Vida and Leona Barr-Jones have joined forces with former XPD Managing Director David Langdown to form a new company to help businesses – including business supplies dealers – grow.
The new business is called Focus7 International, a firm owned equally between Langdown, Vida Barr-Jones and Leona Barr-Jones. Based in Hertfordshire with a hub in Yorkshire, Focus7 International operates under three distinct brands: Focus7, FocusPoint Geeks and Barr-Jones Associates.
Focus7 will provide lead generation and managed digital marketing to resellers both inside and outside of the business supplies channel.
FocusPoint Geeks delivers the sales and implementation of stand-alone software applications which offer “a unique combination” of CRM sales and marketing campaign management capability.
Barr-Jones Associates – which has already existed for several years as a standalone company – specialises in thought leadership, strategic planning, and change and transformation management.
Vida Barr-Jones is the Managing Director of Focus7 International, Leona Barr-Jones is Operations Director and Langdown is Sales and Marketing Director. The trio are joined on the board by digital marketing specialist James Cook.
The company already has 20 employees and says it has a number of high-profile resellers already in place and a strong sales pipeline.
“This is a truly unique proposition, and one that we believe will change the shape of the industry,” stated Vida Barr-Jones.
“We have assembled a fantastic team, combining highly regarded, experienced industry professionals and bright, creative millennials. We are very excited at the incredible opportunities and encouraged by the amazing response we’ve had thus far.”
Expanding on the Focus7 offering, Langdown told OPI: “Focus7’s programmes represent a new model for the channel. Unlike the dealer group model, each programme is unique for the reseller who is paying for it.
“We are not paid for by manufacturers or wholesalers and we can work with true independence, both in and out of the OP channel. That is exciting, and is a more sustainable model for the future. In that context it was an easy decision to make [to stand down as Managing Director from XPD].”
Langdown co-founded XPD in 1992 and, despite leaving his Managing Director role at the end of May, still retains 50% ownership of the group. He confirmed to OPI that he would remain a Director of XPD “for the time being”.
We hope to bring you details shortly on what this development means for XPD.
Weston, UK
