Nationwide Marketing Group and Mega Group USA, two of North America’s largest appliance, bedding, electronics and furniture buying and marketing groups, have merged.
The new organization, operating as Nationwide Marketing Group, serves more than 5,300 independent members, with some 14,000 storefronts that generate estimated revenue of $18.5 billion, according to a news release.
Dave Bilas, who had been chair of Nationwide Marketing Group, also is chair of the combined company. The organization is retaining both Nationwide’s office in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the Mega Group office in Memphis, Tennessee.
“The culture of the groups has always been focused on the independent retailer’s growth and profitability,” said Rick Bellows, president of Mega Group USA and a member of Nationwide Marketing Group’s leadership team. “While national retailers struggle to deliver a differentiated shopping experience, our group’s members have been outpacing the industry and gaining share because they are uniquely aligned to serve customer’s needs.”
Commenting on the merger, Bilas said: “Another big advantage for members will be category diversification. With Nationwide’s unmatched appliance volume and strength in consumer electronics, combined with Mega Group’s furniture and bedding advantages, members will have access to greater merchandising mix to increase market awareness, traffic and profitable sales growth. Our February PrimeTime event promises to become the largest buying show, member conference, educational event, networking opportunity and product exhibition in the history of independent appliance, electronics, furniture and bedding retailing.
“The merger also offers benefits to vendors and service providers. This consolidation will result in efficiencies for our vendor and service providers that will lead to improved product and service offerings, greater speed to market with new innovations, and improved focus of their investments to serve the important independent channel with its average selling prices that dwarf the national chains.”
