Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM SEPTEMBER 2022 58 I f you thought the show floor at BrandSource's 2022 national Convention seemed more crowded this go-round, it was. Nine first-time exhibitors joined the expo roster for last month's show at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Dallas, spanning the appliance, mattress, furniture and business services categories. On the appliance side, BrandSource made room for Robam and Hauslane, the group's recent kitchen additions, and EuroChef USA, exclusive importer of Italy's Verona line of luxury pro-grade ranges, cooktops and wall ovens. In addition, Midea America, the U.S. arm of China's appliance powerhouse, also brought its kitchen portfolio to the Big D. Moving on to mattresses, the Convention's expo floor featured the latest and greatest from Corsicana and Malouf, the newest vendor partners of the buying group's Furniture Technology Source arm (FTS). Corsicana is considered the fifth-largest bedding manufacturer in the country and is known for its wide range of high- quality, sub-$1,000 performance and traditional mattresses. Meanwhile, Malouf, founded 18 years ago by Sam and Kacie Malouf, is a major force in home furnishings, renowned for melding time-tested materials with the freshness of cutting-edge technologies. Also bedding down with BrandSource at Convention was Smart Flex, a five-year-old business committed to providing premium- quality adjustable bed bases and mattresses at affordable prices. In furniture, BrandSource welcomed first-time exhibitors CordaRoy's, the made-in-America bean bag resource, and Life Smart, a Supply Chain Sources company whose expansive product portfolio includes Shiatsu massage and power lift chairs. Rounding out the newcomer roster was Snap! Finance, which provides retailers and their customers with lease-to-own financing options. Another big draw in Dallas was BrandSource's full complement of educational classes, particularly the five-session service track led by the group's service consultant, Paul MacDonald. Topics included "How to Train a New-Hire Service Technician"; "Are You Delivering Professional Service?"; "Warranty Service Ain't All That Bad"; and perhaps the most critical session, "Service Financials – What You Should Know," in which MacDonald showed BrandSource dealers how to set profitable service rates based on their cost of doing business. The service suite was capped off by a Service Town Hall Breakfast in which a panel of service managers from top-tier manufacturers answered members' questions and shared their business insights. On the furniture front, FTS hosted a session on "Driving Foot Traffic through Promotions," while BrandSource's traditional Women in Business Breakfast welcomed keynote speaker Vicki Hitzges, who promoted positive thinking and boosting employee morale with her address, "Baby, Take Off Your Stress – You Can Leave Your Hat On." Looking ahead, AVB BrandSource will return to Harrah's Las Vegas next year for the group's annual Summit gathering in March, and will strike a musical note for the 2023 Convention which travels to Nashville for a four-day return engagement at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Alan Wolf is Senior Communications Specialist for AVB/ BrandSource, the nation's leading merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, consumer tech dealers. RO BRANDSOURCE WELCOMED NINE MORE ON THE EXPO FLOOR The buying group squeezed in nine first-time exhibitors at last month's convention B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S

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