Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM AUGUST 2015 58 B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S NATIONWIDE MOVES AHEAD ON CONTINUITY & SUCCESSION A note from Robert Weisner & Les Kirk It is with great satisfaction and pride that we are able to announce the successful completion of Nationwide's three-year succession and leadership transition. Since the last PrimeTime!, we have retired from our day-to- day responsibilities as co-CEOs and have passed the baton to Nationwide Marketing Group's next generation of leaders. Of course, we'll always be with Nationwide in our hearts and we remain available in support of Nationwide's executives as Directors. As we look back on our careers and Nationwide's many accomplishments, perhaps one of the most important was the selection and integration of its current leadership. Changes in leadership roles include Dave Bilas as president and CEO and Jeff Knock as chief commercial cfficer, along with a move to executive vice president for Frank Sandtner and Tom Hickman. The balance of the leadership team has been in place for some time. Nationwide's members and vendor-partners couldn't be in better hands. Over Nationwide's history, we've seen it grow from a handful of dealers to North America's largest group of independent appliance, electronics, furniture, photography, flooring and bedding dealers. The fact that today, the members of Nationwide and its divisions are responsible for more sales in those combined categories than all competing groups in North America combined, is a testament to the quality of the group's members, as well as the dedication of the support teams that the organization has built. We'd like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the entire Nationwide team along with the leaders and staffs of Nationwide West, Nationwide Southwest, Nationwide East, Nationwide Florida, United Stores, NECO Alliance and Cantrex Nationwide for their support and outstanding service to our Members. TIO ® NOW PART OF SPECIALTY ELECTRONICS NATIONWIDE BUYING GROUP Partnership extends TiO reach and gives SEN dealers better pricing on easy to install and use home and business automation products Anuva Automation, the Florida-based manufacturer of TiO™ brand automation and control systems announced it has reached an agreement with Specialty Electronics Nationwide (SEN), the specialty CE and custom installation division of the Nationwide Marketing Group. This agreement will increase TiO's product distribution network, and allow SEN dealers to reap the financial benefits of purchasing at much higher volume levels, meaning lower prices and increased profitability. SEN dealers will now have access to TiO™ (Turn it On), an entirely new approach to home and light commercial automation driven by an "outside in" philosophy that focuses on the customer experience. Through the TiO Android and iOS apps, users can easily create unique environments in every room of their home that includes streaming music, lighting control, climate control and control of other systems. "We welcome the TiO™ brand of home and business automation products as a new and valued vendor partner to the Specialty Electronics Nationwide roster of manufacturers," said Hank Alexander, Director of SEN. "We are very impressed with TiO's elegance, simplicity and powerful capabilities and believe these products present a great opportunity for our members." "We're thrilled to be able to expand our product distribution to the home and business automation markets through this distribution partnership. During this growth phase, we will continue to stay focused on Anvua's design to distribution approach which is proving successful in helping to accelerate TIO's presence in the marketplace," says Mike Anderson, president of Anuva Automation. TiO exhibited at InfoComm in June in Orlando, FL. For more information about TiO™ home automation products or becoming an authorized dealer, visit www.tiohome.com. RO L E S K I R K R O B E R T W E I S N E R

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