One of the best decisions we've ever made was appointing Robert Lavery & Associates as our distributor in the Americas on 1 February 2004.
The relationship was formalized by the signing of our initial marketing agreement on that date. With hindsight, we could have forgone all the formalities and relied on a handshake, such is the degree of mutual respect and trust that has characterized the relationship ever since. And as Rob likes to say:
Business is about relationships, and relationships are about people.
The genesis of the symbiotic arrangement was a case of "right place, right time, right person":
- Orchid had a well-established Accpac (now Sage 300) consulting business in Australia, had started to develop and sell add-on modules, and was keen to establish a presence in the North American market.
- Robert had held key roles with Accpac International for years. He was very well known, liked, and respected within the US and Canadian Accpac partner community. He was looking for a change and saw going out on his own to represent and promote 3rd party developers from his home in Ontario as an opportunity.
We were introduced, agreed to try working together, and the rest is history.
We owe much of our success over the ensuing twenty years to Robert and the RLA team, and we know that he feels the same about us.
The 20th Anniversary of the initial signing happened to coincide with a visit by Rob and his wife Fanny to Sydney, and we couldn't let the occasion pass without a celebration! The entire* Orchid team gathered for a long lunch in Woolloomooloo, beside Sydney Harbour.
We know Rob loves a good steak, so we chose the venue accordingly!
(*The entire team except for Susan, that is, but she won't be missing out. Rob & Fanny's road trip through southern New South Wales has been planned to culminate with a visit to Sue at her new home in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains.)
