard copy.  We have developed our own specialized software, tailored to the needs of our customers and factories.  Desktop publishing allows us to provide customized mailings, especially prior to distributor hardware shows.

TRAINING
Our agency conducts monthly sales meetings in order to provide up-to-date training for each sales and service representative, making sure that everyone is aware of any changes occurring with our factories, our customers, or in our marketplace.  In addition, Berry Marketing conducts training classes many times during the year for the benefit of our customers.  In-store service personnel also conduct one-on-one training during store visits.  Digital camera photographs provide help in teaching best practices at store level.

TRADE SHOWS
Berry Marketing attends many trade shows and buying shows during the year.  We have become self-sufficient in planning, executing, and manning dealer shows without factory help.  We have been instrumental in developing exciting dealer programs to stimulate sales at buying shows.  We maintain several vehicles to assist in the transport of samples, displays, and product literature to and from shows.

TECHNOLOGY
As we have entered the electronic age, Berry Marketing has been a leader all the way.  Our computer system allows us to track every order, every invoice, every letter, and every quotation instantly.  Our field sales personnel are equipped with laptop computers, which are updated at least twice weekly with customer information, orders, invoices, letters, and quotations.  Our goal is to have more information about our customers' business than our customers or our factories!  Berry Marketing is fully EDI capable for ANSI X12 orders, invoices, acknowledgments and functional acknowledgments.  We can also provide EDI order transmission for those customers who are not yet EDI capable.  All sales people are equipped with digital phones to enhance their productivity and maintain communications.  E-mail is also used with increasing frequency as more of our customers communicate over the Internet every day.

INFORMATION GATHERING
Berry Marketing believes that knowledge of our market, customers and competitors is critical to our continued success.  Therefore, we invest a great deal of time in gathering information regarding retail prices, ad prices, and competitors' prices.  This information is stored in our computer for use by all of our associates.  As sales people we have learned the art of listening, and are adept at perceiving manufacturer and customer trends in a timely fashion.