Sam-Son Distribution

Sam-Son provided a novel, "bundled" approach at the time (1985), combining the physical distribution services of inventory management and order fulfillment services (including return goods management and warranty/repair) with freight management services. Most frequently, the freight management and physical distribution services were invoiced solely as a function of the transportation charges. These clients did not pay for any overhead until they had sales orders (and subsequently, receivables) against their inventory. Customer service was (and remains) the focus of our business model. By bundling the warehousing and returns management services for our audio/video customers, Sam-Son provided a single point of contact for all client and dealer customer service interactions. By 1987, firmly entrenched in the Consumer Electronics industry (both CE Pro and CE Lifestyle), Sam-Son executives began attending segment-specific tradeshows, meeting regularly with our clients' sales staffs as well as their dealers. The direct contact between our clients' dealers and Sam-Son executives provided us with the direct knowledge of operational issues from the "dealer's" perspective. Sam-Son's knowledge of the consumer electronics industry is exceptional. These insights have been utilized to provide our clients with the retailer's operational information necessary for our customers to outperform their competition. As Sam-Son found success providing inventory and freight management for our CE clients, we also recognized the challenge and expense associated with returns and repairs. Accordingly, we began to offer repair, quality control and project assembly services. Our Canadian customers no longer had to ship returns across an international border and our offshore manufacturers now had a dedicated return facility in the USA. A partnership with Lifetime Service Center was established in 1987, offering support to our U.S., Canadian and offshore electronic clients.