The Ideal Store is a program designed to help Source 1 distributors. Pictured is a dealership with the program in place.
NORMAN, Okla. - The new Ideal Store program from Source 1™, the aftermarket division of York International - Unitary Products Group, is designed to provide HVAC parts distributors with a common look to promote and consistently merchandise the Source 1 offering of wholesale, nonproprietary parts for the Luxaire®, Coleman®, and York® equipment lines.

The Ideal Store program includes point of purchase materials, lighted displays and signage, as well as shelving plan-o-grams, all designed to help participating distributors move parts off the warehouse floor and onto well-merchandised store shelves.

According to Renae Turnbaugh, Source 1 marketing manager, the program is designed to easily and cost effectively put distributors in the parts business with a professional store appearance and parts offering.

"Dealers, too, benefit, finding it easier to locate and purchase all the products needed to complete a job at one time and eliminating multiple trips to the parts store," said Turnbaugh.

"We wanted to dramatically separate and elevate our parts business from competitive original equipment manufacturer parts distributors, with both a merchandising package and parts offering that represented best in class in the industry.

"The Ideal Store builds a consistent brand image for Source 1 and simultaneously gives our distributors more reasons to buy all their parts through our buying group."

Testimonial

For Brian Dey, purchasing manager at Dey Distributing, Vadnais Heights, Minn., the program is helping to grow the company's HVAC parts business.

"We've always been known as an appliance parts supplier," said Dey. "This program is helping our customers realize we also carry HVAC parts. The signs and displays make it clear to customers what products we carry and will save them time and money, because they realize they can buy everything they need in one stop."

Dey Distributing operates five Ideal Stores and plans to install the program in additional Dey locations.

"The Ideal Store program is a great program that is working very well for us," said Dey. "Others have copied parts of the program, but no one offers it on the scale that Source 1 does. What's more, after we purchase a package, Source 1 gives us the option to use as little or as much of the package as we want, based on the size and needs of each store. We appreciate that flexibility."

According to Turnbaugh, the program fits the broad-based needs of both independent wholesalers and factory branches in an equally form-fitting manner. Two different kits are available, one for stores in excess of 1,500 square feet and another for stores less than 1,500 square feet.

Source 1 regional sales managers travel to each enrolled parts distributor to install the fixture components of the kits and consult with distributors on how to place product on shelves.

To learn more about Source 1 and the Ideal Store program, visit www.source1parts.com.

Publication date: 12/26/2005