Retail Briefs

By TWICE Staff On Jul 6 2009 - 6:00am

HES' Ristow To Appear On 'Designing Spaces'

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — Jim Ristow, executive VP of the Home Entertainment Source buying group (HES), will make a guest appearance on the popular home-improvement series “Designing Spaces” this month. During his segment, Ristow walks correspondent Philip Raymond through the showroom of Bob and Ron's World Wide Stereo, a Philadelphia-area HES dealer, to demonstrate the full range of custom A/V solutions provided by HES members. The episode, which focuses on the various multimedia solutions available to consumers, will air mid-month via broadcast network affiliates and cable's WE and TLC networks, reaching an estimated 80 million households.

Nationwide Opens PrimeTime! Registration

ORLANDO, FLA. — Registration is open for Nationwide Marketing Group's summer PrimeTime! buying show and conference. The event will be held here at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Aug. 16-19 under the theme “Your Road Ahead: Choices, Opportunities, and Results.” “We will be challenging our member dealers to look ahead and take the necessary actions to align their businesses in the right direction,” said group executive VP Robert Weisner. Attendees can register at www.nationwideprimetime.com and are encouraged to bring their families, who can participate in a Disney Character Breakfast and a beach party kickoff featuring live entertainment.

J&R Opens Musical Instrument Store

NEW YORK — J&R Music & Computer World, the 37-year-old independent specialty dealer, has added a musical instrument store to its block-long retail emporium in lower Manhattan. The new concept shop occupies three levels at the company's 33 Park Row storefront, with each floor dedicated to a different area of musical products and services. J&R said the store will cater to both amateur and professional musicians, and is staffed by sales representatives with musical backgrounds. Featured brands include Fender, Yamaha, Roland, Samson, Pearl, Vox, Serato, Washburn, Seagull, M-Audio, Tascam and Marshall. The move follows Best Buy's year-long test of musical instrument departments and facings. J&R celebrated its grand opening with promotions, giveaways, musical performances and vendor demos.

Correction

An article about Systemax that appeared on p. 6 in the June 15th issue of TWICE attributed a 20 percent increase in conversion rate to a new CompUSA store concept. The increase pertains only to the first remodeled store.