Independent Thinking Podcast: Recent Episodes
Nationwide Marketing Group
Listen and learn about the benefits of partnering with Armen Living to add barstools and outdoor furniture to your product mix for maximum ROI.
Tune in for key insights on data-driven decision making, navigating business partnerships, and developing strong relationships with customers, peers, and vendors.
Tune in to hear more about the benefit of engaging in NMG's Regional Councils, attending PrimeTime, and taking advantage of time with industry peers.
Hear real-life examples on the value of building relationships and giving back in the independent retail appliance and mattress space.
Listen to this episode to learn more about digital strategies that attract new customers and the power of data and peer-to-peer connection.
Tune in to learn more about NMG member Warners' Stellian Appliances, a multi-location and multi-generational independent retail business.
Learn more about Whole Person Virtual Care, a virtual medicine practice that solves the access and cost issues in today's healthcare system with on-demand care provided by ER-trained and currently practicing doctors, RNs, nurse practitioners, PAs, and care coordinators.
Learn more about Nationwide Marketing Group's philanthropic efforts, with a purpose to uplift and transform the lives of children in need around the globe through local activations.
Learn more about the eXchange platform over the past 10 years and a new feature recently released for Nationwide Marketing Group members.
Learn more about Nationwide Marketing Group's proprietary digital solution, designed specifically for Independent retailers.
Tune in to hear details on Ford Pro services, including a fleet management program, software tracking solutions, repair services, purchasing, and more.
Jeff Rose, VP of Furniture, Bedding & Outdoor for Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) sits down with Tim Riezinger of Sherwood to share the backstory of Effortless and how this under $1,000 non-branded mattress was designed to be a champion for Members needing a product to fill that void.
Sr. Marketing Manager for Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG), Lauren Hylarides, sat down with Melisa Monroe of Podium to talk about how Podium products solve retailers major pain points, including time, staffing, marketing, and lead generation.
NMG's Jeff Rose sits down with Christina Espinoza to learn more about the King Koil's latest products and innovations — including the Intimate Collection and much anticipated Smart Life program.
Longtime host of the Independent Thinking Podcast, Rob Stott, shares a farewell message to listeners, with news about the future of the podcast.
DMI Appliance Group Executive Director & CEO Alan Joskowicz invited us into their Hamilton Township, New Jersey, headquarters and brand new 800,000-square-foot warehouse for a tour and chat about business. We look into the path that DMI has been on, what trends the organization is tracking, and how members of both NMG and DMI can benefit from the groups' partnership.
Before we get too deep into the calendar year, we wanted to take some time to sit down with Synchrony Financial to help set the stage for 2025. Dave Marsh, general manager for the brand, dives into some of the more important economic indicators as well as the programs and services retailers should tap into to be successful in the new year.
With the end of the year fast approaching, we take a moment – with the help of Wells Fargo's Steve Jermier – to look back at how the retail industry (and economy) ultimately performed in 2024, and look ahead to next year. Steve also gives an overview on the resources available to set retailers up for success in the new year, including waterfall programs.
It can be difficult to truly understand what it means to run an independent retail business unless you've actually been in the trenches and done the dirty work. Same could be said about working on the manufacturing side of the business, if we're being fair. Adam Fain, who recently joined the NMG field team, has experience on both sides of the business and brings that unique perspective to the group and our members.
To remain in business for nearly 40 years in the electronics and custom integration space, a business needs – and its people – need to understand what it means to evolve and adapt. That's exactly what Jim Fossile, owner of EDSTV in the suburbs of Philadelphia, has done in a variety of ways.
A lot has transpired since Julie Burns, Executive Director of Monogram, was last on the podcast over three years ago! We dive into the current (and future) state of the luxury appliance market and look at some of the truly creative and innovative partnerships Monogram has launched over the past year.
Cybersecurity is a topic that's incredibly worthy of discussion no matter what month the calendar says it is, and that's exactly why we sat down with NMG's VP of IT & Technology Bryan Aller outside of October to talk about it.
It was a busy third quarter for the Business & Financial Services team, especially around the ENERGY STAR initiative and keeping members up to date on the Inflation Reduction Act.
From infusing their product with innovative technology to supplying retailers with an impactful story tell tell year round, Broil King is helping keep the conversation going around outdoor cooking and entertainment.
Bruce Walker, product evangelist at TCL, shares his perspective on the biggest trends and technologies impacting the TV market today.
A new vendor partner for Nationwide Marketing Group, Therabody made their PrimeTime debut at the August 2024 show in Las Vegas. While there, we sat down with Darryl Cole, SVP of North American Retail for the brand, to dive into how appliance, furniture, bedding and consumer electronics retailers can work Therabody's health and wellness messaging into their strategy.
What started as a group of retailers coming together to build a tool that could address some of their own delivery and installation challenges has grown into a major partner for the retail and service community in the form of DispatchTrack. We sat down with Co-founder Bob Bauer to talk about the growth of the service, how retailers can leverage their technology and more.
The team from No Child Hungry returned to the PrimeTime show floor in August. While there, we took the opportunity to sit down with Senior Vice President Mike Whitaker to get the latest on the meal packing initiative, other programs NCH has launched and the impact that giveback efforts can have on the businesses that participate.
Though making their PrimeTime debut this past August, Tereaux presented itself as a veteran in the space with a luxurious lineup and plan to help dealers tackle the booming outdoor entertainment category.
Tahira Dock Johnson, director of sales operations for Legacy Classic | Modern, joins us to talk about what's new and exciting for their brand, how they're helping drive traffic to independent dealers' stores and more.
Outdoor entertainment really seemed to come into the fore during the last few years as consumers put effort into creating lively spaces outside the four walls of their homes. Yet, as Furrion National Sales Manager Aaron Mellow shared, there's still plenty of education needed around this space – for both consumers and independent retailers.
When pursued with a proper plan, digital signage can have major, positive impacts on your retail business. We sat down with Lauren Hylarides to dive deeper into the topic of digital signage and how independent retailers can and should leverage this tech-powered platform.
Dave Mancino knew the stats full well when he opted to join the Navy SEALs. Only 15-20 percent of applicants end up making it through the training. He shared his story – and advice – with independent retailers at PrimeTime, and the message was one that resonated on more levels than we could have imagined.
Former NFL long snapper turned magician and motivational speaker Jon Dorenbos has an incredible story that's filled with unbelievable peaks and valleys. Fresh off of the PrimeTime Main Stage, Dorenbos sat down to dive deeper into his past, how magic saved his life, and the tools he uses to maintain his positive perspective on life.
What's the saying, if you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life – right? That's something Nick Burnett, NMG's HR Business Partner, has put to practice in recent years, transitioning into a new role in a new business vertical within NMG. His story – an awesome one in and of itself – should resonate on many levels with independent retailers.
Coming off of a steamy week in Las Vegas, we sat down with Jeff Rose and Chad Fischer of NMG's Furniture, Bedding & Outdoor team to recap their experience at the Summer edition of Las Vegas Market.
We all know 2024 was going to be one heck of a rollercoaster, but how are things tracking? And what's the outlook heading into the back half of the year? Mike Derro, SVP of Home Appliance for NMG, shares what he's seeing and hearing across the channel.
Drew and Jonathan Scott are best known for their work renovating and selling homes across a variety of shows on HGTV. The Property Brothers recently turned their attention to one particular room in the home – the bedroom – with the goal of helping consumers improve their sleep.
Nationwide Marketing Group's Service Leaders Network recently hosted its fourth Virtual Service Conference, a unique event that provides training, education and networking opportunities for every aspect of a servicing dealer's business. We sat down with Mark Pollitz, director of service for NMG, to see what he and the servicing community learned from the recent event.
As the first states start to roll out their interpretations (and rules) around the Inflation Reduction Act, we sit down with NMG's own IRA expert Frank Sandtner to understand the implications.
When he was a part of the NMG team, Mike Manthey was a driving force behind the group's data initiative. Now, as a part of the King's Great Buys Plus team, he's leveraging NMG's data-powered tools like PriMetrix to help grow and evolve the business while also exploring new markets.
There are many different elements that help to build (or develop) a company's culture. How much emphasis you place on certain areas can ultimately help set that culture. For Martin Appliance in central Pennsylvania, education is one area that they've decided to invest heavily in – and it's paying off in a major way.
There are so many factors that go into the overall success of any independent retail business, but it's those one or two special areas that you excel at that truly take your business to the next level. For Lee Burns, CEO & Founder of Mattress Direct, it's been his commitment to an exceptional (and innovative) in-store experience.
Carlos Warlick, owner of CW Technologies in Southern California, has one of the craziest AV industry origin stories out there. After getting his start by doing intern-like work at a big music studio, he found himself pimpin' rides well before Xhibit was doing his thing on MTV. That parlayed into a successful and growing custom integration business that he runs today.
Josh Trevithick founded his custom integration company, PROJECT: automate, a little over two decades ago, but he just recently joined Oasys Residential Technology Group – and he's already realizing the return on his investment. During the recent Oasys Summit, Trevithick sat down to talk about his early experience in the group and how he hopes to pay it forward.
Just a few weeks after being formally introduced as a consultant for Nationwide Marketing Group's Custom Integration division, Frank Sterns was with the group in Austin for the second-annual Oasys Summit. There, we sat down with him to talk about his first in-person experience with the group as a part of the team, and we dove into his career history and his vision for the group.
In an industry where the battle for margins enhancement is ongoing, something like product protection programs should be a no-brainer to business owners. But how you – and your sales team – approaches product protection with your customers can make or break the pitch. Howard's is a great example of a retailer that understands what makes its sales team tick, and leaning into that to improve their attachment rates.
Founded in 2009, BEDGEAR has quickly become one of the fastest-growing performance sleep brands in the world, and it's no accident either.
What if there was a way to benchmark your business against others in just about every aspect? That's exactly what NMG's new Cost of Doing Business study aims to solve.
Victrola is helping independent retailers capitalize on the resurgence of the record industry by offering innovative and modernized turntables. Don Inmon, head of product and brand there, dives into the category and their portfolio.
It was a truly action packed PrimeTime for the NMG Furniture, Bedding & Outdoor team. At the end of it all, we caught up with Jeff Rose, VP of the division, to talk about the new vendor introductions, the first-ever tour offered to Members of the World Market Center campus and other trends impacting the furniture, bedding and outdoor industries.
The TV market is a truly fascinating one to follow. Screen sizes continue to get bigger and picture quality continues to get more vibrant and clearer. But how much better can these displays actually get? We sat down with Bruce Walker, product evangelist at TCL, to get a – ahem – clearer picture of what's in store for TV technology.
A year in, we sat down with Chris Whitley to talk about the launch and growth of Ellipsys Commercial Technology Group and what's ahead for his expanding network.
You can't have a conversation about the retail industry without talking about the current status of the economy or where it's heading. We did just that with Velicia Sutton, managing director and general manager for Wells Fargo. In addition, Velicia dives into the world of inventory financing and shares how independent retailers can leverage this available benefit to free up cash to focus on other areas of their business.
Founded by Ken Dudley in 1978, Tip Top Furniture in Freehold, New York, has seen three generations of Dudley's take their place at the head of the family business. Currently run by Donna Mae, she and son Colby sat down for an interview during PrimeTime to talk about the keys to their multi-generational success and how they manage to merchandise a store that – at 35,000 square feet – can truly hold the entire population of Freehold.
While with us in Las Vegas for his first experience at a PrimeTime event, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Program Manager Dan Cronin sat down for a podcast. Cronin recounted his experience at the show, talked about the just announced Partner of the Year Awards (of which, NMG was an honoree) and much more.
The odds of a family-owned business making it past the second generation are never really great. So, the fact that Oaklyn, NJ-based Nastasi's is currently a fourth-generation owned and operated independent retail store is simply miraculous.
Unveiled during PrimeTime in Las Vegas this week, OneShop is Nationwide Marketing Group's revamped and upgraded digital solutions platform that's tailored to the needs of the independent retail channel.
Powerhouse Alliance Executive Director Dennis Holzer dives into the world of distributor buying groups with us and talks about the trends in product and purchasing that they see on the distributor side of the business.
Larry Carrico was presented with a unique opportunity early in his career to take over a rent-to-own business deep in the south. From that one location, he's been able to grow Rent One into a massively successful multi-state, 100-store operation.
Legends Home has been hard at work over the past few years evolving as a company, expanding into new categories and providing independent retailers new and streamlined ways of doing business.
Announced late last year, SlimTech looks to be one of the biggest innovations in the refrigeration category in nearly half a century. Why? And how? We sat down with Mario Gonzalez, senior manager of product marketing for the JennAir brand, to dive deep into the new technology and all the impacts it could have on this space.
Bob Maricich, Chairman and CEO of ANDMORE – the brand behind the Las Vegas, High Point and Atlanta furniture market events – graciously stopped by the Nationwide Marketing Group showroom during Las Vegas Furniture Market.
PayPal sheds some light on the many ways in which customers prefer to spend their money at retail – none of which involve cash or checks.
To get a grasp on why lighting has experienced such a surge in popularity in the custom integration industry, we chat with Jennifer Kirkpatrick, director of sales for American Lighting.
Hank Alexander, director of Oasys, recaps a roller coaster 2023 and looks ahead to the opportunities coming down the pike for custom integrators.
In the face of economic uncertainty (and the typical weight of an election year cycle), independent retailers have a number of different levers they can pull to not only protect their business, but ensure that they realize meaningful success this year.
To kick off a new year of the Independent Thinking Podcast, we check in with NMG's EVP of Membership Patrick Maloney who has his finger on the pulse of this channel. After a brief recap of the roller coaster that was 2023, we look ahead to the areas of opportunity for independent retailers in 2024.
Your brand is everything. It's what you stand for. It's what your customers see when they engage with you. It's the image that comes to mind when others think about you. But what does it take to build a brand – and a strong one at that? We sat down with Rob White, VP of Brand and Strategy for NMG, to dive into that and a whole lot more.
To learn more about how NMG is working with the National Association of State Energy Officials, we sat down with David Terry, President of NASEO. We get into the work the organization does on behalf of its members, how the Inflation Reduction Act has impacted their day to day, and more.
Around in the Hagerstown, Maryland area since the mid-1950s, Spicher's Appliances took a unique step and expanded into the security category in 2010. Over the past decade plus, Spicher's has seen that business flourish and prove to be a real differentiator in their market.
Jon Rehwaldt, Director of Curriculum for CEDIA, is only a few months into his new role at the custom integration trade association, but he's already seeing the impact of their in-person hands-on training courses.
Work is still being done to prepare for the energy efficient appliance rebate program that was included in the Inflation Reduction Act. Frank Sandtner provides some updates and details what progress has been made to date.
From moving out of the tire business in its early years to finding ways to create deeper bonds within its local community today, DeWaard & Bode has always placed an emphasis on evolving as a business in order to properly serve its customers needs.
Ryan Spradling, president, and John Scott, VP of Sales, for Mattress Land dive into the ways they are working to elevate the bed buying experience at their stores. At the center of it all is a unique, proprietary AI-powered tech they use called Bed Fit.
To dive into the world of rep firms (and to clear up many of the misconceptions that exist) we turned to Joaquin Rivera, a custom integration industry veteran and co-founder of By Design Vision & Sound Marketing.
Hamai Appliance has been a staple in Kahului, Hawaii on the island of Maui for over 50 years. Needless to say, they've built a reputation as a community-first kind of business. And, as Bryant Hamai, president of Hamai Appliance, shares, never has that commitment to their community been more apparent than during the recent wildfires that left many of their friends and family displaced and facing unprecedented times. Hamai shares an awe-inspiring story of how a locally-owned business with such strong ties to the community can make a major difference in the lives of those they've promised to serve.
Nationwide Marketing Group' connected services programs include revenue generators and major money savors for both retailers and their customers – from internet and wireless service to cybersecurity training and more. We sat down with Eric Sindelar, director of connected services, to learn more about how he's working with retailers to help them make (and save) more money.
While his ambitions would have him and his team further down the road, Year One was an incredibly busy and successful one for Andy Orozco and Nationwide Marketing Group's custom integration division. Coming off of CEDIA 2023 in Denver, we sat down with Andy to talk about the show, his first year at the helm, and more.
Coming off of his first full PrimeTime season, we sit down with Nationwide Marketing Group's Director of Education and Training Shawn Ashby. We dive into his passion for educating audiences, his plans for the Nationwide Learning Academy, early preparations for the program in Las Vegas and much more.
During PrimeTime in Nashville, NMG's consumer electronics retailers had the opportunity to hear from Gap Intelligence, a data analytics firm that tracks pricing and promotional trends across myriad product categories – mainly focused on CE right now. Scott Peterson, a senior analyst at Gap, spent time after the session diving deeper into their work and how they get it done.
TCL has regularly pushed the envelope in the screen business – it's how the brand became one of the fastest growing in North America over the past decade. But, as Product Evangelist Bruce Walker tells us, it's more than just the technology that's catching people's attention these days.
Human Resources can be a very tricky area for independent business owners to navigate, especially when trying to formalize the department. Nationwide Marketing Group's Chief People Officer Kelley Kenner-Patridge, who helped establish the group's own HR initiative, and her team are helping retailers take the proper steps to be successful in the realm of talent and employee relations.
The brother-sister team of Greg Law and Kathryn Gaus, owner and HR business manager at Sweet Dreams Mattress & Furniture respectively, have truly bought in to the importance of serving their employees like they serve their customers. Their commitment to HR has resulted in a strong company culture and, in turn, the creation of what's truly a Dream Team.
Phantom Sound, a custom integration firm based out of Mason, Ohio, has a steep 35-year history that includes thousands of completed projects and four held patents. The company's owner, Tommy Brand, acquired the firm in 2022 and is, for all intents and purposes, a rookie in the CI space. He shares his story, what attracted him to Phantom Sound, and his plan to help the company continue to grow.
Last Fall, Nationwide Marketing Group rolled out a new partnership with FEI Group, an organization that represents hundreds of independent dealers in the flooring, cabinets, kitchen and bath and exterior contracting spaces. Brian Penabad, senior vice president of FEI, talks dives into how members of both groups to take advantages of the partnership.
The video game industry carries a certain connotation that often leads to independent retailers turning a blind eye to the category. But, as Chad Bowser of D&H points out, the video game segment has matured well beyond the average age of its consumer. And it's a category that represents a major opportunity to the dealers who go about it the right way.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association recently released the results of its first-ever study on the current (and future) state of the independent showroom segment. To help make sense of the troves of data the report uncovered, we invited Tricia Zach, head of research at NKBA, onto the podcast.
If you're in the appliance industry and not also selling kitchen and bathroom hardware, it's likely you're missing out on a major revenue generator. Mani Majano, VP of sales and brand management at Palazzani, shares some brand and industry updates on the category.
Jason Sayen, founder of I am Sayen, is a professional process fixer. While his experience centers around the custom integration channel, the work he does is applicable beyond the world of CI. We dive into the importance of process management, common struggles, creating buy in across your organization and much more.
When's the last time you checked to see how much you're spending on phone, internet, security software and other business technology solutions? We sat down with Jason DiFulvio, director of channel sales for AppDirect, to talk about how they're finding hidden savings for retailers and much more.
Ellipsys Commercial Technology Group, a new network of commercial integration businesses and vendor partners within Nationwide, will make its debut this week at a major industry trade show. Ahead of that event, we sat down with Chris Whitley, who's been charged with leading and growing that group.
It's been a while since we checked in with Randy Derr, director of distribution and eXchange at Nationwide Marketing Group, about the powerful platform. While we were together at the Oasys Summit in Nashville, we sat down with him to talk through recent updates, future plans and more.
In just under two years, AV Imagined has grown from an idea among friends to one of the more successful custom integration firms in the Detroit area. Lawrence Walters, a co-owner of the business, shares what it's been like to build a business from the ground up.
At the tail end of the first-ever Oasys Summit, we sat down with the Director of Oasys Hank Alexander to get his near-immediate reaction to the event. And, beyond the Summit, Hank covers what's next for the group in the lead up to CEDIA Expo this fall.
Earlier this month, Nationwide Marketing Group unveiled a new streamlined structure for its field team, which resulted in the creation of several new regions. We dive into the new structure — and how it ties into the ongoing Customer Obsessed conversation — with Nationwide's EVP of Membership Patrick Maloney.
With the meteoric rise of tools like ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence-powered, content-producing platforms, it's only natural to wonder what role these tools can and will play in retail.
Barely two weeks into his new role as director of furniture and outdoor for Nationwide Marketing Group, David Niedzielski found himself roaming the buildings and showrooms at High Point Market. Post-show, we sat down with him to talk about joining Nationwide and what excites him about the opportunity to go to work for the independent retail channel.
Less than two weeks into his tenure as Senior Director of Consumer Electronics for Nationwide Marketing Group, 20-year CE industry veteran David Watt jumps on the podcast. Beyond his introduction to the group, Watt dives into the world of CE, where he sees some opportunities for CE dealers to grow and more.
Kaleb Behm, marketing and project manager at Nationwide, joins the podcast to discuss ways retailers can leverage the ENERGY STAR message in their own marketing. Specifically, ENERGY STAR has a unique program that helps visualize the real-world impact that selling ENERGY STAR Certified product has on the environment.
Retail has been in Keith Moneymaker's blood since he was born. But in 2016 he found his calling, as he puts it. That's the year Moneymaker started the Dreams 4 All Foundation — a nonprofit that takes old mattresses (like the ones his customers are replacing when they purchase a new one from his Sweet Dreams Mattresses & More store), refurbishes them and puts them in the homes of those most in need.
Ahead of PrimeTime in Dallas, the Nationwide Marketing Group team, on behalf of Members attending the show, offered support for No Child Hungry and their efforts to get critical supplies to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. During the show, William Lowry, founder of No Child Hungry, was on hand to continue to raise awareness.
During Nationwide Marketing Group's PrimeTime show in Dallas, it was announced that our custom integration group was sunsetting its old name (HTSN). The team will move forward as Oasys Residential Technology Group, or Oasys for short. We sat down with Director of Oasys Hank Alexander to talk about the new name, the group's new strategy and more.
The evolution in consumer finance has streamlined the credit-approval process, which is a benefit to both the customer and the retailer. Synchrony Financial shares some tips for success.
Ahead of Earth Day 2023, we sat down with Dan Cronin, program manager for ENERGY STAR at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to talk about the program's impact, the Inflation Reduction Act and much more.
Geneva, Minnesota is town of just over 500 residents, and it also happens to be the home of Nationwide Marketing Group Member Sorenson's Appliance & TV. Co-owner Dak Sorenson and his team have found success by leaning heavily into that small-town mindset in every aspect of the business.
Brett Kelley joined the Nationwide Marketing Group team roughly one year ago as a Member Support Manager — the team that sits on the front lines of the independent retail channel, engaging with our Members and helping them thrive on their own terms. As such, he (and the full MSM team) has a very unique perspective into what life is like as an independent retailer. We tap into that experience and more.
JennAir is a company founded on the idea of challenging conventional norms in the appliance industry. That way of thinking hasn't changed over the past 57-plus years, and it's helped the brand continue to stand out as a true innovator of luxury appliances. We dive into all that JennAir has to offer with Nathan Puplis, who leads up the buying group initiative for the company.
From inventory financing to consumer credit, the world of retail financing is vast. To help get a handle on it all, we tapped into our partners over at Well Fargo Retail Services to dive into it. Steve Jermier, SVP of Relationship Management at Wells Fargo, sat down to talk about the work his team does behind the scenes to help independent retailers navigate the ins and outs of retail finance, the cause behind the recent rate changes and strategies to avoid letting it impact your business.
For over 120 years, Pocatello Electric has served the many needs of its local residents in southeast Idaho. That longevity has helped them become the oldest family-owned appliance store in the country. We chat with current-day owner Suzie Vigliaturo about business, what's worked and how they've evolved over the years to remain relevant with their customers.
Passed in August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act is considered a landmark piece of legislation that will have a major impact on many industries for decades to come — including retail. The energy efficiency portion of the bill aims to provide consumers with various tax credits and other yet-to-be-determined benefits pending state-level programs that will roll out in relation to this bill. There's a ton to unpack, but we attempt to do just that with Nationwide Marketing Group's Director of Business Services Frank Sandtner.
PrimeTime in Orlando this past August saw one of the largest and most-impressive Outdoor experiences to date. Nationwide Marketing Group's Director of Appliances and Outdoor John Laing, who led the charge to bring that space to life, reflects on the experience, details what attendees can expect at PrimeTime in Dallas (March 25-28), and provides other outdoor updates.
As the calendar flipped to 2023, Nationwide Marketing Group formally launched a partnership with Middleby Residential. Home to some of the leading names in the luxury appliance and outdoor categories, Middleby Residential keeps a finger on the pulse of the luxury retail experience.
Ahead of their appearance in a new Metaverse pavilion at the NRF Big Show, ReadySet dives deep into the world of virtual reality commerce. ReadySet CEO Steve McLean shares an overview of the Metaverse concept and helps independent retailers explore the ins and outs of the next-gen version of e-commerce.
The year 2022 was a busy one for the Independent Thinking Podcast. Over the past 48 weeks (or episodes), we've gathered 1,516 minutes worth of conversations with our Members, Vendor Partners, industry professionals, trade media friends and our own Nationwide Marketing Group family. On this final episode of the year, we try to whittle those conversations down to one brief recap.
As he prepares to retire at the end of 2022, Nationwide Marketing Group SVP of Business Services Rick Weinberg recaps a 30-plus-year career with the organization — and an even longer stint serving the independent retail community.
Jim Estill, owner and CEO of small appliance maker Danby, highlights some of the trends the company is tracking as the calendar gets ready to flip into a new year.
The commitment to creating products that promote convenience and a healthier lifestyle for the consumer (and world) at Beko is one of the things that sets the brand apart.
As a brand in its infancy, Austere should've stood no chance against a raging pandemic. But Ghazarian and her team created such a compelling brand story — not to mention some seriously awesome product — that the business not only survived, but is thriving.
Fresh off of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, we're extending the conversation with Telesystem. Ira Feuerstein, manager of cybersecurity business development for the brand, shares a number of tips, tricks and fair warnings for retailers around protecting their data and educating their employees on this always-important matter.
Fresh off of his first trip to Berlin for IFA 2022, Dealerscope Senior Managing Editor Sam Hitt hops onto the podcast to talk about the latest gadgets, holiday retail trends and more. We dive into everything from gaming tech, e-mobility trends, the Metaverse — and the list goes on.
For the second year in a row, Martinsburg, WV-based retailer Orsini's has been recognized in the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list. We sat down with Owner PJ Orsini to talk about the honor, how the business has continued to thrive during uncertain times and more.
Custom integration industry veteran Andy Orozco hit the ground running — literally — as Nationwide Marketing Group's new Senior Vice President of CI. His second day on the job brought him to Dallas for CEDIA Expo. A few weeks in now, Orozco sits down to talk about what excites him in working with NMG's CI dealers, the opportunities that lie ahead in this industry and more.
Barely nine months on the job, CEDIA Global President & CEO Daryl Friedman has been a busy man, getting full ingrained with the world of custom integration. We sat down with Friedman during the recent CEDIA Expo in Dallas to talk about the challenges the industry faces, the importance of education and more.
As one of the younger brands in the luxury appliance space, Signature Kitchen Suite is in prime position to disrupt the market. Director of Sales Mike O'Keefe chats about the ways the brand is innovating the luxury game and what excites him about working with Nationwide dealers.
After spending a few days with us in Orlando for his first-ever PrimeTime show, Furniture Today Editor-in-Chief Bill McLoughlin recaps his time at that show. We also dive into FT's upcoming Leadership Conference, furniture retailing trends and more.
Just over a week out, the excitement is palpable as the custom integration channel preps for CEDIA Expo. Ahead of the show, we sat down with Jason Turner, Vice President and co-founder of PowerShades, to talk about the show and the brand's involvement in Nationwide's Tiny Home, which will be on hand in Dallas.
In its 77-year history, The Appliance Center has weathered all sorts of storms. Most recently, the Panama City, FL, business had its main showroom rocked by Hurricane Michael in 2018. Though they're still working out of a makeshift warehouse-turned-storefront, President Bob Hurst shares how they've remained successful.
During PrimeTime in Orlando, the discussion centered around getting "back to basics" in the fight for foot traffic. Patrick Maloney, NMG's EVP of Membership, jumped on the Independent Thinking Podcast to expand on that message — and share some highlights from the show.
For independent business owners — who, admittedly wear many different hats — marketing often takes a backseat to many other tasks. That makes the work of Nationwide's Shopper Marketing team all the more important. We recently sat down with Joe Walz, director of shopper marketing, to talk about the magic they perform on behalf of our independent retailers.
While we were together in Orlando for Nationwide's PrimeTime show, we took the opportunity to chat with a local Member in the rent-to-own space, Buddy's Home Furnishings. Mitchell Lee, director of franchise development for Buddy's, spoke on the business, the team's growth strategy and more.
What does the new business development process look like for Nationwide Marketing Group? To find the answer we turn to Nationwide's Vice President of Business Development Derek Mattila — the guy behind countless new partnerships the group has formed over the past few years, and the launch of the home improvement category.
A brand that's still too young to get its driver's license, ZLINE Kitchen has been making major waves in the appliance industry of late. With a year of working with the Nationwide Marketing Group team under its belt, we sit down with ZLINE to talk shop. Mason Watkins, marketing director, and Derek Frye, director of sales, share a behind-the-scenes look at what differentiates ZLINE in the attainable luxury category.
How different, really, is the Rent-to-Own industry from traditional retail? To get at that answer, we turned to Nationwide Marketing Group's resident expert on the RTO industry, Keven Dalke. While there are certainly some very defined differences, retail and Rent-to-Own still have plenty in common.
The team at Silica For Your Home in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, hit a major one this year with their 100th anniversary. We took the opportunity to talk with third- and fourth-generation owners Tom and Josh Schneider and get their take on what Silica has gotten right over the last century.
Unlike their Big Box counterparts, Independent dealers in the consumer electronics industry — especially Members of Nationwide Marketing Group — are doing well. Are there challenges? Of course. But there's plenty to be excited about in the CE retail industry.
We love getting out and seeing our Members whenever we get the chance. Waiting six months in between PrimeTime shows just doesn't cut it anymore, which is why Nationwide recently held its second slate of Regional Member Meetings. This past June, we had stops in Minneapolis, Sacramento, Philadelphia and Indianapolis. Nationwide's Mike Whitaker jumps into the podcast to talk about all the great networking and education that took place.
Over the last few years, Kelly's Home Center has seen its retail footprint grow. We talk with second- and third-generation owners Jeff and Scott Kelly about the business, what's working, and what they've learned through their acquisitions.
Launched at KBIS 2022, Cooksy is an innovative gadget that's designed to be your digital sous chef. Andreas Hansen, part of the Cooksy team, shares what excites him about getting the product into the Independent retail channel.
The stars aligned perfectly for Enos Barger, managing partner at Castle Rental & Pawn, to sign an NIL deal with a local college athlete and recent transfer student. But theirs is a situation that other independent business owners can learn from and look to capitalize on in their own markets.
Started as a TV repair shop in 1952, Queen City Audio Video Appliances has grown into a widely successful independent retail business in the Charlotte, NC market. As they celebrate 70 years in business, we sit down with second-generation owner Roddey Player and his kids Roddey Jr. and Kate to talk about the company's legacy, their expansion efforts and more.
A lot fo work and effort goes into crafting an effective brand story. Just ask Todd Getz, Executive Brand Director for GE and GE Profile, who has made stops at Coca-Cola, P&G and Colgate Palmolive before landing in Louisville. Todd shares his experience at GEA and dives into some of the things he's working on.
There's nothing like talking about the Outdoor category with John Laing, Nationwide Marketing Group's director of appliances and outdoor. You learn something every single time, and his passion for all things outdoor entertainment is infectious. Mr. Laing jumps onto the podcast to share the trends he's watching, talk about the PrimeTime Backyard experience in Orlando and more.
Employee engagement has always been a hot topic in the HR world, but the past two-plus years has really put the spotlight on the industry. We sat down with John Duisberg, co-founder of Cooleaf, to talk about the benefits of investing in a platform like theirs.
With five generations of Schewels successfully guiding the company over 125 years, it's no wonder the Lynchburg, VA-based retailer will be honored as a Giant of Bedding Retail by Furniture Today. We sit down with Jack Schewel, a co-owner of the business with his brother Marc, to talk about their long legacy and what's been the keys to their sustained success.
With a major bedding industry recognition on the horizon, Sean Hathaway, owner of Mattress World Northwest sat down to reflect on his time in retail. While it's something he never envisioned getting into, Hathaway has seen massive success, growing to more than 20 locations in the Pacific Northwest.
HTSN Director Hank Alexander sits down to recap the first HTSN CI Summit in nearly three years. We talk themes that came out of the show, giveback efforts and CI trends and opportunities.
If it were up to Ashley Gorrie, her company, Unwasted, wouldn't have enough raw material at its disposal to even exist. But, until we can stop pulling plastic from our oceans, Unwasted will work to use them to manufacture its product. Gorrie jumps on the Independent Thinking Podcast to share the brand's inspiring story.
These first few weeks of 2022 have been some of the busiest for the Nationwide Marketing Group Furniture and Bedding division. After Las Vegas Market and PrimeTime in January and February, the F&B team quickly turned around for High Point Market in April. We recap it all with Mike Derro and Jeff Rose.
Just days removed from her attendance at the 2022 HTSN CI Summit in Dallas, Vanessa Zitzmann, senior managing editor at Connected Design, recaps her experience. We also dive into some home technology trends that she's keeping an eye on and more.
Azione Unlimited is fresh off of its New Dreams in New Orleans event, and Patrick McCarthy, the group's director of new business and member services, jumps on the Independent Thinking Podcast to recap what went down. We also dive into some of the latest custom integration trends, how the business has evolved and more.
After their acquisition of Nortek Control in October 2021, Nice North America has big plans to help custom integrators simplify the story around the smart home. Paul Williams, Chief Product Officer for Nice, jumped on the Independent Thinking Podcast to share that vision and talk through the benefits the company can provide to integrators.
Greg Simmons, Vice President of industry partnerships for Snap One, spent the bulk of his career on the custom integration side of the business. He shares what it's like being on the brand side and more on his push to train and educate inspiring technicians.
Whether it's new partnerships like that with Snap One, or upcoming programming with CEDIA Tech Summits and the HTSN CI Summit, education is at the heart of everything Hank Alexander is doing for Nationwide Marketing Group's network of custom integration dealers.
Damon and Lu Holter were never supposed to own a steak sauce and spice brand. But thanks to a single homemade steak dinner and a passion for flavor, the two have gone on to build Croix Valley Foods into a household name around the globe. They hopped on the Independent Thinking Podcast to share their story, which shares roots with the independent retail world.
Over the past two years, the outdoor space has garnered a great deal of attention from consumers looking to invest in their at-home entertainment experience. Furrion, makers of outdoor TVs and other entertainment gear, breaks down the market and opportunities for independent retailers.
On the heels of a busy PrimeTime in Phoenix, Nationwide Marketing Group's appliance team was in Orlando for the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). We sat down to talk about the trends they spotted, products and experiences that stood out and more.
After Nationwide Marketing Group wrapped up PrimeTime in Phoenix, we took a short trip to Tempe, Arizona, where we sat down with Bear Hendley, co-owner and retail sales and installation manager, of Walts. We dive into their evolving in-store experience, the growth of the company and much more.
At Nationwide Marketing Group's PrimeTime show in Phoenix, blind adventurer and motivational speaker Erik Weihenmayer shared his absolutely incredible story, which saw him overcome a rare disease that caused him to go blind and ultimately reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Erik sat down with the Independent Thinking Podcast to dive deeper into his message and the meaning behind his No Barriers Lifestyle movement.
Amid a busy schedule, Nationwide Marketing Group Sr. Director of Furniture and Bedding Jeff Rose sat down inside the new NMG showroom at Las Vegas Market to provide updates on the show, the industry and more.
Nationwide Marketing Group's Vice President of Consumer Electronics Lee McDonald jumps on the Independent Thinking Podcast to recap the things he saw out in Las Vegas during CES 2022. Among the trends identified: new innovations in TV tech, some smart home updates, and more.
In a word, 2021 was busy for the team at Howard's in Southern California. And 2022 looks to be more of the same as the retailer gets set to expand into more markets. We sat down with President and CEO John Riddle and Chief Customer Experience Officer Michelle Nein to talk about their growth strategy, which has included two recent acquisitions and the planned opening of several new experience centers throughout the region.
The ceramic Komodo-style grill space can be a rather intimidating one for consumers. New Nationwide vendor partner Vision Grills explains how their product — and the game-changing quick-change gas technology that it supports — is helping to retailers simplify the story for their customers.
This week marks a major milestone for our Independent Thinking Podcast — 100 episodes! It's been an incredibly fast two years of publishing interviews, so we're taking a second to pause and reflect on some of our favorite sound bites.
Nationwide Marketing Group's VP of Consumer Electronics Lee McDonald looks back on a humbling 2021 and projects what's to come for the industry in 2022.
Chris Benner, vertical product manager for retail at Oracle NetSuite, provides an overview on the world of enterprise resource planning platforms. NetSuite, a Nationwide vendor partner, provides retailers with the tools they need to efficiently run their businesses and provide a seamless experience for their customers.
Consumers have myriad options available to them when it comes to paying for goods. Gone are the days of just cash and checks. To wrap our heads around all of the alternative payment options available today, we sat down with Nationwide's VP of Business and Financial Services Chris Kirk.
Co-founder & Executive Director of Independent We Stand Bill Brunelle spends some time discussing the Shop Local movement ahead of Small Business Saturday. Bill also details ways to extend the excitement around supporting small businesses throughout the rest of the calendar.
Gordon van Zuiden got into the home integration industry thanks to his interest and expertise in building strong networks — much unlike his colleagues with heavy audio and video backgrounds. That fact has helped his firm, cyberManor, remain ahead of the smart home curve since its launch over two decades ago.
While spending time and dollars on corporate culture programs may not be top-of-mind for many independent retailers, there's a very real business case to be made for making such an investment. We sit down with Nationwide Marketing Group's Director of People Development and Learning Kris Kuester to talk about corporate culture, the role it's played at Nationwide, and how independent retailers can begin to implement their own culture strategy.
Ten years ago, Richard Glikes founded Azione Unlimited with a vision of helping independent custom integrators and technology professionals thrive as entrepreneurs. His group's recent merger with Nationwide creates an organization that, with more than 450 dealers, represents the most capable and results-driven whole home platform in the industry.
Two years into her role as Director of Sales and Marketing for Arizona Appliance & Home, Jessica Abrego has already accomplished a lot. The company saw its website get an upgrade, they've added all sorts of functionality to their online presence, and they happened to pull off a complete rebrand — all while navigating the challenges of a global pandemic.
Larry Wright was never supposed to own Lake Charles, LA-based C&C Home Appliances. But the store's former owner, who watched Wright diligently and successfully learn every part of the business, saw things a little bit differently.
Nationwide Marketing Group Director of Furniture Johnny Lamp dives deep into the trends he's watching in the furniture industry. We also preview High Point Market, shoot on the supply chain and more.
Home security provider Vivint made their in-person PrimeTime debut in Nashville, and we were lucky enough to get a few minutes of their time to talk about trends in the space and more.
Since their program was introduced in early 2021, TBI has worked with a number of Nationwide Marketing Group members, saving them upwards of hundreds of dollars per month on their business technology solutions. We sat down with Channel Manager Kevin Heidy at PrimeTime to get the lowdown on what TBI brings to the table.
Andrew "Mattman" Schlesser, part of the Dream Team at Sweet Dreams Mattress & Furniture, sits down to talk about his new podcast, the role of Mattman, how retail has evolved and much more.
Robert Keeler, senior director of sales, sponsorships and partnerships for CEDIA, reflects on his first few days at PrimeTime in Nashville — the association's first face-to-face opportunity with Nationwide members since the partnership with HTSN was announced earlier this year.
The push to get bigger screen sizes into consumers' homes has been a big boon for the laser TV (and projector) market. And as more consumers looked to boost their at-home entertainment experience recently, that trend has only accelerated. We sat down with Ken Welty, director of laser TV for Hisense USA, to dive deeper into the space.
There's been no shortage of talk about the ongoing labor challenges impacting nearly every industry. A new partnership with Installation Nation aims to help Nationwide's retailers address their delivery and installation needs. We sat down with President and CEO Jacob Anderson to talk about the partnership and more.
Julie Burns, executive director for GE Appliances' Monogram brand, dives deep into the world of luxury appliances, how retailers can successfully market to this type of client and more.
During PrimeTime in Nashville, the Home Technology Specialists Nationwide group will drop its first-ever HTSN Member Report. Ahead of the release of the report, we sat down with HTSN Director Hank Alexander to preview some of the findings.
Jason McGraw, Group Vice President of CEDIA Expo and KBIS for Emerald Expositions, spares a few moments from his packed schedule to chat about the work being done to prepare for the first in-person CEDIA Expo in two years. The show is set for September 1-3 in Indy.
Bruce Walker has always been passionate about TV technology, going back to his time working in independent retail. Today, he gets to talk about display advancements as the Product Evangelist for TCL. Bruce dives into new and upcoming product, TV trends and more.
Out of the (literal) ashes from a fire that destroyed everything before his company turned two years old, Brad Elbrader has grown Brad's Home Entertainment into an all-around thriving business — one he says he could've never dreamed up nearly 25 years ago.
Karen Brandon, senior marketing manager for Nationwide Marketing Group, recaps her presentation during the NKBA Luxury Defined Summit, and dives into the evolving world of retail marketing.
Like other home-renovation segments, custom integrators have experienced a significant boost in business during the pandemic months. Bryan Koutsky, president and co-owner of Sound Designs in Mequon, Wisconsin, shoots on how they've been keeping up, their plans to expand, the role their new website has played in it all, and more.
Van Vreede's General Manager Scott Brynjulfson spends some time talking about what separates his business from his competitors, including their service and delivery departments, a commitment to keeping employees happy, and their continual evolution and adoption of digital services.
Nationwide Marketing Group's Content Director Doug Marsh was one of just four individuals who had the opportunity to attend each of the group's four Regional Member Meetings in late-May and early-June. He recaps his experience for us on the latest episode of the Independent Thinking Podcast.
Ahead of one of the biggest e-commerce days of the year, NMG's VP of Shopper Marketing Amanda Evans joined us to talk about the opportunity for independent retailers to turn the messaging around in their favor.
National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) VP of Marketplace Pam McNally rejoins the Independent Thinking Podcast to talk about new luxury kitchen research from the association, as well as the upcoming NKBA Summit: Luxury Defined.
Co-owner Mark Braun founded Advantage Appliance in Bismarck, North Dakota in 1993, and since Day 1, his mission has been to serve his community with the best deals, best service, and by giving back. He shared his story and the role Nationwide Marketing Group has played in his success.
Tony Ostrom, president of the Wireless Speaker and Audio (WiSA) Association, jumps on the Independent Thinking Podcast to talk about the latest trends in wireless audio, the work of the association, their retail initiatives and more.
From an idea on the back of a napkin, to a startup business run out of the back of a truck, to a massive presence in a 32,000-square-foot Boseman, Montana-based location — all in just 13 years. Alonzo Antonucci, owner of Bobcat Home Furnishings Company, shares his story.
Giles Sutton, interim co-CEO of global custom integration association CEDIA, jumped into our latest podcast to talk about the massive potential of the HTSN-CEDIA partnership, trends in the CI industry, and more.
Nationwide Marketing Group Vice President of Consumer Electronics Lee McDonald addresses a wide range of topics on the latest podcast, including the ongoing chipset shortage, tech trends the pandemic pushed and more.
The switch to digital price tags was a few years in the making for Cut Bank, Montana-based Billman's Inc. But now that they've made the switch, co-owner Jeff Billman says they'll never go back to paper tags. The benefits, he says, well beyond the time saved having to rip and replace labels.
Nationwide Marketing Group recently brought in Mark Pollitz in the newly-created role of Director of Service. Pollitz sat down with the Independent Thinking Podcast to talk about the challenges this segment of appliance retailers face and his plans to help them become more efficient — and profitable.
Ahead of Earth Day, we sat down with Dan Cronin, program manager at ENERGY STAR, to talk about how the nearly 30-year-old program has adapted over time, and how retailers can leverage the program within their stores.
Pam McNally, the Vice President of Marketplace for the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), dives into the latest market and design trends that NKBA is following — and that retailers need to know about.
In part two of our conversation with Nationwide's Mike Whitaker, he turns the tables and takes over interviewing duties, putting the spotlight on Nationwide's communications efforts, the rebranded media center, and more.
Patrick Tam of Google provides data and analysis around consumer shopping trends related to the ongoing pandemic — both from a product and shopping journey perspective. This episode of the Independent Thinking Podcast was first broadcasted during Virtual PrimeTime as a Main Stage session.
In the first of a two-part series, we sit down with the architect of Nationwide Learning Academy Mike Whitaker. In this interview, Whitaker goes into the evolution of NLA as the shift to virtual events takes hold.
Angelia Stewart, President and Co-owner of Jones Light Furniture & Appliances in Stevenson, Alabama, joins the Independent Thinking podcast to talk about the decision to bring AT&T into her small-town Independent retail business and the benefits of being able to offer connected services to her community.
Ahead of Virtual PrimeTime in mid-March, we sat down with Nationwide Marketing Group Sr. Director of Furniture & Bedding Jeff Rose to talk about the latest disruptions in the F&B supply chain, and we get a preview of what's to come at Virtual PrimeTime and beyond for furniture and bedding retailers.
There's perhaps no conversation that's more difficult to have for family-run and independent businesses than the one that involves succession planning. In fact, that's probably why only 30-ish% of family-owned businesses make it to the second generation of ownership. We sat down with JRM Sales & Management founder and CEO Joe Milevsky to talk succession planning and a whole lot more.
Nationwide Marketing Group recently named John O’Halloran its Sr. Merchant for the appliance team with a special focus on the luxury category. We sat down with John to get the latest on the space, his plans for expansion and more.
Ashley Gorrie, CEO of Nationwide Marketing Group vendor partner Gorrie, shares what retail trends she believes will have the longest impact in a post-COVID world.
We collected a wide swath of questions from you, our listeners, and boiled them down to some of the most-asked-about topics for President and Chief Member Advocate Tom Hickman to address.
Seeing a "store closing" sale pop up in the middle of a pandemic may elicit some sorry thoughts. But for Worcester, MA-based Rotmans, the promotion comes with a catch: They plan to reopen in a few weeks time with a completely reformatted store.
A lot has changed over the past year, and as customers start venturing back into physical stores, special attention must be paid to providing a clean, safe shopping experience. Guardsman, distributors of the COVID killing Monofoil disinfectant, chats about those trends and more.
Nationwide Marketing Group welcomed VP of Furniture & Bedding Mike Derro into the fold in mid-October — right before Virtual PrimeTime. We caught up with Derro recently to get to know him a little better and to understand where he sees the category heading in 2021.
Even as the calendar flips to a new year, the ongoing effects of the global pandemic are still being felt. We sat down with Steve Koenig, VP of Research for the Consumer Technology Association, to talk about the role tech has played in enabling so many businesses and industries to continue operating during this time — and we dive into the first-ever all-digital CES that CTA will host in January.
2020 was a whirlwind year for the custom integration space. Hank Alexander, director of HTSN, reflects on the tech trends that the pandemic helped accelerate, and he looks ahead to an all-digital CES 2021.
The house that Sherman's built is basically a delivery team's worst nightmare. But it's how Paul Sherman, CEO and owner, and Antwaun Banks, delivery manager, train the Sherman's delivery team before they set foot in a customer's home.
Previously known as Audio America — a distributor partner for Nationwide Marketing Group — CEO Jonathan Elster talks about the decision to rebrand as Next Level Distribution, what that means for Nationwide's network of dealers, and how that'll impact business moving forward.
Product protection programs, while more all-encompassing than warranties, still carry many of the same misconceptions with consumers. We sat down with Nationwide's director of product protection to talk about how retailers can improve their attachment rates.
How could something as simple as leaving a mint on customers' newly-delivered mattresses play such a huge role at Knoxville, TN-based The Bed Store? Owner and CEO Roger Cunningham explains how doing "the little things" is at the heart of everything The Bed Store stands for.
Jama Featherson, director of retail at Podium, jumps on the podcast to talk about their recent State of Local Business report. The deep dive, which tracked changes in consumer shopping behaviors in a pre- and post-COVID world, shows just how prevalent texting has become in the path to purchase.
There may be no one who knows what makes a PrimeTime show tick quite like Nationwide Marketing Group VP of Member Experience Melissa Stenson. After closing the books on the first-ever Virtual PrimeTime, she sat down with us talk about the keys to planning a successful virtual event.
Fred Pearson, owner of Pay-Less Furniture & Appliances, will be the first to admit he was very much against major investments into his online presence. But now, a little over a year since upgrading, his website has become one of the most successful "stores" in his company's portfolio.
We don't know how many independent retailers are also published authors, but Jeff Giagnocavo — co-owner of Gardner's Mattress and More in Lancaster, PA — is one. And he spoke with us about one of his favorite topics, Marketing Elasticity, which he applies to his own retail outfit.
The past 8 months have been a grueling test of the digital retail platforms that have long been touted as must-haves. And from what the team at Site on Time has seen, those who've made the investment are realizing a ton of success during this tough time.
Not long ago, we had Chris Schriever, publisher of Sleep Retailer, on the Independent Thinking Podcast to talk about the trends their following in the sleep space. Because they were SO impressed with us, they decided to have us on their podcast! Here's the crossover episode of the Sleep Retailer Podcast, which you can find on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Go subscribe!
Ahead of a historic PrimeTime this October — the first to go all virtual — we take a look at the history of the show, which dates (officially) back to 1992.
The consumer electronics industry is constantly finding ways to innovate itself — even when not forced to do so by the cloud of a global pandemic. We catch up with the editors at Dealerscope and Connected Design to talk about what they're keeping an eye on in the CE space.
Ahead of the final quarter of 2020, we sat down with Patrick Tam, strategic partner manager at Google, to talk about trends in e-commerce and search that he's been following and how COVID-19 has impacted them. Nationwide Marketing Group President of Digital & Technology Dev Mukherjee also joins in on the conversation.
Greer's Home Furnishings first opened its doors in Loudon, Tennessee, in August of 1890. As the local retailer celebrates a major milestone, we caught up with three generations of the family-owned operation — which remains in the Greer lineage.
Element Electronics Co-president Vlad Kazhdan jumps onto the Independent Thinking Podcast to talk about the brand's move into the home appliance industry. Element and Nationwide Marketing Group have partnered to roll out a new line of Element appliances exclusively for Nationwide dealers.
Troy Varness, general manager of Spokane-based retailer Fred's Appliances, shares his experience running an appliance shop during COVID-19 and the challenges they've had to overcome in recent weeks. He also shares his experience as an early adopter of the NMG-exclusive Assortment Rationalization Tool.
Independent furniture retailers faced some major disadvantages during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. We spoke through those challenges and more with Furniture Today Senior Editor Powell Slaughter.
Appliance retailers across the country have had their fair share of obstacles to overcome over the past year, from tariff concerns, to coronavirus, to inventory shortages. We run through it all with Grant Morgan, senior editor at TWICE.
Mattress retailers have been forced to take a hard look at their business model in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We chat with Chris Schriever, publisher of Sleep Retailer, about the modernization of the mattress category, and more.
Continuing our trade media partner series on the Independent Thinking Podcast, Jason Knott, Chief Content Officer at CE Pro, hops on to talk about his recent coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges technology integrators face and more.
Mark Quinn and Mark Kinsley, the two Marks behind the Dos Marcos Podcast, talk about their path towards building the galaxy's greatest mattress podcast — and so much more.
Josh Rookstool, director of sales for SUNHEAT International, talks about the family-owned brand and shares the latest on their plans to hold their 13th annual SUNHEAT Open charity golf event, set for July 31. Head over to sunheat.com for all the details!
Art can certainly be beautiful. But the ART that we're referring to here is Nationwide's new Assortment Rationalization Tool. Data visualizations, which is the simplest way to describe ART, can certainly be beautiful in their own way. And this type of ART promises to streamline an independent retailer's business.
Joe Ochs, the VP of Sales for Bray & Scarff, a DC-Baltimore-based appliance retailer and kitchen design outfit, chats about what it's been like managing more than a dozen stores during the coronavirus pandemic, the digital efforts of the retailer, and how they're preparing to fully reopen their stores.
Nationwide's VP of Home Appliances Doug Wrede recaps how dealers in the home appliance category — deemed essential across most of the country during the coronavirus pandemic — fared the past few weeks and looks at what challenges lie ahead in the second half of the year.
The digital transformation of the retail industry was kicked into high gear as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Chat, appointment shopping, video consultations and more have been nothing short of a lifeline for many independent retailers during this time. We dive deep into digital with Nationwide's tech guru, Dev Mukherjee.
Donnie Thedford, co-owner of Don's TV & Appliance, talks about his foray into the world of chat. Thedford recently rejoined Nationwide Marketing Group and almost immediately began realizing the benefits of a full-blown chat strategy — at just the right time, too, as COVID-19 began forcing businesses into a state of uncertainty.
Steve Mahler is the director of Point of Sale (POS) for Nationwide Marketing Group and the perfect guy to talk to if you're interested in learning everything there is to know about POS. He spoke with us about how POS has evolved over the years and the many benefits retailers can realize by utilizing the right POS for their business.
The novel coronavirus has had an impact on nearly every aspect of our daily lives — and the same holds true for retail. John Riddle, president and CEO of Howard's, shares how the Southern California retailer has adjusted to this "new normal."
The outdoor category presents a massive opportunity to independent retailers of all shapes and sizes — and no one can explain why better than Nationwide's own John Laing, director of outdoor.
PJ Orsini, a third-generation retail owner, has seen business boom during the coronavirus crisis. How? He's leaned into new digital offerings and capitalized on the Paycheck Protection Program. He walks us through the past few weeks at Orsini's.
The past few weeks haven't been too kind to the independent furniture and bedding retailers around the country. As COVID-19 continues to dominate headlines, Nationwide's F&B team — lead by Jeff Rose — has been hard at working giving dealers the resources they need to continue serving their communities.
Selling the smart home is about more than just displaying some cool products. Two new Nationwide Marketing Group programs — one focusing on merchandising, the other on offering tech support — prove why.
Moving into the second year of a partnership with AT&T, Nationwide Marketing Group Director of Connected Services Eric Sindelar dives deep into what the wireless carrier offers independent retailers of all shapes and sizes.
In some ways, it's already the case. But at PrimeTime in Houston, Lee McDonald, director of CE for Nationwide, talks about how CE will become the heart of consumers' homes.
Oh, that's just Renee Spresser, owner of Paul's Furniture continuing a hilarious video series she's created to brilliantly market her business in the town of 200. Spresser was recently honored with a Synchrony Pillar Award and joined the podcast from PrimeTime in Houston to share her story.
From a keynote featuring an astronaut to the extraordinary deals available to members across the showfloor, PrimeTime was action-packed in Houston. We recap the show with Nationwide's Chief Member Advocate Tom Hickman.
Chris Carey, CEO of Tech Smart USA, talks about the services his company offers and the opportunity the independent retail channel has in helping customers overcome the challenges in the connected home category.
WithIt Executive Director Amy Van Dorp chats about the group's mission to help women across various industries develop their business skills — and about their partnership with the WIN: Women in Nationwide network.
See what we did there? Bill Brunelle of Independent We Stand spoke with us about all of the tremendous resources IWS has made available to the independent retail channel.
Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino, fresh off of a keynote at Nationwide Marketing Group's PrimeTime show in Houston, shares stories from space and relates some of the things he learned to the independent retail channel.
Johanna Elsner, co-owner of tiny home manufacturing firm Perch & Nest, joins the Independent Thinking Podcast to talk about what it took to bring Nationwide Marketing Group's Tiny Smart Home to life.
From TP delivery bots to Westworld-style artificial intelligence, CES 2020 brought out all kinds of crazy consumer tech. Nationwide Marketing Group brought a team out to Las Vegas, led by Director of CE Lee McDonald. Lee jumped on the Independent Thinking Podcast to help recap this year's show.
Nationwide Marketing Group Content Director Doug Marsh dug up some unique facts and key dates throughout the history of the buying group, which is preparing for its 50th anniversary in 2021.