Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM MAY 2018 58 B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S N ationwide Marketing Group, North America's largest buying and marketing organization for independent appliance, electronics, furniture and bedding retailers, has been named a 2018 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year–Sustained Excellence Award winner. The award honors the group's continued leadership in promoting environmental protection through superior energy efficiency achievements. This accomplishment, made possible through the efforts of Nationwide's thousands of independent members, was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. on April 20, 2018. Nationwide Marketing Group's partnership with the ENERGY STAR dates to the program's inception over 20 years ago. For decades, Nationwide members have recognized ENERGY STAR products as the opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment and the lives of their customers. In addition to the countless millions of dollars in water and energy savings for consumers who upgrade to ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and electronics each year through purchases at Nationwide member Stores, the membership has generated greenhouse gas emission savings totaling millions of metric tons since partnering with ENERGY STAR. Nationwide Marketing Group and its members have been a catalyst in creating consumer awareness of the benefits of choosing ENERGY STAR Appliances. The array of group-produced promotional messaging, available to members in a comprehensive matrix of advertising and communications media, reached new heights over the past year. These marketing assets allow members easy, turn-key access to materials that help them better promote the benefits available to a consumer when choosing ENERGY STAR appliances and electronics. Members leveraged these assets in over 10,000 digital and television campaigns in 2017, featuring ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR Most Efficient products. These campaigns resulted in millions of impressions with in-market consumers. In addition to these exclusive promotional campaigns, Nationwide members generated millions of in-store ENERGY STAR impressions, delivered via the group's exclusive digital signage network, MemberNet TV Ultra. A wide array of ENERGY STAR assets, developed specifically to drive consumer engagement with the advanced ENERGY STAR products in the last three feet of the purchase process were used by hundreds of Nationwide members in 2017. Nationwide, in partnership with the EPA, developed, produced and launched the industry's first comprehensive ENERGY STAR training program for major appliances and consumer electronics. This exclusive educational suite, housed in Nationwide's online Learning Academy, was made available to the approximately 50,000 front-line sales professionals within the group's member companies. "Nationwide Marketing Group values our partnership with ENERGY STAR," said Richard Weinberg, SVP of Business Services for Nationwide. "Our strong relationships with both vendors and dealers has enabled us to drive sales of ENERGY STAR qualified products, thus retiring many older, less efficient major appliances and consumer electronics. In support of our members, we remain committed to continuing our work to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment. Additionally, our focus on products that meet the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient qualification has increased, allowing our members to provide an even more outstanding value to the consumer." Frank Sandtner, of Nationwide's Senior Leadership, added, "The ENERGY STAR partnership is one that presents great value on all fronts. Our members have long provided consumers with a shopping experience that centers on making sure the needs of the consumer are filled at the highest levels, and ENERGY STAR products present a great value, both at the initial purchase, and over the life of the product. Our vendor partners have invested tremendous effort and considerable resources in developing the most innovative, high-performance and energy efficient products ever introduced, and this partnership helps place a spotlight on these advanced appliances and electronics. And finally, we, along with the membership, are committed to leaving a positive impact on our society and our planet, with the ENERGY STAR partnership being a pillar of fulfilling that commitment by bringing to market products that make a real impact on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and with responsible use of energy and water." The 2018 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Awards are bestowed upon companies and other organizations demonstrating continued leadership in energy efficiency and commitment to the ENERGY STAR program. Winners hail from small, family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 organizations – representing energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors. RO NATIONWIDE MARKETING GROUP EARNS 2018 ENERGY STAR ® PARTNER OF THE YEAR – SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE AWARD Decades of member support promoting ENERGY STAR lead to 12th consecutive award

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