Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM NOVEMBER 2016 56 B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S RO BOB BAIRD TEAMS UP WITH BRANDSOURCE AVB/BrandSource recently hired venerable retail expert Bob Baird as a consultant to advise and assist its independent dealers in the race with their box store competitors. Bob will work with BrandSource's leadership team in a bid to drive sales and marketing as they continue on their track of rapid growth. Commenting on Bob's hiring, BrandSource CEO Jim Ristow said, "Bob has extensive experience in marketing, merchandising, and has a proven track record of growing the business of each company he has worked for. We are thrilled to have him aboard." A seasoned industry insider, Bob has been in the retail appliance business for 50 years where he has amassed a wealth of experience that will no doubt prove invaluable in his consulting capacity. Enthusiastic about his new position, Bob says, "I am very optimistic about the future of the appliance industry and the possibilities for the independent retailer. My role at BrandSource is to help the members grow their appliance business and grow it profitably. I very much like that this group is focused on their members - with lots of listening and sharing." Bob arrives at BrandSource after 15 years with The Home Depot where he held several executive posts including Global Product Merchant-Appliances, Divisional Merchandise Manager-Appliances, and Merchandising VP-Kitchens/Appliances. When he arrived in 2001, Bob was given the arduous task of building an appliance business from scratch. Upon his departure last year, Home Depot's appliance business was #2 in the country behind Lowe's. Prior to The Home Depot, Bob worked for retailer Montgomery Ward from 1996-2001 as part of a turnaround team. While there, he held positions of SVP-Electronics/Home Office, SVP Internet/Business Development and SVP Hard Goods. Before Montgomery Ward, Bob was SVP-Marketing/Merchandising for west coast electronics retailer The Good Guys. Bob also worked for Circuit City Stores as Regional VP of the Western Division. Bob's storied career in the retail industry actually began as a Delivery Driver/Salesperson at Montgomery Ward, where he worked while attending college. Upon leaving in 1970, he went on to hold prominent management positions at The Maytag Company and the Fred Schmid Company, a regional retailer based in Denver, before landing at Circuit City in 1989. Bob spent his college summers as a steel fabricator, including a stint as a stainless steel welder on the St. Louis Arch. Bob earned a BBA in Marketing and Quantitative Analysis while graduating with honors from the University of Iowa. He also graduated Summa Cum Laude from Drake University where he earned an MBA in Financial Management. Among other accolades, Bob was named Marketer of the Year in 1995 by 'Adweek' magazine. He lives in Big Canoe, Georgia, a community 50 miles north of Atlanta and has four children. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, exercise and spending time with family. AVB/BRANDSOURCE COMES TO TV In an effort to enhance the in-store and online experience of our customers, AVB/BrandSource is proud to announce the introduction of its new television marketing service, AVB TV. It is our hope at BrandSource that this new feature will connect with the modern consumer through the harnessing of the power of this time-honored medium. This revolutionary experiment is in keeping with BrandSource's innovative spirit and commitment to enriching the buying experience while increasing sales and customer loyalty. This new creation will essentially be a tool for our members to create new awareness of their business through a series of quality programs, vignettes, series, mini-documentaries, and webisodes. First, the content will be streamed directly to members' stores, websites, and online platforms. It will then be presented to customers, in high definition, by a series of special guests, subject matter experts, and personalities in an effort to engage, inform, and entertain. Owners, managers, and sales associates also stand to benefit from the new information and features presented by AVB/TV. The entire streaming service is powered by a low cost Apple TV box, which can be distributed to an unlimited amount of TV's in a retailer's store all at a flat low monthly cost per box. BrandSource members are free to personalize their service by adding their own commercials and videos to the playlist and to decide what plays and when. The process is so user friendly that NPI, promotional, and even daily sales content can be run for any type of event. The new service is also capable of being streamed online, in your store, or on-the-go without the delays associated with updating or maintenance. AVB/BrandSource has already begun the roll out of its new service during their recent convention in Las Vegas. Each attendee received a complimentary Apple TV so they may try out the new offering and provide much needed feedback. The presentation of AVB/TV represents a bold step forward for BrandSource and an exciting new method of keeping both members and customers informed of the thrilling new changes in our industry. BOB BAIRD

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