Mega merchandising will move to Toronto
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, November 11, 2002
Vancouver, British Columbia — Mega Group will move its merchandising operations here to Toronto next May, part of a plan to improve service to members, build better relationships with suppliers and boost membership.
"Over 80% of our manufacturer partners are located in central Canada; it's more important for us to be where the action is," said Michael Graydon, president and chief executive officer of Canada's second-largest furniture buying group.
Mega has strong membership in western Canada and Quebec, and Graydon believes a Toronto office will give it a greater presence in the key Ontario market, where the cooperatively owned group wants to recruit new members. To that end, Mega will be adding field marketing managers in Toronto.
"We are going to be very aggressive in our recruiting efforts," Graydon said.
Mega's retail systems group — which includes services such as advertising, training and store design — will be based at Mega's office in Boucherville, Quebec. That office will relocate to larger quarters in early 2003.
Moving from Vancouver to Boucherville will be Advertising Director Bonnie Birollo. The only member of the merchandising group to be based in Boucherville is the newly named merchandising director in charge of consumer electronics, Tony Raimondo.
Mega's office in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, will continue to be headquarters for the group's administrative functions, including credit and finance, human resources and information technology. Michael Borecky, director of strategic planning, will move to Boucherville to work more closely with the retail operations group.
Meanwhile, Bill Speer, Mega's long-time director of merchandising/case goods, will retire Jan. 31. A search for a replacement is under way. Graydon said he also is searching for a merchandising director for accessories, a new position.
Graydon will remain in Vancouver. "My job isn't to work in the business but to work on the business," he said. "With the amount of traveling I do, it really doesn't matter where I live."
Heading the new Toronto office will be Rob Alexander, vice president of merchandising. Pat Van Wyk, recently named director of merchandising for appliances, also will make the move. Bob Shelton, director of merchandising for upholstery, will continue to be based in Peterborough, Ontario.
In another move, Mega will open its first two Sleep Experience in-store galleries later this month, one by Bob Simington of Baker Appliances & Sleep Experience in Lethbridge, Alberta, the other by Richard Leduc of Leduc Furniture & Appliances in Valleyfield, Quebec.
Both stores are primarily appliance stores without a strong furniture business. The basic Sleep Experience gallery requires only 1,800 square feet of selling space, so it's viewed as a good way for Mega's non-banner members to branch out. Graydon anticipates another 20 Sleep Experience units will be rolled out in 2003.
Sleep Experience will feature innerspring, water, foam and latex bedding sold by a highly trained sales force. "Our emphasis will be on choice, expertise and then price," Graydon said. Springwall will make the private-label innerspring bedding.
