Hardlines distributor Orgill is partnering with Zoom to integrate the company’s meeting technology and make its upcoming e-Volution Online Buying Event “more immersive and interactive” for attendees. Memphis, Tenn.-based Orgill announced it was shifting its e-Volution Fall Online Event to a virtual event in June. The event will be the first ever e-Volution online buying event and is scheduled to take place August 24-September 4.

“By partnering with Zoom and utilizing their state-of-the art technology within our e-Volution platform, we will be able to create efficient and seamless interactions between our customers, our sales representatives and vendors participating in the event,” Boyden Moore, Orgill president and CEO, said in a news release. “We are very excited to offer this groundbreaking technology to enhance the online buying experience for both retailers and vendors.”

Orgill said integrating with Zoom will allow retailers to see calendar availability for vendors, schedule meetings, and initiate Zoom video conferences all within the e-Volution framework.

“Our systems will completely manage the availability of all the participants, and their respective time zones, and allow retailers to easily schedule time with Orgill vendors during the two-week event window,” Marc Hamer, Orgill executive vice president and chief digital information officer, said. “The dealers will also have the option of including their Orgill sales representative in any of the meetings they schedule allowing them to have a completely interactive experience.”

Orgill’s decision to host its first ever e-Volution online buying event came as the distributor announced plans to cancel its Fall Buying Market because of concerns over coronavirus (COVID-19) and related travel and social distancing issues. Through the e-Volution platform, retailers will be able to browse through a variety of buying opportunities, drop-ship event specials from vendors, and a Fall Spotlight area with a range of other buying and booking opportunities. Retailers will also be able to visit vendor’s online booths and set appointments to discuss product lines and trends.

Orgill serves more than 6,000 retail hardware stores, home centers, professional lumber dealers, and farm stores across the United States.