The Vanguard Distribution Group, an association of independent electrical and automation products distributors, is conducting live hosted “webinars” (seminars over the Web) for customers and salespeople of Vanguard members.

The Webinars, are being delivered by nine different electrical and automation products manufacturers: Siemens Energy & Automation, Osram-Sylvania, Cooper Industries-Bussmann Division, Allen-Bradley, Thomas & Betts, Advance Transformer, Leviton Manufacturing, Panduit and Pass & Seymour/Legrand. The first Webinar event was presented by Thomas & Betts on Sept. 5, using T&B's technologies. Subsequent events will be presented via Web-conferencing technology. All events are private, for Vanguard members' customers and salespeople.

Vanguard's primary vision is to help members' customers to run their businesses more effectively. “We're using the Internet in new ways to market more effectively and deliver value-added information to member customers,” said consultant Neil Gillespie, Vanguard's president. “We liked the Web-conference format to deliver these seminars because it's live, interactive, relatively low cost, and you can attend from your office. From a manufacturer viewpoint, this is a unique way to present their solutions to targeted audiences in a new venue.”

Vanguard is also developing a template-based Web site format for member distributors. The site technology leverages common database structures and tools developed specifically for distributor Web-site tasks, plus customizable template pages for members. Each member site will have a unique look, and draw from a common information database feeding robust community sections stocked with streaming news media, thousands of articles, links and technical tools targeted to specific market segments.

Organized in 2000, the Vanguard Distribution Group, LLC, consists of 18 members representing almost $3 billion in annual revenues. For more information on Vanguard, contact Neil Gillespie at (412) 490-6950.

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