Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
Jamaican, Deborah Reed, international territory manager for Caribbean True Value International. Miss Reed is responsible for all of the English speaking Caribbean, the French and Dutch territories and also Bermuda, Guyana and Suriname. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
WHEN ONE mentions construction materials and home improvement essentials, one does not normally expect that a woman will head a company that specialises in these things. But Deborah Reed, international territory manager for Caribbean True Value International does. And she does not feel nailed to a difficult post, instead, she is determined to have stores in her territory stocked with the commodities that customers want.
Miss Reed, 44, is a Bachelor of Arts graduate of the University of the West Indies, Mona and St. Andrew High School. She has worked with True Value Company for more than eight years, joining their international department in 1996. After True Value's merger with Servistar/Coast to Coast, she headed up the International Customer Service Department from 1997 to 1999. Subsequently, she was promoted to International Territory Manager with responsibility for the Caribbean region. Her main tasks included: growing partnerships with existing members of the True Value Co-operative while consulting on improved business methods, best methods of floor selling, inventory management, merchandising and ordering.
PROUD TO BE JAMAICAN
"I'm very proud of the fact that I'm Jamaican and that I can be in a position to give input in a large, global co-op. But then, aren't Jamaicans known for guiding the world?, she askd Flair in an interview.
Before Tru Value, Miss Reed joined the Jamaican foreign service and at age 25, was posted to the Jamaican embassy in Washington D.C. as the Consul. While there, she obtained a masters degree from George Washington University.
True Value headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois however Miss Reed works out of home in Miramar, Florida, to facilitate easier travel to the Caribbean.
A divorced mother of one daughter, she shares her home in South Florida with her mother, Fay Lindo, "who helps out immensely with caring for my daughter when I travel".
In October, Miss Reed was in the Jamaica for the launch of the merger of Rapid True Value, Hardware & Lumber's Retail division - the merger of two companies H&L True Value and Rappid Sheffield.
"Our International Department is divided into territories, hence the title International Territory Manager. Ultimately, I'm responsible for all the English speaking Caribbean, as well as the French and Dutch territories. I also have responsibility for Bermuda, Guyana and Suriname.
"Being around tools and equipment is not unusual. There are many women in the hardware industry today and so I've never really felt intimidated. In fact, we have several female owners and or managers in our Caribbean stores and they are as competent as their male counterparts. I've definitely learned a tremendous amount about hardware and tools during my tenure."
The merger has affected her workload. There are now 15 stores islandwide, and 35 other members with multiple locations across the region. There is more coverage, more sales and more brand awareness for the True Value name. "The difficult period for me was just after the merger, when a decision had to be made on whether to continue being partners with True Value. I was very apprehensive as we pulled together a team of experts to present our plans for the development and growth of all 15 stores, but I am not at all surprised that True Value prevailed. In 2004, I spent several weeks in Jamaica helping to select assortment, expand and re-merchandise the Portmore and Montego Bay locations, a job we're very proud of today. We've also worked with Hardware & Lumber Limited to launch their private label paint - the Rapid brand paint - which is a hot seller this season.
Miss Reed has a hectic travel schedule. Her job takes her to member stores in the Caribbean and to Chicago at least twice per year for meetings at the headquarters and also to their two buying shows hosted in a variety of U.S. cities. On these visits she's inside a hardware store all day, outlining new programmes, getting feedback from members, making buying suggestions, solving co-op related problems. She also tries to visit other competing hardware stores to see where they are in comparison to theirs.
The merger between Rapid Sheffield and H & L True Value took place because these companies had a vision to become the biggest and best hardware retailer and wholesaler in Jamaica. The merger has been beneficial for these companies as there has been a coming together of two leading home-improvement retailers adequately cover the island, resulting in a J$5 billion company.
During the Christmas season, Rapid True Value will be the place to shop for Christmas gifts, as well as home improvement needs.
COMPANY HISTORY
Rapid & Sheffield, a 10-store chain owned by GraceKennedy merged with Hardware & Lumber which had five home improvement stores in Kingston and Ocho Rios, St. Ann. In a deal that was finalised in late 2003. Rapid & Sheffield was itself the result of a merger in 1975 between Rapid Vulcanising Company and Sheffield Hardware (owned by GraceKennedy and formed in 1954). Hardware & Lumber Ltd. was founded in 1927. The chain of stores caters to the do-it-yourself consumer as well as the contractor, and they sell a very wide variety of products, from gifts to lumber and building materials.
