Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM FEBRUARY 2020 60 B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S Alan Wolf — Communications Specialist, AVB|BrandSource RO T he AVB/BrandSource buying organization for independent dealers raised $154,000 to assist ailing children during its annual Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. The fundraiser, held just before the recent holiday season, took the form of an "AVB Grand Prix," with attendees racing battery-powered Power Wheels toy cars for cash. The beneficiary: Make-A-Wish Arizona, the founding chapter of the now international organization that helps grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Donning helmets and assisted by pit crews, drivers from BrandSource's 14 regional chapters raced vendor-sponsored cars around an indoor track as onlookers cheered them on. Following the checkered flag, vendors pledged additional dollars to the cause, as did parent company AVB along with BrandSource's chapters and divisions; its custom install affiliate ProSource; and Expert Warehouse, the AVB consumer tech distribution arm. (For the record, BrandSource's Mid- America, Rocky Mountain and Great Plains Regions placed first, second and third.) Also donated were the cars themselves, to a local children's foster care agency. "Think about how many kids' lives are about to be touched," said Jim Ristow, CEO of AVB. Brenna Stewart, Development and Events Coordinator for Make-A-Wish Arizona, added, "Please know you are making a huge difference in the lives of our kids." The charity race continued a longstanding AVB tradition of helping children in need and more than doubled the prior year's take of $75,000, raised in a bake-off competition for Toys for Tots. The fundraiser was a highlight of the annual Leadership Conference in which AVB's directors, regional officers, senior management team and vendor partners review the group's progress and performance over the past 12 months and set new goals and initiatives for the year ahead. "We're bullish on the membership," Ristow told attendees as he previewed 2020. "We're significantly outpacing the box stores and the momentum will continue." The Conference, held at The Scottsdale Plaza Resort, also served as a send-off for Mike Allen, BrandSource Vice President of Home Furnishings, who retired last month after serving the group and its members for 24 years. BrandSource is the leading merchandising organization for independent appliance, home furnishings and consumer tech dealers. Its parent company, AVB, is a $19.5 billion, member-driven co-op that provides merchandising, financing and digital marketing services to nearly 5,000 independent dealers in the U.S. and Canada. BrandSource affiliates include HFA Buying Source, serving home furnishings dealers nationwide; ProSource (consumer tech and custom integration); TRIB Group (rent-to-own); and Mega Group (Canada). AVB LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE RAISES $154K FOR KIDS' CAUSE Left to right: Sherry Dantonio takes the wheel of the Pro-Source car, sponsored by Expert Warehouse. "Start Your Engines" — AVB Grand Prix racers and their crews prepare to compete in the group's annual Leadership Conference charity event.

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