Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2020 60 B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S I t'll be a gathering of the clans come March, when AVB, the $19.5 billion independent dealer cooperative, convenes in Las Vegas for its annual Summit meeting and product expo. In attendance will be the membership of AVB's various affiliate organizations, including BrandSource, a leading merchandising group for independent appliance, home furnishings and consumer tech dealers; its Canadian cousins, Mega Group and BrandSource Canada; and ProSource, a member-governed buying group representing more than 550 tech retailers and custom integrators, with annual sales of more than $5 billion. The Summit 2020, slated for March 8-11 at The Venetian Resort and Sands Expo Convention Center complex, will carry the theme of "Tomorrow Starts Today" – a simple reminder that the key to the members' future will be taking that first step toward realizing their goals. To help the collective membership along the way, AVB has lined up a power-packed itinerary replete with educational sessions, state-of-the-industry updates, an expansive product expo showcasing this year's latest and greatest, and expert speakers from every corner of the industry. The confab kicks off on Sunday, March 8, with a series of AVB Marketing workshops and vendor training sessions, followed by a marketing update by AVB's Chief Marketing Officer John White and a website primer by Marketing VP Brian Wattier that will underscore the importance the group places on digital initiatives. The day will be capped off with a get-together for BrandSource newcomers and a welcome reception for all BrandSource members, vendors and guests. The Summit 2020 will hit its stride on Monday, March 9 when AVB CEO Jim Ristow takes the stage for his traditional State of the Union address, followed by keynoter Jeremy Gutsche, a best- selling author and CEO of Trend Hunter, reportedly the world's largest trend website with more than 3 billion views. Gutsche's "Better + Faster" presentation will help attendees overcome the "neurological traps" that prevent people from realizing their full potential. Monday will top out with the much-anticipated Stampede, where members can order deeply discounted, Summit-exclusive merchandise, plus a BrandSource dinner reception at Tao Las Vegas. Tuesday (March 10) will begin with a Women in Business breakfast featuring special guest Kate Wood, Co-Founder of Engage Your People, an employee engagement consultancy. The women's business group, created by AVB six years ago to support female professionals in the appliance, furniture, mattress and consumer tech retail categories, will hear Wood outline a plan for implementing change in the workplace and in people's lives. Also on the Summit agenda is a Furniture Town Hall breakfast and industry update hosted by Seth Weisblatt, the group's new director of home furnishings, while later that morning AVB will open the doors of the massive Expo floor, where members from all affiliates will peruse all manner of new-model appliances, bedding, home furnishings and consumer electronics. Other Summit highlights will include a Young Professionals networking soiree for the under-40 crowd, and educational sessions led by experts in their respective fields. Among the latter are Lynn Falk, founder and president of Retailworks, an award- winning retail design, display and branding firm, who will speak to "Creating a Profitable Retail Environment"; speaker and author Eric Papp, who will help attendees "Discover the Possibilities with Laser-Focused Selling"; Futurecast President Jeff Fromm, who will share how-to's for tapping into millennial and Gen Z consumers; and social media strategist Jenn Herman, who will help members navigate the social media marketing landscape. For more information on The Summit 2020, email AVB at eventsupport@avb.net. AVB AFFILIATES TO CONVENE FOR THE SUMMIT 2020 Alan Wolf , Communications Specialist — AVB | BrandSource RO

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