Premier stockist

Forward 2000 (Oxon) has won the prestigious Festo ‘Premier Stockist of the Year’ award for outstanding performance in 2012. The award is presented to the company within the Festo Premier Stockist network that shows the best sales growth of Festo products for the year, combined with demonstrable gains in operational efficiency – evidenced by over 90% usage of the Festo on-line shop – and the highest level of commitment to strategic campaigns.

The award was presented to Dave Watton, Sales Director, and Graham Breakspear, Managing Director, of Forward 2000, by Stuart Gittins, Festo’s Indirect Sales Manager.

LtoR: Graham Breakspear (Director, Forward2000), Dave Watton (Sales Director, Forward2000), Stuart Gittins (Indirect Team Sales Manager, Festo), Marco Flori (Business Development Consultant, Festo)

“This award complements an exceptional year with Festo and highlights the hard work, commitment to technology and excellence within the Forward 2000 sales force,” says Dave Watton. “We are very pleased to have won the prestigious title of Premier Stockist for the first time.”

Watton points out that the award is the result of a collaborative effort: “We have always worked in partnership with Festo, taking many of our customers to Festo HQ in Northampton to discuss projects in detail, or to participate in Festo training courses. Our success is built on providing fast, cost-effective and knowledgeable service alongside efficient local distribution. I would like to thank everyone within Forward 2000 for their hard work throughout 2012 and Festo for its support and high level of service.”

According to Festo’s Stuart Gittins, “Forward 2000 has demonstrated excellence in product campaigns, promotional activity, training commitment and process efficiency. It returned the best year-on-year growth of its Festo portfolio, principally by providing an exceptional level of service to its customers in Oxford and the surrounding areas.”

“The company also operates a highly professional and service-oriented business, meeting its customers' needs. Forward 2000 has established an enviable reputation with many leading industrial companies in the field.”

The level of service provided by all Festo Premier Stockists aims to be exemplary; only companies that meet specific Festo-defined standards are granted the title. In particular, each stockist must operate in accordance with the ISO 9002 standard, carry guaranteed stock levels, and offer fully-trained technical support personnel and competent trade counter services. Each stockist has direct access to over £35 million worth of stock held at Festo's European Customer Services Centre in Germany, enabling them to offer customers next-day delivery of virtually any pneumatic component, from a range of over 23,000 products.