Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM AUGUST 2020 58 A VB/BrandSource is locked and loaded for this month's 2020 Virtual Convention, the buying organization's first- ever online edition of its annual late-summer confab. This year's show, which shifted from Dallas to the cloud in light of the still-evolving coronavirus crisis, promises to offer all the buying opportunities, new product introductions, industry updates and networking forums of an on-site event, albeit from the safety of our desktops or mobile phones. Moreover, as the industry grapples with COVID-related concerns such as supply constraints, shifting shopping behaviors, the impact of the presidential election, and the unknowns of the fourth- quarter selling season, the 2020 Convention assumes even greater importance as "a place to get the latest information about what is happening in the appliance, electronics, furniture and mattress industries," said Chad Evans, AVB's vice president of merchandising. The three-day virtual gathering for independent dealers is set for Sunday, Aug. 30 through Tuesday, Sept. 1. Registration is available at AVBevents.com. The decision to move the Convention online was made in June after long and careful deliberation by AVB's Senior Leadership Team, which considered such factors as travel and exhibit center restrictions guidance from national and local officials, and overwhelming feedback from member dealers and manufacturers. As AVB Chief Marketing Officer John White remarked, "We weren't going to let a global pandemic stop us from moving forward and helping our members find ways to keep business going in the safest, most effective ways possible." Indeed, the 2020 Virtual Convention will replicate the most popular features of AVB's on-site shows, including limited-quantity, show-special "Stampede" deals, a virtual product Expo, one-on- one meetings, and industry insights from White, Evans, CEO Jim Ristow, and other members of the Senior Leadership Team. Here's how it works: Registered participants will be able to log into a browser-based Event Web App that provides access to a personalized agenda with direct links to specific invitation-only sessions, along with supplemental meeting materials and plugins such as uploaded PDFs, videos and images, and BrandSource member polls. The Event Web App also includes a chat feature that will allow users to send messages to everyone participating in a session, or hold private conversations with individuals. Attendees can plan their virtual booth visits by perusing a directory of exhibitors who will showcase their latest wares during the two- day-long Convention Expo. Vendors can enhance their exhibitor booths with a variety of features such as Vmeet rooms, product training content, resource downloads and other buy fair assets. For those unfamiliar, AVB represents close to 5,000 independent retailers in the U.S. and Canada who together generate some $20 billion in annual sales. In addition to the core BrandSource buying group, AVB operates AVB Marketing, a full-service advertising, digital marketing and web services agency created expressly for BrandSource members. AVB also partners with a host of industry affiliates, including ProSource, the nation's leading co-op serving independent consumer tech specialty retailers and custom integrators; TRIB Group, serving independent rent-to-own retailers; Mega Group/BrandSource Canada, serving independent dealers north of the border; and HFA Buying Source, serving independent home furnishings dealers nationwide. We look forward to seeing you online this month! B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S RO BRANDSOURCE PRIMED FOR ITS FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL CONVENTION THIS MONTH Alan Wolf is Senior Communications Specialist for AVB/ BrandSource, the nation's leading merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, consumer tech and home furnishings dealers.

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