BrandSource: The Next Generation – Part 2

By Rich Lindblom, YSN

This is the second of a three-part series about a couple of people that I believe are at the forefront of the next generation of BrandSource Dealers.  In the first installment, I chatted with Joe Legato of Bill & Rod’s Appliance in Michigan.  Today we’re going to hear from Mark Patterson of Patterson’s Appliance in Tennessee.

I met Mark through his father, Steve Patterson probably six years ago.  Now if you know Steve Patterson, you know that he is one of the nicest and most genuine people you will ever meet.  And then there’s Mark … Mark is supremely confident and at first blush may come off a more than a bit brash, I think that’s why I get along with him so well, because he reminds me of myself thirty years ago, only about a foot taller.  But, once you get to know Mark, you realize he’s just a really sharp guy with both the intelligence and vision that you need to succeed in today’s retail climate.  Mark got his start in the family business like many of us at the tender age of fourteen.  Like Joe, Mark also graduated with dual degrees (Business Management & Finance) from Middle Tennessee State University.  Mark began the process of taking over the reins at Patterson’s Appliance from his parents, Steve & Elaine, in 2015 and has grown the company’s operations dramatically in an incredibly short time.  If Joe is Steve Jobs, then Mark is clearly AVB’s version of Mark Cuban, outspoken and incredibly successful.

Mark Patterson

During the interview process, we touched on a variety of topics and here are Mark’s answers to those questions:

Q – What is the one piece of advice you would give your eighteen-year-old self if you could go back in time?

MP – “Go work for Lowes/Home Depot or another big box store.  I wish I would have taken the opportunity to step in and work in our industry for another dealer or big box store to see how they do things.”

Q – What do you believe is the biggest challenge your company faces or will face over the next few years?

MP – “The elephant in the room is always how to find good employees. I have an awesome team right now, but I can’t continue to grow my business like I want to without finding more team members.”

Q – What is your favorite part of your job?

MP – “Working with my team for sure. We have a lot of fun and challenge each other, but most of us truly enjoy what we do. One of my slogans I push is “We win together, we lose together, and we grow together.”

Q – What is the least favorite part of your job?

MP – So many people have no idea the constraints on the supply chain right now and get very irritable when we can’t deliver in a timely manner.”

Q – Why do you get out of bed every morning and go to work? 

MP – “I love growing the business and growing my team. I have a great team behind me which allows me to focus on what I need to do to continue growing and serving more people.”

This was the second in a three-part series of interviews with some of the brightest minds in the group.  Next up is my chat with Sam McVay of Charlies Appliance & Mattress in El Dorado, Kansas.

When I write my articles, I have three goals in mind and those are to Motivate, to Educate and to Entertain.  If I have done at least one of those three, then I’ve done my job.  I always enjoy hearing from members about something I wrote, so don’t be shy about letting me know what you think about something I wrote at egvrich@gmail.com.

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