RS France

RS Group and TraceParts have been working together for many years. 
The collaboration began about 15 years ago with 3D Product Catalog Solutions, resulting in more than 5 million CAD models downloaded via the TraceParts platform to date. 
For over 10 years, RS Group’s marketing teams have also relied on TraceParts’ Digital Advertising Solutions to increase their visibility, as well as that of their manufacturers, among engineers and industrial designers. 

This customer testimonial was carried out with RS France, a subsidiary of RS Group. 

RS France is a distributor of industrial products and solutions, serving a B2B customer base. We are not a manufacturer ourselves, but we act as an intermediary between industrial suppliers and their end customers. Our strength lies in mastering logistics and digital, combined with a “human touch,” which makes us a recognized player in the distribution market. 

How did you first hear about TraceParts, and what motivated you to explore our Digital Advertising Solutions? 

I first discovered TraceParts in my previous role at an industrial manufacturer, where we used the www.traceparts.com platform to publish CAD files. At RS France, the collaboration with TraceParts had already been well established for several years, particularly with Digital Advertising Solutions. When I joined, I naturally took over the ongoing project to see how TraceParts could continue supporting our digital strategy. 

What are the main objectives you aim to achieve with your marketing projects?

Our top priority is visibility, but qualified visibility. We want to raise awareness of our manufacturers among engineers, designers, and industrial buyers. TraceParts allows us to reach precisely these audiences. 

Another key target for RS is the education sector. TraceParts also helps us connect with young engineers and educational institutions, which aligns perfectly with our commitment to future industry professionals. 

Could you tell me about the projects you have worked on with TraceParts? Which aspects of our services did you use? 

We mainly use email marketing campaigns, which work very well for us. Several campaigns are run every year. 

More recently, we also tested banner advertising across three campaigns. It’s still a bit early to draw conclusions. 

We haven’t yet used TraceParts’ newsletter insertions, but it’s something we’re considering. 

We’re also thinking about using lead generation forms, which could be a good fit for our new types of content such as white papers. 

What measurable results have you observed from your campaigns with us? Did they meet your initial expectations? 

Regarding email marketing, we get very good results throughout the year. We run a lot of tests: with each send, we target a different audience. This approach allows us to achieve excellent performance, with record open rates of 37% and click-through rates (CTR) reaching 4.5%. 

One email campaign promoting a webinar even generated an exceptional CTR of 12%. 

This demonstrates the quality and reliability of TraceParts’ database, as well as the importance of relevant targeting. When the message is adapted to the audience, results follow and can even lead to real business opportunities. 

Overall, how would you evaluate the quality and effectiveness of our services? Are there any areas where you think we could improve? 

Very positively. My background has given me the opportunity to test both the 3D Product Catalog Solutions and TraceParts’ Digital Advertising Solutions. In both cases, the services are consistent and complementary. 

On the digital advertising side, the databases are high quality, the results are strong, and the support is highly professional. The advice provided is relevant, and campaign reports are clear and delivered promptly. 

This year, we’ve planned 11 email campaigns, with a strong focus on segmentation each time. The success lies in balance: we define precise targets, and you maintain a clean, up-to-date database. 

Based on your experience, what would you say to someone considering using TraceParts’ Digital Advertising solutions? 

Try it! You get solid support, the databases are reliable, and if the content is relevant and tailored to the audience, the results will follow. TraceParts is a trusted, responsive, and efficient partner. 

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

Simply that at RS France, we are digital specialists. We needed a partner with the same high standards, and we found that in TraceParts. We test a lot, we learn fast, and TraceParts fits perfectly into this “test & learn” approach that helps us refine our strategy. It’s a smooth, effective, and rewarding collaboration. 

Christelle Mompelat-Callens, Operational Marketing Manager at RS France