This article originally appeared in the January/February 2014 issue of SP&T News.
Code Blue, a Holland, Mich.-based provider of intercoms and emergency communications solutions, is now distributing its products in Canada through Anixter.
This is the first time Code Blue has made its products available in Canada through a distributor. Previously, they were only available through a number of dealers and manufacturers’ representatives.
By aligning with a known quantity like Anixter, Code Blue should be able to extend its reach in Canada, says David Cook, chief operating officers at Code Blue. “Anixter’s name is recognized globally, so Code Blue sees that as an advantage. We can reach markets that we weren’t traditionally able to do through our multi-line selling model. It brings additional exposure,” he says.
Anixter’s appeal also lies in its added level of services, says Cook. “We heard about how Anixter engages its dealers, how they’re often involved in project management capacities. They augment the staff of the dealer and really facilitate the overall sale,” he explains.
There will be some adjustments along the way as a result of the change, says Cook. Dealers may have enjoyed some exclusivity by being one of a handful that carried Code Blue products. By have a major distributor carry the line, that exclusivity evaporates. “That’s a big deal to us, so this will be handled very delicately,” he says. “Some of our bigger dealers in Canada … have worked with us in this transition. It’s going to be a big change but in the end, who wins is the end user.”
Code Blue also recently announced a partnership with OnSSI and integration of its Help Point® emergency communications devices with OnSSI’s Ocularis video management software, allowing users to manage video surveillance images, access control data, fire alerts and emergency communication.