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Can You Do Better This Year?

February 14, 2025

Can You Do Better This Year?

BrandSource Can Help Make This
Your Best Year Yet 

 

How was your 2024? Thanks to the constant innovation and industry expertise of BrandSource’s experts and their own hard work, BrandSource members had the best year yet in 2024. In fact, members who are fully engaged in the benefits of BrandSource membership are outpacing the rest by almost 20%, and member home furnishings dealers who focused on promotions outperformed the industry. This year, conditions are right to do even better.

New Initiatives in 2024

AVB rolled out several new programs to help members do better and make more money.

 

    • Price Netter
      Available on ALTA websites, this tool shows shoppers exactly how much they will save by putting all their rebates — instant and mail-in — together in one place. You’re competitive with the national chains, and this tool lets you show it to your customers in real dollars.

    • Trusted Transact
      The new in-house credit card processing solution allows you to seamless process payments both in store and online. This tool offers pre-negotiated rates and removes the middleman by employing a single merchant service provider for all transaction platforms, including HUB, ALTA e-commerce sites and in-store terminals.
    • HUB
      The product team is constantly improving the proprietary CRM and information system, and has now added new functions that make it even more valuable for members. One of the biggest was the addition of a printed price tag editor, which makes it simple to create professional, branded tags for your store.

Plan It Out

How can you make 2025 a winning year? BrandSource has programs, platforms and tools to make virtually every aspect of the independent appliance, home furnishings, bedding and electronics dealer’s business more profitable.

 

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

 

    • Be brave with your budget
      Advertising costs have gone up; adjust your budgets accordingly. It’s a tough pill to swallow, we know. Every dollar out needs to bring $10 back. The truth is customers are fickle, have short-term memories and only shop when they need to. That means your always-on presence is mandatory in this competitive landscape.

    • Speaking of always-on
      If you aren’t present, you are missing out on business. We call it table stakes — the bare minimum of what you need to do to stay in the game. Especially in the digital-first world we live in, having an always-on advertising presence keeps you discoverable. The lazy internet searcher will tap or click one of the first three positions on Google — you need to be one of those.

    • Use all your advantages
      Make the most of the promotional advertising windows with AVB Marketing. BrandSource membership brings competitive advantages, and using those advantages during key promotional windows will help you close more sales.

Check It Out

If 2024 wasn’t a record year for you, make it happen this year with help from Brandsource. Click below to learn more about all the benefits of BrandSource membership.

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BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.

Revolutionize Your Online Retail Store

January 28, 2025

Revolutionize Your Online Retail Store

The Best Retail Solution for Independents  

 

ALTA, our website solution, is a key component of the MTEQ suite of tech tools for independent appliance, furniture, mattress and electronics dealers. It is designed specifically to provide the analytics you need to make smart decisions and capture more eyeballs and more sales. 

How does ALTA give you a competitive advantage? 

1. ALTA’s SEO magic drives organic traffic to your online store

The ALTA platform includes built-in SEO tools for 30% more traffic – which translates into more conversions
and higher sales.

2. Robust product catalog of the products you sell

With over a million products, our product catalog is ready to go with the brands and products you want, merchandised with images, videos, specifications, documents, pricing, promotions, and rebates

3. Streamlined shopping: How ALTA enhances customer experience

The most-used tools on your website are always at your customers’ fingertips.

4. Increase sales with ALTA’s strategic product placement and merchandising

Boost the products you most want customers to see, such as special promotional products, to the top of the search results so they get more attention.

5. Boost your average cart value with ALTA’s merchandised add-ons, cross-sells and packages

Increase your average cart value and ensure consumers have everything they need for a complete purchase experience with easily merchandised add-ons, related items and over 9,000 pre-built packages and groups.

6. Seamless transactions with ALTA’s wide range of payment options

This includes apply & buy BrandSource in-house financing plus other popular payment choices such as PayPal, Amazon Pay and an array of credit card and other buying options.

7. Data-driven decisions: Unveiling insights with ALTA website solutions analytics tools

From near-live dashboard data to granular information about how shoppers are interacting with your site — and
much more — you’ll have all the information you need to increase sales.

 

Are you ready to revolutionize your online retail experience? Take the first step and find out more about ALTA today. 

 
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BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.

Structured for Your Success

January 23, 2025

Structured for Your Success

Designed to Maximize Your Profit 

 

There are many elements that make BrandSource stand out from other buying groups. There are the incredible national events, top-of-their-field marketing professionals and the inventive programs that help members make more money. One of the most important is the way BrandSource is built. 

The Backbone of BrandSource Benefits

Every member belongs to a region, where they have opportunities throughout the year to meet up with their fellow members in neighboring areas to learn together, help each other and talk through their common issues. Each region has a locally elected president and two layers of BrandSource guidance: a region manager and at least one member relations specialist. 

This is where the strength of BrandSource really shows. 

Personalized Support Every Step of the Way

Member relations managers are specially trained to make your transition to BrandSource seamless and simple with white glove treatment. Once you’re on board, they follow up with you on a monthly basis to make sure you are getting the benefit of all the programs that will impact your business. Your member relations manager brings you ideas; you decide what you want to do. 

 

In between, they’re available to you whenever you need assistance addressing issues and finding the business solutions that will benefit you the most. Your member relations manager is your first call when you need ideas, help or, really, anything. 

 

A Vibrant Community of Support

Then there are your fellow members, approximately 5,000 other appliance, furniture, bedding or electronics dealers just like you. These are the people who will take your calls, ask you questions and help you find new ways to win your market. With your fellow members next to you, you’re never really alone. 

 

“Members helping members” is a core principle, right next to “it’s all about the members.” Those are the words we live by. 

 

Unlock the power of BrandSource’s structure for your business today. Click below to find out how. 

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Structured for Your Success

BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.

The Best Member Benefits in the Industry

January 13, 2025

The Best Member Benefits in the Industry

What’s In It for You? 

We say “It’s all about the members” a lot. It’s our tagline, our mission statement and the drive behind what BrandSource is. As the only not-for-profit buying group in our industry, we strive every day to create the benefits and opportunities our members need to succeed. There is a long list of programs, platforms and packages we provide to members, but at the heart of it all is profitability. Every benefit we offer our members is designed to do one thing: enhance your profitability and make you first in your market. 

 

Member benefits at BrandSource are categorized this way: Money, marketing and membership. We have scores of individual programs that fall under each of those headings, but here is a sample of what members can expect of us. 

Money

From our own in-house inventory financing division to constant efforts to get you every penny you’re entitled to from vendors, for marketing co-op and for sell-throughs, for example, we put our buying power to work for you. Core members average over $55,000 more in member benefits.

Marketing

In short, there is simply no better solution for independent appliance, furniture, mattress and electronics retailers than AVB Marketing, our in-house, not-for-profit marketing agency. From superior website management and ad bundles to innovative platforms that are constantly evolving to meet your needs, AVB Marketing is the difference between business as usual and unparalleled success. Here’s an example: Members who fully plug into our programs see at least a 30% boost in traffic to their online stores. 

Membership

This is where the difference really shows. Between the region structure that fosters collaboration among members and national events that offer networking, education and specialized training, we value every moment members spend with us. We call the culture of BrandSource “the M factor,” which means members helping members. We know what it takes for retailers to leave their businesses, so we strive to make every event worthy of the sacrifice they make.  

 

We invest our talent, our time and our treasure into creating and improving member benefits with the sole purpose of making you more profitable than you’ve ever been. 

 

To learn more about all the benefits of BrandSource membership, click below. 

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Structured for Your Success

BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.

Be an MVP at Summit 2025

January 9, 2025

Be an MVP at Summit 2025

Be Our Guest 

What does it mean to be a Most Valued Prospect (MVP) at the BrandSource Summit? Join us for all the networking and fun, education and industry updates, and enjoy concierge service while you’re at it!

What’s On the Agenda?

The BrandSource Summit is a jam-packed three-day event that will arm you with new ideas and new relationships you can take home with you to build your business.

 

    • Enjoy a special welcome with fellow MVPs
    • Attend keynote presentations on the state of the industry
    • Hear BrandSource’s newest marketing and merchandising plans
    • Demo the latest products from top brands
    • Engage one-on-one with key vendors and the BrandSource senior leadership
    • Join dealers from your local region in strategy meetings and social activities
    • See firsthand why BrandSource dealers are leading the pack in sales and profits

Be Our Guest

The BrandSource Summit will be held March 23-26 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville. The event will include training sessions from top vendors on their newest products, education sessions in marketing, service, operations, HR and other topics, a fast-paced product stampede and much more.

 

Click here to become an MVP and get an all-access pass to what BrandSource membership is all about. 

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Structured for Your Success

BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.

Introducing BrandSource

January 6, 2025

Introducing BrandSource

Put the Industry’s Top Buying Group
to Work for You in 2025

 

Independent retailers need the support of a buying group to be successful in this industry. Between competition from national chains, economic fluctuations and the tricky nature of independent retail, you need all the muscle you can get. 

 

BrandSource is the best choice for independent appliance, furniture, mattress and electronics retailers, and that’s not just something we say — We can back it up. To illustrate the way we collaborate with, innovate for and assist our members, we’ve organized the benefits we offer into three categories. Here’s a small sample of what BrandSource is all about. 

Money

    • Vendor Programs: Dealer programs designed to maximize vendor rebates, pricing discounts, enhanced shipping terms and more.
    • Margin Enhancements: Additional rebates for members that sell a qualifying model mix during promotional windows.
    • Appliance and Mattress Consumer Rebates: Incentives for member dealers to feature certain brands and for customers to buy.
    • Retail Financing: A full slate of private label financing options that allow you to close the sale no matter what your customer’s credit needs are.
    • BrandSource Financial: No-interest inventory financing.

Martech

    • HUB: A sales associate’s best friend, HUB searches better, eases customer communication management and makes the team more efficient.
    • ALTA: The industry’s best-in-class website solutions for independent retailers in appliance, furniture, mattress and electronics.
    • KIOSQ: An in-store solution designed to give the customer a full product catalog experience even if the product is not on your showroom floor.
    • LINQ:  A virtual merchandiser powering your website, LINQ quickly aligns your online and in-store strategies to drive business.

Membership

    • ServiceSource: A comprehensive suite of initiatives designed to make your service department more efficient, profitable and successful.
    • HRSource: A wide-ranging collection of customized employment tools and turnkey solutions exclusive to BrandSource members.
    • Furniture Technology Source: The next generation of furniture retailing technology, tools and programs.
    • National and Regional Events: Spring Summit, Fall Convention and region meetings give every member access to group leaders, key vendors and the education and networking that creates great success. 
    • Not-for-Profit: We’re the only not-for-profit buying group in our industry, which means we invest in your sucess.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Members who fully take part in our programs see a 30% increase in traffic to their online stores, and members’ ROI is $58,000 per year on average.

 

Don’t go it alone. Get the power of BrandSource on your side and win the new year. To find out more about all the benefits of BrandSource membership, click below. 

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Structured for Your Success

BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.

Double Down on Digital in the New Year

November 29, 2024

Double Down on Digital in the New Year

Your New Year’s Resolution: Commit to Digital

Digital marketing is one of the most important tools in your independent retail toolbox. Without it, you’re at the mercy of customers’ whims, traffic patterns and limited information.

You Can Do Better

When you invest in digital marketing, on the other hand, you’re bringing your story to customers where they’re already scrolling and shopping.

This is the difference between barely surviving and thriving, and there is no better solution for digital marketing than AVB Marketing, BrandSource’s in-house marketing agency. Created exclusively for BrandSource members and with a full complement of solutions and platforms designed for the unique needs of independent appliance, furniture, mattress and electronics retailers, AVBM is the best investment you can make in the new year. 

Level Up with AVB Marketing 

AVB Marketing is the best digital marketing agency in the industry, and it’s exclusive to BrandSource members. Here’s a short rundown:

    • Full-service advertising, digital marketing and web services agency, leveraging proprietary digital tools and integrating all digital development for successful campaigns.
    • Google Premiere Partner, one of the small handful of digital agencies that have the inside track to all the newest technology from Google for members’ benefit.
    • A full slate of tech tools, including LINQ, HUB, KIOSQ, ALTA and more — these tools enhance the way you do business, from customer management to inventory lists. 
    • The best minds in the industry constantly innovating new programs and functionalities to solve members’ issues and make their lives easier. 

BrandSource and AVB Marketing can help you create the kind of digital footprint that impacts your bottom line and your business’ success for years to come. To find out more about it and all the benefits of BrandSource membership, click below. 

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Structured for Your Success

BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.

Improve Cash Flow with BrandSource Financial

November 27, 2024

Improve Cash Flow with BrandSource Financial

Boost your bottom line with the best economic value proposition in the industry

 

BrandSource Financial was created 14 years ago to answer members’ call for an in-house financing program. Since then, BSF has become a vital component of BrandSource’s suite of benefits for members. 

How does it work?

Rather than paying vendors direct for inventory within 15-30 days, BrandSource Financial finances invoices on scheduled payment terms. Length of financing is typically over a 60-90 day period, though display or show floor orders may have 6-12 month terms. Our system is completely automated for order approvals and invoice payments, which streamlines members’ payables process.

How does it help you make more money?

BrandSource Financial turns over traditional program profits to members in the form of annual dash distributions. Right now, traditional portfolio payout is at half a point or 50 basis points, which translates to $500 back for every $100,000 in annual volume financed through BSF. On average, participating members get an ACD of roughly $6,500 each, and many dealers receive well over $25,000.

Who makes the decisions?

Like BrandSource, BrandSource Financial is member-owned, which means decisions are made by and for members. What’s more, BSF never requires exclusivity. In fact, most BrandSource members also use a second financing company, which provides even greater liquidity with generally more credit facilities.

Isn’t signing up a big hassle?

No! With an effortless e-Sign application process, you’ll be off and running. BrandSource Financial provides step-by-step assistance for a seamless and simple transition.

Our secret weapon for member dealers

With more than 60 vendor partners participating in the traditional portfolio and rave reviews from users, BrandSource Financial has a record you can trust and the industry clout you need. Would your business boom with an assist from BrandSource Financial? Click to find out more about BSF and all the benefits of BrandSource membership.

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BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.

Don’t Miss It: FTS @ LVMkt

November 25, 2024

Don’t Miss It: FTS @ LVMkt

Where can you find the industry’s best tools
and tech for furniture retailers? 

 

Easy question. The answer is Furniture Technology Source’s two showrooms at Las Vegas Market Jan. 26-30. One of the most influential trade shows for the home furnishings industry, LVMkt is the epicenter for new products and technology. And the FTS Experience Center is the must-see stop for independent retailers. 

There are two showrooms, each with something unique to offer. 

B1400 —  FTS Experience Center Technology Space:

    • E-commerce ready website platform: See what makes our proprietary ALTA website platform and quality product catalog of more than 300 actively maintained furniture and mattress vendors a leading furniture industry solution for so many other BrandSource members. Members who fully engage with our digital platforms see a 30% increase in organic traffic to their online stores. 
    • Digital marketing strategies and solutions: Our member-owned, in-house digital marketing agency’s experts will be on hand to talk all things digital marketing and how to improve your advertising through streaming advertising (OTT, CTV and digital audio) solutions, Google, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, email marketing and other channels. AVB Marketing is a Google Premier Partner, a designation conferred to less than 5% of all agencies.
    • Get hands-on with the full suite of FTS technology tools: Take a test drive of AVB Marketing’s fully integrated HUB customer relationship management system and in-store KIOSQ endless aisle solutions and see how they can empower your store operations.
    • Consumer financing solutions with TD Bank and Citibank: Discover the benefits of low promotional rate buydowns and higher approval amounts. FTS/BrandSource group consumer financing partners will both be available in the space to explore ways to increase your average ticket size and improve margins on financed purchases. 

B756 — FTS Product Showroom

    • Get front and center with FTS Direct split container program: Our member-exclusive split container program will be on display featuring premium motion upholstery sofa groups, sectionals and lift chairs. The program allows members to split container buys in-group on in-house credit terms up to 90 days , improving cash flow, margin and selection.
    • Discover exclusive BrandSource mattresses from top brands: Try out group exclusive mattresses from Tempur-Sealy, Corsicana and Serta Simmons exclusive to BrandSource members.
    • Meet with specialists to discuss exclusive extended payment terms programs with brands such as Ashley and Coaster, among other vendors.

There is no better resource for home furnishings dealers than Furniture Technology Source, and no better place to get the whole picture than Las Vegas Market. 

To learn more about FTS and  all the benefits of BrandSource membership, click below. 

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Structured for Your Success

BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.

Price Netter: Your Competitive Advantage

November 15, 2024

Price Netter: Your Competitive Advantage

Price Netter shows customers their final discounted price

 

How do you show shoppers that you can beat big box warehouse stores and national chains? It’s always been tricky — until now. BrandSource’s Price Netter aggregator showcases rebates — both instant and mail-in — in a way that’s easy for consumers to understand.

Game-Changing Tool 

All independent retailers struggle with the incorrect impression that it’s more affordable to shop at big box stores. Price Netter combats that by displaying a final price on your website after all savings. The combined national vendor rebate offers and BrandSource-exclusive rebates together are often lower than anything warehouse stores can offer. 

 

Led by AVB VP Chad Evans, BrandSource’s expert merchandising team is the engine behind this new tool, with the merchandising team loading all the complex options and possible pricing combinations based on rebate requirements and qualifications. This knowledgeable team will ensure that your website provides complete but accurate qualifying savings to users as they browse your product catalog and build their shopping cart for checkout. 

What Does Price Netter Show? 

    • A prominent callout on products on the catalog lineup page to alert users that significant savings are available. 
    • A prominent and detailed rebate savings overview on product pages showing the promotion’s end date and the different combinations of qualifiers available to maximize the available savings. 
    • A “Details” overlay with more promotion information, a downloadable PDF of the complete rebate program and a link to a shoppable catalog of all qualifying products. 
    • A new cart page experience that tallies up the savings dynamically based on the products added to the cart, along with line-item details of any instant savings, mail-in savings, the price a consumer pays at checkout and the final net price after all discounts, instant savings and mail-in rebates are applied. 

Here’s an example of what your customer would see: 

 

 

Simple and Seamless 

There is nothing for you to do: the the BrandSource merchandising team loads most national vendor rebates and BrandSource-exclusive rebates into the system so they automatically show up on your ALTA website platform. That’s all there is to it. 

 

Price Netter provides a first-of-its-kind experience for online shoppers by presenting that all-important “Final price after savings” net cost to the customer. What could that kind of certainty mean to your customers and your bottom line? 

 

To learn more about Price Netter and  all the benefits of BrandSource membership, click below. 

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Structured for Your Success

BrandSource is structured to give members all the information, help and insight they need to maximize their profits.