Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2014 50 Bill Bazemore Furniture Trends Bill Bazemore is the Vice President of Furniture for Nationwide Marketing Group. Call (770) 442-9726 or visit furniture@nationwidegroup.org. iAMERICA OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES IN SUPPORTING AM ERICA'S COM PANIES AND PRODUCTS O pportunity is the key to the game of life and 2014 continues to be filled with just that…opportunity. One must look outside the box to develop change and growth. Looking for new opportunities on how to market to your consumer's wants and needs and enhancing the consumer's in store experience is imperative to achieving your goals. There is a desire amongst today's consumers to support the American economy and the American worker. Given the choice, consumers will buy American made products over imported products if the quality, style, value and price are comparable or better. Nationwide Furniture has recognized this desire amongst today's consumers and has the answer for both you and your customer. A Nationwide exclusive called iAmerica is doing just that! The heart of iAmerica is appealing to today's consumers and addresses all of their wants and needs, such as better style, an enhanced quality, enhanced experience, greater selection, and so much more. To support this initiative, the iAmerica program includes proprietary product manufactured exclusively for independent retail members by Serta, Catnapper, Jackson Furniture and Vaughn-Bassett. iAmerica is opening the door for groundbreaking opportunities. The iAmerica message hits home with consumers. iAmerica is a turn-key solution which includes advertising, POP, merchandise, television ads, and so much more. Galleries of various sizes have also been created to help take the guesswork out. Outdoor Living is another category offering tremendous growth and opportunity. Consumers are purchasing outdoor furniture and goods at an increasing rate. Since 2009, the category has experienced 86% growth. When most think about their workday winding down their mind races towards going home to relax and be with family and friends. This means heading outside to the deck or patio, socializing and grilling delicious food shared with laughter and stories, and maybe ending the evening with the kids roasting marshmallows around the fire pit. The three keys to outdoor living are seating, eating and heating. The one constant in life is change. Life around us is constantly evolving and growing and we must be willing to change with the times. Today's consumers have a desire to support American companies and products and capitalizing on this offers great opportunities. Daring to be different and offering new solutions opens the door for a plethora of opportunities. iAmerica is a great example of stepping outside the box and differentiating yourself from the competition while offering your consumers what they want. Give your customers the relaxation of outdoor living with seating, eating and heating. Opportunity equals change, growth and giving back so jump on board and join us for this exciting ride. RO

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