Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2017 56 B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S RO T his past August 28th, BrandSource held its regional awards ceremony at the annual BrandSource National Convention & Expo at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The BrandSource Dealer of the Year award is presented annually to members who demonstrate continued support of BrandSource and their supplier partners. The sixteen winners display a consistent commitment to excellence in their operations and for the AVB/BrandSource national organization. The ceremony was a welcomed inclusion to the Expo, which began on August 27th and concluded on August 30th. The awards ceremony was followed by a luncheon the next day when the recipients were joined by BrandSource officers and executive staff in acknowledgement of their great honor. The awards are not only a prestigious accolade for the individual dealer for a magnificent effort but they also demonstrate a high degree of recognition from fellow members of the BrandSource family. Amid the excitement of the awards presentation, the entire membership was on hand to congratulate the winners and celebrate another successful year while basking in the Nevada sun. This year's winners were a diverse group, yet they all share the same drive to succeed in the ultra-competitive independent retail market while offering exemplary service to their customer base. Of the 16 award recipients, 15 winners were singled out for distinction by their particular region, while the prestigious Power Dealers group selected a solo winner. This honor, known as the Resource+ award, was bestowed upon Famous Tate Appliance & Bedding Centers, of the Tampa Bay area. The other recipients represented each area of the country. The Midwest winners were Lytton's Appliance Showroom, of Wichita, Kansas, which received the award for the Great Plains; Premier Appliance and Bedding, of Little Chute, Wisconsin, received the Greater Midwest award; and Robert Tylisz Appliance, of Michigan City and LaPorte, Indiana, which was awarded the Mid-America award. Other winners included Doc's Maytag Home Appliance Center, of Taylorville, Illinois, which won the Maytag award and Bekins Appliance, which took home the Michigan award. In the North, Furniture Forever, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, won the award for the North Atlantic, Johnson Mertz Appliances, of Duluth, Minnesota, won the award for the North Central; and Van Dyke Appliance, of Forest Grove, Oregon, won for the Northwest. In the West, Valley Oak Appliance, of Elk Grove, California, won for the Pacific Rim; Riverside Home and Appliance, of Riverside, California, won for the Pacific Southwest; and Duerden's Appliance and Mattress, of Bountiful, Utah, won for the Rocky Mountain region. In the South, Plaza Appliance Mart, of Charlotte, North Carolina, took home the prize for the South Atlantic; the United Furniture Company, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, won for the Southeast; and Hess Furniture & Appliance, of Mount Pleasant, Texas won the award for the Southwest. Lastly, Voss TV & Appliance, of Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, won TriState honors. These award-winning members regularly attend the Spring Summit, National Convention, Region Meetings, and other relevant events. They are also strong supporters of BrandSource and faithful participants in the following: BrandSource Digital Marketing, BrandSource Consumer Financing, Expert Protection, and BrandSource store identity and key initiatives. Winning stores each received a trophy at the show, custom Dealer of the Year shirts, new "Dealer of the Year" welcome mats for their store, and a plaque to prominently display in their stores. We are so very proud to have these members as part of the BrandSource family. Each of the stores' owners exhibit the kind of entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to adapt to changing economic factors that is necessary to sustain a thriving retail enterprise. Their award is a testament to both their own individual business savvy and the strength of their relationship with BrandSource. Please congratulate all the winners on their well-deserved awards. BRANDSOURCE HONORS 16 MEMBERS AT ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY IN LAS VEGAS

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