I saved some money!
I did things differently on my latest travels, which reminds me that there are ways you can do things differently to stand out from the
competition. I’ve returned from Essen in the rain and as always there is something that went wrong again in my planning. This year, having double checked everything it all went fairly smoothly, OK, I was booked into what I found was more of a youth hostel rather than a hotel, but it was…, well cheap! A quick thanks to the guys at Vigitron as I was taken to dinner, by Neil and Ali and they drove me to my hotel, well not exactly a hotel (did I mention it was cheap?) so thanks guys. Back to Essen however and what stood out for me was the size of some of the stands, Bosch for example, it was designed to look like a mini airport. I was told they were seating 400 people each day for a three-course meal in their restaurant. You went through the departure gates as if you were boarding a plane but found yourself in a restaurant. As usual Siemens were right next door also with a massive stand. The show is spread throughout 11 halls, and they tend to focus specific products in a hall – access in one, CCTV in another – but they also have halls that feature bullet-proof and bomb-proof cars,and there are people testing them with real guns, which you hear going off every now and then. I didn’t even get in all the halls as there are so many. What also stood out for me was the Dallmeier truck that I stumbled on as it was in the car park. It was specially designed and built and looks like something out of a Predator movie. See more on that on page 82. We may see it in the UK, so I was told
by James Walker. I recommend you go and see it for a number of reasons – you’ll never see another like it and it has a full demonstration room, probably bigger than some companies have as a permanent showroom.
Recent Norbain moves
But to that gossip you so want to hear about. Firstly as always what has happened at Norbain recently: it seems that all the accounts people including
Sue Miller and Mark Seager who have been with the company for more than 20 years have already gone or are going. Likewise Buzz Coates, another
Norbain veteran, has resigned and is joining Raytec. Caroline Kitchin from the marketing department has also resigned and will be joining a PR company in Reading. But meanwhile they have a new Sales Director, Charlie Lacey, who I met at the Tyco Security Products British Super Bike
weekend. Charlie has been within the Newbury Group for some time, I understand he joined in 1991 as a trainee with Deco and has worked his
way up the ladder. He has experience with supplier relationships, management and of course sales; so we wish him well.
Split
Did I mention Tyco Security Products, it seems that there has been a split, or should I say a divorce. It seems that the mighty ADT that was part of the
group has split into two companies. Tyco Fire and Security are a company that turnover $10.5 billion this means, and I am using their words, that they
are now a ‘pure play’ business which encompasses Tyco Security Products, American Dynamics, Software House, Kantech, Visonic, DSC, CEM, Bentel
and Elpas. What does that mean to you? Nothing I assume as it’s business as usual for both sides but I thought you should know as I have heard
rumblings out there.
Villa
Marc Wesley who as you know left Arecont Vision some months ago has landed back in the industry after taking some time off. Now, while he and his
wife were on holiday they bought a new villa in Spain; well Ann his wife who works for Norbain did. But where has Marc gone, as a lot of people have
been speculating about this, in fact maybe I should have run a book on it! Marc has started with Exacq Technologies, working with Alan Lefford to cover the UK sales. Great fit for all parties and I am sure he will do well and put them on the map – after all he has a new villa to pay for.
Handing over reins
John Campbell our wee Scotsman from Corby he has joined Vigilant Vision as sales manager. I saw Ron Sharpe the MD over in Essen and he was pleased that he was able to hand some of the reigns over to John as he has not been of good health recently; we wish you a speedy recovery Ron.
John has 25 years of experience in our industry not as long as me but still a respectable amount. You may recall that he was at distributor iVigil UK.
Partner award
Talking distributors, do you remember that I mentioned last month that I was at the EZCCTV event at Kempton Park. Partner of the year went to
Reading-based Secure Plus (CCTV) Ltd. Andy Rashbrook collected the award. See also page 76.
Congratulations
Let’s go back to Norbain and offer our congratulations to Anna Dewhurst (she is the Tyco Security Product
manager) who has married her best friend Greg and become Anna Holden.
Well done Rob
I last told you in July about the charity fund-raising swims by Rob Evans of CSL Dualcom. He with all your help has raised a whopping £4000, you will
be glad to know. And it gives me a reason to show him in his wetsuit again. He’s recently had to do a 360- mile drive to St Michaels Mount in Cornwall, even before the swim. I don’t know if he drove there in his wet suit!?
