By Matthew Henry

SYDNEY: Grundig Australia has made its first organisational restructure in a series of changes expected from the company over the next few months by merging the Bush and Grundig sales operations and changing its Queensland agency.

Under the restructure, Grundig sales representatives will now be able to offer retailers across the country the full range of products in the Grundig and Bush portfolio, which is expected to grow substantially when Bush starts distributing a wider range of appliances from its UK-based parent company, Alba PLC.

Bush currently supplies vacuum cleaners and Ministry of Sound audio products, but the company announced last week it plans to introduce small appliances, personal care products, cookware, hardware, audio visual and telecommunications products from Alba’s swag of brands.

“It’s really restructuring to take our business to another level, keeping both brands in mind. We’re adding value to our sales representatives and account managers,” said Grundig Australia sales and marketing director, Brian Rodgers.

“There will be slight changes for retailers, because of course they are going to be dealing with one person for all our products, so that person is going to become a more important partner to the retailers. It’s going to be a lot easier for them because we are going to have a bigger offer.”

However, Rodgers says there may be a need to enlist new agencies in the future if Bush starts to import products other than electrical appliances such as fitness equipment or certain hardware products in the Alba portfolio.

Formerly, Grundig and Bush products were handled by separate agents in Queensland, but Grundig has announced that NQ Agencies will now manage the Grundig and Bush brands in North Queensland while Hytek Marketing will take care of the brands in South East Queensland, Northern Rivers and Darwin.

Grundig has also appointed former Panasonic account manager for Bing Lee, Steve Berhens, as its sales representative for Grundig and Bush products in the the Sydney Metropolitain area. Berhens returns to Grundig after working for the company earlier in his career prior to joining Panasonic.