Earlier this year, New South Wales-based Wilson and Gilkes rejoined Draper, Inc., as the company’s AV products distributor in Australia and New Zealand.

Dale Arnull, AV Projects/Projection Technology Manager for Wilson and Gilkes; W & G Managing Director Ian Wilson; Bob Mathes, Draper AV Video Market Manager; Jentry Wittkamper, Draper’s Export Sales Manager; and W & G Sales Manager James Hunt.

Last month members of the W & G management team visited us at our Spiceland, Indiana, headquarters. One of our visitors, Wilson and Gilkes Managing Director Ian Wilson, said a big reason for the move was Draper’s significant research and development investment in TecVision viewing surface technology, so during our meetings we naturally talked about getting TecVision into Australia and New Zealand.

Among the other topics we discussed were increasing Draper’s market share in Australia and New Zealand; Draper’s Australian domain website (www.draperinc.com.au), and what information and online tools are most needed by our Australian/New Zealand customers; and key products being stocked in Australia and New Zealand by Wilson and Gilkes.

We also started planning for Draper products to be shown in the Integrate show, August 26-28 at the Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park. In the end, it was decided that TecVision Engineered Screen Technology, and UL-certified Scissor Lift would be among the Draper products to join W & G’s Axis VC Dual and digital signage offerings in stand E24.

It wasn’t all work, though. In an effort to give our guests a flavor of Indiana, we all went karting at the New Castle go-kart track. Ian Wilson drove Bob off the track and into more than six inches of water. Bob had to be retrieved—soaking wet and covered in mud—and brought back via golf cart. We all found it to be quite hilarious. I’m not sure what Bob’s thoughts were. Another “highlight” for me was standing for what seemed like hours, bored out of my skull, while Dale Arnull discussed cricket with our resident fan, Terry Coffey, and presented him with a new cricket ball. I did learn that Dale is a passionate and, if he is to be believed, talented cricketer.

In the end, it was a productive and enjoyable visit and couldn’t be happier with this new partnership. With the combined strengths of Draper and Wilson and Gilkes, we will be able to serve the Australian and New Zealand markets better than ever, and better than anyone else.