The NATM Buying Corp., representing the nation’s largest independent CE and appliance dealers, has added TWICE Top 50 majap retailer Warehouse Discount Center (WDC) to its ranks as its 11th member.
The addition — the first under new executive director Jerry Satoren — became effective earlier this month.
The Southern California majap and plumbing supply chain was founded in 1982 and operates seven showrooms of varying size in Agoura Hills, Burbank, Chatsworth, Moorpark, Oxnard, Santa Barbara and Torrance.
Its flagship store in Agoura Hills measures 30,000 square feet and features 15 fully operational kitchen vignettes, and all locations are fueled by a 115,000-square-foot distribution center at its Moorpark headquarters.
Sales rose 4 percent last year to $54 million, landing the independent dealer at 37th place on the TWICE appliance hit parade. The company, led by president/founder Tom Schlender, credits its success to an expert sales staff with an average of 17 years of experience.
“Our strong, longstanding relationships with our customers and suppliers have contributed to the success and growth of our company over the past 30-plus years,” Schlender said. “We look forward to the future as a member of NATM, whose roster includes some of the most prestigious and successful retailers in the country.”
Indeed, WDC joins an exclusive club that includes such regional powerhouses as ABC Warehouse, Abt Electronics, BrandsMart USA, Nebraska Furniture Mart and P.C. Richard & Son.
It will rub territorial shoulders with fellow Los Angelino and NATM member Curacao, the Latino- market department store chain, which operates in Los Angeles and south into Orange County, while WDC stores are found in L.A. and north toward Santa Barbara.
Satoren told TWICE the two members together serve a very diverse demographic, giving NATM “a look at just about every consumer in Southern California.”
NATM gathers in Dallas next week for its annual vendor conference.
