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When Barrie Lydiatt took the helm as a new owner of Bestbuy shareholder Dash Distributors back in 1997, he had decades of experience in the automotive industry, but almost none of it in the aftermarket.

“We had a rented space of 6,000 square feet and struggled. It took some time to figure things out. We paid our education tax, as they say.”

He says that an important part of that learning experience was the free exchange of ideas with other Bestbuy shareholders.

“Basically, through the interaction with other Bestbuy shareholders, you learn. I’d been in the automotive business since 1973, but the jobber business was new territory.

“They were all very friendly and welcoming. They are all willing to share. We aren’t competing with each other. And the trips every two years help us to know each other better.”

Community feeling aside, the power of the group to pool purchasing power is key; those benefits flow directly to the shareholders.

“Since the group is totally owned by the shareholders, the pricing is good to us. We aren’t dealing as a for-profit company.”

That has helped Dash Distributors grow from one store in Edmonton to four outlets, two in Edmonton and one each in Wetaskiwin and Thorsby.

“And as Dash has gotten bigger, we have received more attention from manufacturers. Bestbuy opened all those doors for us.”

And, he adds, the product selection--having the ability to offer quality national brands as well as private label options--and extensive, professional marketing materials, gives the Dash sales force selling tools that work.

“Bestbuy gives us the ability to have the product we need, and the flexibility to deliver those to market they best way for our market.

“Bestbuy gives us an alliance and all the power of a buying group, but we are able to maintain our independent status. We have seen other programs; we haven’t seen anything better.”

Barrie Lydiatt
Dash Distributors
Edmonton, Alberta
Shareholder since 1997

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