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Becoming a Distributor of ProducePak Farm & Packhouse Software
Becoming a distributor of ProducePak software can prove to be a profitable opportunity for technology professionals that deal with horticultural clients.

About ProducePak
ProducePak is a developer and provider of world class horticulture business management software for small crops, tree crops, and broad acre farming (eg: capsicums, citrus, avocado, tomato etc). The ProducePak suite is an innovative collection of modules that makes doing everyday businesses easier for farmers and packhouses. Our systems have been proven on several pilot sites, and recently been sold to multiple commercial sites throughout the states of Australia.

ProducePak is currently building a network of strategic partnerships with companies across Australia - all this is to ensure that you get the best possible products and services from ProducePak software products.

Requirements
In order to minimise the cost of our software, and maximise the benefit to ProducePak customers, we are seeking companies currently distributing products or services to the horticulture and agriculture industries whom are interested in the opportunity to value add existing business activities by offering the ProducePak suite of solutions.

Who runs ProducePak
ProducePak is staffed by a dedicated team of programmers, testers, and support staff. We currently have 15 full time staff and 2 part time staff dedicated to continually improving ProducePak and supporting our clients. Our company was established in 1988; and has been solely dedicated to fresh produce solutions for five years.

Our Mission
To improve the day to day operation of business in the fresh produce supply chain by providing superior business and supply chain management software solutions; backed with understanding and commitment to service. Our software is tailored to the fresh produce (fruit, vegetable, seafood, nuts) industry, and as such we work closely with all of our customers to ensure we continue to add value to each customers business on a day to day basis.

Commission
ProducePak Distributors (Resellers) make a commission on the sale of the software, support, and installation services. Some of these services may be provided by the distributor directly to the client, in which case 100% commission is made by the distributor. Distributors also receive ongiong revenue from each client via annual support and upgrade subscriptions. It is important to note that you can make a significant profit on not only the sale of ProducePak software, but also on training, installation, support services, and other value adding services that you can provide to clients at the same time as providing ProducePak software, and the annual subscription payment. In Australia & New Zealand, ProducePak offer clients value added products such as labelling equipment, barcoding equipment, network installation and maintenance, adhesive labels. All funds to be collected by the reseller, commission deducted, and the remainder passed to head office.

Who Gets which Commission
Each Reseller has an exclusive territory, and sales made in that territory are automatically commissioned to the respective Reseller’s territory – even if the customer approaches head office directly bypassing the Reseller! Essentially, the Reseller always gets paid for sales made in their territory. ProducePak has an ongoing marketing campaign via industry magazines, sponsorship of industry events, and online marketing. Commission is paid to Distributors even where the sale was gained and processed online through head office.

Prices
You will need to help us determine the best price for the various ProducePak products for sale in your region. The price should be geared at maximising your return; however, it is important to ensure that you do not overprice the product which may result in a loss of sales, on the other hand, if you price the product too cheap, you will not create a good enough return. When you have created your suggested pricing model, it will need to be approved by ProducePak management.

How often do ProducePak distributors get paid?
We let you collect the funds from all sales of software and annual subscriptions, support, and training that you sell, you simply deduct your commission and pass the balance to us (where required as shown in the Reseller Commission table). This ensures you get paid before we get paid! Failure to pass commissions to us will result in deactivation of the clients software.

Further Value Adding
You can further value add to the ProducePak suite of products by offering your clients products such as printing supplies, stationery, and computer hardware, and computer consultancy which is specific to the clients use of the ProducePak system. These value adding products have been successfully implemented in Australia.

ProducePak is always developing new products to add to our range of services. You will have access to all new systems as they are being released.

Value Adding - Great Plains
If your business is certified and capable of deploying and supporting Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, you can deploye both products as one service to the client.

Can I setup ProducePak distributors in multiple regions/countries?
Yes, you can setup multiple distributors in multiple regions. If you do this, you are responsible for collecting all monies your distributors are supposed to collect and you must ensure the relevant commissions get paid to ProducePak head office. We call this method of distribution “partner distributors.

For example, if you are a distributor in country A, you can identify and setup a distributor in country B, when a sale is made, the distributor takes 45%, and passes you the balance, of which you keep 5% for yourself and pass on the remainder commission to ProducePak head office (note: we recommend you keep a maximum of 5% commission from your Partner Distributors!. This allows you to make additional revenue with very little effort. However, we do strongly advise that you be very cautious not to pay your distributors too little, as this will adversely effect the quality of their services they provide to their clients.

The bottom line is “be fair with all of your business partners and associates, and don’t get greedy”. If everyone can comfortably make a reasonable profit then harmony shall prevail, and the quality of the product the client receives will not be compromised. Creation of Partner Distributors must be approved by ProducePak head office prior to any agreements being entered into.

Each partner distributor should adhere to the conditions outlined in this document, eg: they are also expected to convert marketing materials into their local language (where required), provide a ProducePak contact phone number, and make an active effort to sell ProducePak to farmers and packhouses etc.

To setup Partner Distributors you will need to identify them, and negotiate with them to ensure they are happy to take advantage of this special opportunity. Each partner distributor should have an exclusive sales area (ie: an entire country or large segments of a country). Note: Partner Distributors can only be setup with prior permission from ProducePak head office. Do not attempt to create partner distributors without first seeking permission from ProducePak head office.

Maintenance & Support
We provide constant research and development services to continually update and upgrade all ProducePak systems. We can provide support to your clients, or you can provide it yourself; creating a higher profit for your business.

New Releases
We provide new releases of our products on a regular (bi-monthly) basis. Each release is accompanied by a release note. If your clients do not read English then you will need to convert this documentation into your local language. Releases are installed automatically on customer computers where possible, however, some releases may need to be manually installed remotely.

Updates
Upgrades to our product are automatically installed at Premium sites without the need for any human intervention. Upgrades at Lite sites are manually executed by the user clicking “Check for updates”.

Can customers have ProducePak modified to suite their own needs?
We are always looking for ways to improve our systems, however, on occasion, one clients requirements may be extra unique, and in such cases we request they sponsor any changes or additions they wish us to make to the ProducePak system.

Who provides software support?
ProducePak head office provides support services for all of our clients – unless the Reseller chooses to setup a support service, in which case the Reseller makes 100% commission on support services sold – it is important to note that the ProducePak support office currently provides support in ENGLISH only. It is recommended that an annual support service fee be levied on all customers in your territory plus an optional “casual support” options for those customers that don’t want a support subscription.

Is ProducePak protected from Piracy?
Yes! To ensure our investment in ProducePak, we have built in a product activation system that is almost impossible to bypass. This ensures you will not loose sales in your territory due to pirated versions of ProducePak. We are currently finishing and testing our anti-piracy mechanisms which must be robust before we distribute internationally to guarantee your investment. Our anti-piracy mechanisms allow us to see user activity, their location, and volume of activity.

What support do I get?
Any assistance we can give you in the sales, marketing, and installation and support of ProducePak systems will be provided free of charge to you.

Changing ProducePak for global customers
We are always looking for ways to change our software for the benefit of all clients, or for a regional group of clients. If ProducePak needs modifications for a large number of clients, we will usually make such changes free of charge.

What do you need to do?
Simply put, we only require your commitment to helping the horticulture industry become more profitable and sustainable through the application of information technology solutions. There is no fee or charge associated with becoming a ProducePak Reseller. There are no significant overheads required to be a reseller! We do make one request, and that is that you are required to provide a phone number in your country which is exclusively answered as “ProducePak Solutions”. Having your own transport and contacts in horticulture would obviously be a benefit.

Although head office provides marketing and ongoing advertising services, to help ensure you make the maximum return from this opportunity, we encourage you to;
• visit grower and packhouse sites to promote the products (we provide materials). Our research shows that this is the single most effective way to make sales of ProducePak to grower and packhouse.
• participate in local tradeshows
• arrange for advertising in papers, magazines, and online (many of our distributors do this and benefit greatly)
• answer sales enquiries as directed to you by head office (provide your own mobile)
• gather your own sales prospect list in your region and target them via phone & mail & visits (files for printing provided)
• provide a phone number in your region which is answered as “ProducePak Solutions”
• provide a mailing address in your region to receive ProducePak mail
• provide conversions of ProducePak material into your local language (if required)
• support for your ProducePak clients if they do not speak English
• identify and induct ProducePak Partner Distributors (optional)

Who is this opportunity best suited to?
Any individual who is knowledgeable of small crop farming, and or packhouse practices, AND has a reasonable understanding of computers or business management software. Since ProducePak Distributor positions do not provide a guaranteed income, you will need to be in one of the following positions:
a). very committed to making sales on a full time basis
OR
b). committed to making sales, however, you currently have a secondary income from similar or related services. Your income will increase with the more sales you make since you get paid annual subscriptions from previous sales on a recurring basis.

Being a ProducePak distributor can become a lucrative investment of time for a dedicated individual or company, and can provide a value adding mechanism for businesses currently dealing with growers and packhouses; and can easily be integrated into your existing advertising or networking processes.

How Long Is this Opportunity Available for?
We are looking for long term partners who wish to make a significant return out of this opportunity; we want you to be committed to this project with a long term view of building yourself very profitable businesses in your region through ProducePak solutions. We intend on adding additional software packages to our portfolio in the future which will help you to make greater returns. Future systems under consideration include Food Processing for manufacturers, Produce Wholesaling for marketers and wholesalers etc.

Reseller / Distributor Performance
Resellers of ProducePak must be making an active effort to make sales of ProducePak since we are giving away exclusive sales areas. Failure to make an effort to distribute the product in your area may result in cancellation of your ProducePak reseller privileges.

Although some of these dates may be some time off, it is never too early to start planning and MARKETING for distribution of ProducePak solutions to ensure a highly successful and profitable venture for your business.

Package Availability
ProducePak Premium*** (English version) Now
ProducePak Premium (European Languages & measures) Dec 2005

*** Only where installed onsite by ProducePak staff.
Note: it is possible that the Middle East & Asian language versions may be ready for distribution a few months prior to the dates listed above.

Marketing Materials
You can access our marketing materials from www.producepak.com/products.html , if you require editable documents to convert into your local language please contact us.

Market Research
An independent market research is being conducted into the distribution of ProducePak on an international scale. The research is designed to identify key market opportunities and potential distributors in areas we do not currently have distributors in. You may be contacted by such a market research company without the knowledge of ProducePak management. .

Other Information
Visit www.producepak.com/sysrequire.htm for hardware specifications (these specifications can usually be deviated from quite significantly)