By Dori Easterson, YSN
BrandSource members and members of the media alike are lauding AVB for successfully conducting the group’s — and the industry’s — first all-digital convention and product expo this week.
After quickly getting the hang of the new virtual environment, attendees enjoyed what many described as a more personalized experience with members and quality one-on-one time with exhibitors.
As Cathy Wilder of Plaza Appliance Mart noted, “There have been some learning curves for some, and I have missed seeing members, but it has been phenomenal,” she said, citing “excellent meetings” with vendors.
Greg Phillips of Phillips Supply said the online format allowed him to cover more ground than at a conventional show. “I’ve seen more vendors than I normally would,” he told YSN. “I had a great time poking around.”
Similarly, Dwight Horne of Clinton Appliance & Furniture reported that “I got more done in this Convention than I normally do. I’ve had a chance to go to some service booths which I normally wouldn’t because of time constraints.”
“You don’t have to wait in line for someone to help you,” Horne said, “so I went to most of the booths to get an overview of what they’re doing. I took some notes on vendors I wasn’t familiar with, so I had an idea of what they did in case we ever needed something like they offer.”
“Of course,” he added, “I was just as tired at the end of the day as I would have had I been there. I got a lot done and enjoyed it.”
Praise also came from the business press. As Grant Morgan, Senior Editor of TWICE Magazine reported, “BrandSource parent AVB pushed through to deliver a weekend full of fun, learning and deals for its members. And, to be honest, we at TWICE are pretty excited about how well the conference went, and what that means for shows in the near future and beyond.”
We are too Grant, and thank all for attending.
For all things Convention related, visit the 2020 Convention section of YSN.
BrandSource, a unit of YSN publisher AVB Inc., is a nationwide buying group for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.
