Orenco® Distributors and AdvanTex® Dealers Have the Market, the Expertise, and the Shared Vision of Protecting the World’s Water
Orenco Systems takes pride in its network of distributors and AdvanTex dealers.
With thousands of suppliers and nearly 150 authorized dealers worldwide, Orenco’s products enjoy wide reach and use in onsite and decentralized wastewater treatment systems. In fact, more than 50,000 residential and commercial AdvanTex systems are hard at work treating wastewater in places sewers can’t get to. For that very reason, Orenco Systems and its AdvanTex line of wastewater treatment solutions are well known and respected in the industry.
To distribute its catalog of products, Orenco utilizes product distributors – companies that order, stock, and sell Orenco’s general onsite wastewater products locally (GOP). These industry suppliers are hand-picked by Orenco to offer products like fiberglass lids and risers, pipe fittings, control panels, and pump vaults. Distributors sell products that keep wastewater treatment systems running in local markets across North America.
Orenco utilizes its AdvanTex dealers to sell the secondary treatment system developed by the company 30-plus years ago. Also hand-picked by the Orenco team, dealers undergo greater scrutiny than distributors and are required to receive specialized training about owning, operating, and maintaining an AdvanTex system. While distributors focus on selling the products, dealers focus on selling and maintaining the wastewater treatment systems themselves.
Not everyone can be an Orenco distributor or AdvanTex dealer. Do you think you have what it takes? Read on to learn more about the vetting process.
What’s Your Market?
The first factor to consider is the business landscape in the area. What types of wastewater treatment systems are utilized in the region? Is there an opportunity for onsite or decentralized wastewater treatment systems? Are there already Orenco distributors or AdvanTex dealers in the vicinity?
“How can you grow the Orenco market share?” asks Steve Sinks, Orenco account manager for the Pacific Northwest. “The first thing to do is determine the need in the regional territory. Could we utilize a distribution point there? Does Orenco need a distributor, dealer, or both?”
You can find out who distributes Orenco products in your area through the Orenco Distributor Locator on the Orenco.com website. If you’re already selling water and wastewater components and services, chances are good that you’re aware of the needs of area treatment systems, the business climate, and the possibility of a successful relationship with Orenco.
“Orenco needs to know if that market is viable,” Sinks says. “We need to know if the Orenco product family is a good fit in their area.”
What’s Your Expertise?
Do you have an “onsite guy” on your team who makes it their business to know local ordinances, laws, and treatment requirements? Whether working with a distributor or dealer, the onsite expert needs to be able to help customers operate and maintain their wastewater treatment systems and navigate regulations.
“They would have to know local and state rules and regulations about pumping systems, treatment requirements, and more,” Sinks says.
Orenco requires that both GOP distributors and AdvanTex dealers utilize someone with genuine interest in the industry, someone with legs in the business who knows how to install, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot issues with onsite wastewater treatment systems. Individuals with an interest and willingness to participate in the onsite industry are some of our most successful dealers and distributors.
“They need an onsite or septic expert,” Sinks says. “They have to have at least one person, preferably multiple, there who is their expert, their go-to person for onsite. There’s no need to be an engineer, because we’re going to train you in what you need to know. But they need experience or a willingness to learn.”
Distributor or Dealer?
The next step is to decide whether to become a GOP distributor or an AdvanTex dealer. Commitment level is where the two differ.
Orenco’s product distributors sell general onsite wastewater treatment products in their local market. Aside from having deep knowledge of Orenco’s SKUs, these distributors have solid relationships with local onsite professionals. They will actively work with the Orenco sales and customer service teams to be successful.
“They have enough Orenco product knowledge to be self-sufficient,” Sinks says. “And they are successful and have proven they can market and sell products in their territory.”
Their business relationship with Orenco typically forms after multiple conversations about market growth and sales potential. Orenco may then ask for a business plan, which is then reviewed.
“Once we have the business plan, then we can make a decision – are they a fit or not a fit?” Sinks says.
From there, if both parties agree, the distributor gets access to everything needed to stock and sell Orenco GOP inventory. “You get all the tools and all the answers to the test,” he says. “If we’re doing our jobs, they’ll have everything at their fingertips.”
AdvanTex to the Max
Becoming an AdvanTex dealer requires a little bit more commitment and know-how.
Orenco’s dealers sell AdvanTex, a secondary treatment system developed by the company 40 plus years ago. A compact, recirculating packed-bed wastewater treatment system, the technology utilizes engineered textile media to treat residential, commercial, and municipal wastewater to a high level of quality.
Dealers, like distributors, are required to practice strong treatment system competence and provide a business plan during the vetting process. Dealers are required to attend special training about owning, operating, and maintaining AdvanTex systems. There is also a comprehensive dealer agreement that outlines the obligations of partnering to distribute treatment systems.
“The agreement describes things the dealer must do and things that Orenco must do,” Sinks says. “They read it and decide yes or no.”
Among the things that dealers are required to do: promote and sell Orenco products, and train area operators and installers to repair, install, and maintain AdvanTex systems.
Orenco is required to provide all technical, sales, and marketing materials, and conduct training and seminars. The company also provides customer service and field support to the distributor as needed.
A Good Fit?
A successful partnership in the onsite industry is one that promotes public health, protects the environment, educates homeowners, and builds market share. While manufacturers engineer the technology, distributors and dealers offer the strong technical expertise and field support to solidify strong, profitable relationships with end users.
Orenco’s distributors and dealers are vetted companies that are trusted sources of good information, good product knowledge, and good work. In return, they enjoy support from its on-staff design engineers, customer service team, company marketing and literature, and other sales material (and some nice swag, too).
If you’re interested in becoming a distributor or dealer, give our sales representatives a call. We welcome queries from Infiltrator Water Technologies distributors, too. Visit www.orenco.com to find out more.