Independent Thinking Podcast
Nationwide Marketing Group
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A podcast on, and for, the Independent retail channel, created by Nationwide Marketing Group.
Available episodes
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Nov 28, 2023
195: What Is a Strong Brand, and What Does It Take To Build One?
Your brand is everything. It's what you stand for. It's what your customers see when they engage with you. It's the image that comes to mind when others think about you. But what does it take to build a brand – and a strong one at that? We sat down with Rob White, VP of Brand and Strategy for NMG, to dive into that and a whole lot more.
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Nov 21, 2023
194: NMG and NASEO Work Together to Tackle the Inflation Reduction Act
To learn more about how NMG is working with the National Association of State Energy Officials, we sat down with David Terry, President of NASEO. We get into the work the organization does on behalf of its members, how the Inflation Reduction Act has impacted their day to day, and more.
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Nov 14, 2023
193: Spicher’s Shows Security Can Deliver as a Differentiator
Around in the Hagerstown, Maryland area since the mid-1950s, Spicher's Appliances took a unique step and expanded into the security category in 2010. Over the past decade plus, Spicher's has seen that business flourish and prove to be a real differentiator in their market.
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Nov 7, 2023
192: CEDIA Takes a Hands-On Approach to Training for Custom Integrators
Jon Rehwaldt, Director of Curriculum for CEDIA, is only a few months into his new role at the custom integration trade association, but he's already seeing the impact of their in-person hands-on training courses.
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Oct 31, 2023
191: Latest Updates on the Rebate Program in the Inflation Reduction Act
Work is still being done to prepare for the energy efficient appliance rebate program that was included in the Inflation Reduction Act. Frank Sandtner provides some updates and details what progress has been made to date.
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Oct 24, 2023
190: DeWaard & Bode Continues Evolving to Best Serve Its Customers
From moving out of the tire business in its early years to finding ways to create deeper bonds within its local community today, DeWaard & Bode has always placed an emphasis on evolving as a business in order to properly serve its customers needs.
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Oct 17, 2023
189: Mattress Land Leans on AI to Innovate the Bed Buying Experience
Ryan Spradling, president, and John Scott, VP of Sales, for Mattress Land dive into the ways they are working to elevate the bed buying experience at their stores. At the center of it all is a unique, proprietary AI-powered tech they use called Bed Fit.
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Oct 10, 2023
188: So, What Do Rep Firms Actually Do?
To dive into the world of rep firms (and to clear up many of the misconceptions that exist) we turned to Joaquin Rivera, a custom integration industry veteran and co-founder of By Design Vision & Sound Marketing.
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Oct 3, 2023
187: Hamai Appliance Shows Unwavering Commitment to Their Community in the Aftermath of Maui Wildfires
Hamai Appliance has been a staple in Kahului, Hawaii on the island of Maui for over 50 years. Needless to say, they've built a reputation as a community-first kind of business. And, as Bryant Hamai, president of Hamai Appliance, shares, never has that commitment to their community been more apparent than during the recent wildfires that left many of their friends and family displaced and facing unprecedented times. Hamai shares an awe-inspiring story of how a locally-owned business with such strong ties to the community can make a major difference in the lives of those they've promised to serve.
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Sep 26, 2023
186: The Growing Revenue Opportunity in Connected Services for Independent Retailers
Nationwide Marketing Group' connected services programs include revenue generators and major money savors for both retailers and their customers – from internet and wireless service to cybersecurity training and more. We sat down with Eric Sindelar, director of connected services, to learn more about how he's working with retailers to help them make (and save) more money.
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Sep 19, 2023
185: One Year In, Andy Orozco Recaps How NMG’s Custom Integration Division Keeps Innovating
While his ambitions would have him and his team further down the road, Year One was an incredibly busy and successful one for Andy Orozco and Nationwide Marketing Group's custom integration division. Coming off of CEDIA 2023 in Denver, we sat down with Andy to talk about the show, his first year at the helm, and more.
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Sep 12, 2023
184: Class Is In Session with NMG’s Director of Education and Training Shawn Ashby
Coming off of his first full PrimeTime season, we sit down with Nationwide Marketing Group's Director of Education and Training Shawn Ashby. We dive into his passion for educating audiences, his plans for the Nationwide Learning Academy, early preparations for the program in Las Vegas and much more.
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Sep 5, 2023
183: Diving Into Pricing and Promotional Trends with Gap Intelligence
During PrimeTime in Nashville, NMG's consumer electronics retailers had the opportunity to hear from Gap Intelligence, a data analytics firm that tracks pricing and promotional trends across myriad product categories – mainly focused on CE right now. Scott Peterson, a senior analyst at Gap, spent time after the session diving deeper into their work and how they get it done.
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Aug 29, 2023
182: TCL’s Bruce Walker Talks Big Screens and the NFL Partnership
TCL has regularly pushed the envelope in the screen business – it's how the brand became one of the fastest growing in North America over the past decade. But, as Product Evangelist Bruce Walker tells us, it's more than just the technology that's catching people's attention these days.
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Aug 22, 2023
181: NMG’s Chief People Officer Shares Tips to Help You Get HR Right
Human Resources can be a very tricky area for independent business owners to navigate, especially when trying to formalize the department. Nationwide Marketing Group's Chief People Officer Kelley Kenner-Patridge, who helped establish the group's own HR initiative, and her team are helping retailers take the proper steps to be successful in the realm of talent and employee relations.
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Aug 15, 2023
180: The Positive Impact of HR on Company Culture at Sweet Dreams Mattress & Furniture
The brother-sister team of Greg Law and Kathryn Gaus, owner and HR business manager at Sweet Dreams Mattress & Furniture respectively, have truly bought in to the importance of serving their employees like they serve their customers. Their commitment to HR has resulted in a strong company culture and, in turn, the creation of what's truly a Dream Team.
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Aug 8, 2023
179: Unmasking the Unique Story Behind Phantom Sound
Phantom Sound, a custom integration firm based out of Mason, Ohio, has a steep 35-year history that includes thousands of completed projects and four held patents. The company's owner, Tommy Brand, acquired the firm in 2022 and is, for all intents and purposes, a rookie in the CI space. He shares his story, what attracted him to Phantom Sound, and his plan to help the company continue to grow.
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Aug 1, 2023
178: Exploring the Synergies Between FEI Group and NMG
Last Fall, Nationwide Marketing Group rolled out a new partnership with FEI Group, an organization that represents hundreds of independent dealers in the flooring, cabinets, kitchen and bath and exterior contracting spaces. Brian Penabad, senior vice president of FEI, talks dives into how members of both groups to take advantages of the partnership.
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Jul 25, 2023
177: D&H on How Gaming Has Grown Up
The video game industry carries a certain connotation that often leads to independent retailers turning a blind eye to the category. But, as Chad Bowser of D&H points out, the video game segment has matured well beyond the average age of its consumer. And it's a category that represents a major opportunity to the dealers who go about it the right way.
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Jul 18, 2023
176: NKBA Dives Into the Details of Its First-Ever Independent Showroom Report
The National Kitchen & Bath Association recently released the results of its first-ever study on the current (and future) state of the independent showroom segment. To help make sense of the troves of data the report uncovered, we invited Tricia Zach, head of research at NKBA, onto the podcast.
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Jul 11, 2023
175: Pumping Up Plumbing Fixtures and Hardware with Palazzani
If you're in the appliance industry and not also selling kitchen and bathroom hardware, it's likely you're missing out on a major revenue generator. Mani Majano, VP of sales and brand management at Palazzani, shares some brand and industry updates on the category.
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Jun 27, 2023
174: Discussing Workflow Efficiencies with the Process Architect Jason Sayen
Jason Sayen, founder of I am Sayen, is a professional process fixer. While his experience centers around the custom integration channel, the work he does is applicable beyond the world of CI. We dive into the importance of process management, common struggles, creating buy in across your organization and much more.
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Jun 20, 2023
173: The Benefits of a Tech Stack Review with AppDirect
When's the last time you checked to see how much you're spending on phone, internet, security software and other business technology solutions? We sat down with Jason DiFulvio, director of channel sales for AppDirect, to talk about how they're finding hidden savings for retailers and much more.
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Jun 13, 2023
172: Launching Ellipsys, Nationwide’s New Commercial Integration Group
Ellipsys Commercial Technology Group, a new network of commercial integration businesses and vendor partners within Nationwide, will make its debut this week at a major industry trade show. Ahead of that event, we sat down with Chris Whitley, who's been charged with leading and growing that group.
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Jun 6, 2023
171: Exploring Updates to the eXchange Platform with Randy Derr
It's been a while since we checked in with Randy Derr, director of distribution and eXchange at Nationwide Marketing Group, about the powerful platform. While we were together at the Oasys Summit in Nashville, we sat down with him to talk through recent updates, future plans and more.
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May 30, 2023
170: Detroit-Based AV Imagined Shares Its Origin Story
In just under two years, AV Imagined has grown from an idea among friends to one of the more successful custom integration firms in the Detroit area. Lawrence Walters, a co-owner of the business, shares what it's been like to build a business from the ground up.
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May 23, 2023
169: An Oasys Summit Debrief
At the tail end of the first-ever Oasys Summit, we sat down with the Director of Oasys Hank Alexander to get his near-immediate reaction to the event. And, beyond the Summit, Hank covers what's next for the group in the lead up to CEDIA Expo this fall.
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May 16, 2023
168: Diving Into Nationwide’s New Region Realignment with Patrick Maloney
Earlier this month, Nationwide Marketing Group unveiled a new streamlined structure for its field team, which resulted in the creation of several new regions. We dive into the new structure — and how it ties into the ongoing Customer Obsessed conversation — with Nationwide's EVP of Membership Patrick Maloney.
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May 9, 2023
167: What Role Does AI Have to Play in the Future of Independent Retail?
With the meteoric rise of tools like ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence-powered, content-producing platforms, it's only natural to wonder what role these tools can and will play in retail.
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May 2, 2023
166: David Niedzielski on Joining NMG to Tackle Furniture & Outdoor
Barely two weeks into his new role as director of furniture and outdoor for Nationwide Marketing Group, David Niedzielski found himself roaming the buildings and showrooms at High Point Market. Post-show, we sat down with him to talk about joining Nationwide and what excites him about the opportunity to go to work for the independent retail channel.
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Apr 25, 2023
165: David Watt on Joining NMG and the Opportunities in Consumer Electronics
Less than two weeks into his tenure as Senior Director of Consumer Electronics for Nationwide Marketing Group, 20-year CE industry veteran David Watt jumps on the podcast. Beyond his introduction to the group, Watt dives into the world of CE, where he sees some opportunities for CE dealers to grow and more.
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Apr 18, 2023
164: How Retailers Can Leverage the ENERGY STAR Message in Their Marketing
Kaleb Behm, marketing and project manager at Nationwide, joins the podcast to discuss ways retailers can leverage the ENERGY STAR message in their own marketing. Specifically, ENERGY STAR has a unique program that helps visualize the real-world impact that selling ENERGY STAR Certified product has on the environment.
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Apr 11, 2023
163: Mattress Retailer Keith Moneymaker Dives Into His Dreams 4 All Foundation
Retail has been in Keith Moneymaker's blood since he was born. But in 2016 he found his calling, as he puts it. That's the year Moneymaker started the Dreams 4 All Foundation — a nonprofit that takes old mattresses (like the ones his customers are replacing when they purchase a new one from his Sweet Dreams Mattresses & More store), refurbishes them and puts them in the homes of those most in need.
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Apr 4, 2023
162: No Child Hungry Talks Turkey and Syria Giveback Efforts
Ahead of PrimeTime in Dallas, the Nationwide Marketing Group team, on behalf of Members attending the show, offered support for No Child Hungry and their efforts to get critical supplies to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. During the show, William Lowry, founder of No Child Hungry, was on hand to continue to raise awareness.
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Mar 28, 2023
161: Introducing Oasys Residential Technology Group
During Nationwide Marketing Group's PrimeTime show in Dallas, it was announced that our custom integration group was sunsetting its old name (HTSN). The team will move forward as Oasys Residential Technology Group, or Oasys for short. We sat down with Director of Oasys Hank Alexander to talk about the new name, the group's new strategy and more.
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Mar 21, 2023
160: Synchrony Shares Tips for Tackling Consumer Finance in an Evolving Market
The evolution in consumer finance has streamlined the credit-approval process, which is a benefit to both the customer and the retailer. Synchrony Financial shares some tips for success.
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Mar 14, 2023
159: EPA’s Dan Cronin Talks Earth Day, ENERGY STAR and More
Ahead of Earth Day 2023, we sat down with Dan Cronin, program manager for ENERGY STAR at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to talk about the program's impact, the Inflation Reduction Act and much more.
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Mar 7, 2023
158: Getting Seriously Small Town with Sorenson’s Appliance & TV
Geneva, Minnesota is town of just over 500 residents, and it also happens to be the home of Nationwide Marketing Group Member Sorenson's Appliance & TV. Co-owner Dak Sorenson and his team have found success by leaning heavily into that small-town mindset in every aspect of the business.
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Feb 28, 2023
157: Independent Retail Through the Eyes of a Nationwide Member Support Manager
Brett Kelley joined the Nationwide Marketing Group team roughly one year ago as a Member Support Manager — the team that sits on the front lines of the independent retail channel, engaging with our Members and helping them thrive on their own terms. As such, he (and the full MSM team) has a very unique perspective into what life is like as an independent retailer. We tap into that experience and more.
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Feb 21, 2023
156: Pushing the Limits of Luxury Appliances with JennAir
JennAir is a company founded on the idea of challenging conventional norms in the appliance industry. That way of thinking hasn't changed over the past 57-plus years, and it's helped the brand continue to stand out as a true innovator of luxury appliances. We dive into all that JennAir has to offer with Nathan Puplis, who leads up the buying group initiative for the company.
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Feb 14, 2023
155: A Crash Course in Retail Financing with Wells Fargo
From inventory financing to consumer credit, the world of retail financing is vast. To help get a handle on it all, we tapped into our partners over at Well Fargo Retail Services to dive into it. Steve Jermier, SVP of Relationship Management at Wells Fargo, sat down to talk about the work his team does behind the scenes to help independent retailers navigate the ins and outs of retail finance, the cause behind the recent rate changes and strategies to avoid letting it impact your business.
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Feb 7, 2023
154: How Pocatello Electric Became a Community Staple
For over 120 years, Pocatello Electric has served the many needs of its local residents in southeast Idaho. That longevity has helped them become the oldest family-owned appliance store in the country. We chat with current-day owner Suzie Vigliaturo about business, what's worked and how they've evolved over the years to remain relevant with their customers.
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Jan 31, 2023
153: An Inflation Reduction Act Deep Dive with Frank Sandtner
Passed in August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act is considered a landmark piece of legislation that will have a major impact on many industries for decades to come — including retail. The energy efficiency portion of the bill aims to provide consumers with various tax credits and other yet-to-be-determined benefits pending state-level programs that will roll out in relation to this bill. There's a ton to unpack, but we attempt to do just that with Nationwide Marketing Group's Director of Business Services Frank Sandtner.
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Jan 24, 2023
152: An Outdoor Overview with NMG’s John Laing
PrimeTime in Orlando this past August saw one of the largest and most-impressive Outdoor experiences to date. Nationwide Marketing Group's Director of Appliances and Outdoor John Laing, who led the charge to bring that space to life, reflects on the experience, details what attendees can expect at PrimeTime in Dallas (March 25-28), and provides other outdoor updates.
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Jan 17, 2023
151: On the Luxury Appliance Experience with Middleby Residential
As the calendar flipped to 2023, Nationwide Marketing Group formally launched a partnership with Middleby Residential. Home to some of the leading names in the luxury appliance and outdoor categories, Middleby Residential keeps a finger on the pulse of the luxury retail experience.
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Jan 10, 2023
150: Into the Metaverse with ReadySet
Ahead of their appearance in a new Metaverse pavilion at the NRF Big Show, ReadySet dives deep into the world of virtual reality commerce. ReadySet CEO Steve McLean shares an overview of the Metaverse concept and helps independent retailers explore the ins and outs of the next-gen version of e-commerce.
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Dec 13, 2022
149: A 2022 Recap
The year 2022 was a busy one for the Independent Thinking Podcast. Over the past 48 weeks (or episodes), we've gathered 1,516 minutes worth of conversations with our Members, Vendor Partners, industry professionals, trade media friends and our own Nationwide Marketing Group family. On this final episode of the year, we try to whittle those conversations down to one brief recap.
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Dec 6, 2022
148: A Walk Down Memory Lane with NMG’s Rick Weinberg
As he prepares to retire at the end of 2022, Nationwide Marketing Group SVP of Business Services Rick Weinberg recaps a 30-plus-year career with the organization — and an even longer stint serving the independent retail community.
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Nov 29, 2022
147: Danby Talks Appliance Trends Heading Into 2023
Jim Estill, owner and CEO of small appliance maker Danby, highlights some of the trends the company is tracking as the calendar gets ready to flip into a new year.
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Nov 22, 2022
146: How Beko Has Built a Culture Around Convenience and Health
The commitment to creating products that promote convenience and a healthier lifestyle for the consumer (and world) at Beko is one of the things that sets the brand apart.
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Nov 15, 2022
145: Crafting a Compelling Story — and Badass Products — with Austere
As a brand in its infancy, Austere should've stood no chance against a raging pandemic. But Ghazarian and her team created such a compelling brand story — not to mention some seriously awesome product — that the business not only survived, but is thriving.
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Nov 8, 2022
144: Telesystem Shares Cybersecurity Tips for Retailers
Fresh off of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, we're extending the conversation with Telesystem. Ira Feuerstein, manager of cybersecurity business development for the brand, shares a number of tips, tricks and fair warnings for retailers around protecting their data and educating their employees on this always-important matter.
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Nov 1, 2022
143: Diving Into Holiday Shopping Trends and More with Dealerscope
Fresh off of his first trip to Berlin for IFA 2022, Dealerscope Senior Managing Editor Sam Hitt hops onto the podcast to talk about the latest gadgets, holiday retail trends and more. We dive into everything from gaming tech, e-mobility trends, the Metaverse — and the list goes on.
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Oct 25, 2022
142: Profile of a Fast Growing Company with Orsini’s
For the second year in a row, Martinsburg, WV-based retailer Orsini's has been recognized in the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list. We sat down with Owner PJ Orsini to talk about the honor, how the business has continued to thrive during uncertain times and more.
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Oct 18, 2022
141: Andy Orozco Dives Deep Into the Custom Integration Industry
Custom integration industry veteran Andy Orozco hit the ground running — literally — as Nationwide Marketing Group's new Senior Vice President of CI. His second day on the job brought him to Dallas for CEDIA Expo. A few weeks in now, Orozco sits down to talk about what excites him in working with NMG's CI dealers, the opportunities that lie ahead in this industry and more.
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Oct 11, 2022
140: A Sit Down with CEDIA Global President & CEO Daryl Friedman at CEDIA Expo
Barely nine months on the job, CEDIA Global President & CEO Daryl Friedman has been a busy man, getting full ingrained with the world of custom integration. We sat down with Friedman during the recent CEDIA Expo in Dallas to talk about the challenges the industry faces, the importance of education and more.
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Oct 4, 2022
139: Signature Kitchen Suite Innovates the Luxury Appliance Game
As one of the younger brands in the luxury appliance space, Signature Kitchen Suite is in prime position to disrupt the market. Director of Sales Mike O'Keefe chats about the ways the brand is innovating the luxury game and what excites him about working with Nationwide dealers.
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Sep 27, 2022
138: Retail Trends and More With Furniture Today Editor-in-Chief Bill McLoughlin
After spending a few days with us in Orlando for his first-ever PrimeTime show, Furniture Today Editor-in-Chief Bill McLoughlin recaps his time at that show. We also dive into FT's upcoming Leadership Conference, furniture retailing trends and more.
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Sep 20, 2022
137: PowerShades Talks On the Tiny Home and CEDIA Expo
Just over a week out, the excitement is palpable as the custom integration channel preps for CEDIA Expo. Ahead of the show, we sat down with Jason Turner, Vice President and co-founder of PowerShades, to talk about the show and the brand's involvement in Nationwide's Tiny Home, which will be on hand in Dallas.
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Sep 13, 2022
136: Retail Runs Deep for The Appliance Center Team
In its 77-year history, The Appliance Center has weathered all sorts of storms. Most recently, the Panama City, FL, business had its main showroom rocked by Hurricane Michael in 2018. Though they're still working out of a makeshift warehouse-turned-storefront, President Bob Hurst shares how they've remained successful.
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Sep 6, 2022
135: Patrick Maloney Shares a Message to NMG Members
During PrimeTime in Orlando, the discussion centered around getting "back to basics" in the fight for foot traffic. Patrick Maloney, NMG's EVP of Membership, jumped on the Independent Thinking Podcast to expand on that message — and share some highlights from the show.
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Aug 30, 2022
134: Exploring the Evolving World of Shopper Marketing
For independent business owners — who, admittedly wear many different hats — marketing often takes a backseat to many other tasks. That makes the work of Nationwide's Shopper Marketing team all the more important. We recently sat down with Joe Walz, director of shopper marketing, to talk about the magic they perform on behalf of our independent retailers.
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Aug 23, 2022
133: Catching Up with Buddy’s Home Furnishings at PrimeTime
While we were together in Orlando for Nationwide's PrimeTime show, we took the opportunity to chat with a local Member in the rent-to-own space, Buddy's Home Furnishings. Mitchell Lee, director of franchise development for Buddy's, spoke on the business, the team's growth strategy and more.
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Aug 16, 2022
132: Exploring New Business Development at Nationwide Marketing Group
What does the new business development process look like for Nationwide Marketing Group? To find the answer we turn to Nationwide's Vice President of Business Development Derek Mattila — the guy behind countless new partnerships the group has formed over the past few years, and the launch of the home improvement category.
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Aug 9, 2022
131: Defining Attainable Luxury with ZLINE Kitchen
A brand that's still too young to get its driver's license, ZLINE Kitchen has been making major waves in the appliance industry of late. With a year of working with the Nationwide Marketing Group team under its belt, we sit down with ZLINE to talk shop. Mason Watkins, marketing director, and Derek Frye, director of sales, share a behind-the-scenes look at what differentiates ZLINE in the attainable luxury category.
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Aug 2, 2022
130: A Deep Dive Into the World of Rent-to-Own with Keven Dalke
How different, really, is the Rent-to-Own industry from traditional retail? To get at that answer, we turned to Nationwide Marketing Group's resident expert on the RTO industry, Keven Dalke. While there are certainly some very defined differences, retail and Rent-to-Own still have plenty in common.
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Jul 26, 2022
129: Silica For Your Home Shares Their Secrets for Sustained Success
The team at Silica For Your Home in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, hit a major one this year with their 100th anniversary. We took the opportunity to talk with third- and fourth-generation owners Tom and Josh Schneider and get their take on what Silica has gotten right over the last century.
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Jul 19, 2022
128: Don’t Let the News Fool You on CE Retail
Unlike their Big Box counterparts, Independent dealers in the consumer electronics industry — especially Members of Nationwide Marketing Group — are doing well. Are there challenges? Of course. But there's plenty to be excited about in the CE retail industry.
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Jul 12, 2022
127: Recapping Regional Member Meetings with Mike Whitaker
We love getting out and seeing our Members whenever we get the chance. Waiting six months in between PrimeTime shows just doesn't cut it anymore, which is why Nationwide recently held its second slate of Regional Member Meetings. This past June, we had stops in Minneapolis, Sacramento, Philadelphia and Indianapolis. Nationwide's Mike Whitaker jumps into the podcast to talk about all the great networking and education that took place.
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Jul 5, 2022
126: Catching Up with Kelly’s Home Center
Over the last few years, Kelly's Home Center has seen its retail footprint grow. We talk with second- and third-generation owners Jeff and Scott Kelly about the business, what's working, and what they've learned through their acquisitions.
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Jun 28, 2022
125: Upgrading the Cooking Experience with Cooksy
Launched at KBIS 2022, Cooksy is an innovative gadget that's designed to be your digital sous chef. Andreas Hansen, part of the Cooksy team, shares what excites him about getting the product into the Independent retail channel.
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Jun 21, 2022
124: Castle Rental & Pawn Talks NIL Deal with Local College “Rental” Athlete
The stars aligned perfectly for Enos Barger, managing partner at Castle Rental & Pawn, to sign an NIL deal with a local college athlete and recent transfer student. But theirs is a situation that other independent business owners can learn from and look to capitalize on in their own markets.
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Jun 14, 2022
123: Celebrating 70 Years of Queen City Audio Video & Appliances
Started as a TV repair shop in 1952, Queen City Audio Video Appliances has grown into a widely successful independent retail business in the Charlotte, NC market. As they celebrate 70 years in business, we sit down with second-generation owner Roddey Player and his kids Roddey Jr. and Kate to talk about the company's legacy, their expansion efforts and more.
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Jun 7, 2022
122: Brand Story Time with Todd Getz from GE Appliances
A lot fo work and effort goes into crafting an effective brand story. Just ask Todd Getz, Executive Brand Director for GE and GE Profile, who has made stops at Coca-Cola, P&G and Colgate Palmolive before landing in Louisville. Todd shares his experience at GEA and dives into some of the things he's working on.
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May 31, 2022
121: What’s Hot in the Outdoor Category Right Now?
There's nothing like talking about the Outdoor category with John Laing, Nationwide Marketing Group's director of appliances and outdoor. You learn something every single time, and his passion for all things outdoor entertainment is infectious. Mr. Laing jumps onto the podcast to share the trends he's watching, talk about the PrimeTime Backyard experience in Orlando and more.
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May 24, 2022
120: Diving Into Employee Engagement Platforms with Cooleaf
Employee engagement has always been a hot topic in the HR world, but the past two-plus years has really put the spotlight on the industry. We sat down with John Duisberg, co-founder of Cooleaf, to talk about the benefits of investing in a platform like theirs.
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May 17, 2022
119: Schewels Home Celebrates 125 Years of Retailing
With five generations of Schewels successfully guiding the company over 125 years, it's no wonder the Lynchburg, VA-based retailer will be honored as a Giant of Bedding Retail by Furniture Today. We sit down with Jack Schewel, a co-owner of the business with his brother Marc, to talk about their long legacy and what's been the keys to their sustained success.
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May 10, 2022
118: Mattress World Northwest Owner Reflects On Growing the Business
With a major bedding industry recognition on the horizon, Sean Hathaway, owner of Mattress World Northwest sat down to reflect on his time in retail. While it's something he never envisioned getting into, Hathaway has seen massive success, growing to more than 20 locations in the Pacific Northwest.
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May 3, 2022
117: An HTSN CI Summit Debrief with Hank Alexander
HTSN Director Hank Alexander sits down to recap the first HTSN CI Summit in nearly three years. We talk themes that came out of the show, giveback efforts and CI trends and opportunities.
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Apr 26, 2022
116: Unwasted Founder Shares Incredible Startup Story
If it were up to Ashley Gorrie, her company, Unwasted, wouldn't have enough raw material at its disposal to even exist. But, until we can stop pulling plastic from our oceans, Unwasted will work to use them to manufacture its product. Gorrie jumps on the Independent Thinking Podcast to share the brand's inspiring story.
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Apr 19, 2022
115: Catching Up with NMG’s Furniture & Bedding Team
These first few weeks of 2022 have been some of the busiest for the Nationwide Marketing Group Furniture and Bedding division. After Las Vegas Market and PrimeTime in January and February, the F&B team quickly turned around for High Point Market in April. We recap it all with Mike Derro and Jeff Rose.
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Apr 12, 2022
114: Connected Design Talks HTSN CI Summit, Home Tech Trends and More
Just days removed from her attendance at the 2022 HTSN CI Summit in Dallas, Vanessa Zitzmann, senior managing editor at Connected Design, recaps her experience. We also dive into some home technology trends that she's keeping an eye on and more.
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Apr 5, 2022
113: An Azione Unlimited Spring Conference Recap
Azione Unlimited is fresh off of its New Dreams in New Orleans event, and Patrick McCarthy, the group's director of new business and member services, jumps on the Independent Thinking Podcast to recap what went down. We also dive into some of the latest custom integration trends, how the business has evolved and more.
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Mar 29, 2022
112: Nice North America Shares Simplified Connected Home Vision
After their acquisition of Nortek Control in October 2021, Nice North America has big plans to help custom integrators simplify the story around the smart home. Paul Williams, Chief Product Officer for Nice, jumped on the Independent Thinking Podcast to share that vision and talk through the benefits the company can provide to integrators.
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Mar 22, 2022
111: Snap One’s Greg Simmons on HTSN Partnership, Education Push
Greg Simmons, Vice President of industry partnerships for Snap One, spent the bulk of his career on the custom integration side of the business. He shares what it's like being on the brand side and more on his push to train and educate inspiring technicians.
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Mar 15, 2022
110: HTSN is Putting an Emphasis on Education
Whether it's new partnerships like that with Snap One, or upcoming programming with CEDIA Tech Summits and the HTSN CI Summit, education is at the heart of everything Hank Alexander is doing for Nationwide Marketing Group's network of custom integration dealers.
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Mar 8, 2022
109: Croix Valley Foods’ Path from House Sauce to Global Brand
Damon and Lu Holter were never supposed to own a steak sauce and spice brand. But thanks to a single homemade steak dinner and a passion for flavor, the two have gone on to build Croix Valley Foods into a household name around the globe. They hopped on the Independent Thinking Podcast to share their story, which shares roots with the independent retail world.
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Mar 1, 2022
108: An Outdoor Entertainment Overview with Furrion
Over the past two years, the outdoor space has garnered a great deal of attention from consumers looking to invest in their at-home entertainment experience. Furrion, makers of outdoor TVs and other entertainment gear, breaks down the market and opportunities for independent retailers.
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Feb 22, 2022
107: A Post KBIS Debrief
On the heels of a busy PrimeTime in Phoenix, Nationwide Marketing Group's appliance team was in Orlando for the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). We sat down to talk about the trends they spotted, products and experiences that stood out and more.
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Feb 15, 2022
106: A Store Visit with Walts After PrimeTime
After Nationwide Marketing Group wrapped up PrimeTime in Phoenix, we took a short trip to Tempe, Arizona, where we sat down with Bear Hendley, co-owner and retail sales and installation manager, of Walts. We dive into their evolving in-store experience, the growth of the company and much more.
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Feb 8, 2022
105: Blind Adventurer Erik Weihenmayer On Turning Adversity Into Opportunity
At Nationwide Marketing Group's PrimeTime show in Phoenix, blind adventurer and motivational speaker Erik Weihenmayer shared his absolutely incredible story, which saw him overcome a rare disease that caused him to go blind and ultimately reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Erik sat down with the Independent Thinking Podcast to dive deeper into his message and the meaning behind his No Barriers Lifestyle movement.
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Feb 1, 2022
104: Jeff Rose from Inside the Newly Redesigned NMG Showroom at Las Vegas Market
Amid a busy schedule, Nationwide Marketing Group Sr. Director of Furniture and Bedding Jeff Rose sat down inside the new NMG showroom at Las Vegas Market to provide updates on the show, the industry and more.
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Jan 25, 2022
103: A CES 2022 Recap with Lee McDonald
Nationwide Marketing Group's Vice President of Consumer Electronics Lee McDonald jumps on the Independent Thinking Podcast to recap the things he saw out in Las Vegas during CES 2022. Among the trends identified: new innovations in TV tech, some smart home updates, and more.
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Jan 18, 2022
102: Howard’s Talks Growth Strategy, Evolving Retail Strategy
In a word, 2021 was busy for the team at Howard's in Southern California. And 2022 looks to be more of the same as the retailer gets set to expand into more markets. We sat down with President and CEO John Riddle and Chief Customer Experience Officer Michelle Nein to talk about their growth strategy, which has included two recent acquisitions and the planned opening of several new experience centers throughout the region.
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Jan 11, 2022
101: Vision Grills Details Their Game-Changing Technology
The ceramic Komodo-style grill space can be a rather intimidating one for consumers. New Nationwide vendor partner Vision Grills explains how their product — and the game-changing quick-change gas technology that it supports — is helping to retailers simplify the story for their customers.
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Dec 14, 2021
100: Memorable Moments on the Independent Thinking Podcast
This week marks a major milestone for our Independent Thinking Podcast — 100 episodes! It's been an incredibly fast two years of publishing interviews, so we're taking a second to pause and reflect on some of our favorite sound bites.
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Dec 7, 2021
99: What’s Ahead for Consumer Tech Retail in 2022?
Nationwide Marketing Group's VP of Consumer Electronics Lee McDonald looks back on a humbling 2021 and projects what's to come for the industry in 2022.
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Nov 30, 2021
98: NetSuite Chats On Enterprise Resource Planning Platforms
Chris Benner, vertical product manager for retail at Oracle NetSuite, provides an overview on the world of enterprise resource planning platforms. NetSuite, a Nationwide vendor partner, provides retailers with the tools they need to efficiently run their businesses and provide a seamless experience for their customers.
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Nov 23, 2021
97: Are You Offering Alternative Payment Options?
Consumers have myriad options available to them when it comes to paying for goods. Gone are the days of just cash and checks. To wrap our heads around all of the alternative payment options available today, we sat down with Nationwide's VP of Business and Financial Services Chris Kirk.
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Nov 16, 2021
96: Independent We Stand Checks In Ahead of Small Business Saturday
Co-founder & Executive Director of Independent We Stand Bill Brunelle spends some time discussing the Shop Local movement ahead of Small Business Saturday. Bill also details ways to extend the excitement around supporting small businesses throughout the rest of the calendar.
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