Badcock dealer meeting informative and positive
Jerry Epperson, An insider's view -- Furniture Today, September 14, 2008
Attending an upbeat, positive, happy event with furniture retailers in this economy sounds as unlikely as an intellectually stimulating cartoon. Yet, trust me, it happened in late August at the meeting of Badcock dealers.
Florida-based W. S. Badcock is a quiet giant in our industry, ranking among the 25 largest store chains in furniture sales and in the top 100 in electronics. It has grown throughout the Southeast, mostly in smaller communities, offering locally determined credit, high levels of service, and twice-a-week merchandise availability, usually from a family run business. The majority of Badcock stores are locally owned and operate in partnership with the parent company, which supplies the merchandise to the stores from massive regional warehouses.
Even in this difficult environment, Badcock continues to opens stores, now making inroads into Virginia.
At the Florida meeting, Badcock showed a vast display of its new products now available for its dealers, including appliances (did you know that the new washer-dryers can steam wrinkles out of your clothes?), televisions, sound systems, floor coverings, vacuum cleaners, hearths, mattresses, accessories and, of course, furniture. All were well shown, often with a factory executive at the display along with the rep. Not only did I enjoy seeing many of my friends at Badcock, it was very interesting to learn about what is new in electronics and appliances, categories that I seldom have reason to study.
I gave a presentation focusing on the good things our industry is facing (yes, there are some!), and was followed by an excellent speaker and author who had been with Disney.
The most important part of the program, in my opinion, was the presentation by Badcock executives. They not only explained some of the many programs offered to help the stores, but also announced some additional programs meant to give dealers greater advertising exposure and save some costs, both very important in this economy.
This meeting reminded me of the many retailer conventions I have attended over the decades. Grandparents, parents and children visited old friends, shared ideas and had a good time. Awards were given, golfers shared tall tales and the vendors entertained, like the good old days.
Congratulations to the Badcock organization on an excellent meeting. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did.
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