Standard Golden Anniversary 1959 - 2011

2. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. OCTOBER 9, 2011

STAFF AND CUSTOMERLOYALTY ranks high at StandardDistributors.

That’s according to ChiefExecutive Officer (CEO), Steven Scott.

Cognisant of these trends withinthe company, Scott wants topublicly thank his staff and faithfulBarbadians for ensuring the success of thisretail store during the past 52 years.

“We at Standard Distributors wish tothank our customers for their loyalty, faithand trust in us. We value them significantly,and while we know that their buying powerhas been challenged due to the existingeconomic climate, we will work with themas best as we can,” Scott promised.

He has lauded the staff for their creativityover the years, and has specificallycommended them for their dedication andcommitment to excellent service.

Scott, who took up the reins of CEO fouryears ago, is adamant that the economicclimate will only push the company togreater heights.

“Our greatest challenge right now — likemany other companies — is the economicsituation, but everything has a cycle and wewill come out. We are holding our own andwill continue to support the localmanufacturing industry. In this way we arehelping to preserve local jobs,” Scott noted.

He added: “It is true that business has

slowed down, but our efforts now are to buymore wisely and give customers a betterproduct at better prices. Our prices are quitegood, as we have the advantage of buying ingreater volumes through our faithfulsuppliers with whom we have excellentworking relationships. This enables us topass on the best prices to the customer. Wewill endeavour to offer the best.”

Scott pointed to Standard Distributors’special discount to any individual who is amember of a credit union, as well as specialdiscounts to members of the BarbadosAssociation of Retired Persons (BARP),many of whom are also customers.

“A large percentage of BARP membersare customers and a lot of young people whoare starting out in their careers chooseStandard because of the store’s widevariety,” Scott added.

It is to this end that special packages areoffered to young people who are starting outin their respective home ownershipprogrammes.

Scott sees a bright future ahead, with lotsof possibilities.

OCTOBER 9, 2011. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 3

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER STEVEN SCOTT (seated) looking over figureswith Marketing Manager Andre Downes (left) and Chief Financial OfficerDavid Holder. (RC)

GONE are the days when keepingtabs on the finances of StandardDistributors meant burning themidnight oil.

Chief Financial Officer DavidHolder remembers those days onlytoo well; the nights of balancingbooks way past 11 p.m. Today, thanks to advancedtechnology, with just the touch of abutton, he is able to keep financialrecords up to date.

“When I joined the company mostof the work was being donemanually. We spent many nights

balancing the hire purchase ledgers.Today, high technological advancedsoftware programmes have made itso much easier, but business is not asusual,” he said.

Holder believes that market forceshave made doing business much

more competitive. “The market has changed

significantly. There are more retailoutlets, along with the ability forpersons to research and shop onlinefor any product. In the midst of this,we must focus and ensure that the

highest quality of service is deliveredat all times.”

Holder is also of the view that thekey to maintaining a proper marketshare is to provide excellent servicethat is second to none.

“At Standard Distributors, wemake the customer feel a part of us,so that they continue to do businesswith us. We will not lose a customerdue to poor service, support orproduct performance,” he stressed

He maintains that in spite of thecurrent economic climate StandardDistributors continues to keep its

head above water.“We are weathering the economic

climate and placed all the relevantmachinery to ensure positiveprojections for the remainder of theyear,” he disclosed.

A former teacher, Holder joinedStandard Distributors in 1986 as anaccounts clerk responsible foraccounts payable and receivable. Hewas elevated to the post ofaccountant three years later, and hasheld the post of chief financial officerfor the past 20 years.

Holder manages a team of 25, inaddition to overseeing the financialoperations of the company’s threelocations and the preparation of themonthly management accounts. Healso manages the company’s portfolioof assets, with the highest portfoliobeing hire purchase receivables,inventory and fixed assets.

Holder is also responsible for theCredit, Accounts and Inventorydepartments.

THE HEART of StandardDistributors is the SalesDepartment. Each member ofstaff is sales driven and dependson sales from furniture, largeand small appliances andelectronics — among other items— for the company to stayabreast of the competition.

This is where JoycelynCarter plays a crucial role assales manager and purchaser oflocal products.

In addition to working withlocal furniture manufacturingcontractors, Carter sets salestargets on a daily basis andworks to ensure these targetsare attained.

She is satisfied that despitethe current recession,“businessis steady” at both the TudorStreet and Haggatt Hallbranches. Excitement is also inthe air as both retail stores havestarted to receive theirChristmas stock. Already staffare looking forward to a greatseason.

Carter is also convinced thatwith the right quality productsand best prices, StandardDistributors will continue to bea leader in its field.

“We are performing well withour various large and smallappliances, including Kenmore,Frigidaire, General Electric,

Whirlpool, and Toshibaproducts,” stated Carter.

She added: “During the earlypart of the year the focus isusually on a wide range ofappliances, including stoves,refrigerators, washing machinesand televisions. The Christmasseason is when we witnessincreases in all classes of retailitems. Our furniture salesincrease significantly during thisperiod.

“Standard Distributorshas everything for the home,and is a No. 1 stop for allappliances, furniture and homefurnishings,” explained Carter,who supervises a team of 15,

including cashiers, porters andsales associates.

She believes that asStandard Distributors livesup to its motto — “Quality IsOur Business” , it will continueto make its mark in the localretail industry.


JOYCELYN CARTERSALES MANAGER (RC)

DAVID HOLDERCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (RC)

CUSTOMERS of StandardDistributors can lookforward to give-aways to thetune of over $100 000 worthof prizes as the companycelebrates its GoldenAnniversary in this its 52ndyear of business in Barbados.

According to MarketingManager Andre Downes, thestore is especially set to giveback to the loyal Barbadianpublic through an extendedpromotion package, which iscurrently running untilJanuary 31, 2012.

Customers have thechance to win a KIA Cerato;a Caribbean cruise for two,and five individual roommakeovers.

Downes noted in light ofthe current economic climatethe store was “alwaysseeking new ways to keepour customers happy,satisfied and coming backto shop with us as they arethe reason we exist.

“We have a duty to ourcustomers to provide themwith the best possibleservice and a qualityproduct that outstrips itsvalue.

“Therefore, through research, we arealways looking for new ways and makingchanges to the overall operation from thelook and feel of the stores, to the quality ofeach product purchased, so there will bechanges on the horizon. We want to adviseour customers to stay tuned”.

Downes added: “As one of the olderretail companies in this business wecontinually challenge ourselves creatively to

realize the goalswe set, whileseeing the dreamsof our foundersand buildersrealized.“We owe it to

our shareholders to be innovative and toimprove in every facet of the business toensure the company’s success for another 50years and beyond.”

Despite the demands of the job, Downessays he enjoys his work immensely and islooking forward to finding solutions to themany challenges, the company faces.

“We have a solid history, which supportsa promising future, and I am eagerly lookingforward to playing an active role in it,” he added.

WHEN IT COMES to maintaining a properand accurate track record of StandardDistributors’ inventory, the responsibilityrests squarely on the shoulders of InventoryControl Manager, Sonia Moore.

The inventory department ensures that allgoods are placed in the company’s data base,and are available for distribution to theTudor Street and Haggatt Hall locations on atimely, and if needed, a daily basis.

This involves creating codes for each itemand pricing them as soon as they reach thewarehouse at Green Hill, St. Michael.

Moore, who has spent 23 years withStandard Distributors, works closely withinventory clerk Adrian Miller. Together theycooperate with the Credit and Accounts staff,as they rely heavily on information fromthese two departments to perform their duties

effectively.The inventory department also

coordinates stocktaking each week, andcarries out spot checks on a regular basis.

Moore specifically, as part of her duties,prepares monthly inventory reports for thechief executive officer and liaises with thechief financial officer.

OCTOBER 9, 2011 . SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 5

MARKETING MANAGER Andre Downes. (RC)

INVENTORY CONTROL MANAGERSonia Moore. (RC)


STANDARD DISTRIBUTORS wasestablished by Dr Anthony N. Sabga inTrinidad and Tobago in 1945.

With an overwhelming success thecompany came to Barbados in September1959 and began operations as apartnership with DaCosta Limited, asubsidiary of Barbados Shipping &Trading Company Limited (BS&T).

This new joint venture, which wasoriginally managed by the DaCosta group,was established primarily for the purposeof distributing Bosh automotive products,Bosch refrigerators and small kitchenappliances, as well as Blaupunktradiograms. After an initial couple ofyears on the waterfront of Bridgetown, theTudor Street property was acquired and

the business was relocated to that site where it remains to this day, some 52 years later.

In 1967, the ANSA Group acquired the50 per cent owned by the BS&T Groupand assumed full management of thecompany. By the early ’70s, Standardhad expanded its operation to include acomplete line of furniture, appliances andelectronics and had opened a secondlocation on Broad Street. Among thebrands that launched this expansion wereTappan, Leonard, General Electric,Brother and Hitachi, brands that this retail store continues to proudly represent today.

In November 1997, Standard openedits first location outside the boundaries of

Bridgetown. This 10 000 square feetshowroom, located in Haggatt Hall, StMichael, exemplifies the “retail world” ofthe 21st century.

A convenient location on the ABCHighway, Haggatt Hall is easily accessiblefrom all parts of the island, has excellentparking facilities and a comfortable andspacious shopping environment. This newstore will enable the company to reach outto consumers who are seeking theseconveniences and introduce Standard to alarger segment of the population.

Today, Standard Distributorsrepresents some of the best brands in theworld including the intelligent line ofKenmore appliances and a complete lineof quality furniture from Bassett.

JOHN LASHLEYManaging Director Jayel Furniture

I CONGRATULATE StandardDistributors on this special occasion.For the past 15 years I’ve enjoyed agood relationship with management andstaff. The service is excellent and I’venever had any complaints. I supplybedheads, television stands, chest ofdrawers, book shelves and various items. Jayel Furniture has been in businesssince 1993.

THE MANAGEMENT and staff of StandardDistributors have always maintained goodrelations with small business entrepreneurswishing to break their way into the market.

Today, suppliers across theisland can attest to theopportunities made available tothem through this retail store.

Below are the testimonies ofthree such suppliers:

JEFFREY BRATHWAITEManaging DirectorBrathwaite’s Furniture

I have been supplying StandardDistributors with furniture for the past35 years and I’ve found this company tobe very helpful to the small businessman.They gave me a much needed opportunityto grow my business. I started out makingcoffee tables, before moving on tocreating wardrobes, chest of drawers,entertainment centres and cabinets. Icongratulate Standard on their GoldenAnniversary celebrations.

EVANSON JOSEPHManaging Director Regal Furniture

I’VE FOUND Standard Distributorsto be a good company to work with andI’m comfortable partnering with them.I’ve been in business for the past 25 years and have been supplyingStandard with bedroom, kitchen and dining room furniture within the last decade.I wish this company many more yearsof success.

These customs duties areleft in the capable hands ofcustoms and costing clerk MichaelWoodley.

He joined this established retailcompany 21 years ago to perform allduties related to customs. Theresponsibility of costing was added to hisportfolio by former Chief ExecutiveOfficer, now Chairman, Stephen Edghill.

Woodley believes that his duties havebecome more challenging over the years— bearing in mind the current economicclimate and changes in customs, but hedoes not complain. In fact, he hasadmitted to loving his job immensely.

“Standard Distributors is a wonderfulplace to work, and I love working there,”disclosed Woodley, who has worked witha number of CEOs including Mr Edghill,Mr Marshall and Mr Roach.

He is looking forward to more yearswith the company.

SINCE quite a number ofthe items which are sold byStandard Distributors areimported, it is necessary tohave these items cleared atthe sea and air ports.

OCTOBER 9, 2011. SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL7

MICHAEL WOODLEYCUSTOMS AND COSTING CLERK. (RC)


STAYING ABREAST of the competition is vital while trying tomeet consumer demand, and Standard Distributors maintainsits cutting edge by introducing various brands with some of themost exotic pieces of local and imported furniture, not tomention world renowned quality brands such as Kenmoreappliances.

Over the years, the store has expanded its lines from theUnited States, China, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

The introduction of top brands such as the Basset, Fairmontand Belle lines of furniture have also been widely accepted bythe Barbadian public. Other quality ranges of living, dining,bedroom and patio furniture as well as technologically advancedelectronics have also found their place at StandardDistributors’ two locations — Tudor Street, The City, andHaggatt Hall, St Michael.


STANDARD DISTRIBUTORS is set to give back to the loyal Barbadian public through an extended promotionpackage, which is currently running untilJanuary 31, 2012.

Among the many gifts and give-ways up

for grabs is this KIA Cerato.To be eligible to enter the current

competition, which commenced last month, shoppers must spend $500 in cash or hire purchase items at any of the stores two branches.

FROM TIME TO TIME legal action must be taken whencustomers default on their hire purchase payments.Taking such action is usually a last resort by managementin a bid to retrieve monies owed to the company.

When such cases occur, Francina Bourne, StandardDistributors’ legal assistant in the Credit Department,shoulders the responsibility of representing the companyin court.

“We recognise that there are definitely some peoplewho are in crisis, so one has to know how to work withthem,” explained Bourne.

She added: “The recession has affected quite anumber of persons, including those who are very goodcustomers. We always try diligently to work with ourcustomers and settle matters of non-payments before theyreach the court.”

Bourne joined the Standard Distributors team 15years ago; her versatility has allowed her to function inmany areas within the company and she is described as agood work colleague by her peers.

SHE LIVES by the guiding philosophy — “Doyour best at all times”, and Merlene Gall livesup to this philosophy each day on the job ashead cashier at Standard Distributors’ TudorStreet (main) branch.

“No one day is ever the same,” she said,“and each day has its challenges.”

According to Gall, having to interface withcustomers on a daily basis is the most fulfillingand rewarding part of her job.

Gall supervises two other cashiers andtogether they receive all the day’s takings.

She performs her duties in a professionalmanner, and seeks to ensure that each customeris treated fairly, and given the best servicepossible.

“As cashiers we all understand the need tobe courteous to customers and to create theright customer experience. This will determinewhether or not that customer returns to dobusiness with us,” Gall emphasised.

This mother and wife, who formerly workedin the banking industry, has spent the last 15years with Standard Distributors.

STANDARD DISTRIBUTORS offers easycredit terms on hire purchase accounts andcontinues to attract new and existingcustomers every day.

In addition, customers who repay accountsbefore the expiry date are given financerebates. these are among several incentivesoffered to customers, explains Credit ManagerDesma Linton.

Opening a hire purchase account atStandard is quite easy and Linton and herteam work behind the scenes carrying out thenecessary checks in a timely manner so that

approval of the contract is done as quickly aspossible.

The Credit Department has theresponsibility of ensuring that installments are kept up to date. Linton joined StandardDistributors in 2004 and manages a staff of seven.

MERLENE GALLHEAD CASHIER (RC)

STANDARD DISTRIBUTORS CREDIT TEAM: Seated are Credit Manager Desma Linton (left) and Harriette Chase. Standing (from left): Francina Bourne,Sandra Brathwaite, Sharon Cumberbatch and Olivia Jones. Missing are KarenWaithe and Pholine Frederick. (RC)



THE STAFF from theTudor Street branchof StandardDistributors includingManaging DirectorSteven Scott (seatedleft), Sales ManagerJoycelyn Carter(seated centre) ChiefFinancial OfficerDavid Holder (seatedright). (RC)


FOURTEEN YEARS AGO St. Clair Bryan walkedthrough the doors of Standard Distributors toperform the task of clearing containers” at thecompany’s warehouse.

When an opening for a porter became available,he applied for the post and got it. Five years later,he was offered the position of officeassistant/courier.

Bryan has now become the face of StandardDistributors to many of the company’s partners,clients and associates. He also does all officefiling.

It was always his desire to work with StandardDistributors. In fact, when he was 16 years old,he filled out an application form for a job, and

although he never worked forthe company until he was in hislate thirties, he was just happyto get his foot through thedoors.

He loves running errands andinteracting with people.

“What I enjoy most about thejob is working each day withmy colleagues. On a typical dayI am at work long before 8 a.m.I find out what has to be done,and set out to organise my dayaccordingly,” Bryan said.

“My philosophy is to givemy best at all times, so I do not allow anybody to getbetween me and my work.”Bryan is looking forward to many more years with

Standard Distributors and to giving of his best to this company.

SERVICETECHNICIAN TrevorBryan is the longestserving employee ofStandard Distributors.

From a young boy,Bryan cherished thedream to work with thiscompany. At the age of17, fresh out of theFederal High School, this dream was realized whenhe became this store’s repair man. Back then he wasprimarily responsible for carrying out repairs on tablemodel radios and Blaupunkt radiograms. Bryan didthis for many years until various types of radios wereintroduced. He later added televisions, DVD’s, stereosets and a range of large and small electricalappliances to his “to be fixed list”.

Bryan operates from the company’s servicedepartment at Green Hill, St. Michael, and has beenbased there for the past 15 years.

He recalls the early days when the store’s entireoperation was located at Tudor Street, Bridgetown,with the warehouse and service department situatedon the top floor.

“The storeroom was at the top of the building, anda hoist was used to bring the furniture down to thestore-room,” Bryan noted.

He also remembers that like today Christmas wasalways the best sales season and almost every

household would purchase a Bosch refrigerator and aBlaupunkt radio during this period. These wereStandard’s main product lines back then.

Bryan has witnessed an expansion in the productlines over the years and has seen the company growfrom strength to strength.

He recalled that he joined the company whenCharles Maynard was its manager, and that thecompany’s longest serving manager was StephenEdghill, whom he credits for “turning the companyaround and expanding the product lines.”

He also credits the early parental advice of hismother and father for his astuteness.

“In the early days I got a lot of inspiration frommy parents. This foundation has helped me a greatdeal in the world of work. My mother would alwaystell me, “See and don’t see; hear and don’t hear; seeand hear and don’t talk,” he said with a chuckle.

Bryan, who lives by the motto: “To be the best thatI can be”, says he is fit and willing to go for as longas he can.

SINCLAIRBRYAN –courier. (RC)

TREVOR BRYAN – service techniciancelebrating 43 years of service. (RC)

OCTOBER 9, 2011 . SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL. 13

THE NAME ROSWITHA “Freddy”Mayo has become synonymous withStandard Distributors’ Haggatt Hallbranch over the years, and more-so as faras this retail store’s range of importedfurniture is concerned.

Mrs Mayo, sales manager at this south-eastern location has been successful inplacing Standard Distributors high on the listof retail furniture stores with quality tradename brands. Among these is the up-marketBasset line as well as the Belle and Fairmonttop quality brands, which have become popularover the years.

With a taste for exotic, traditional and evencontemporary brands of furniture, Mrs Mayogives each customer in search of importedfurniture some great choices from which tochoose.

Sales manager of the Haggatt Hall branchfor the past 11 years, Mrs Mayo has admittedthat when she was initially asked to head thisbranch, she immediately saw a need to expandthe furniture lines, and began searching in herbid to find the right tropical pieces for theBarbadian landscape. She was successful in

introducing bamboo, rattan and wicker designs,blending these well with local pieces such asmahogany and pine. Various ranges of patiofurniture also hit the market, so too did a rangeof bedroom, living and dining room furniture.

As she sought to discover the likes anddislikes of customers, Mrs Mayo soon startedto establish a new standard for the retail stores,which now carry a range of furniture piecesfrom the United States, Indonesia, China andTrinidad and Tobago.

“The most important thing I’ve learnedwhen it comes to buying is that you cannotalways buy what you like. This was the mostdifficult aspect of the job to learn,” Mrs Mayois quick to admit.

“People have different tastes and one mustcater for every taste,” she added.

ROSWITHA MAYO (second right) with the sales team from the Haggat Hallbranch (from left) Dario Roach, Cheryl-Lea Oliver, Bruce Robinson and Shawn Cummins. (RC)

THE Haggat Hall branch of Standard Distributors. (RC)

ONE OF StandardDistributors’ keys to excellentcustomer service has been thiscompany’s ability to fullysatisfy its customers — evenlong after the sale is closed.

The Service Department,located at Green Hill, StMichael, plays a key role in thisregard. Under the managementof Service Manager RickieNeblett, and his team oftechnicians, this departmentensures that items underwarranty are repaired andproperly serviced, should anydefaults be discovered. Outsideof warranty, purchasers can alsoopt to have both small andlarge appliances repaired andmaintained by Neblett and histeam. On-the-spot jobs arecarried out in many instances,when necessary.

“We make it a point to maintain hirepurchase items,” explained Neblett, whohas 21 years’ experience in the serviceindustry.

One aspect of his job which he enjoysimmensely is that of visiting the homesof customers to inspect, view or carry outrepairs on items.

According to this former Presentation

College student, “Standard offers a morepersonalised service than its competition,and the onus is on each employee to keepcustomers happy at all times.”


FRONT AND CENTRE: Warehouse Manager Winston Holder

(centre) with his team at Standardʼs warehouse in Green Hill. (RC)

STANDARDʼS SERVICE TEAM (aboveright), led by Manager Rickie Neblett(above), “aim to keep customershappy at all times”. (RC)


FLASHBACK: StephenEdghill (left) director ofStandard Distributors, PeterDanakas (right), chiefexecutive officer, JoycelynCarter (second from right), manager of Standard Norman Centre with winners inStandardʼs best Christmas Ever promotion. (FP)

FLASHBACK 1999: Some of the Standard winnersproudly show off their prizes. (FP)

FLASHBACK 2003: Lucy Joseph chatting with CEOof Standard Distributors Michael Trotman in hernew living room suite. (FP)

FLASHBACK 2008: Edris Carter (right) relaxing onher new Dirty-Oak Microfibre living room suite afterthe presentation by Ryan Harrison, advertising co-ordinator of Standard. (FP)

FLASHBACK 2003: Princess Edghillaccepting her new home entertainmentcentre from Michael Trotman, CEO of Standard Distributors.(FP)

FLASHBACK 2003: Chief executive of StandardDistributors, Peter Danakas (left) telling a surprisedPauline Yvonne Ross (centre) that she had won aFord Tauras. Jewel Forde shares in her delight. (FP)

FLASHBACK 1999:Sonia Babb (centre)examining some ofthe features of hernew Eurotechrefrigerator. Lookingon are TrevorMarshall, managingdirector of StandardDistributors andpurchasing manager,Joycelyn Carter. (FP)

Printed and Published by THE NATION PUBLISHING CO. LTD., Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados. Telephone (246) 430-5400

Standard Golden Anniversary 1959 - 2011

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