Latest News De Rigo REM National Sales Meeting Puts Emphasis on Transformation By Staff Tuesday, January 22, 2019 12:24 AM De Rigo's Nicola Perini (l) and De Rigo REM's Alessandro Baronti (r). LOS ANGELES—Emphasizing the theme of "transformation," De Rigo REM brought together its team from the U.S. and Canada to the West Drift Hotel in Manhattan Beach for a three-day meeting which reflected the company’s key learnings and transformation over the past year and to reinforce a look ahead to the strategic business plans and priorities for the year to come. In addition to unveiling many new exciting brand initiatives in 2019, guests had the opportunity to preview the new product collections, participate in intimate team-building activities and honor top sales performers at De Rigo REM’s annual gala night. De Rigo REM North America's president Alessandro Baronti emphasized the evolution of a sales consultant. He also reinforced the many accomplishments of 2018 while marking his one-year anniversary with the company. New initiatives for 2019 include a number one brand focus on the relaunch of Converse Eyewear which is REM’s longest standing license , a relationship forged 31 years ago in 1988. There was dedicated Converse sales training and the group saw the kick off the brand's new marketing efforts. Vic Satir, Converse’s senior business manager of global commercial also joined the meeting to give an energizing presentation on the brand essence and everything that they have in store for Converse on a 360 global perspective. Also highlighted was the introduction of Carolina Herrera New York this month in the North American market (following the success of CH Carolina Herrera in Jan 2017). Carolina Herrera New York, the high end, ready-to-wear label inspired by the signature style of its founder, blends traditions of couture craftsmanship with the wearability and pragmatism of American fashion. A major spotlight in 2019 will be the Police sunwear/eyewear brand. Dedicated Police training during the meeting was provided by Nicola Perini, head of business development for De Rigo, to announce key initiatives for the brand that will be coming later this year (to be announced publicaly at a later date). As De Rigo’s house brand, this will be another major brand focus for the North American market this year. Baronti and Jim Sepanek discussed some of the highlights of the previous year including the development of a strategic selling approach with the realignment of the sales force in April, as VMAIL reported. There was the addition of De Rigo REM's Canadian distributor, DRJ Group in October 2018, a new product design and development approach with the addition of new senior creative director, Tatiana De Arruda in July, the expansion of the new key accounts department with the addition of Talia Bruno, senior director, in July and the strengthening of strategic partnerships with alliance groups and licensed brands. A centerpiece of the meeting was a panel discussion among four diverse types of California-based ECPs, moderated by Vision Monday's Marge Axelrad, editorial director. The partipants included: Lorie McBroom , optical manager of Bakersfield Eye Center, Vicki Leung , optometrist at Eric W Leser & Vicki Leung, OD Associates, Salvatore Sampino, practice manager of Malibu Eye Center Optometry and Amy Darmandjian , practice manager of Optometrics of Chatsworth. The group talked about how they make decisions about supplier partners and how they rely on sales reps. During Saturday’s gala, industry veteran Henry Sand addressed the crowd with an inspirational speech about his road to success, sharing some of his best-kept selling secrets for how reps can transform into leaders. This was followed by an award ceremony celebrating top sales performers in the field. These included Presidents Club, Million Dollar Club, Rookie of the Year, and Business Consultant of the Year, among others. 1/5 De Rigo REM National Sales Meeting De Rigo's Nicola Perini (l) and De Rigo REM's Alessandro Baroni (r). De Rigo REM National Sales Meeting Panelists discuss their frame partnership decisions. De Rigo REM National Sales Meeting REM fiounder Gerry Hundert opened the meeting, here with Jim Sepanek. De Rigo REM National Sales Meeting Converse will be a major focus this year for De Rigo REM. Here, the Converse leadership team. De Rigo REM National Sales Meeting (L to R) At the De Rigo REM Gala are Alessandro Baronti, Nicola Perini, Jordan Gerardi, Stacey Soltis (Business Consultant of the Year), Mark Mixon, Jim Sepanek.