At 50, AFFLINK celebrates expansion, focus on sustainability
AFFLINK is celebrating 50 years as the “home for the independent distributor." The company started as a buying group network of jansan distributors.
Fifty years later, it has expanded, providing products and services for many other industry sectors, including packaging, healthcare, hospitality, and government. Today, it has nearly 600 distributor-members throughout the U.S.
“We are now the largest and most diverse network of distributors in the country,” said Senior Vice President of Business Development Michael Wilson.
“Much of this growth is due to our sales and marketing support [for our members], ongoing sales training and education, and due to our size, the ability to negotiate rebates and product discounts for our members.”
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| Dennis Riffer |
The company attributes its growth over the last 20 years to President and CEO Dennis Riffer, who recently announced his retirement. Within hours of posting the announcement on LinkedIn, nearly 2,500 "Likes" and numerous congratulatory comments poured in from the industry.
Additionally, AFFLINK has become very focused on sustainability.
It is a charter member of the U.S. Green Building Council, a BOMA360 Ambassador, and an active participant in many sustainability-focused outreach initiatives.
It has also introduced a proprietary education, certification, and marketing program for its network of distributors called Sustainable Choices.
“We want each of our distributor members to be able to speak with authority on sustainability issues,” adds Wilson. “This includes helping their customers with green procurement, developing corporate wellness programs, and selecting products that can be reused and recycled.”
AFFLINK now has CIMS-GB (Cleaning Industry Management Standards-Green Buildings) and LEED Accredited Professionals on staff who help AFFLINK members learn ways to help their customers reduce their environmental impacts and achieve Green and LEED certifications.
“Today, to be an effective independent distributor, the more training and education under your belt, the more successful you will be,” adds Wilson.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The March/April issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Joyce Lansdale and Vallen. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and David Kahle, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
