Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM APRIL 2023 58 T wo essential sessions on company culture and communication skills were among the highlights of last month's AVB Summit 2023, the big buying group conclave in Las Vegas. The event brought together members and vendors of the AVB BrandSource buying organization for independent home goods dealers, along with affiliate groups ProSource (consumer tech), Mega Group (Canada), and the NEAG and Intercounty Appliance chapters of NECO. This year's Summit was held under the theme of "Plug In," which underscores the many AVB services and solutions at dealers' disposal, and the ease with which they can be integrated into BrandSource members' businesses. As AVB's CEO, Jim Ristow, noted, "Consumers are the driving force behind the fast-tracking of the digital shopping revolution. And, spoiler alert, they are not turning back. Therefore, you too need to evolve and meet them where they are, by plugging in to them directly." "All you need to do is 'plug in' to the group's state-of-the-art digital toolbox," he continued. "Members who have done so are outpacing their big-box competitors, as well as their fellow members who have yet to leverage the group's business technology." Meanwhile, amid the marketing sessions, vendor trainings, state- of-the-industry presentations, product expos and social activities, attendees took time out to hear renowned inspirational speakers Galen Emanuele and Marilyn Sherman, who took the stage at the Caesars Forum Conference Center to share their organizational insights and rules for workplace enhancement. Emanuele, who was sidelined by COVID before making his first scheduled Summit appearance last year, is a highly sought-after speaker and consultant with clients that include Microsoft, Safeway, and NASA. In his General Session keynote at Summit, he helped transform how dealers approach and create an exceptional culture within their companies. As part of his presentation, Emanuele brought to bear his background as a former improv performer and teacher by sharing the five core tenets of the craft: saying yes, listening and being present, making others look good, embracing change, and choosing positivity. Together, he said, these practices can increase your critical communication skills, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and personal impact on others and transform you, your team, and your company from the inside out. Communication was also central to Sherman's keynote presentation, which was delivered during the traditional Women in Business breakfast on Tuesday. A motivational speaker and founder of UpFront Presentations, Sherman shared tools to reduce unnecessary conflict in the workplace, including specific tactics and verbiage to handle difficult individuals. Most people do not like conflict or confrontation, she acknowledged, but with these strategies it gets easier to handle both. Also on the Summit agenda was a gangbuster cluster of product trainings, region meetings, and education sessions, including the return of dedicated tracks for the group's AVB Marketing, ServiceSource, Furniture Technology Source and HRSource arms. Other highlights included Town Halls for servicing members and home furnishings dealers; a first-time service manager certification program at Summit; and the much-anticipated show-special Stampede and new-product EXPO. In addition, live music returned to the stage when hometown Las Vegas favorites The Wind Jammers took the stage for the show's Sunday night opening reception. The "yacht rock" band helped kick off what proved be a most fruitful four days in the desert. AVB BrandSource's next national gathering, Convention 2023, will be held Aug. 27-30 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville. AVB SUMMIT SESSIONS OFFERED WORKPLACE INSIGHTS B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S Alan Wolf is Senior Communications Specialist at AVB BrandSource, the nation's leading merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, home furnishings, and consumer tech dealers. RO

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