Wesley and Maggi Newell of SND Appliances
SND Appliances named Dealer of the Year during BrandSource Convention 2024
YSN Staff
If you’re looking for an example of the American entrepreneurial spirit, look no farther than Wesley and Maggi Newell of SND Appliances in Bemidji, Minn.
The couple opened its business in 2015, and for close to the entire first year, Wesley Newell did it all — sales all day, deliveries in the evening and servicing work at night. It was a heavy burden that paid off. Before long, the Newell’s commitment to its business and its community bore fruit, allowing them to open a second location in Grand Rapids, Minn. The family’s eight children are growing up in the business, including son Wesley Jr. helping out in the store during summer vacation.
It’s a family tradition that has earned SND Appliances the loyalty of the communities it serves, as well as the recognition of its fellow North Central members who named the Newells and SND Appliances as their 2024 BrandSource Dealer of the Year. The Newells were honored at an induction ceremony during the BrandSource Convention in Dallas, which was a highlight of the annual show.
Hat Tip to BrandSource
Newell attributes his company’s success in part to its membership in BrandSource. The national, dealer-owned cooperative offers a wide range of retail support services including transactional websites, digital marketing, in-store displays, consumer and inventory financing, volume discount programs and invaluable peer-to-peer networking, which became crucial as the internet and national big-box chains altered the retail landscape.
“AVB BrandSource has felt like a family to me,” he said. “It’s reassuring to have other dealers I can reach out to for advice. As someone newer to the industry, they have been invaluable in helping me navigate the steep learning curve.”
The BrandSource Dealer of the Year awards are presented annually to members like SND Appliances that have demonstrated a continued commitment to excellence in the retail industry and to their fellow BrandSource dealers. The winners, who are selected by the members within each of the group’s 14 regions, must also show their support of BrandSource and its vendor partners by attending regional meetings and national events such as the annual Convention and Summit.
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.
