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Mega Group USA offers Whirlpool appliance gallery for furniture stores

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, February 2, 2012

Mega Group USA is a furniture, electronics and appliances buying group with about 1,600 members with about 3,000 stores. Roughly 300 of its members are furniture dealers onlyLAS VEGAS - Mega Group USA buying group is introducing a Whirlpool appliance gallery for its furniture dealer members, designed to boost store traffic and productivity by adding a high-turn category from a top vendor, officials said.

Mega is showing the gallery at the Las Vegas Market in about 400 square feet of its World Market Center showroom, B-1154.

While it's flexible, the gallery is designed to be about 1,000 square feet with a mix of 26 products, including Whirlpool washers and dryers, cooking appliances and refrigerators. A kiosk display will give customers access to the complete line.

Gallery dealers must be exclusively dedicated to the Whirlpool appliance lines. Mega Group USA President Rick Bellows said the initial investment for dealers will vary based on the size and features chosen, but estimated it will range from $10,000 to $20,000. Whirlpool is offering 12-month terms on the floor samples.

Bellows said Mega looks for ways to give is dealers an edge by increasing their traffic and maximizing floor space.

"The Whirlpool gallery will do just that and provide our members a way to achieve an even higher return on sales per square foot," he said.

"It's all about appliance turns," said Missy Hodges, appliance manager for the buying group. While margins are lower than on furniture, the annual stock turns of major appliances averages eight to 10 times, more than double most furniture categories.

Dealers also will be able to earn co-op dollars and gain add-on purchases from accessories such as water filters, chemicals and light bulbs, the buying group said.

Under the arrangement, Whirlpool is providing product and sales training to store employees, a national network for appliance servicing and twice-a-week delivery from its distribution centers.
Mega Group USA is a furniture, electronics and appliances buying group with about 1,600 members with about 3,000 stores. Roughly 300 of its members are furniture dealers only.

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