Cross-Pacific business relationship celebrated

Panasonic and Digi-Key have celebrated their longstanding business relationship with celebrations on both sides of the Pacific.

The longstanding, successful relationship between Panasonic and Digi-Key was commemorated in 2006 with celebrations on both sides of the Pacific, first in August with a company-wide observance at Digi-Key's facility in Thief River Falls, Minnesota and most recently in Osaka, Japan where Panasonic is headquartered.

2006 marked the 30-year anniversary of the relationship between Panasonic and the electronic component distributor.

"These celebrations commemorated an important milestone", said Digi-Key President Mark Larson.

"Panasonic is Digi-Key's top selling supplier partner, and Digi-Key is Panasonic's top distributor".

"We're a good team".

"We have a good relationship, one that is built not only on the success of the past but potential for future successes as well".

The Thief River Falls celebration spanned several days, concluding with a company-wide picnic and traditional Kagami Wari (sake barrel breaking) ceremony on Wednesday, August 23.

Top officials from both companies participated in the ceremony.

Panasonic visitors to Thief River Falls included individuals from a number of North American sales rep firms, regional sales management along with top US sales management team members and several Panasonic guests from Japan.

Ceremonies rich in Japanese tradition highlighted the celebration event held in November at the New Otani Hotel in Osaka, Japan.

Mark Larson and several other company officials and employees made up the entourage that traveled from Digi-Key to Japan for the event.

In addition to the 76 representatives attending from factories and sales and marketing divisions across Japan, a number of representatives attended from Panasonic Industrial Company USA.

Also in attendance from the US were individuals from Panasonic manufacturer's rep firms, including Electromark, Luscombe Engineering, O'Donnell Sales and Rendell Sales.

Comments by Panasonic officials included the following: "It was my great pleasure to attend the reception celebrating the 30th anniversary of the partnership between Digi-Key and Panasonic", said the Director of Electronic Components Division, Panasonic Industrial.

"We at Panasonic value our relationship with Digi-Key as our key distribution partner for Panasonic products".

A Panasonic executive officer/Director said of the event, "The 30th anniversary reconfirmed my determination to provide the strongest support for sales strategies that will further increase Panasonic sales through Digi-Key".

"This will serve to strengthen and deepen the Panasonic/Digi-Key relationship as we move forward together".

"Through my participation in the Panasonic/Digi-Key anniversary celebration events, I have reconfirmed the value of our great history of partnership kept for so many years as well as my determination to keep making the best efforts for further expansion of business through nurturing a stronger partnership", commented another Panasonic Director.

Panasonic Industrial Company has a long, distinguished history of serving the North American manufacturing sector.

"Although celebrating the 30-year anniversary of the Panasonic/Digi-Key business relationship is important, much more significant is the significant sales growth achieved as a result of this relationship", Digi-Key President Mark Larson said.

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