RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2017
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B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S
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ohnnie's Home Appliance and Sleep Center of Downey,
California received an eagerly anticipated redesign this past
summer as representatives from BrandSource and Whirlpool
lent a hand in the demolition and renewal of the independent retailer.
The effort epitomizes the forward thinking attitude of Johnnie's
owner Tommy Martinez, as well as the collaborative relationship
between BrandSource, its suppliers, and its members.
On July 18-20, BrandSource's Matt Berry, director of specialty
channels, Anitra Brase, global leadership director, and Chad Evans,
director of merchandising, rolled up their sleeves and aided a
contingent of 10 workers in essentially redefining Johnnie's
showroom and product offerings. Beginning in the early morning,
the tireless work crew began the transformation by emptying the
store, tearing out the walls and replacing the floor. Since sales are
so critical to an independent retailer, it was imperative that Johnnie's
remodel be done as soon as possible. Knowing this, workers
labored well into the early morning hours. In the end, the original
showroom was upgraded along with an entire new sales counter.
The extra space allowed for the addition of outdoor grills to the
store and the introduction of the new SERTA mattress gallery. The
store was also fully modernized with new lighting and ceilings.
On September 29th, Johnnie's had its grand re-opening, which
showcased the store's new facelift. On hand to view the progress
and participate in the ribbon cutting were members of the chamber
of commerce, members from the local newspaper, representatives
from Whirlpool, Serta, and BrandSource, as well as the current and
past mayor of Downey, to celebrate the return of Johnnie's. A grill
party was also held in the store parking lot. The entire project, from
start to finish, exemplifies the strong bond that BrandSource has
with its members and further demonstrates its hand on approach
when it comes to the improvement of its members' stores. A special
thanks goes to Whirlpool for their continued support of the
makeover program. Let us congratulate all who had a part in
Johnnie's Home Appliance and Sleep Center's new look!
JOHNNIE'S GETS MAKEOVER
COURTESY OF BRANDSOURCE, WHIRLPOOL
