Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2014 60 BRANDSOURCE REPORTS RECORD ATTENDANCE AT POWER DEALER EVENT IN MILWAUKEE BrandSource recently treated its elite Power Dealers to three full days of networking, special activities, meetings and workshops at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Milwaukee. This special group, which is comprised of BrandSource members with a minimum of $20 million in annual revenues, met with executives and top vendors to brainstorm and share ideas. Since the group's inception a few years ago, attendance is steadily increasing, according to Tom Bennett, VP of sales for BrandSource. "This event is growing significantly every year," said Bennett. "This unique group of power dealers and vendors are at the top of their game and often are the earliest adapters to new programs and practices, so it's a perfect venue for fostering mutual growth. At our most recent gathering, we added intimate peer-to-peer sessions to help attendees gain insights and tap into each others' areas of expertise." The Power Dealer gathering was kicked off at the Milwaukee Ale House, giving vendors and members an opportunity to socialize in a casual and fun environment. Over the next three days, attendees had access to educational, business and networking opportunities as well as roundtable discussions focused on a variety of topics including digital marketing, promotions and hiring best practices. Guest speaker Joe Higgins went beyond industry-specific topics with his presentation on High Performance Company Culture. A committee was formed to continue momentum and growth of the group, with a plan to hold ongoing meetings during BrandSource's bi-annual conventions. The gathering concluded with the Power Dealers attending a tailgate party and Milwaukee Brewers baseball game at Miller Park. "The BrandSource annual Power Dealer event is one that I find not only worthwhile, but extremely valuable," said Leigh Donadieu, senior account manager for buying groups at Electrolux. "This event provides us with an opportunity to cultivate and nurture interpersonal relationships with key customers and creates a forum enabling us to help each other identify opportunities, discuss actionable items and chart courses for mutual growth." The Power Dealer event also included strategic updates on popular member services, which include Expert Warehouse 2, the BrandSource app, credit card and financing program, Expert Protection and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system software. For BrandSource membership information or to see if you qualify to become a BrandSource Power Dealer, contact Tim Bashford at (714) 422-0740. BRANDSOURCE'S PROSOURCE DIVISION BRINGS ALARM.COM'S LEADING "CONNECTED HOME" PLATFORM TO MEMBERS Tapping 500+ Custom Integrators BrandSource's ProSource division has announced a partnership with Alarm.com, the leading cloud services provider for the connected home. The partnership was officially introduced to members during the recent CEDIA Expo in Denver. ProSource's 500+ members can now offer customers Alarm. com's complete connected home services platform which includes interactive security, video monitoring, energy management and intelligent automation solutions, all controlled through one intuitive mobile app. More than 2 million homes and businesses are powered by Alarm.com's reliable and proven cloud platform. According to Jim Ristow, co-president and Chief Business Officer (CBO) of ProSource, the alarm.com partnership was spearheaded by ProSource's Membership and Custom Integration committees. "Our committees are invaluable at identifying new opportunities in emerging markets and finding the best manufacturers and technologies available," says Jim Ristow, co-president and CBO of ProSource. "With Alarm.com, ProSource members can offer customers the leading smart-home and connected security solution. They can also generate recurring revenue, which is—or should be—an important part of their business plan." ProSource members already using the Alarm.com service are extremely happy with its value. For more information, ProSource members are encouraged to contact their representative or visit www.prosource.com. RO B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S

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