Sage Executives Traveled 6,300+ Miles to Personally Meet With Customers and Partners During This Summer's Sage Listens RV Relay

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 12, 2013) - Sage, a leading provider of business management software and services for small to midsized businesses worldwide, successfully wrapped up its 17-city, 50-day Sage Listens RV Relay, at its Irvine, Calif., headquarters on Wednesday, August 28. Returning Sage executives and jubilant employees were greeted by the harmonious tunes of a marching band, in addition to other celebratory activities.

The Sage Listens RV Relay was an opportunity for executives to personally visit customers and business partners across the U.S. to build stronger relationships, help customers maximize their software investments and discuss customers' and partners' hopes and fears and how Sage can better partner with them. Sage executives, manning the various legs of the relay, were given greater visibility to customers' needs and will use this important information to continue to improve Sage products and services.

"The Sage Listens tour was an amazing, unforgettable journey and a tremendous opportunity for us to gain deeper understanding and insight into the issues, challenges and triumphs our customers face every day," said Brad Smith, executive vice president of customer service, Sage North America. "Even after 50 days on the road, we only scratched the surface, but having the chance to meet face to face with so many of our customers was truly an honor. What we learned on this adventure will help us to better support SMBs in the future."

Spanning more than 17 cities across the country, from Charlotte, N.C., on July 10, to Irvine on August 28, the tour was divided into legs, where Sage leaders met with more than 75 customers and business partners, ranging from Davidson Chocolate Co. in Davidson, N.C., Harpoon Brewery in Boston and Gwinnett Center in Gwinnett, Ga., to Valley Industries in Hazelwood, Mo., the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas, Walpole & Co., LLP in Goleta, Calif., and Ventura Coastal in Ventura, Calif.

Sage executives and business partners hosted a number of special events throughout the RV tour, including a beer tasting, ice cream social, parking lot parties and relay games. Locally owned businesses are the foundation of a thriving economy. The Sage pledge to shop locally was exemplified throughout the tour as team members slept, ate and shopped at Sage customer-owned locations.

''We are humbled that your generous team took the time to come in yesterday, and better yet kicked off your tour here at Davidson Chocolate Co.," said Sue Elliot, co-owner, Davidson Chocolate. "The impact of your visit was tremendous as our sales were four times higher than the daily average! We are extremely humbled by your support and interest."

Thirty executives participated in the relay. On any given day, Sage participated in three to four planned customer visits as well as a few "pop ins." Each visit included three to four executives based on the customer's needs. Customers and partners met with Sage leaders such as Pascal Houillon, CEO, Sage North America; Connie Certusi, executive vice president, Small Business Solutions; Lisa Codispoti, chief people officer; Greg Hammermaster, president, Sage Payment Solutions; Joe Langer, executive vice president, Mid-Market Solutions; Juan Miguel Rodriguez, chief information officer; and Brad Smith, executive vice president, Customer Experience.

Additionally, the entire tour was documented on the Sage Listens RV tour site, giving users a stop-by-stop glimpse of the tour with photos, videos, blogs and social media updates.

The success of the Sage Listens RV Relay prompted Sage officials to host a Canadian version of the Sage Listens RV tour, which kicks off today, September 12 in Ottawa, Ontario, and will also include stops in Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, Ontario. To follow along as Sage executives travel throughout Canada, visit: http://na.sage.com/sage-na/lp/sage-listens-rv/. You can also follow @SageListens or search #SageListens on Twitter.

About The Sage Group plc

Sage Group plc is a leading global provider of business management software to small and medium sized companies, creating greater freedom for them to succeed. Sage understands how and why each business is unique. We provide products and services that suit varying needs, are a pleasure to use and are secure and efficient. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and entered the FTSE 100 in 1999. Sage has over 6 million customers and more than 13,380 employees in 24 countries covering the UK & Ireland, mainland Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, Asia and Brazil. For further information please visit www.sage.com. 

For more information about Sage in North America, please visit the company website at NA.Sage.com. Follow Sage North America on Facebook, Facebook.com/SageNorthAmerica, and Twitter, Twitter.com/SageNAmerica.