Anaheim, Calif. – AVB Brand Source has added a new Canadian division which supplants the buying organization’s former Brand Source Canada operation.
Mega Group, a 400-member furniture, appliance and CE buying group for independent Canadian dealers, has acquired Brand Source Canada and entered a partnership with AVB. The transaction, which awaits board approval, will create a 3,500-member buying organization with over $10 billion in annual sales. Mega Group is not affiliated with MEGA Group USA, the Tennessee-based buying group.
“The home furnishings, appliance and consumer electronics retail market is ever-changing in Canada and it is our responsibility to provide the tools to our independent retailer that ensures they remain competitive, especially against the larger big box retails,” said Michael Graydon, president/CEO of Mega Group. “This partnership provides us the relationships, leverage and expanded services to accomplish this.”
Bob Lawrence, who was recently promoted from executive director to CEO of AVB Brand Source, said the new partnership has accelerated the group’s plans to establish a North American strategy. “This will assist us in further leveraging our volume in what is becoming a very global retail environment,” he said, “and [will] provide access to many of the successful practices Mega Group has established.”
Jacques Lecavalier, the former executive director of Brand Source Canada, will move to Mega Group and will assist in integrating and developing AVB’s strategic initiatives within the organization.
