ADVERTORIAL: Sigma Q&A on Channel Awards success

Sigma Software Distribution's Jane Silk reflects on winning Specialist Distributor of the Year at the 2015 CRN Channel Awards

How has 2015 been for your business in general?

Sigma is flourishing and 2015 has been a landmark year for our business. Not only have we increased our team by 30 per cent, moved into our new, larger refurbished offices and launched a new website, we have also had eight record months of sales in the past year, proving our consistent, sustainable growth in the specialist software field.

How pleased are you to have won your award for Specialist Distributor of the Year?

It feels like this award has been a long time coming for us, but it was still incredible to hear our name being called. We feel it's a public endorsement of all the great work that the Sigma team delivers every single day.

How has the award been received within the company so far?

The team has been buzzing with excitement since the CRN Awards ceremony; we are all immensely proud of the recognition - having this affirmation from the judging panel has meant so much to Sigma.

How did you celebrate?

On the night - with champagne of course! Back in the office - very noisily, including a winner's anthem when I returned with the actual award! Once it has really sunk in, we will plan something fitting to celebrate.

What would you say is your greatest achievement in 2015?

Our greatest achievement for the year has been simultaneously growing our major established vendors' sales such as Dell, Flexera, Intel Software and Becrypt while also bringing on board exciting new vendors like Solarwinds and Smartbear, to bolster the solution portfolio we offer our reseller partners.

What has been the biggest challenge for distribution in 2015?

Managing change for our vendors and continuing to support our resellers in what is often a turbulent economic backdrop has been a significant challenge this year. The value-add model is something that the channel needs to properly recognise and adopt if it wants to protect the long-term growth of our industry and provide better service to customers. During this period of economic instability it is crucial to demonstrate the value of IT services to the overall success of any organisation.

What difference will winning this award make to your business going forward?

Being based in Devon, in the past people have had the impression that we are out on a limb. Winning has really hit home the fact that it is not where we're based, it's the passion, talent and ethos of the team that wins us business and develops relationships with our vendors and resellers. Winning this award puts Sigma on the map and it also highlights that there are no boundaries to delivering a highly successful partnership approach to the channel.

Jane Silk is general manager of Sigma Software Distribution