Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JULY 2023 24 MARCONE GROUP BECOMES PRIMARY SAMSUNG DISTRIBUTOR Partnership reflects parts for equipment beyond manufacturer's warranty Marcone Group, the leading repair parts distributor across North America, announced a strategic partnership with Samsung to be the primary distributor for parts on equipment beyond the manufacturer's warranty. The announcement further deepens this long-standing relationship and reflects the value Samsung obtains from Marcone Group's vast distribution network and artificial intelligence technology, which provides a 99.5% ship-clean rate, next-day ground shipping to 93% of the U.S., and 100% two-day ground shipping nationwide. This is made possible by leveraging its 200 locations, including 14 distribution centers across multiple time zones, to fulfill customer orders with speed and accuracy. Samsung's decision represents an important growth milestone for Marcone Group, which expects further growth of its $2 billion annual sales as it continues to transform the residential appliance repair market. It's also good news for Marcone Group customers, particularly those in the home warranty sector, who have a specific focus on older appliances and HVAC systems. Samsung customers will have access to account management tools, a dedicated account manager, and an exclusive toll-free hotline. Customers can view an online catalog and place orders at marcone.com, which was recently relaunched to offer visitors further details about distribution reach and insights into the technologies that set the company apart. Since late 2021, Marcone Group has expanded from a home appliance parts company to include HVAC, plumbing, commercial kitchen, and pool and spa segments. It now offers products from each of those verticals across an ever-growing set of locations that range from coast to coast and into Canada, making the company the largest distributor of OEM parts in North America. "Marcone Group's expansion into new industries reflects a desire for better, technology-driven solutions that improve distribution efficiency and effectiveness," said Chief Executive Officer Avichal Jain. "Our infrastructure and expertise have flourished in filling that need. The future for Marcone Group is bright, indeed." Marcone Group is an authorized distributor for major brands such as Whirlpool, Electrolux, General Electric, Maytag, Bosch, Samsung, LG, and many more. Through its vast distribution network, Marcone Group and its subsidiaries supply the largest inventory of original replacement parts in the country for household appliances, HVAC and plumbing systems, and more. Marcone Group exports globally and operates a comprehensive training institute offering quality business and technical training. Headquartered in St. Louis, Marcone Group operates more than 200 facilities and serves approxi- mately 43,000 technician customers. Visit www.marcone.com for more information. 2023 NYCXDESIGN FESTIVAL REPORTS SIGNIFICANT GROWTH AT 240 + EVENTS NYCxDESIGN, the 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports the design sector in New York, hosted the 11th edition of its internationally renowned Festival May 18-25. Celebrating the city as a premier design destination, the week was a vibrant showcase of talent, including thought-provoking exhibitions, public installations, renowned trade fairs, and robust programming — shining a light on the city's best, from design districts to leading cultural and academic institutions. This year, the festival reported 240+ events across all five NYC boroughs, doubled the post pandemic numbers since 2022 and attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city. NYCxDESIGN is already receiving strong indicators and commitments for further significant growth as planning begins for 2024. "As I reflect on the NYCxDESIGN Festival, I'm overcome with pride and joy for all of the talent and innovation in our city," said Executive Director, Ilene Shaw. "Coming from all corners of the globe, we also saw a robust amount of international involvement in this year's festival. Now more than ever before, NYC is positioning itself as one of the top design markets on the world stage. Needless to say, the 11th edition of NYCxDESIGN was a resounding success measured by attendance and richness of content." Housing a larger concentration of designers, architects, creative talent, and design studios than any other metropolitan area in the world, New York City is home to 60,000+ designers, 8,000+ design firms, 1,000+ museums, galleries, and institutions, and 10 of the nation's best design and architecture schools. "EDC is proud to support NYCxDESIGN in their commitment to developing and growing New York City's expansive design sector, which accounts for over 12 percent of all creative industry jobs across the United States," said New York City Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Andrew Kimball. The Festival's anchor events, namely the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and WantedDesign Manhattan, reported 13,000 attendees, a 37% increase over the previous year, I N D U S T R Y [ N E W S ]

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