Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM DECEMBER 2021 58 A VB/BrandSource, the nation's largest merchandising, marketing and services co-op for independent home goods dealers, has opened registration to group members for its 2022 Summit in March. The bi-annual gathering of the troops is slated for March 6-9, 2022, at the brand-new Caesar's Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. The state-of-the-art facility is conveniently located near the confab's host hotel, the recently renovated Harrah's Las Vegas in the heart of the Vegas Strip. The Summit will feature a full agenda of main stage sessions, incisive seminars, region meetings, meet-and-greets, a Furniture Technology Source track, and of course a product-packed Expo floor. Members can sign up for any and all events in advance to create a customized show schedule. Summit 2022 will carry the new year's theme of "Own It," which speaks to empowering members to press ahead and boldly achieve their business goals. As Jennifer Baldwin, Vice President of Customer Experience and Events noted, the show promises to deliver "new education, vendor programming and industry insights that will help you continue to thrive." Kevin Werner, BrandSource's General Manager of Member Relations, concurred. "'It's all about the members' is not simply a slogan," he said. "It's our mission that guides us in providing you and your business with programs, benefits, services, events and communication to make you even more profitable. We look forward to seeing you at The Summit and helping you take your business to a new level." Michael Posa, AVB's General Manager of Home Furnishings, added a special shout-out to furniture members. "If your store carries furniture, you are in the right place," he said, citing AVB Marketing's world-class websites and digital marketing that help retailers dominate their local markets. Joining members at Summit will be BrandSource affiliates ProSource, BrandSource Canada, and the N.E.A.G. and Intercounty chapters of the mighty NECO Alliance. Also returning to the show will be Together We Rise, BrandSource's charitable partner that works to improve the lives of America's foster care children, as well as Summit sponsors Beautyrest, Beko, Electrolux, GE Appliances, LG, Samsung, Serta, Tempur Sealy and Whirlpool. BrandSource members can register for the Summit at AVBevents. com/Summit, and under AVB's "Book with Confidence" policy, can cancel up until Feb. 1 and receive a full refund with no cancellation fees. At presstime, registration for vendor partners and other BrandSource friends was slated to begin shortly. In other BrandSource news, member dealer Steve Sheinkopf, CEO of Yale Appliance in Boston, shared his company's challenges and workarounds with The Wall Street Journal in a recent report on product shortages. Adding his voice to other retailers and industry experts, Sheinkopf said he has lent out so many interim appliances to impatient shoppers that he feels like he's running a lending library. But despite the loaners, employees have been harangued by enough irate customers to warrant compensating his staff with ice cream parties, free pizza and "combat pay" to help raise morale. "We have to take the calls that are less than understanding," Sheinkopf told the newspaper. "We feel bad for the people who work here." B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S REGISTRATION GOES LIVE FOR BRANDSOURCE SUMMIT Alan Wolf is Senior Communications Specialist for AVB/ BrandSource, the nation's leading merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, home furnishings, and consumer tech dealers. RO BrandSource's 2022 Summit will be held at the brand-new Caesars Forum Conference Center.

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