New Southeast Region Manager Denny England with his wife Janet
This airman and Whirlpool vet is a strong believer in independent retail
By Andy Kriege, YSN
BrandSource’s Southeast Region members have a new go-to man at the helm.
Whirlpool veteran Denny England has taken the region manager reins from Tim Clements, who recently retired after 35 years in that role.
England’s career has taken him many places, all of which afforded valuable insights that allowed him to hit the ground running in his new post.
After graduating college and serving in the U.S. Air Force for eight years on active duty, England entered the consumer goods industry with Whirlpool Corp. in 1993. He would hold various positions there over the next 27 years, including inside sales, field sales and sales manager.
At the same time, he continued serving his country by putting in 12 years with the Air National Guard.
Over the course of calling on the independent retail channel for Whirlpool, England developed a deep passion and respect for independent dealers, and worked closely with them to find better business solutions, remain profitable and compete against their big-box rivals.
England believes his new position as the Southeast region manager suits him perfectly. “This is a role the I’m uniquely qualified for,” he said. “My many years in the appliance industry, particularly in the Southeast, have given me a keen understanding of these dealers and the sales marketplace.”
He is also adapting quickly to the needs and business models of members with non-appliance assortments. “I’m enjoying learning the nuances associated with the furniture and bedding business,” he said.
England has attended many BrandSource events over the years, but participating in Summit 2023 in March as a region manager was an entirely different experience. “Having the opportunity to interact with the members and manufacturers from the other side of the table was very rewarding,” he said. “To be at the Summit and represent the members of the Southeast Region is a role that I am honored to have.”
England believes the independent dealer can remain viable in the ever-evolving retail landscape, and points to several shared characteristics that give them a competitive advantage:
- They are woven into the very fabric of the community.
- They often service what they sell.
- They have experienced sales staffs capable of closing even luxury purchases.
- They have low employee turnover.
- They have a unique passion for the customer.
- They are more agile than the nationals.
- They often have strong relationships with builders.
“I have long embraced the success of the local independent retailer in the home goods industry,” England said. “My belief in them has only been strengthened and reinforced during my short time in this new role.”
England and his wife of 40 years, Janet, have two children and six grandchildren. He is a lifelong Tennessee Volunteers fan, proudly flying the orange-and-white checkerboard flag on his front porch wherever his career has taken him.
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.
