Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2017 80 A s the year begins for 2017, we look back on what has been a tremendous year for our buying group. In October of 2016, we moved into a new, larger headquarters, leaving our previous office home of nearly 20 years in Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis. Our new larger office is now within the actual city limits of Memphis and borders Germantown. "We have always been a buying group that is very conservative regarding rent, staffing and costs in general," said Rick Bellows, president of MEGA Group USA. "But to accommodate our unprecedented growth in membership which required us to ramp up staffing, we could no longer function out of the old office space." The new MEGA Group facility features several additional management offices. Also, roughly ten cubicles and an additional "bull pen" for various member support and accounting staff. "We didn't go wild on office amenities," said Bellows, "We're still pretty frugal and intend to stay that way." PERSONNEL ADDITIONS Last year, MEGA Group added Amanda Evans to their marketing team. Amanda brings terrific experience to her role as Director of Marketing and will one day soon inherit the entire department. "Amanda is a dream come true," said Jim Sendrak, EVP marketing & consumer electronics. "I couldn't imagine a better qualified individual who will not only ensure a smooth transition but also bring a boat load of fresh imagination and creativity to the position. Our members are lucky!" In 2016, Karen Young joined the team. While she is not new to MEGA or its members—having served the group as an event planner since 2003—she joined us officially on staff in Q4. In her official role, Young will serve as meetings and event director, overseeing MEGA's two annual buying shows, showrooms at High Point, Tupelo and Vegas markets, travel and other special events. "Having worked with MEGA for many years, I've always felt like part of the team," said Young. "Having an opportunity to join the staff and focus on MEGA full-time was something I couldn't pass up. I really look forward to continuing to bring top-notch events to our dealers." Darin Lehr joined the MEGA team last November and will serve as vice president of sales. Lehr spent two decades with Serta- Simmons Bedding as a sale rep, key account manager and sales manager. Lehr lead the sales department for the Serta plant in New England directing upwards of a dozen field representatives. Lehr will assume direct leadership of MEGA's 15 regional managers across the USA. These field executives are a diverse group with varied backgrounds. They come with either retail or wholesale backgrounds from the categories that the group represents. Some are industry veterans others are well on their way to building their careers. Each regional manager is charged with the goal of supporting and developing current members, and attracting new members to the group. It will be Lehr's responsibility to manage and direct each RM so that they deliver first-in-class member service and rewarding personal career fulfilment. "I'm excited to join the team at MEGA Group USA. I am proud to be a member of the Nation's leading Buying Group supporting retailers to achieve their goals," Lehr stated. John Schmelzer rounds out the Q4 new hires. Schmelzer started in December as the regional manager serving Arizona and southern California. Prior to joining MEGA, he worked for Kittrich Corporation handling Best Rest, Legare' and My First product lines in the West, and was with Serta for 17 years in the Arizona market. Schmelzer will serve as consultant to dealers and help communi- cate the value of their MEGA membership and the programs available to them. Rick Bellows, President, MEGA Group USA had this to say: "We are delighted to make all of the additions to our staff. Our growth has been non-stop. These new people will help us continue to bring our valued members more and better services than ever before." B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S RO MEGA GROUP USA ADDS TO STAFF AND OFFICE SPACE IN Q4

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