NECO held its 2018 Expo at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino and resort last month under the banner “Your Pathway To Success.”
The show drew over 60 vendors and more than 1,300 attendees, making it NECO’s largest Expo ever.
NECO’s executive director Anthony Bruno addresses the troops.
NECO donated $5,000 to the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. Making the presentation were (front row, l. to r.) Rob Balzano, New England Appliance Group (NEAG); Anthony Bruno, NECO; Mike Napoletano and Jerry Grasso, Appliance Dealers Cooperative (ADC); and Marty Friedman, Eastern Marketing. Second row, l. to. r.: Ken Miele, ADC; Steve Moran, NEAG; and Bud Gerhart and John Graff, Intercounty Appliance.
Lapine’s Jeff Depault demos a Summit grill.
Jamie Rovithis, left, of Manny’s Appliances & Bedding in Wilbraham, Mass., with Eastern Marketing’s Brian Snyder
Gathered at the Marvel booth were, from left, Alan Marcus, Eastern Marketing; Tony Aitoro, Aitoro Appliance, Norwalk, Conn.; Dino DiCocco, Eastern Marketing; Fred Albano and Mike Dinapoli of Albano Appliance, Pound Ridge, N.Y.; and Marty Friedman, Eastern Marketing.
The first cool wisps of autumn bring color to the leaves and the NECO Alliance to Connecticut for its annual September Expo.
This year the buy fair drew a record turnout to the Mohegan Sun casino and resort, a first-time venue for the $1.5 billion co-op, comprised of independent appliance, CE and furniture dealers. The show featured live grilling events; seminars on digital advertising, Google analytics and other web-based services; and plenty of opportunities to prepare for the holiday season ahead.
The formula, built around member-owned warehouses, is apparently working. NECO’s four chapters and 474 independent dealers added $200 million in volume over the past three years, noted NECO and ADC president Mike Napoletano, and are outpacing appliance industry growth by nearly 7 percent year-to-date through August, NECO executive director Anthony Bruno reported.
Here’s a look at last month’s doings on the show floor.
