Nationwide Marketing Group News & Notes

By Editors of TWICE -- TWICE, 8/30/2010

» Nationwide will take several of its top retail members to visit CE manufacturers in Japan and Korea in mid-October to pitch that independents “are alive and well and can sell their products effectively,” said Robert Weisner, executive VP/director.

» In talking about expansion, Weisner said “several dozen have taken over some smaller Circuit City” and other locations. “It is a great time to expand if you can get [locations] that can pack in more goods.” He said Nationwide is also urging members to buy retailers — either fellow members or outside independents — who may want to retire.

» Nationwide estimated attendance at PrimeTime! held at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md., at 2,900, representing 807 companies.

» Les Kirk, director of Nationwide, said its new website solutions unveiled last year are now online. The group is offering a new email marketing program that will be free to use through the end of the year by members. For further details, contact webservices@nationwidegroup.org.

» Next year’s Nationwide PrimeTime! conventions will be held at the Venetian in Las Vegas Feb. 20-22, and at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, Aug. 21-24.

» Mike Decker, electronics merchandising senior VP at Nationwide mentioned a positive trend due to the introduction of 3DTV. “Due to 3D Blu-ray decks being put in home theater in a box systems, we are seeing more sales in home audio.”

» Separately Decker said that next year Nationwide is thinking of offering electronic medical products. “With the aging population we think that impulse items for testing diabetes, blood pressure and other conditions” would be a profitable new addition to the group’s CE lineup.