Independent Thinking Podcast

It was a truly action packed PrimeTime for the NMG Furniture, Bedding & Outdoor team. At the end of it all, we caught up with Jeff Rose, VP of the division, to talk about the new vendor introductions, the first-ever tour offered to Members of the World Market Center campus and other trends impacting the furniture, bedding and outdoor industries.

The TV market is a truly fascinating one to follow. Screen sizes continue to get bigger and picture quality continues to get more vibrant and clearer. But how much better can these displays actually get? We sat down with Bruce Walker, product evangelist at TCL, to get a – ahem – clearer picture of what's in store for TV technology.

A year in, we sat down with Chris Whitley to talk about the launch and growth of Ellipsys Commercial Technology Group and what's ahead for his expanding network.

You can't have a conversation about the retail industry without talking about the current status of the economy or where it's heading. We did just that with Velicia Sutton, managing director and general manager for Wells Fargo. In addition, Velicia dives into the world of inventory financing and shares how independent retailers can leverage this available benefit to free up cash to focus on other...

Founded by Ken Dudley in 1978, Tip Top Furniture in Freehold, New York, has seen three generations of Dudley's take their place at the head of the family business. Currently run by Donna Mae, she and son Colby sat down for an interview during PrimeTime to talk about the keys to their multi-generational success and how they manage to merchandise a store that – at 35,000 square feet – can truly hold...

While with us in Las Vegas for his first experience at a PrimeTime event, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Program Manager Dan Cronin sat down for a podcast. Cronin recounted his experience at the show, talked about the just announced Partner of the Year Awards (of which, NMG was an honoree) and much more. 

The odds of a family-owned business making it past the second generation are never really great. So, the fact that Oaklyn, NJ-based Nastasi's is currently a fourth-generation owned and operated independent retail store is simply miraculous.

Unveiled during PrimeTime in Las Vegas this week, OneShop is Nationwide Marketing Group's revamped and upgraded digital solutions platform that's tailored to the needs of the independent retail channel.

Powerhouse Alliance Executive Director Dennis Holzer dives into the world of distributor buying groups with us and talks about the trends in product and purchasing that they see on the distributor side of the business.

Larry Carrico was presented with a unique opportunity early in his career to take over a rent-to-own business deep in the south. From that one location, he's been able to grow Rent One into a massively successful multi-state, 100-store operation.

Legends Home has been hard at work over the past few years evolving as a company, expanding into new categories and providing independent retailers new and streamlined ways of doing business.

Announced late last year, SlimTech looks to be one of the biggest innovations in the refrigeration category in nearly half a century. Why? And how? We sat down with Mario Gonzalez, senior manager of product marketing for the JennAir brand, to dive deep into the new technology and all the impacts it could have on this space.

Bob Maricich, Chairman and CEO of ANDMORE – the brand behind the Las Vegas, High Point and Atlanta furniture market events – graciously stopped by the Nationwide Marketing Group showroom during Las Vegas Furniture Market.

PayPal sheds some light on the many ways in which customers prefer to spend their money at retail – none of which involve cash or checks.

To get a grasp on why lighting has experienced such a surge in popularity in the custom integration industry, we chat with Jennifer Kirkpatrick, director of sales for American Lighting.

Hank Alexander, director of Oasys, recaps a roller coaster 2023 and looks ahead to the opportunities coming down the pike for custom integrators.

In the face of economic uncertainty (and the typical weight of an election year cycle), independent retailers have a number of different levers they can pull to not only protect their business, but ensure that they realize meaningful success this year.

To kick off a new year of the Independent Thinking Podcast, we check in with NMG's EVP of Membership Patrick Maloney who has his finger on the pulse of this channel. After a brief recap of the roller coaster that was 2023, we look ahead to the areas of opportunity for independent retailers in 2024.

Your brand is everything. It's what you stand for. It's what your customers see when they engage with you. It's the image that comes to mind when others think about you. But what does it take to build a brand – and a strong one at that? We sat down with Rob White, VP of Brand and Strategy for NMG, to dive into that and a whole lot more.

To learn more about how NMG is working with the National Association of State Energy Officials, we sat down with David Terry, President of NASEO. We get into the work the organization does on behalf of its members, how the Inflation Reduction Act has impacted their day to day, and more.

Around in the Hagerstown, Maryland area since the mid-1950s, Spicher's Appliances took a unique step and expanded into the security category in 2010. Over the past decade plus, Spicher's has seen that business flourish and prove to be a real differentiator in their market.

Jon Rehwaldt, Director of Curriculum for CEDIA, is only a few months into his new role at the custom integration trade association, but he's already seeing the impact of their in-person hands-on training courses.

Work is still being done to prepare for the energy efficient appliance rebate program that was included in the Inflation Reduction Act. Frank Sandtner provides some updates and details what progress has been made to date.

From moving out of the tire business in its early years to finding ways to create deeper bonds within its local community today, DeWaard & Bode has always placed an emphasis on evolving as a business in order to properly serve its customers needs.

Ryan Spradling, president, and John Scott, VP of Sales, for Mattress Land dive into the ways they are working to elevate the bed buying experience at their stores. At the center of it all is a unique, proprietary AI-powered tech they use called Bed Fit.