Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JULY 2018 58 B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S N ationwide Marketing Group shook the industry in March with several groundbreaking digital marketing invest- ments. First, the group acquired Site On Time, a long time website provider and partner with a focus on full custom websites that serve many of the group's largest members. On the heels of this development, the group invested in Retailer Web Services (RWS), a long-time partner currently providing thousands of top-notch websites to independent retailers of all sizes, including investment in AdRocket; the first comprehensive turn-key digital marketing platform designed specifically for independent retail in the categories served by the group. AdRocket, featuring full integration with RWS and Site On Time websites, promises to deliver unprecedented results for participating dealers. Over the Memorial Day holiday, AdRocket launched into orbit, and the initial analytics, as well as dealer-based feedback are very encouraging. Dean Sottile, a key executive on Nationwide's digital team, shared his enthusiasm, saying, "AdRocket is the platform that our dealers have been waiting for. Using the group's immense scale, we're able to draw from a massive amount of data to steer campaigns and ensure the highest effectiveness. We're also able to make digital marketing easier, more affordable, and more transparent than anything the industry has seen, and the membership has made it clear – AdRocket works." As the heat of summer sets in, many dealers have already begun planning for the group's August show, this year returning to the Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas. Nationwide has been planning for months, and according to Senior Leadership Executive Frank Sandtner, "PrimeTime has always been designed to support our mission of enabling members to succeed at the highest levels, and we anticipate that the upcoming show will be one to remember." PrimeTime in August will build off the success of the March show, where almost every group record was shattered. The Las Vegas gathering will be the second since the merger with the former MEGA Group USA, which firmly established Nationwide as the voice of the independent channel. Attendance projections for Las Vegas promise to make the show the largest gathering of independent retailers in history, providing dealers from across the continent opportunities to network, share ideas, take advantage of purchasing and merchandising opportunities, and participate in a wealth of educational sessions. Nationwide PrimeMedia's Mike Whitaker, who leads the group's Nationwide Learning Academy, shared, "In March, we hosted over 5,000 session attendees in educational sessions at the show, and we're expecting even more participation in August. We've listened closely to the feedback from members, and we've added new categories, topics, and forums to the already robust curriculum. We're also thrilled to have our partners from Google again join the Nationwide Learning Academy, offering over a dozen sessions for members to better understand and better leverage digital in their marketing plans." Registration for the upcoming PrimeTime is now open at www.nationwideprimetime.com, with the show taking place August 5-9. Nationwide invites all members to attend, as well as those who are looking to take their business to the next level. To attend PrimeTime as a guest, please visit www.nationwidegroup.org, and join the Nationwide family at the largest and most impactful show in the industry. RO ADROCKET IN ORBIT— AND PRIMETIME FAST APPROACHING

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