A career recognition now coveted by manufacturer reps selling the Shimano brands, including G. Loomis, PowerPro and Jackall, to tackle dealers and distributors, Tanner Worley with Sportco Marketing Inc. has been honored with Shimano’s 2020 ‘Stella’ award. For his account sales growth efforts over the past 12 months, long-time Don Coffey Company rep Doug Rusch earns Shimano’s ‘Rep of the Year’ award.
In announcing the honors, Shimano’s assistant vice president/sales Chris Brondell notes the ‘Stella’ award is based exceptional dealer service, the commitment to the customer relationship management process, and the willingness to take ownership to Shimano initiatives. “Tanner’s efforts with dealers in Arkansas, Oklahoma and North Texas since ICAST 2019 — and then through the COVID-19 crisis — showed not only that commitment, but in many instances, went way above in working with his accounts to shift and pivot so they would have tackle on their shelves,” said Brondell.
Rusch, who handles dealers and distributors accounts in the greater New York City area including northern New Jersey, “has always represented the Shimano brands in both the most professional and personal way with all his accounts,” said Brondell. “While his account sales increases diminished when COVID-19 hit the East Coast hard in March and April, he pressed forward with his dealers when they were able to open to see an exceptional amount of avid and new anglers visiting their shops while buying rods, reels, braid and lures.”
Brondell adds that “unfortunately we were not able to recognize Tanner and Doug for their efforts while the entire Team Shimano and all the sales reps from the Sportco and Don Coffey were together at an in-person ICAST Show. They both are well-deserving of the honors and announcing them in front of their peers only adds to it.”
