Retail Observer

OCTOBER 2019 RETAILOBSERVER.COM 59 • Also, participating members are reporting resulting in-store close rates of 60 to 70+%. Because consumers expect a seamless experience from retailers, Nationwide has also invested heavily in expanding its already robust leadership and sales educational offerings, as well as tools for elevating the in-store experience. "Ultimately, customers want a frictionless shopping experience," said Jennifer Danko, vice president of technology for Site on Time, a Nationwide Marketing Group company. "In order to win sales, independent retailers have to make it easy for consumers to buy from them both online and off." While Nationwide's digital solutions team were hard at work ensuring that members will have simplified, effective, affordable solutions to elevate the online experience, the group's merchan- dising and business services teams were pushing forward with congruent solutions to elevate the offline touchpoints of their members' businesses. Things like: • The development of more than 500 on-demand, mobile-ready product training modules from key vendor partners to ensure that members' sales teams will continue to stand out as the most knowledgeable in the markets they serve. Plus additional training modules that cover virtually every area of an independent retailer's business – from delivery and selling skills to communication and culture development. • More than 300,000 online training certifications awarded to front- line employees over the past 12 months – and Nationwide's Learning Academy has hosted more than 10,000 live session attendees. • The development of RWS's proprietary FlashTags software, which makes it easier than ever to power electronic price tags in-store instantly and automatically, as the retailers' websites or other links they choose adjust. Retailers buy the tags, but the FlashTag software is a totally free extension of the group's digital platform. • The debut of the Nationwide Local Advantage program, a new turnkey merchandising solution that features sheltered hero SKUs that retailers can use as focus models for their show floor. All featured models come with manufacturer-supported promotional programming that cannot be beat by national chains. • More than 20 new vendor partner opportunities across the major appliance, consumer electronics, furniture, bedding, outdoor and member services categories, including Flexsteel Industries, Klipsch, Corsicana and Comdata business-to- business payment solutions. In addition to the 200 manufacturers and service providers that spanned the 225,000 square feet of exhibition space, PrimeTime attendees also had the opportunity to meet the team behind Nationwide's new connected home division on the tradeshow floor. "The connected home category has been growing 52% year over year. And by the end of this year, it's expected to reach $490 billion," said Patrick Maloney, senior vice president of appliances for Nationwide Marketing Group. "But more than half of Americans are too scared to install DIY connected home products themselves. Once they get it, though, 42% come back. Which is where our members can come in." Attendees were able to experience this exciting new category in action by walking through Nationwide's custom connected tiny home, along with a connected tiny home from Control4. Additional trainings were also offered on-site for Nationwide members to learn how to cash in on this growing category. In conjunction with Nationwide's new connected home initiative and the PrimeTime event, AT&T held its first-ever AT&T Certified Champion training in New Orleans. The two-day, all-inclusive bootcamp was exclusive to Nationwide Marketing Group members and offered NMG's front-line salespeople with all the training and tools they need to launch successful AT&T programs in their home stores. "Thanks to AT&T and DSI Systems, we were able to bring 100 independent retailers from across the country to New Orleans for this exclusive training opportunity," said Lee McDonald, director of business development for Nationwide Marketing Group. "No matter what product lines they're currently selling, this bootcamp helped our members future-proof their showrooms by showcasing the value of a connected home – for appliances, electronics, bedding and even furniture. And, of course, it helped them join the growing group of Nationwide members who are able to exclusively offer AT&T cell phones, wireless plans, fiber, broadband, DirecTV, wearables and more to their customers." The group also continued its mission of giving back at every PrimeTime by packing meals to support No Child Hungry. PrimeTime attendees packed more than 85,000 meals in 60 minutes during the event's welcome reception with a grand total of 184,261 meals packed over the three-day event. Roughly 91,000 of those meals were distributed in New Orleans, and the rest were shipped to the No Child Hungry headquarters in Orlando to be sent wherever the need is greatest. Hickman wrapped up the event by echoing the shared sentiment that it's a great time to be an independent retailer and a member of Nationwide Marketing Group. Amidst all the market challenges facing the industry, including tariff issues, trade war issues, price increases, channel disruption, changes in vendor strategies, a soft appliance market and a changing bedding market, the group reports that its members are thriving, with more than 300 new stores opening over the past 12 months alone. "Together, we're solving retail problems at retail speed by staying nimble and saying yes to the right opportunities quickly," Hickman said. "We don't just think the independent channel is viable – we believe it can own the future." The next PrimeTime event will be held in Houston, February 9-12, 2020. Please visit www.nationwidegroup.org to register now or to learn more. RO

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