Review of Colours Meeting in Dusseldorf 2007
October 2, 2007 marked the third annual meeting for Colours’ European team to come together in Düsseldorf. Colours’ President John Box, his brother and head of development Mike Box, Colours model and spokesperson Hydred Makabali and Colours US Sales Manager Ernie Espinoza came from the US to Germany to meet with European Colours Team.
Participants of the meeting included distributors from The Netherlands, Spain, UK, Poland, France, Israel, Germany, Iceland as well as a potential partner from Turkey. Making the meeting truly international was the fact that it was held at a Japanese Hotel, the Nikko Düsseldorf.
The first part of the meeting was, as usual dedicated to a general overview of Colours products and aimed at updating new distributors as well as introducing potential partners to the world of Colours Wheelchairs. The participants “Enjoyed the Ride!” with Colours’ US Sales Manager and training expert Ernie Espinoza. Ernie covered the everyday wheelchair models such as Boing! the unique wheelchair with an independent 
suspension system, Eclipse, Spazz and Spazz G, the new L-Frame.
At the end of the first part Hydred told the participants her story of life and the story of Colours in it. Hydred is a professional pool player who also works as a trainer with NWPA to educated disabled people about how to play pool from a seated wheelchair stance. Hydred is one of the many people whose lives’ has been changed by Colours by giving her more freedom and inspiration.
The second part of the meeting was a closed event for signed distributors only. It was filled with discussions between Colours’ signed distributors about their success, challenges and progress, sharing ideas and plans. Participants also learned about new products recently developed by Colours.
New Products at Colours:
During the second part of the meeting Mike Box revealed the new pediatric chair – Tilt in Space. This chair has the ability to tilt to nearly any angle without being unbalanced. The chair is not yet available for purchase. However, Colours believes that beginning next year Tilt in Space will be officially on the market.
Further on, Mike impressed the distributors with a new and unique cool wheel – The Bite Laced Wheels. The latter innovation combines style and technology in a way possible only for Colours’N Motion. It was developed in the year 2007 and has a unique built-in brake system; a patent for which is currently pending. This new wheel design allows wheelchair users to avoid the inconvenience of breaks mounted on the wheelchair frame. With the new wheel, the wheelchair is lighter and more attractive, and there is no longer the danger of a wheelchair user hitting their hand on the brake. The wheel is already on the Colours Order Form and available for purchase.
More Colours:
New Colours are available now for the wheelchair frame. See the photo.
News for Zephyr Fans:
Now measuring and drawing Zephyr designs is easier. Mike has developed a new measuring device that makes it easier and more convenient to measure and draw Zephyr designs.
At the end of the meeting members of Colours Europe Team were given awards for their achievements from September 2006 to August 2007. The categories included:
Leaders of Colours Sales in Europe
First Place went to the UK’s Kent Mobility. Carl and the UK team surprised the group by having the highest amount of sales in Europe, an excellent result for such a new distributor. Second Place went to The Netherland’s TNS Revalidatie Service, Colours most experienced distributor in Europe. Third Place was taken by Spain’s Atbach. Considering that Colours was ATBach’s first product and was launched just over a year ago, the Bach boys have done an amazing job.
Best Marketing
Colours Spain was distinguished by a prize for the Best Marketing. Only last year at Distributors’ meeting in Düsseldorf, Pau impressed Colours Team by introducing his new marketing folder in Spanish. As well as launching Colours Identical Twin Site in the local language. And already this year he let us have a peek at his new project - a new cool catalogue for Colours Customers in Spain. Go, Pau, Go!
Biggest Manufacturing Challenge
Colours loves a challenge! The most unusual and customized design last year came from Spain. It was a group of Sport Zephyrs which seemed to defy the laws of physics. Mike is still not sure how he managed to make them, but he did.
Most Expensive Order
Who came up with a chair customized with Bling, Bling, Bling? – The answer is - Kent Mobility in the UK. Price and the owner will remain a top secret.
Largest Single Order
Who made Colours work at their highest capacity? Sagol Direct Rehab in Israel got a prize for the largest single order at a time. They ordered 24 Wheelchairs for a basketball team and took this prize. This is an amazing result for this small country.
Best Sales Team
Best team spirit and as a result high and successful sales in a developing European country? AluRehab in Poland took the prize for the Best Sales Team. They are doing an excellent job. 
Most Improved
A lot of challenges overcome; they had to get Colours Wheelchairs tested before they could begin. Much progress was achieved this past year by ICARE JMB in France. Colours praised their achievements by declaring this team The Most Improved.
