The Retail Observer is an industry leading magazine for INDEPENDENT RETAILERS in Major Appliances, Consumer Electronics and Home Furnishings
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RETAILOBSERVER.COM JUNE 2017 54 NATIONWIDE MARKETING GROUP AND KAMADO JOE ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP Nationwide Marketing Group is proud to announce their newest Outdoor Living Vendor Partner, Kamado Joe. Their company is driven by the passion to build the world's best kamado grill with innovative features that truly command a premium in the marketplace. "The addition of Kamado Joe rounds out our assortment in this growing outdoor living category. We expect our competitors to be green with envy as these red ceramic grills deliver value and profit to our members like no other," said Patrick Maloney, senior VP appliances. In 2008, the founders of Kamado Joe had one mission: to create the very best ceramic grill in the world. Both gentlemen were grilling fanatics. They had extensive experience with the industry- leading grill and were aware of all the consumer and dealer pain points and frustrations. They were convinced that ceramic grills were not as good as they could be. They saw an opportunity to create a more flexible, reliable, and easier to use grill for the consumer. Over the past eight years, they have reconsidered every aspect of the perfect grilling experience. They invested heavily in using the best process, the best materials, and the best suppliers. The result? A game-changing grill that solved consumer and dealer pain points from top to bottom. They even worked with several high-end vendors in the appliance channel: Weber Knapp in New York on their innovative Air Lift Hinge and Davlyn Manufacturing in Pennsylvania on their best-in-class high temp gasket. No expense was spared in developing their new innovative 2017 line of ceramic grills. According to Bobby Brennan, "Nobody makes a ceramic grill like Kamado Joe. Period." He added that "The journey that began in 2008 only continues to accelerate, with new innovations every year. There is a fire that drives us every day. Our mission is to create the most flexible grill with innovative features that delivers a truly remarkable experience for our customers." Nationwide Marketing Group and their members share a common passion for exceeding customer's expectations. That is why Kamado Joe is pleased to introduce them as their newest partner, just in time for prime grilling season. ICFA INKS STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH NATIONWIDE MARKETING GROUP Groups look to leverage common goals and complementary strengths The International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) has entered into a strategic alliance with Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) in a move intended to provide an extensive program of significant new benefits for ICFA's retail members. Winston-Salem, NC-based NMG has a 45-year history of partner- ing its 3,500-plus members, operating more than 11,000 stores and some $15 billion in combined sales with leading appliance, furniture, and electronics branded products. Among the services available to ICFA retail members in good standing are group buying initiatives, corporate training opportunities, high-impact advertising and promo- tions, and innovative financing programs. "The two groups share the common bond of helping members prosper in the fast-growing category of outdoor living," said John Laing, director of business development at NMG. "The relationship was a natural," he continued, pointing to NMG's aggregate buying power and world-class marketing assets, along with ICFA's unique relationship with its manufacturer, retailer, sales representative, designer, and industry supplier constituents as a conduit for growth and profitability for all participants. Doug Sanicola, president of Outdoor Elegance in La Verne, CA, and the first retail chairman of ICFA, noted that building retailer member benefits has been a high priority for the association in recent years. "We have worked diligently to find the best benefits for ICFA retailers, and we think that we have an ideal partner in NMG," he stated. "Now, retailer membership in ICFA not only supports the organization and our industry, but also provides access to money-saving programs for improved profitability in their business operations. There's no reason for any casual furniture retailer not to be an ICFA member." "In recent years, we've recognized the great opportunity that the outdoor living category offers our members," said Bill Bazemore, senior vice president of furniture at NMG. "The category's adjacency to our core indoor products, coupled with the consumer trend of entertaining outdoors, makes it a perfect fit. We look forward to a long-term relationship with ICFA as we grow to serve all of our members." B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S RO