Retail Observer

DEAR MEMBERS OF THE APPLIANCE INDUSTRY, After more then 40 years at Whirlpool, I have decided to retire and leave an industry that I believe represents more great people, more great businesses and more innovative products that help consumers in everyday life in tremendous ways than any other industry. My journey began in July of 1978 in northern California. I recall being a young man and leaving the Midwest for the first time and wondering what I would experience, and how I would adapt. I was welcomed by the warmest, most helpful business professionals I could have hoped for at Whirlpool and throughout the trade customer base. You all honored Whirlpool with your business. I say honored because back in those early days, Whirlpool was the number-four manufacturer from a market share perspective, so to "hitch your wagon" to Whirlpool was a huge commitment. For that, I say thank you for your trust in this Midwest company which was making a move up! I spent 14 years with those folks in northern California and learned the business top to bottom from the best! You all shaped me, trained me, and offered "tough love" (we need more of that today) when I wasn't delivering what you all thought I should or could. You see, you all saw things in me that I couldn't see in myself at that young age. Thank you for sticking with me and with Whirlpool. I was fortunate to have you guide me and show me what was possible. (We also need more of that as well these days.) Over time, Whirlpool grew to have the same faith and trust in me that you all saw from the beginning, and as I grew, Whirlpool did as well, becoming the number-one appliance maker and appliance brand leader in the world. It started with all of you. During my more than 40 years at Whirlpool and in the industry, I had the opportunity to experience many roles across all the channels. From independent dealers, where I started, to many very success- ful regional retailers, our very important contract/builder businesses, Big Box retailers that have come along, and of course, Sears, I learned from every customer every day! Business and life are about achievement, and as I have told my teams often, "I recognize effort and reward results! " We all do this every day for the love of the fight and the opportunity to win and serve the customer. I know I do. That's what I will miss most outside of all the great people that I have met and that helped shape me along the way. I still know many of you that I first met 40 years ago and have many new friends and associates that I may have only met a few years ago. To all of you, I say thank you and wish you only success. I ask that you continue to do what you all do best in representing and respecting this great appliance industry, for we all do change lives every day with our products and services. In an effort to "pay it forward", the thing I am most proud of as a sales leader was recognizing years ago that our sales organization didn't resemble our very diverse consumer base, understanding that to be the best, we had to change. It was then that I had an idea that resulted in our Real Whirled sales and recruiting program. It has changed the face of our sales team. Today our sales team has more than 60% diversity, including women and a large cross-section of ethnicity. I am so very proud of who we are today. I would hope and expect that each of you understand the power of a diverse, educated, highly motivated sales team, and the impact it can have on our business and each of us as people. Our diversity (which includes diversity of thought) is the hallmark of our success at Whirlpool. I say so long, but not goodbye as I will always be an active fan of this business and help anyway I can. You will see me around! Thank you all so much for what each of you have meant to me and my family all these years, and I hope I made some small impression on each of you. Thank you once again for your business, your support and your passion all these years. We could not have done it without you!" SAM ABDELNOUR Vice President Sales, North American Region Whirlpool, LLC

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