BrandSource Kicks Off Fall Convention

By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 8/30/2010

Las Vegas - AVB/BrandSource's semi-annual national convention convenes today at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.

The three-day event will provide members of the $14 billion majap, CE and furniture buying group with special buying opportunities, educational seminars, and peer-to-peer networking.

The fall convention kicks off this morning with business meetings for the group's regional chapters, followed by a "Dealers of the Year" awards presentation and the traditional 90-minute "Stampede," where members can take advantage of special show-only buys.

Later this evening singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins will headline the annual BrandSource private concert.

Tomorrow's agenda begins with a welcome address by AVB/BrandSource CEO Bob Lawrence, followed by an industry town hall discussion with Jim Campbell, CEO of GE Appliance and Lighting, who will address the dramatic changes within the white goods industry in a presentation titled "This is Not Your Father's Appliance Industry."

The buy fair opens later that afternoon.

Other convention highlights include a series of educational seminars, plus strategic marketplace assessments by Home Entertainment Source (HES) executive VP Jim Ristow and appliance executive VP John White. White will also discuss ways for majap dealers to remain competitive and profitable amid rampant 10-percent to 30-percent discounting by big-box chains, the group said.

BrandSource will also host a raffle to benefit the Butch DuBose scholarship fund, which provides up to $10,000 annually for BrandSource members, their employees, families and staff. This year's prizes include a Harley Davidson Softail motorcycle and two Honda Urban Runabouts.

The show also represents the first joint fall convention with BrandSource's rent-to-own (RTO) division, The TRIB Group, which is a leading buying organization for independent RTO dealers.