PRESS
EXERTIS | JAM CELEBRATES BEING 50 YEARS IN THE MAKING
Exertis | JAM turns 50 this year and looks back on its history while celebrating its people and bright future.
Press – 50 Year Anniversary
MONTREAL, QC, May 26, 2022 – Exertis | JAM is celebrating half a century of existence and excellence in 2022, and to mark this historic moment, exciting events are planned to highlight all the incredible milestones, challenges, and memories the JAMily has experienced since 1972.
“Five decades of strong relationships and partnerships is something we’re proud to be celebrating,” said Stuart Frenkel, President and CEO of Exertis | JAM. “We’ve grown our distribution business and capabilities significantly since our inception, from musical instruments to pro audio and lighting to consumer electronics. We see a bright future ahead, one that will allow us to continue fostering healthy bonds with our partners and providing the excellent customer service we’re known for, all the while promoting our core values and encouraging the growth and development of our people.”
LIVING THE DREAM
It was the 1970s. The golden age of rock, the early years of disco, and a moment of inspiration for JAM’s founder Marty Golden. Coming from music retail, he had a vision to start a down-to-earth distribution service for musical equipment, run by real music fans who “dug” the various logistical issues that plagued the entertainment business and had the knowledge to overcome them. Within a couple of years, Marty was joined by his partner Eddy Shenker, both becoming inseparable. They embarked on a long journey to the very pinnacle of the distribution world by starting with an old Volkswagen Bus full of gear and hitting Canadian roads in search of patrons. From these humble beginnings, JAM Industries and its first division, Erikson Music, were born.
The rest of the seventies saw JAM grow exponentially as Marty and Eddy—still inseparable, as evidenced by their penchant for sharing offices—continued to rock the country with their company’s stellar service, bridging the gap between manufacturer and retailer, allowing connoisseurs of quality instruments to get their hands on the goods they desired. With Marty’s musical acumen and Eddy’s financial know-how, sales and the business grew to new heights, allowing JAM to acquire its first company in 1980. A little over a decade later and Marty and Eddy were joined by Marty Szpiro, creating a trio that went headfirst into the worlds of pro audio and consumer electronics, dramatically expanding JAM’s marketplace. By the turn of the millennium, JAM had grown substantially, acquiring new entities, developing its own brands, and entering the US market. Even with this tremendous progress, however, JAM never lost sight of its values: putting the customer first, whether they be internal, external, or potential, and ensuring the promotion of diversity, inclusion, and equality within its JAMily.
Fast forward to today, and Exertis | JAM is considered a top dog in the industry, with over 650 employees worldwide and sales exceeding $500 million. As it strives to attain new heights, it continually develops new solutions to meet the ever-changing needs of its partners and customers, including digitizing its business model and optimizing its supply chain. The future is shining bright, and the JAMily will head towards it with the same determination and perseverance its founders had when they were but starry-eyed youngsters with a van and a dream.
CELEBRATING FIVE DECADES OF MOVIN’ AND GROOVIN’
To recognize the hard work and invaluable contributions JAMily members have made towards helping Exertis | JAM flourish for fifty years and become the industry leader it is today, a series of Golden Anniversary parties are scheduled to take place at our Connecticut and Mississippi distribution centers, as well as our home office in Montreal, Canada.
Additional events and activities will take place throughout this golden year, to be announced at a future time.
“Just as incredible as a half century of existence are the achievements we’ve accomplished during that time,” said Frenkel. “We’ve played an important role in helping our partners achieve tremendous growth throughout North America, and we look forward to a further five decades of innovation, expansion, and prosperity for them and everyone in our organization.”
About Exertis | JAM
Founded in 1972, Exertis | JAM, a DCC business, began operating in Montreal under the trade name of Erikson Music as an importer/distributor of musical instruments and accessories, with less than 10 employees and sales of less than $1 million. With 50 years of experience, today Exertis | JAM is a unique distribution network made up of 18 divisions that serve markets ranging from professional audio and lighting, consumer electronics, and musical instruments, with over 650 employees spread out over several countries and sales exceeding $500 million. Exertis | JAM’s success is largely driven by innovation, diversification, customer service, people, and an exemplary corporate culture. www.jamindustries.com
About Exertis Group
Exertis is the leading technology distributor of consumer, business, and enterprise products from pioneering technology brands, playing an integral role in supplying the world with cutting-edge tech. For forty years Exertis has distributed the technology that transforms societies and facilitates the world’s transition to digital. These days Exertis distributes everything from AV solutions to AI-powered smart-tech.
Exertis is powered by the mantra ‘our people, our customers, our business’ and its reach is global. A wholly owned subsidiary of parent company DCC PLC, a FTSE 100 company, it has offices in Europe, North America, Middle East, and China, representing 2,400 brands. In 2021 it had a turnover of £4.483 billion. As technology evolves, so does Exertis. www.exertis.com