Rotmans Furniture

Worcester, Massachusetts

Year Founded: 1964

Year Joined NMG: 2016

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

That family concept is true here. We are really a family and not just the Rotman family, but the Rotmans family. We’ve all been here for decades, many of us. We have people been here for five years and they’re still new. We have the same commitment to our customers, to our employees, to our business, to our community. We all are driven by the same things. We all are motivated by those same things. We are all partners..

Your store is undergoing some major renovations. What excites you the most about what's to come for Rotmans?

Everything is exciting about that, really. I know that probably sounds sort of silly but it’s true. It’s an opportunity for us to do stuff that we’ve known we’ve needed to or stuff we’ve wanted to. It’s an opportunity for us to tell our story differently again. This family thing is still here. We're excited to  tell our communities again about that and get to revisit those discussions. For the longest time, we haven’t had that opportunity to talk about that. It’s about looking at the lines we’re bringing in. It’s about, are we really meeting what our customers want? Everything is exciting about this. Really everything.

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Click below to catch our interview with Rotmans' advertising and marketing manager Heidi Richardson on the Independent Thinking Podcast!

Before the Rotmans renovation in their 200,000-square-foot Worcester, MA, location

Renovations are still happening, as of July 2021, but a lot of progress has been made!

Another progress shot of the Rotmans' renovations

Sherman's

Peoria, Illinois

Year Founded: 1976

Year Joined NMG: 2013

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

We weren't normal in 1976, and we're never going to be normal. We were founded as a side-hustle when a fiercely-independent woman named Sharon Sherman decided to sell some clocks and gifts while her kids were in school. Her husband Jack was a lineman at CILCO. Today more than 190 employees bear Jack and Sharon's can-do attitude across four Central Illinois locations. Working hard to make sure our customers are really happy they chose Sherman's is in our DNA. You can shop plenty of normal stores, but we're happy being different. And that's exactly what our customers love about us, too.

Why was building the Respectelivery Academy for the delivery and installation team so important to Sherman's?

What’s amazing about it, when they’re done with that, the confidence level they are starting with when they walk into their first home’s amazing versus all of those challenging situations. They’ve already been through it. They’ve seen that stuff, and they don’t have to wait until you run into that situation four months down the road and hope you’re with somebody who’s actually still training you. It’s not a good customer experience when you have to lay out thousands of dollars for an adjustable base mattress set, and then the guy who’s there is reading the instructions on how to build it.

Give Sherman's a follow!
 

Click below to check out our Independent Thinking Podcast with Paul Sherman, owner of Sherman's

A peek inside the Sherman's showroom.

The Mattress Hub

Click here to read our Member Spotlight on The Mattress Hub and owner Ryan Bath.

Wichita, Kansas

Year Founded: 2008

Year Joined NMG: 2013

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

The Mattress Hub is built on two ideas — Sleep Well. Live Well. — which are more than a slogan, they're our corporate philosophy. We've evolved from a strictly brick and mortar presence in five locations across Kansas, to having a full e-commerce option for people across the United States. It's truly our belief that good sleep helps people be their best and live their best lives. Therefore, we are committed to helping make the world a more well rested place.

Explain the Hub Difference?

Earning a customer's business requires excellence. Locally owned and operated, The Mattress Hub strives to deliver the “Hub Difference” to all. That means we guarantee the best customer experience through superior service, the best prices and the best selection. We know there are many options for shopping for a mattress and we’re want to provide you with excellence through our loyalty programs, superior financing options, mattress recycling, our comfort guarantee and more.

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The Mattress Hub's Maize, KS, location.

Home Furniture Plus Bedding

Home Furniture Plus Bedding moved their Bluebonnet location to a brand new, 28,000 square foot in 2019.

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Year Founded: 1945

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Home Furniture Plus Bedding was founded in 1945 when George (Ged) P. Fleming seized the opportunity to start his business in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Ged Fleming would go on to open several more retail locations in the Lafayette area before eventually expanding his scope to Texas in 1996 with a store in Beaumont. Home Furniture Plus Bedding has expanded in incredible ways over the years. The heart of the company, however, remains with the customer. We are committed to providing excellent customer service along with quality products that are built to last for many years.

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The first Home Furnishings location in Lake Charles, Louisiana

My Appliance Source

Shakopee, Minnesota

Year Founded: 1977

Year Joined NMG: 2010

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Working in a small community, we know that we're going to see our customers in the local grocery store or out and about in town. So, if we're going to see them there, we have to know that we can take care of them in every aspect of their home appliance experience — from the purchase all the way through to service repair calls and the eventual replacement purchase. Every time we get to interact with our customers, in our store or out in the community, it's an opportunity to build on that relationship.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

I appreciate the work that Nationwide is doing focusing on the Service Leaders Network, because I think that there are such a large number of members that are self-servicing dealers or servicing dealers, if you will, which creates a unique set of needs for those people. Right now, there is a tremendous shortage of talent in the skilled labor pipeline. And talking to dealers across the country, everybody has that need. The advantage of the appliance industry right now is, once someone gets trained and certified in this area, they will have an instant job because the need is so great in probably any community they's want to work in across the country.

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Strickland's Furniture

Mr. O.E. Strickland.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Year Founded: 1962

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Our mission is to offer our customers a variety of the highest quality, name brand home furnishings at the lowest possible price and provide our customers with superior service. Strickland’s is a hometown furniture retailer and our community is important to us. We are active in supporting many local schools and clubs, and we appreciate the community and help in any way we can.

Tell us a little about your company's history.

Mr. O.E. Strickland opened Strickland’s Furniture in downtown Hattiesburg on Main Street in 1962. The company was owned and operated by Mr. Strickland and his sons. Fifty-five years later, Strickland’s is now located on highway 49. Although we are in a different location, we are still family owned and operated. The store is currently run by Tommy and Steve Strickland, Mr. Strickland’s sons. Strickland’s has changed over the years, but we still have the same great furniture and the same great prices.

Give Strickland's a follow!
 

Schneider's Hometown

Corydon, Indiana

Year Joined NMG: 2020

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

When purchasing a new home, most people refer to the expertise of real estate agents; specialized professionals that have been and will be selling homes for years. It's our belief that we're the appliance, furniture and mattress experts in our community — and we're here to serve our neighbors with the same level of commitment and compassion that they'd expect from someone who's family.

Tell us a little about your company's.

We are locally owned and operated and have been in the Appliances, Furniture, and Mattresses business for years. It's our business to know everything about the most popular and reliable manufacturers around. We have long standing relationships with the biggest manufacturers and know all of our products inside and out. The result? You get exceptional service for the life of your Appliances, Furniture, and Mattresses.

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EZ TV & Appliance

Alamogordo, New Mexico

Year founded: 1960

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Hearing the words "Best Customer Service in Town". In todays market place competitive pricing is a must but no Big Box store will ever provide the level of taking care of their customers like the Independent Retailer can. It's who we as retailers are because it is the right thing to do and it's how we have survived over the years.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Hands down, it is the relationships and life long friends you make. We all fight the same battle, and what a comfort it is to know that there's always someone out there you've met through Nationwide that you can reach out to for ideas and help. Never have I once been disappointed when there was a need. Nationwide Marketing Group is an absolutely terrific group of people and members who are willing to help one another.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

There are FAR too many to choose from!

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Midnite Mattress

Henderson, Nevada

Year founded: 2019

Year Joined NMG: 2019

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Offering consumers options not found at our competition.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Support from our NMG representative, Teresa Spinney.

Give Midnite Mattress a follow!

Athens Refrigeration & Appliance, Inc

Athens, Georgia

Year founded: 1946

Year Joined NMG: 1989

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Being able to help other in our community. It may just be us doing something for a customer or grouping with other business for special projects. It always make you feel better at the end of the day.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

I truly love getting to talk and meet with the other dealers from all over the country. We may talk about business, family or just where we live. Just listening is sometimes wonderful. Sometimes we are able to pick up something that can help us in our business. There simply aren't too many places where you can find so many people who have the same interests and issues.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Oh yea...That wonderful $1,500.00 bottle of wine a vendor purchased at a dinner in Las Vegas... Best ever!! By the way, thanks again. And a vendor warning: Beware of menus with no pricing!

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Hansbarger Home Solutions

The Hansbarger team in the Greenville, OH store.

Greenville, Ohio

Year founded: 1930

Year Joined NMG: 2015

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

We have deep connections with families who are in the 3rd and 4th generations of purchasing from us and it gives us great pride to help them fill their homes with appliances, furniture, and mattresses. Our team is truly like a family so we are able to create an atmosphere of family serving family that our customers really respond to.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The relationships and camaraderie with other retailers just like us!

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Lee Gutman gave an address toward the end of his career at one of the original PrimeTime events focusing on the emergence of some of the big name box stores and in a moment of levity likened small independent dealers to cockroaches----"...very tough to kill and just when you think they're dead they bounce right back up!"

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Hansbarger storefront in Greenville, OH

Kendall Hemer, Store Manager & Son of Marlise McCallister

Marlise McCallister, President of the Hansbarger Companies & daughter of the late Karlh McCallister who was a founding member of Key Buying Group

Don's TV & Appliance

Tyler, Texas

Year founded: 1979

Year Joined NMG: 2020

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Tyler, Texas is in the center on an interstate between Dallas and Shreveport, Louisiana, so it’s a pretty diverse town. We were born and raised here, all of us attended public schools here. I think what’s helped us be successful, we care about the community, and that’s really the message that we’ve been putting out since day one.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Early on in the pandemic when we were forced to shut down, we started scrambling and were looking for ways to communicate with our community. I had already looked at a few chat services a few PrimeTimes in a row. Tim and Greg Danko from Site On Time, they help me run my website and they are awesome, and you can trust those guys, and they react quickly, which was key during this pandemic that quick reaction. They helped me make a snap decision and get up and running with a service in no time.

Click here to listen to Don's TV Owner Donnie Thedford's interview on the Independent Thinking Podcast

Give Don's TV a follow!

Hutchins TV & Appliance

Susie and Jim Swanson

Hillsboro, Oregon

Year founded: 1956

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

It has been an extremely rewarding experience to be the only remaining independent appliance dealer in our city. We have been able to serve our customers, and the entire city with knowledge, support, and essential products that help them in their daily lives. Being part of an intimate process that helps them obtain appliances that are necessary and desirable has given us a true sense of satisfaction. We look forward to helping people to not only get needed items, but also fulfilling their dreams of wonderful appliances for their home. Many times, our customers become our friends as we spend time fulfilling their requests.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Outside of the positive financial aspect of being a member of NMG, a huge benefit of membership is the camaraderie we get from knowing and communicating with other independent retailers like ourselves. Whether our store fronts are east, west or somewhere in between, we all do the same things, have the same issues, and wear the overcoat of small business owners, and it is good to know there is someone like us to share our thoughts, challenges and successes with. We especially appreciate Primetime where we can do just this.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories.

We have so many wonderful memories of our years with NMG, from making new friends, to secret rooms filled with pre-production products, to learning computer skills necessary for our business, to rushing to the television to watch our Primemedia made commercials on TV, that it's hard to narrow down to one particular memory, but here is one that comes to mind often. We have been glad to report that we have attended every Primetime since our membership in NMG. The events have always been a wonderful use of our time. Each time there has been a great keynote speaker. One in particular was General Gerald Coffee, a Vietnam war hero. His words were inspirational to me, and I have thought of his story and the ordeal he went through, and the lessons learned from his imprisonment many times over the years. I commend the team who chooses the speakers for Primetime. They are outstanding!

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The Hutchins team: Jim & Susie Swanson, Michael Swanson, Alex Heisler, Aaron Fernandez, Grayson Landon, Jake Howell.

G&H Appliance, Inc.

Christiansburg, Virginia

Year Founded: 1969

Year Joined NMG: 1995

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being trusted and regarded as a reliable business for over 50 years.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Without a doubt the network of professionals and the great relationships built along the way.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Moving into our new location in 2007, when the economic downturn hit. At that time we proved we could rise above another challenge and be better for it.

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B&B Appliance & TV

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Year Founded: 1968

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in Cheyenne is being able to give back to our community in many ways like sponsoring local sports and events.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The biggest benefit of membership with NMG is being able network with others from all over the country and build solid relationships with those people. Another benefit is the learning opportunities that NMG provides.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

One of my favorite memories of NMG is on the first show that I ever attended I was also able to get the opportunity to visit the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Being a young child who watched the Grand Ole Opry on TV, it was almost surreal being able to visit it in person.

Give B&B Appliance & TV a follow!

Bedzzz Express

Pelham, Alabama

Year Founded: 1995

Year Joined NMG: 2015

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

It is an honor and a privilege to be an independent retailer in the vast communities that Bedzzz Express covers over the central southeastern states. It is incredibly rewarding to truly help customer improve their health by allowing us to help them pick the right mattress the first time for them specifically.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Networking with other retails from different types of retail business and learning so much from the capabilities and resources from Prime Media Leadership Meetings, Prime time shows and continual education, MemberNet tv (MediaSign) making our stores look more professional than the big box retailers, and how they help our bedzzzexpress.com web site a state of the art platform. Many other exiting and pivotal things to lengthy to this...but appreciated.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

The extreme kindness from NMG, when our founder decided to sell the business. How they honored his retiring and how they welcome with open arms our new owner, Clark Cooper and made him feel as though he had been apart of the Bedzzz Express NMG team from the beginning.

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In the fall of 2020, the Bedzzz Express team partnered with Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries to provide 43 mattresses to families in need.

Silica For Your Home

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Year Founded: 1922

Year Joined NMG: 2015

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The most rewarding part about being an independent retailer in our communities that we serve is having the ability to impact so many lives. Whether it's the products that we sell to our customers which makes their life more convenient or enjoyable, or giving to non-profit organizations in our community to help others who are not as blessed as we are.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

For us, going to the shows to continually educate ourselves and also networking with so many great retailers is one of the greatest benefits that we receive from being part of Nationwide. This industry has changed so much over the past 10 years, and for us to go on our own without the support of Nationwide to help, or sharing ideas with other dealers in our industry would make it very difficult to keep up with the changes.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

There are many great memories that I have had with Nationwide over the years, but the one that comes to mind first is going to the first Primetime in New Orleans. Coming over from a different buying group that just focused on just the price of products, to a group that offered so many assets to help us run our business was a bit overwhelming. We realized early on that we needed to try to come home from the Primetime shows and focus on one or two things that will help our business, instead of trying to do it all at once.

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Walts TV & Appliance

Tempe, Arizona

Year Founded: 1957

Year Joined NMG: 1992

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Having customers that truly value the products and service that we offer.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Networking with other dealers and various finance , warranty programs.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Starting up Appliance Sales after 20 years of not selling them. Nationwide Executives provided a lot of advice to help make more informed decisions.

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Walts TV & Appliances celebrated 60 years in 2017.

A peek inside the Walts TV & Appliance showroom.

Rutland Appliances

Rutland, Vermont

Year Founded: 2012

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being a successful independent retailer in our community gives us the freedom and ability to reward our employees and give back to our community. Every sale helps us pay our staff and reward them for their hard work, and dependability This past year has shown us how important it is to recognize and reward loyalty, dependability and hard work in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Our staff has remained through it all and they continue to help us do great work in our community.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Christopher LaFlamme has been a tremendous asset to our company. He has connected us to some of the best products and opportunities our company has ever had. He does this with careful consideration, always making sure he is offering our company something that will truly be of value. We never feel like we are being "sold" something and our time with Christopher is always time well spent.

Give Rutland Appliances a follow!

Royal's Furniture, Appliances & Bedding

Clewiston, Florida

Year Founded: 1929

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

We are a credit furniture operation and being in small rural farming communities we have repeat customers dating back three and four generations.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

All the networking and training available. In both cases you learn new ideas from your peers which are more open since you are not competing with them.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Christopher LaFlamme is the best Rep I have ever had the pleasure to work with. His story of how he got where he is today is inspiring. His attention to detail, problem solving skills and his true compassion for his clients and his job have made me a believer in NMG.

Give Royal's Furniture a follow!

Left to right, Jeff Royal, Tim Taylor (Belle Glade Store Manager), CJ Royal

Mrs. G Appliances

Lawrence Township, New Jersey

Year Founded: 1935

Year Joined NMG: 2012

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

I love that Mrs. G Appliances is a community hub. A place to host events, chat with industry partners and their clients and greeting the generations of families that have supported Mrs. G. The stories about Mrs. G and how she touch lives is priceless.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Having access to Webfronts to create a very customizable robust website and Prime Media. I do like their smaller group get togethers.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

So happy to share my " Shop Local" stats & experience with Brand Builders a few years ago and so proud that NMG continues to partner with Independent WE Stand. No better time than now to add Shop Local on all marketing materials.

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The view from the entrance of Mrs. G.

Debbie (right) demoing in the Mrs. G Community Kitchen.

Mattress Warehouse Utah, Inc.

Sandy, Utah

Year founded: 2005

Year Joined NMG: 2009

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Helping our customers change their lives through a great night's sleep.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Lowered costs of financing for us and our customers.

Tell us a little bit about your Sleep Fit—Rest Assured Experience.

The Sleep Fit—Rest Assured Experience is the best way to discover your assurance of the support and comfort, and the great night’s sleep, you are looking for. We invite you to come into anyone of our locations, lay back on three, just three mattresses, and we can direct you to the technology best for you at various price points that work for your budget, whether it be in our value lines, premier lines, or the ultimate in luxury. Our customers tell us we have no competition, and we know they aren’t simply flattering us because we have a 96% plus success rate in customer satisfaction. As a result, we exchange less than 4% of our mattresses, compared to a traditional brick and mortar retailer with 15% to 20% return/exchange rate, and an online return rate exceeding 40%.

Give Mattress Warehouse Utah a follow!

Mid City Superstore

Jeff Speidel, left, with the Almo crew, circa 2019 (which includes current NMG SVP of Luxury Appliances, John O'Halloran, right)

Norfolk, Nebraska

Year Founded: 1976

Year Joined NMG: 1988

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being a CE guy from the start. I would have to say the most rewarding thing is to see a smile when a customer walks into their home and hears their sound system for the first time. When we hear that our installation team and service dept exceeded their expectations. When we are their choice over a big box store. We truly care about if the customer was taken care of from the time they walked in through our front door to when that delivery truck leaves their home. With the tools that the Nationwide team has provided us with business has been better than ever!

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The knowledge shared by group members at primetime is priceless. We are able to keep up with an industry that is always evolving. Group rebates gives us an edge over our competitors. Great finance rates for our customers. And the ability to talk to the vendors and distributors face to face at the show.

Give Mid City Superstore a follow!

Mid City Superstore founder Doug Speidel (left) with Bill Miller, a Zenith Rep and then LG Rep, in 1986.

Jeff and Jason Speidel, current Mid City co-owners. Born to be retailers, making a fort in the warehouse 1979.

Queen City Audio Video & Appliances

Charlotte, North Carolina

Year founded: 1952

Year Joined NMG: 2010

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

We love that as an independent retailer we are able to inventory our appliances right here in our local market, making it easier to be able to provide for our customers in a timely manner. Now offering same day and next day delivery - no one can get it to them faster - giving us the competitive advantage.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Networking. We love being able to discuss the state of the industry, best practices, marketing trends and just share ways to help us all be more successful independent retails in our market.

Tell us your favorite NMG memory.

Back in March 2017, Nationwide partnered with a local Orlando charity, No Child Hungry, to organize a meal-packing event at that PrimeTime show. This planned one-off event transformed into a movement, and in November 2019, as the Nationwide Week of Giving was in full swing, that movement saw the 1,000,000th meal of the partnership between NMG and No Child Hungry packed and sealed — right at Queen City Audie Video & Appliances. We can't even begin to express how honored we were to take part in such an important milestone and with such an awe-inspiring charitable effort.

Give Queen City a follow!

Bray & Scarff

The Bray & Scarff Annapolis, Maryland location

Laurel, Maryland

Year Founded: 1930

Year Joined NMG: 2003

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The most rewarding thing is creating new jobs and watching new hires develop fantastic careers with us.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The biggest benefit is the connection with NMG leadership. Tom, Jennifer, Frank, PJ and the entire NMG team are a tremendous asset to us and the overall group.

Catch Bray & Scarff on the Independent Thinking Podcast

Give Bray & Scarff a follow!

Bray & Scarff's Springfield, Virginia, location opened in 2020.

Bray & Scarff's Germantown, Maryland, location

Allen Wayside Furniture

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Year founded: 1964

Year Joined NMG: 2017

Tell us a little about your store.

Allen Wayside Furniture opened its doors in November of 1964, and is now a third generation family owned and operated business. We have grown well beyond our immediate family, however we consider all members of our organization to be a part of it. Our goal since day one has been to provide customers the best value on quality home furnishings and mattresses, with the best service possible. We strive to provide a personalized experience from the moment you walk through our door, to the white glove delivery service of our seasoned staff. Whether it’s to fill your dream house, or find that one piece you’ve been missing, we are here to help you make your house a home. As a stocking dealer, we are able to provide our valued customers with their new merchandise as quick as the very next day.

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Allen Wayside recently partnered with the Animal Rescue League of NH.

Michael's Appliance Center

Middletown, New York

Year Founded: 1945

Year Joined NMG: 2005

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The interaction. Being involved in the community at every level from individuals and families up. "You have enough to share when you have enough to eat."

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Training and networking. Nationwide Learning Academy is invaluable. Networking with other business owners/leaders helps to validate what we are doing right — and wrong — and improve and grow as a result.

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The first Michael's shop

The Michael's Low Avenue store.

Jeff Lynch Appliance and TV Center

The staff of Jeff Lynch in front of their new location on Roper Mountain Rd. Monday, April 17, 2006.

Greenville, South Carolina

Year Founded: 1951

Year Joined NMG: 1995

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being able to serve our neighbors with customer service like we would expect and knowing that they will always have an alternative to the big box choice to keep their business local and support our family and friends who live in our community.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Providing all of us independents the power of one to create accountability to the manufacturers and also coming together to share best practices with each other.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

In the early years meeting together with the founding president Lee Guttman and observing him hearing our answers to his questions about a vendor's performance and executing the power of the group to remove the vendor from the show.

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Jeff Lynch storefront at 1120 North Pleasantburg Drive, which was home from 1993-2006.

Hamai Appliance

Kahului, Hawaii

Year Founded: 1969

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

We can think and do things independently and don't have to rely on waiting for decisions from above. We are free to support local organizations when and if we choose to.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being able to network with other dealers and vendors has been a big benefit. We are all sailing similar ships. Also Prime Time University has been very educational and helpful.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Being able to have a party on the field of the Dallas Cowboys was very memorable. We got to see ourselves on their Jumbotron screen. Also touring their locker rooms and taking pictures with their cheerleaders will be remembered.

Bernie's Sales

Ketchikan, Alaska

Year Founded: 1986

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being part of a buying group lets you have a family business in a small town with the prices and the tools to compete and stay in business. We have survived Sears going out of business twice! For years Bernie's Sales was made up of myself (Julie Powers), Bernie (Julie's dad), Joanne (mom), and a few more crew. They've since passed, but would be so proud of my son, Kurt, who has been working with me at the store for almost 5 years now.  Kurt just slipped right into his grandfather's love of sales. Nationwide gets us the prices to be able to compete and the support like ad flyers and keeps up to date with changes like websites and digital ads. The website has been amazing this last year. We get to stay in our small town in Alaska and still compete in this ever faster changing world.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Some of the best memories working with my parents were when we did the 30 second TV ads back in the day when cable was relevant. I never would have guessed that my dad had such a sense of humor. Filming these ads took about 2 hours and I would laugh so much, and then to see how people in Ketchikan liked them and my dad became a mini celeb, it was really great.

Give Bernie's a follow

Hockers Inc.

(Left to right) Howard Hocker, Robert Hocker Sr. and Robert Hocker Jr.

Arlington, Kentucky

Year Founded: 1897

Year Joined NMG: 1997

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being able to be a problem solver for the people in our area.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Interacting with other dealers and having someone at NMG to call with questions.

Give Hocker's a follow

Back of the Hocker's store in the 1970s

Hocker's old theater room

Atlantic Furniture Company

Providence, Rhode Island

Year founded: 1992

Year Joined NMG: 2016

Tell us a little about your store.

Atlantic Furniture is one of the best furniture stores in Providence, Rhode Island. We sells indoor and outdoor furniture for the home, as well as lighting and decor with hard-to-beat prices. We have an extensive collection of luxurious sofas, trend-forward dining tables, and space-saving furniture. Atlantic offers a 5-year warranty and a 1-year warranty for your furniture. They provide ultra-shield fabric protection. Convenient delivery and pick-up services are available to Providence customers. They are offering free layaways and 90 days pay off option. Nearly all types of furniture are available in various materials, including different woods and hundreds of different fabric choices.

Give Atlantic Furniture Company a follow!

Advantage Appliance

Catch Advantage Appliance co-owner Mark Braun on the Independent Thinking Podcast.

Bismarck, North Dakota

Year Founded: 1993

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Bismarck-Mandan, North Dakota is an amazing place. Consumers see the advantages of working with Independent Retailers and understand that small business built our community. They understand that we are the ones supporting the local little league teams, Churches and schools . They see that we don't ask for or receive the large tax abatements that the major retailers demand so that the community can have the privilege of shopping there. Bismarck-Mandan's young people are brought up knowing the value of a great, not good, work ethic. They are taught respect and compassion. We are a wonderful place to live and prosper.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

We are entering our 29th year and I have said many times that we would not have lasted 5 years if it wasn't for NMG. I did not need Nationwide to teach me how to be a salesperson, I needed them to teach me how to be a better sales person. I didn't need them to teach me how to manage my business, I needed them to show me how to do it more effectively. I don't have time to manage a world class website or know how to build one. I don't understand social media, digital advertising or complex POS systems. I don't need to, NMG takes care of it for me at a cost far less then if I did it myself. So to answer the question what is the biggest benefit of NMG membership? It saves (makes) me money!

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

At my very first Nationwide West meeting in 1997 I had the pleasure of meeting King Parker. After that meeting I made it a point to seek him out at every PrimeTime. Damn I miss that guy!

Karl's TV, Audio, Appliances & Furniture

Gregory, South Dakota

Year founded: 1956

Year Joined NMG: 2006

Tell us a little about your store.

In 1956, when Elmer Karl opened the first Karl's TV in Gregory, South Dakota, televisions were just making their way into households. Customers expected that great service and businesses stood behind the products they sold because it was the right thing to do.

Since then many things have changed, but at Karl's, our commitment to exceptional customer service and satisfaction has remained the same. Karl's was founded on these easy to say, yet tough to deliver on principles. It is our commitment to these principles that allows us to grow and remain competitive year after year. At Karl's we value every customer and community we serve. Since those early days, Karl's has grown significantly.

Today, Karl's offers the region's broadest inventory of in-stock name-brand TVs and appliances. In addition, you will find a comfortable selection of seating and mattresses. Karl's now has 29 locations in 7 states. Through our expansive buying group relationships we are able to be priced competitively on a daily basis. The kicker at Karl's is simple: We truly service what we sell using our own dedicated staff of technicians, who are equipped to get the job done right. After being in business for over 64 years, we here at Karl's know what is most important to us and that is OUR CUSTOMERS!

Give Karl's a follow!

Karl's ribbon cutting at their newest location in Brookings, South Dakota.

Orsini's

Click here to check out Orsini's full Member Spotlight from February 2020.

Martinsburg, West Virginia

Year Founded: 1948

Year Joined NMG: 2006

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

We are proud to give back to the community that has supported us for for 73 years. We support many different charities and organizations and are always heavily involved in community activities.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The best part of being in the group is trading best shared practices with other independent dealers from all over the country.

Give Orsini's a follow!

The Furniture Gallery

Bangor, Maine

Year Founded: 2007

Year Joined NMG: 2019

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

I think being a locally owned, family run business is the most important type of business to have anywhere. We support local charities and those in need whenever possible. I find that rewarding.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

I think the PrimeTime events are a big benefit that have given us access to new vendors we may not have had otherwise. The rebates on purchases we may have made anyway are also a plus.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Francie Carnell, a Member Services Administrator, is an absolute asset to Nationwide. I have dealt with her several times to register for PrimeTime events, hotel reservations through Nationwide, etc. I know when I reach out to Francie I will be taken care of.

Give The Furniture Gallery a follow!

Home Mattress Center

Ron manning the desk at Home Mattress Center

Wilmington, Delaware

Year Founded: 1973

Year Joined NMG: 2014

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being able to help come good causes like, BEDS4VETS, a program that helps Vets that are in need a mattresses. Also, Horizon House, which serves more than 5,000 adults annually in Pennsylvania and Delaware through programs and services including: behavioral health services, community-based treatment, employment and education, peer support, residential treatment, and so much more.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being able to get help with advertising and promotions.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

PrimeTime is where it's at!

Give The Furniture Gallery a follow!

Home Mattress Center's Kirkwood Highway showroom

Billman's Inc.

Catch Advantage Appliance co-owner Mark Braun on the Independent Thinking Podcast.

Cut Bank, Montana

Year Founded: 1979

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The relationships we've built with our customers over the years. We are in a very small town (3,000 people). So we are on a first name basis with most of our customers. Many of them started buying from my Grandfather and now buy from me.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Networking and getting ideas from other members. I've even traveled to a few other NMG stores to see how they do things first hand.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Just this last year I actually sold a freezer to a customer (100 miles away) all via traditional mail. She mailed us a hand written letter explaining that she had no phone or internet and had already written all the stores closer to her with no response. I wrote her back and sent spec sheets of all the models we had in stock and possible delivery dates. A few days later I received a check in the mail and confirmation of delivery. She also included a $5 bill for me to "treat myself to a coffee" for helping her out. I thought this was a very unique experience for 2021!

Give Billman's a follow!

A picture of the front of Billman's when it first opened in 1979. They were originally a lumber yard and construction company. Charles Billman, the grandfather of current owner Jeff Billman, ran the lumber yard to start while Rick (Jeff's dad) ran the construction company.

The Billman's team, circa 1985, which included three generations of the Billman's family. Jeff is the young child to the right.

The front entrance of Billman's today, after a recent remodel.

Durocher's

The Durocher's team participating in a No Child Hungry event held at their store. It was considered a GREAT team building event.

Monroe, Michigan

Year Founded: 1954

Year Joined NMG: 2019

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being part of our community, we love the small town atmosphere with the big town selection and pricing. Most of our customers have been coming to Durocher's for generations.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

We've made some GREAT relationships with the NMG team and other members. Sharing knowledge and best practices has been awesome.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Our first PrimeTime was in New Orleans, and the NMG team made us feel like we were members or friends for years. We jumped in on the meal making for No Child Hungry and had a great feeling like no other furniture or appliance show or market we've ever been to.

Give Durocher's a follow!

Durocher's hosts live events regularly, like this cooking class.

The Durocher's team getting loaded and ready to deliver some great appliances to their customers.

King and Bunnys Appliances

Click above to check out our Digital Rewards case study, featuring King and Bunnys!

Renton, Washington

Year Founded: 1982

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Community support! We have been heavily involved in our community since the beginning. We give back to the community because they support us.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

I have said from day one, the biggest benefit of being a part of Nationwide Marketing Group is having a connection with other dealers in other parts of the country. This allows you to find out different marketing strategies that may work in your own area.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

When my father started the business back in 1982, he was always so proud of negotiating his own pricing programs, advertising and VR directly with Whirlpool. King became friends with Kenny Lynch who had a store in a neighboring city. Kenny had been a member of a group called Key (later NMG west). Kenny kept telling King that he should stop doing his own negotiations and join Key. So, after years of badgering from Kenny, my father joined the group. After joining, my father was always a huge proponent of the buying group. Up until the day he died, he said “the best thing he ever did was join Nationwide.”

King, circa 1983-ish

The King and Bunnys team today. (Back row) Scott, Randy, Jason, Brock. (Front row) Peter, Danielle, Brandon.

Sandy's TV and Appliances

Wolcott, Connecticut

Year Founded: 1949

Year Joined NMG: 2000

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The ability to help the community with projects due to the kindness of our customers/friends purchasing our products and services.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

For us, the biggest benefit is the extended warranty program Nationwide offers. It is such a boost to our bottom line and to the theme of service that we are trying each day to promote.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

The last time I attended the PrimeTime show I met so many other business owners like myself. The ideas we discussed allowed me to added some of those ideas to my operation to help us grow.

Give Sandy's TV and Appliances a follow!

Gray's Furniture & Appliances

Berwick, Pennsylvania

Year Founded: 1956

Year Joined NMG: 2005

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Customers appreciate having a locally owned business to deal with.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Website assistance and internet marketing.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

The Gray's team always enjoys being able to attend PrimeTime shows!

Give Gray's Furniture & Appliances a follow!

Gray's Furniture & Appliances is happy to support local little leaguers by sponsoring a team!

The Gray's team all loaded up and ready to make a delivery.

Royal Flooring

Click above to catch Royal Flooring co-owner Johnnie Kennel on the Independent Thinking Podcast.

Urbandale, Iowa

Year Founded: 2005

Year Joined NMG: 2012

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being able to freely take care of our customers and make quick decisions that make customers happy.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being able to talk to other members and learn from their situations.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

We were setting up our service team and there was a store on the West Coast that had gone through a similar process not long before us. Getting to learn from them some of the challenges they faced and successes they had made the process a whole lot smoother for our team.

Check out our full Member spotlight on Royal Flooring from the February 2020 edition of Independent Thinking.

Give Royal Flooring a follow!

A look inside Royal Flooring's newest digs — a 25,000-square-foot facility that opened in early 2020.

The exterior of Royal Flooring's new showroom

Brad's Home Entertainment

Mountain Home, Arkansas

Year Founded: 1997

Year Joined NMG: 2004

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Knowing that I am providing a service in the community where I was born in, raised and graduated school from.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The relationships I have built along the many years not just with the group reps, but with the key individuals at each of the manufacturers we partner with.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

My wife was diagnosed with cancer a couple months ago and the outreach of support and concern from the group and vendors was amazing and made me feel like this was not just business partners, but family. Very uplifting.

Give Brad's a follow!

The Brad's team with one of their many "Best of" the Twin Lakes awards

On December 1, 1999, a fire completely destroyed Brad's Home Entertainment. By the end of that week, owner Brad Elbrader had the store back up and running.

Local coverage of the opening of Brad's Home Entertainment in 1997. Elbrader started by doing only TV service, antenna and DTV installations.

Thornton's Furniture

Ripley, Tennessee

Year Founded: 1947

Year Joined NMG: 2015

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

We love helping people establish the atmospheres they want so their homes reflect who they are.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The relationship that we have with our Member Support Manager!

Give Thorton's a follow!

Hahn Appliance Warehouse

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Year Founded: 1958

Year Joined NMG: 2007

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The ability to help keep local dollars in the local market and offer employment opportunities to several members of our community.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The PrimeTime buying shows offer us a great opportunity to meet with vendors and members to discuss the industry and our individual businesses. PrimeTime is a great place to exchange ideas and learn from our peers.

Give Hahn's a follow!

Downtown Appliance, Inc.

Columbia, Missouri

Year Founded: 1961

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

One of the most rewarding things is being able to help our friends and neighbors with issues that they have with their appliances. Another reward is being able to support various nonprofits within our community.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being able to brainstorm and communicate with other members has been one of the largest benefits of our membership. Knowing that others are in the exact same boat who may have a solution to help with certain problems is something that is huge. Where else can you find something like that?

Give Hahn's a follow!

Lauren Helmreich (owner), Linda Simmons, Don Helmreich (owner), Diane & Scott Jackson of Imhoff Appliance at a recent PrimeTime.

Downtown Appliance's storefront, which recently underwent a major remodel.

Howard's

San Gabriel, California

Year Founded: 1946

Year Joined NMG: 2019

A little history on Howard's

Howard's was founded in 1946 when Howard Roach began repairing radios in the back of a sporting goods store in San Gabriel, California. Due to Howard's focus on customer satisfaction, the business has grown over the past 70 years to become Southern California's largest and most trusted independent retailer of appliances, TVs, and mattresses. With 12 locations and over 100 employee owners, our goal is to provide our customers with the highest level of service, the best product selection, and the best deals around.

100% Employee Owned

Howard felt the best way to continue his legacy of creating lifelong customers was to make every employee a part owner. By doing this, he knew every employee would be focused on doing whatever it takes to make sure every customer is happy before, during, and after their purchase.

Give Howard's a follow!

Click below to catch our Independent Thinking Podcast with Howard's Board Chairman John Riddle!

Mountain High Appliance

Louisville storefront

Louisville, Colorado

Year Founded: 1993

Year Joined NMG: 2006

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

We are a small town business offering value and integrity before, during, and after the sale. We are truly grateful for Colorado’s support of our local business after all of these years. We will remain worthy of their loyalty as we continue to innovate the industry with our “customer-centered” approach.

On the decision to open showrooms with fully functional displays of luxury appliances.

We wanted to be ahead of the curve in providing customers every confidence in their appliance purchase decision. No one would buy a Ferrari without test driving it, so why would anyone invest in a luxury appliance suite before seeing it function right before their eyes. It just seemed like the right thing to do. The first live display was a KitchenAid suite, quickly followed by Viking, Thermador, Miele, Gaggenau, Bosch, JennAir, SubZero/Wolf, Dacor, BlueStar, Monogram and more. It wasn’t enough to just have one or two live pieces. We wanted to let customers compare, in real time, several makers and models in the same visit.

Give Mountain High Appliance a follow!

Mountain High's Denver warehouse

The Living Kitchen area in the Littleton location.

A look inside the Gaggenau location.

Another look inside the Gaggenau location.

The Home Store

Emmett, Idaho

Year Founded: 2007

Year Joined NMG: 2016

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Emmett is a real small farm community, real handshakes, everybody knows your family. Somewhere down the line you guys all probably were related. That’s just how we were raised.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Digital services have provided more of a boost than we could have ever anticipated. Our best paid employee is our website. It works 24/7, it knows how to price match and it never makes a mistake unless we don’t know how to use the computer.

Give The Home Store a follow!

Click below to catch our interview with The Home Store Owner Grant Webb on the Independent Thinking Podcast!

Bedzzz Express

Pelham, Alabama

Year Founded: 1995

Year Joined NMG: 2015

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

It is an honor and a privilege to be an independent retailer in the vast communities that Bedzzz Express covers over the central southeastern states. It is incredibly rewarding to truly help customer improve their health by allowing us to help them pick the right mattress the first time for them specifically.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Networking with other retails from different types of retail business and learning so much from the capabilities and resources from Prime Media Leadership Meetings, Prime time shows and continual education, MemberNet tv (MediaSign) making our stores look more professional than the big box retailers, and how they help our bedzzzexpress.com web site a state of the art platform. Many other exiting and pivotal things to lengthy to this...but appreciated.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

The extreme kindness from NMG, when our founder decided to sell the business. How they honored his retiring and how they welcome with open arms our new owner, Clark Cooper and made him feel as though he had been apart of the Bedzzz Express NMG team from the beginning.

Give Bedzzz Express a follow!

In the fall of 2020, the Bedzzz Express team partnered with Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries to provide 43 mattresses to families in need.

Bernie's Sales

Ketchikan, Alaska

Year Founded: 1986

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being part of a buying group lets you have a family business in a small town with the prices and the tools to compete and stay in business. We have survived Sears going out of business twice! For years Bernie's Sales was made up of myself (Julie Powers), Bernie (Julie's dad), Joanne (mom), and a few more crew. They've since passed, but would be so proud of my son, Kurt, who has been working with me at the store for almost 5 years now.  Kurt just slipped right into his grandfather's love of sales. Nationwide gets us the prices to be able to compete and the support like ad flyers and keeps up to date with changes like websites and digital ads. The website has been amazing this last year. We get to stay in our small town in Alaska and still compete in this ever faster changing world.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Some of the best memories working with my parents were when we did the 30 second TV ads back in the day when cable was relevant. I never would have guessed that my dad had such a sense of humor. Filming these ads took about 2 hours and I would laugh so much, and then to see how people in Ketchikan liked them and my dad became a mini celeb, it was really great.

Give Bernie's a follow

Walts TV & Appliance

Tempe, Arizona

Year Founded: 1957

Year Joined NMG: 1992

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Having customers that truly value the products and service that we offer.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Networking with other dealers and various finance , warranty programs.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Starting up Appliance Sales after 20 years of not selling them. Nationwide Executives provided a lot of advice to help make more informed decisions.

Give Walt's TV & Appliance a follow!

Walts TV & Appliances celebrated 60 years in 2017.

A peek inside the Walts TV & Appliance showroom.

Brad's Home Entertainment

Mountain Home, Arkansas

Year Founded: 1997

Year Joined NMG: 2004

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Knowing that I am providing a service in the community where I was born in, raised and graduated school from.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The relationships I have built along the many years not just with the group reps, but with the key individuals at each of the manufacturers we partner with.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

My wife was diagnosed with cancer a couple months ago and the outreach of support and concern from the group and vendors was amazing and made me feel like this was not just business partners, but family. Very uplifting.

Give Brad's a follow!

The Brad's team with one of their many "Best of" the Twin Lakes awards

On December 1, 1999, a fire completely destroyed Brad's Home Entertainment. By the end of that week, owner Brad Elbrader had the store back up and running.

Local coverage of the opening of Brad's Home Entertainment in 1997. Elbrader started by doing only TV service, antenna and DTV installations.

Howard's

San Gabriel, California

Year Founded: 1946

Year Joined NMG: 2019

A little history on Howard's

Howard's was founded in 1946 when Howard Roach began repairing radios in the back of a sporting goods store in San Gabriel, California. Due to Howard's focus on customer satisfaction, the business has grown over the past 70 years to become Southern California's largest and most trusted independent retailer of appliances, TVs, and mattresses. With 12 locations and over 100 employee owners, our goal is to provide our customers with the highest level of service, the best product selection, and the best deals around.

100% Employee Owned

Howard felt the best way to continue his legacy of creating lifelong customers was to make every employee a part owner. By doing this, he knew every employee would be focused on doing whatever it takes to make sure every customer is happy before, during, and after their purchase.

Give Howard's a follow!

Click below to catch our Independent Thinking Podcast with Howard's Board Chairman John Riddle!

Mountain High Appliance

Louisville storefront

Louisville, Colorado

Year Founded: 1993

Year Joined NMG: 2006

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

We are a small town business offering value and integrity before, during, and after the sale. We are truly grateful for Colorado’s support of our local business after all of these years. We will remain worthy of their loyalty as we continue to innovate the industry with our “customer-centered” approach.

On the decision to open showrooms with fully functional displays of luxury appliances.

We wanted to be ahead of the curve in providing customers every confidence in their appliance purchase decision. No one would buy a Ferrari without test driving it, so why would anyone invest in a luxury appliance suite before seeing it function right before their eyes. It just seemed like the right thing to do. The first live display was a KitchenAid suite, quickly followed by Viking, Thermador, Miele, Gaggenau, Bosch, JennAir, SubZero/Wolf, Dacor, BlueStar, Monogram and more. It wasn’t enough to just have one or two live pieces. We wanted to let customers compare, in real time, several makers and models in the same visit.

Give Mountain High Appliance a follow!

Mountain High's Denver warehouse

The Living Kitchen area in the Littleton location.

A look inside the Gaggenau location.

Another look inside the Gaggenau location.

Sandy's TV and Appliances

Wolcott, Connecticut

Year Founded: 1949

Year Joined NMG: 2000

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The ability to help the community with projects due to the kindness of our customers/friends purchasing our products and services.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

For us, the biggest benefit is the extended warranty program Nationwide offers. It is such a boost to our bottom line and to the theme of service that we are trying each day to promote.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

The last time I attended the PrimeTime show I met so many other business owners like myself. The ideas we discussed allowed me to added some of those ideas to my operation to help us grow.

Give Sandy's TV and Appliances a follow!

Home Mattress Center

Ron manning the desk at Home Mattress Center

Wilmington, Delaware

Year Founded: 1973

Year Joined NMG: 2014

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being able to help come good causes like, BEDS4VETS, a program that helps Vets that are in need a mattresses. Also, Horizon House, which serves more than 5,000 adults annually in Pennsylvania and Delaware through programs and services including: behavioral health services, community-based treatment, employment and education, peer support, residential treatment, and so much more.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being able to get help with advertising and promotions.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

PrimeTime is where it's at!

Give The Furniture Gallery a follow!

Home Mattress Center's Kirkwood Highway showroom

Royal's Furniture, Appliances & Bedding

Clewiston, Florida

Year Founded: 1929

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

We are a credit furniture operation and being in small rural farming communities we have repeat customers dating back three and four generations.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

All the networking and training available. In both cases you learn new ideas from your peers which are more open since you are not competing with them.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Christopher LaFlamme is the best Rep I have ever had the pleasure to work with. His story of how he got where he is today is inspiring. His attention to detail, problem solving skills and his true compassion for his clients and his job have made me a believer in NMG.

Give Royal's Furniture a follow!

Left to right, Jeff Royal, Tim Taylor (Belle Glade Store Manager), CJ Royal

Athens Refrigeration & Appliance, Inc

Athens, Georgia

Year founded: 1946

Year Joined NMG: 1989

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Being able to help other in our community. It may just be us doing something for a customer or grouping with other business for special projects. It always make you feel better at the end of the day.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

I truly love getting to talk and meet with the other dealers from all over the country. We may talk about business, family or just where we live. Just listening is sometimes wonderful. Sometimes we are able to pick up something that can help us in our business. There simply aren't too many places where you can find so many people who have the same interests and issues.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Oh yea...That wonderful $1,500.00 bottle of wine a vendor purchased at a dinner in Las Vegas... Best ever!! By the way, thanks again. And a vendor warning: Beware of menus with no pricing!

Give Athens Refrigeration a follow!

Hamai Appliance

Kahului, Hawaii

Year Founded: 1969

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

We can think and do things independently and don't have to rely on waiting for decisions from above. We are free to support local organizations when and if we choose to.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being able to network with other dealers and vendors has been a big benefit. We are all sailing similar ships. Also Prime Time University has been very educational and helpful.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Being able to have a party on the field of the Dallas Cowboys was very memorable. We got to see ourselves on their Jumbotron screen. Also touring their locker rooms and taking pictures with their cheerleaders will be remembered.

The Home Store

Emmett, Idaho

Year Founded: 2007

Year Joined NMG: 2016

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Emmett is a real small farm community, real handshakes, everybody knows your family. Somewhere down the line you guys all probably were related. That’s just how we were raised.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Digital services have provided more of a boost than we could have ever anticipated. Our best paid employee is our website. It works 24/7, it knows how to price match and it never makes a mistake unless we don’t know how to use the computer.

Give The Home Store a follow!

Click below to catch our interview with The Home Store Owner Grant Webb on the Independent Thinking Podcast!

Sherman's

Peoria, Illinois

Year Founded: 1976

Year Joined NMG: 2013

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

We weren't normal in 1976, and we're never going to be normal. We were founded as a side-hustle when a fiercely-independent woman named Sharon Sherman decided to sell some clocks and gifts while her kids were in school. Her husband Jack was a lineman at CILCO. Today more than 190 employees bear Jack and Sharon's can-do attitude across four Central Illinois locations. Working hard to make sure our customers are really happy they chose Sherman's is in our DNA. You can shop plenty of normal stores, but we're happy being different. And that's exactly what our customers love about us, too.

Why was building the Respectelivery Academy for the delivery and installation team so important to Sherman's?

What’s amazing about it, when they’re done with that, the confidence level they are starting with when they walk into their first home’s amazing versus all of those challenging situations. They’ve already been through it. They’ve seen that stuff, and they don’t have to wait until you run into that situation four months down the road and hope you’re with somebody who’s actually still training you. It’s not a good customer experience when you have to lay out thousands of dollars for an adjustable base mattress set, and then the guy who’s there is reading the instructions on how to build it.

Give Sherman's a follow!
 

Click below to check out our Independent Thinking Podcast with Paul Sherman, owner of Sherman's

A peek inside the Sherman's showroom.

Schneider's Hometown

Corydon, Indiana

Year Joined NMG: 2020

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

When purchasing a new home, most people refer to the expertise of real estate agents; specialized professionals that have been and will be selling homes for years. It's our belief that we're the appliance, furniture and mattress experts in our community — and we're here to serve our neighbors with the same level of commitment and compassion that they'd expect from someone who's family.

Tell us a little about your company's.

We are locally owned and operated and have been in the Appliances, Furniture, and Mattresses business for years. It's our business to know everything about the most popular and reliable manufacturers around. We have long standing relationships with the biggest manufacturers and know all of our products inside and out. The result? You get exceptional service for the life of your Appliances, Furniture, and Mattresses.

Give Schneider's a follow!

Royal Flooring

Click above to catch Royal Flooring co-owner Johnnie Kennel on the Independent Thinking Podcast.

Urbandale, Iowa

Year Founded: 2005

Year Joined NMG: 2012

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being able to freely take care of our customers and make quick decisions that make customers happy.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being able to talk to other members and learn from their situations.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

We were setting up our service team and there was a store on the West Coast that had gone through a similar process not long before us. Getting to learn from them some of the challenges they faced and successes they had made the process a whole lot smoother for our team.

Check out our full Member spotlight on Royal Flooring from the February 2020 edition of Independent Thinking.

Give Royal Flooring a follow!

A look inside Royal Flooring's newest digs — a 25,000-square-foot facility that opened in early 2020.

The exterior of Royal Flooring's new showroom

The Mattress Hub

Click here to read our Member Spotlight on The Mattress Hub and owner Ryan Bath.

Wichita, Kansas

Year Founded: 2008

Year Joined NMG: 2013

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

The Mattress Hub is built on two ideas — Sleep Well. Live Well. — which are more than a slogan, they're our corporate philosophy. We've evolved from a strictly brick and mortar presence in five locations across Kansas, to having a full e-commerce option for people across the United States. It's truly our belief that good sleep helps people be their best and live their best lives. Therefore, we are committed to helping make the world a more well rested place.

Explain the Hub Difference?

Earning a customer's business requires excellence. Locally owned and operated, The Mattress Hub strives to deliver the “Hub Difference” to all. That means we guarantee the best customer experience through superior service, the best prices and the best selection. We know there are many options for shopping for a mattress and we’re want to provide you with excellence through our loyalty programs, superior financing options, mattress recycling, our comfort guarantee and more.

Give The Mattress Hub a follow!
 

The Mattress Hub's Maize, KS, location.

Hockers Inc.

(Left to right) Howard Hocker, Robert Hocker Sr. and Robert Hocker Jr.

Arlington, Kentucky

Year Founded: 1897

Year Joined NMG: 1997

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being able to be a problem solver for the people in our area.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Interacting with other dealers and having someone at NMG to call with questions.

Give Hocker's a follow

Back of the Hocker's store in the 1970s

Hocker's old theater room

Home Furniture Plus Bedding

Home Furniture Plus Bedding moved their Bluebonnet location to a brand new, 28,000 square foot in 2019.

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Year Founded: 1945

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Home Furniture Plus Bedding was founded in 1945 when George (Ged) P. Fleming seized the opportunity to start his business in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Ged Fleming would go on to open several more retail locations in the Lafayette area before eventually expanding his scope to Texas in 1996 with a store in Beaumont. Home Furniture Plus Bedding has expanded in incredible ways over the years. The heart of the company, however, remains with the customer. We are committed to providing excellent customer service along with quality products that are built to last for many years.

Give Home Furniture a follow!
 

The first Home Furnishings location in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The Furniture Gallery

Bangor, Maine

Year Founded: 2007

Year Joined NMG: 2019

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

I think being a locally owned, family run business is the most important type of business to have anywhere. We support local charities and those in need whenever possible. I find that rewarding.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

I think the PrimeTime events are a big benefit that have given us access to new vendors we may not have had otherwise. The rebates on purchases we may have made anyway are also a plus.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Francie Carnell, a Member Services Administrator, is an absolute asset to Nationwide. I have dealt with her several times to register for PrimeTime events, hotel reservations through Nationwide, etc. I know when I reach out to Francie I will be taken care of.

Give The Furniture Gallery a follow!

Bray & Scarff

The Bray & Scarff Annapolis, Maryland location

Laurel, Maryland

Year Founded: 1930

Year Joined NMG: 2003

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The most rewarding thing is creating new jobs and watching new hires develop fantastic careers with us.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The biggest benefit is the connection with NMG leadership. Tom, Jennifer, Frank, PJ and the entire NMG team are a tremendous asset to us and the overall group.

Catch Bray & Scarff on the Independent Thinking Podcast

Give Bray & Scarff a follow!

Bray & Scarff's Springfield, Virginia, location opened in 2020.

Bray & Scarff's Germantown, Maryland, location

Rotmans Furniture

Worcester, Massachusetts

Year Founded: 1964

Year Joined NMG: 2016

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

That family concept is true here. We are really a family and not just the Rotman family, but the Rotmans family. We’ve all been here for decades, many of us. We have people been here for five years and they’re still new. We have the same commitment to our customers, to our employees, to our business, to our community. We all are driven by the same things. We all are motivated by those same things. We are all partners..

Your store is undergoing some major renovations. What excites you the most about what's to come for Rotmans?

Everything is exciting about that, really. I know that probably sounds sort of silly but it’s true. It’s an opportunity for us to do stuff that we’ve known we’ve needed to or stuff we’ve wanted to. It’s an opportunity for us to tell our story differently again. This family thing is still here. We're excited to  tell our communities again about that and get to revisit those discussions. For the longest time, we haven’t had that opportunity to talk about that. It’s about looking at the lines we’re bringing in. It’s about, are we really meeting what our customers want? Everything is exciting about this. Really everything.

Give Rotmans a follow!

Click below to catch our interview with Rotmans' advertising and marketing manager Heidi Richardson on the Independent Thinking Podcast!

Before the Rotmans renovation in their 200,000-square-foot Worcester, MA, location

Renovations are still happening, as of July 2021, but a lot of progress has been made!

Another progress shot of the Rotmans' renovations

Durocher's

The Durocher's team participating in a No Child Hungry event held at their store. It was considered a GREAT team building event.

Monroe, Michigan

Year Founded: 1954

Year Joined NMG: 2019

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being part of our community, we love the small town atmosphere with the big town selection and pricing. Most of our customers have been coming to Durocher's for generations.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

We've made some GREAT relationships with the NMG team and other members. Sharing knowledge and best practices has been awesome.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Our first PrimeTime was in New Orleans, and the NMG team made us feel like we were members or friends for years. We jumped in on the meal making for No Child Hungry and had a great feeling like no other furniture or appliance show or market we've ever been to.

Give Durocher's a follow!

Durocher's hosts live events regularly, like this cooking class.

The Durocher's team getting loaded and ready to deliver some great appliances to their customers.

My Appliance Source

Shakopee, Minnesota

Year Founded: 1977

Year Joined NMG: 2010

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Working in a small community, we know that we're going to see our customers in the local grocery store or out and about in town. So, if we're going to see them there, we have to know that we can take care of them in every aspect of their home appliance experience — from the purchase all the way through to service repair calls and the eventual replacement purchase. Every time we get to interact with our customers, in our store or out in the community, it's an opportunity to build on that relationship.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

I appreciate the work that Nationwide is doing focusing on the Service Leaders Network, because I think that there are such a large number of members that are self-servicing dealers or servicing dealers, if you will, which creates a unique set of needs for those people. Right now, there is a tremendous shortage of talent in the skilled labor pipeline. And talking to dealers across the country, everybody has that need. The advantage of the appliance industry right now is, once someone gets trained and certified in this area, they will have an instant job because the need is so great in probably any community they's want to work in across the country.

Give My Appliance Source a follow!
 

Strickland's Furniture

Mr. O.E. Strickland.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Year Founded: 1962

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Our mission is to offer our customers a variety of the highest quality, name brand home furnishings at the lowest possible price and provide our customers with superior service. Strickland’s is a hometown furniture retailer and our community is important to us. We are active in supporting many local schools and clubs, and we appreciate the community and help in any way we can.

Tell us a little about your company's history.

Mr. O.E. Strickland opened Strickland’s Furniture in downtown Hattiesburg on Main Street in 1962. The company was owned and operated by Mr. Strickland and his sons. Fifty-five years later, Strickland’s is now located on highway 49. Although we are in a different location, we are still family owned and operated. The store is currently run by Tommy and Steve Strickland, Mr. Strickland’s sons. Strickland’s has changed over the years, but we still have the same great furniture and the same great prices.

Give Strickland's a follow!
 

Downtown Appliance, Inc.

Columbia, Missouri

Year Founded: 1961

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

One of the most rewarding things is being able to help our friends and neighbors with issues that they have with their appliances. Another reward is being able to support various nonprofits within our community.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Being able to brainstorm and communicate with other members has been one of the largest benefits of our membership. Knowing that others are in the exact same boat who may have a solution to help with certain problems is something that is huge. Where else can you find something like that?

Give Hahn's a follow!

Lauren Helmreich (owner), Linda Simmons, Don Helmreich (owner), Diane & Scott Jackson of Imhoff Appliance at a recent PrimeTime.

Downtown Appliance's storefront, which recently underwent a major remodel.

Billman's Inc.

Catch Advantage Appliance co-owner Mark Braun on the Independent Thinking Podcast.

Cut Bank, Montana

Year Founded: 1979

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The relationships we've built with our customers over the years. We are in a very small town (3,000 people). So we are on a first name basis with most of our customers. Many of them started buying from my Grandfather and now buy from me.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Networking and getting ideas from other members. I've even traveled to a few other NMG stores to see how they do things first hand.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Just this last year I actually sold a freezer to a customer (100 miles away) all via traditional mail. She mailed us a hand written letter explaining that she had no phone or internet and had already written all the stores closer to her with no response. I wrote her back and sent spec sheets of all the models we had in stock and possible delivery dates. A few days later I received a check in the mail and confirmation of delivery. She also included a $5 bill for me to "treat myself to a coffee" for helping her out. I thought this was a very unique experience for 2021!

Give Billman's a follow!

A picture of the front of Billman's when it first opened in 1979. They were originally a lumber yard and construction company. Charles Billman, the grandfather of current owner Jeff Billman, ran the lumber yard to start while Rick (Jeff's dad) ran the construction company.

The Billman's team, circa 1985, which included three generations of the Billman's family. Jeff is the young child to the right.

The front entrance of Billman's today, after a recent remodel.

Mid City Superstore

Jeff Speidel, left, with the Almo crew, circa 2019 (which includes current NMG SVP of Luxury Appliances, John O'Halloran, right)

Norfolk, Nebraska

Year Founded: 1976

Year Joined NMG: 1988

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being a CE guy from the start. I would have to say the most rewarding thing is to see a smile when a customer walks into their home and hears their sound system for the first time. When we hear that our installation team and service dept exceeded their expectations. When we are their choice over a big box store. We truly care about if the customer was taken care of from the time they walked in through our front door to when that delivery truck leaves their home. With the tools that the Nationwide team has provided us with business has been better than ever!

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The knowledge shared by group members at primetime is priceless. We are able to keep up with an industry that is always evolving. Group rebates gives us an edge over our competitors. Great finance rates for our customers. And the ability to talk to the vendors and distributors face to face at the show.

Give Mid City Superstore a follow!

Mid City Superstore founder Doug Speidel (left) with Bill Miller, a Zenith Rep and then LG Rep, in 1986.

Jeff and Jason Speidel, current Mid City co-owners. Born to be retailers, making a fort in the warehouse 1979.

Midnite Mattress

Henderson, Nevada

Year founded: 2019

Year Joined NMG: 2019

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Offering consumers options not found at our competition.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Support from our NMG representative, Teresa Spinney.

Give Midnite Mattress a follow!

Allen Wayside Furniture

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Year founded: 1964

Year Joined NMG: 2017

Tell us a little about your store.

Allen Wayside Furniture opened its doors in November of 1964, and is now a third generation family owned and operated business. We have grown well beyond our immediate family, however we consider all members of our organization to be a part of it. Our goal since day one has been to provide customers the best value on quality home furnishings and mattresses, with the best service possible. We strive to provide a personalized experience from the moment you walk through our door, to the white glove delivery service of our seasoned staff. Whether it’s to fill your dream house, or find that one piece you’ve been missing, we are here to help you make your house a home. As a stocking dealer, we are able to provide our valued customers with their new merchandise as quick as the very next day.

Give Allen Wayside a follow!

Allen Wayside recently partnered with the Animal Rescue League of NH.

Mrs. G Appliances

Lawrence Township, New Jersey

Year Founded: 1935

Year Joined NMG: 2012

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

I love that Mrs. G Appliances is a community hub. A place to host events, chat with industry partners and their clients and greeting the generations of families that have supported Mrs. G. The stories about Mrs. G and how she touch lives is priceless.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Having access to Webfronts to create a very customizable robust website and Prime Media. I do like their smaller group get togethers.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

So happy to share my " Shop Local" stats & experience with Brand Builders a few years ago and so proud that NMG continues to partner with Independent WE Stand. No better time than now to add Shop Local on all marketing materials.

Give Mrs. G a follow!

The view from the entrance of Mrs. G.

Debbie (right) demoing in the Mrs. G Community Kitchen.

EZ TV & Appliance

Alamogordo, New Mexico

Year founded: 1960

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Hearing the words "Best Customer Service in Town". In todays market place competitive pricing is a must but no Big Box store will ever provide the level of taking care of their customers like the Independent Retailer can. It's who we as retailers are because it is the right thing to do and it's how we have survived over the years.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Hands down, it is the relationships and life long friends you make. We all fight the same battle, and what a comfort it is to know that there's always someone out there you've met through Nationwide that you can reach out to for ideas and help. Never have I once been disappointed when there was a need. Nationwide Marketing Group is an absolutely terrific group of people and members who are willing to help one another.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

There are FAR too many to choose from!

Give E-Z TV & Appliance a follow!

Michael's Appliance Center

Middletown, New York

Year Founded: 1945

Year Joined NMG: 2005

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The interaction. Being involved in the community at every level from individuals and families up. "You have enough to share when you have enough to eat."

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Training and networking. Nationwide Learning Academy is invaluable. Networking with other business owners/leaders helps to validate what we are doing right — and wrong — and improve and grow as a result.

Give Michael's a follow!

The first Michael's shop

The Michael's Low Avenue store.

Queen City Audio Video & Appliances

Charlotte, North Carolina

Year founded: 1952

Year Joined NMG: 2010

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

We love that as an independent retailer we are able to inventory our appliances right here in our local market, making it easier to be able to provide for our customers in a timely manner. Now offering same day and next day delivery - no one can get it to them faster - giving us the competitive advantage.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Networking. We love being able to discuss the state of the industry, best practices, marketing trends and just share ways to help us all be more successful independent retails in our market.

Tell us your favorite NMG memory.

Back in March 2017, Nationwide partnered with a local Orlando charity, No Child Hungry, to organize a meal-packing event at that PrimeTime show. This planned one-off event transformed into a movement, and in November 2019, as the Nationwide Week of Giving was in full swing, that movement saw the 1,000,000th meal of the partnership between NMG and No Child Hungry packed and sealed — right at Queen City Audie Video & Appliances. We can't even begin to express how honored we were to take part in such an important milestone and with such an awe-inspiring charitable effort.

Give Queen City a follow!

Advantage Appliance

Catch Advantage Appliance co-owner Mark Braun on the Independent Thinking Podcast.

Bismarck, North Dakota

Year Founded: 1993

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Bismarck-Mandan, North Dakota is an amazing place. Consumers see the advantages of working with Independent Retailers and understand that small business built our community. They understand that we are the ones supporting the local little league teams, Churches and schools . They see that we don't ask for or receive the large tax abatements that the major retailers demand so that the community can have the privilege of shopping there. Bismarck-Mandan's young people are brought up knowing the value of a great, not good, work ethic. They are taught respect and compassion. We are a wonderful place to live and prosper.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

We are entering our 29th year and I have said many times that we would not have lasted 5 years if it wasn't for NMG. I did not need Nationwide to teach me how to be a salesperson, I needed them to teach me how to be a better sales person. I didn't need them to teach me how to manage my business, I needed them to show me how to do it more effectively. I don't have time to manage a world class website or know how to build one. I don't understand social media, digital advertising or complex POS systems. I don't need to, NMG takes care of it for me at a cost far less then if I did it myself. So to answer the question what is the biggest benefit of NMG membership? It saves (makes) me money!

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

At my very first Nationwide West meeting in 1997 I had the pleasure of meeting King Parker. After that meeting I made it a point to seek him out at every PrimeTime. Damn I miss that guy!

Hansbarger Home Solutions

The Hansbarger team in the Greenville, OH store.

Greenville, Ohio

Year founded: 1930

Year Joined NMG: 2015

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

We have deep connections with families who are in the 3rd and 4th generations of purchasing from us and it gives us great pride to help them fill their homes with appliances, furniture, and mattresses. Our team is truly like a family so we are able to create an atmosphere of family serving family that our customers really respond to.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The relationships and camaraderie with other retailers just like us!

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Lee Gutman gave an address toward the end of his career at one of the original PrimeTime events focusing on the emergence of some of the big name box stores and in a moment of levity likened small independent dealers to cockroaches----"...very tough to kill and just when you think they're dead they bounce right back up!"

Give Hansbarger a follow!

Hansbarger storefront in Greenville, OH

Kendall Hemer, Store Manager & Son of Marlise McCallister

Marlise McCallister, President of the Hansbarger Companies & daughter of the late Karlh McCallister who was a founding member of Key Buying Group

Hahn Appliance Warehouse

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Year Founded: 1958

Year Joined NMG: 2007

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The ability to help keep local dollars in the local market and offer employment opportunities to several members of our community.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The PrimeTime buying shows offer us a great opportunity to meet with vendors and members to discuss the industry and our individual businesses. PrimeTime is a great place to exchange ideas and learn from our peers.

Give Hahn's a follow!

Hutchins TV & Appliance

Susie and Jim Swanson

Hillsboro, Oregon

Year founded: 1956

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

It has been an extremely rewarding experience to be the only remaining independent appliance dealer in our city. We have been able to serve our customers, and the entire city with knowledge, support, and essential products that help them in their daily lives. Being part of an intimate process that helps them obtain appliances that are necessary and desirable has given us a true sense of satisfaction. We look forward to helping people to not only get needed items, but also fulfilling their dreams of wonderful appliances for their home. Many times, our customers become our friends as we spend time fulfilling their requests.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Outside of the positive financial aspect of being a member of NMG, a huge benefit of membership is the camaraderie we get from knowing and communicating with other independent retailers like ourselves. Whether our store fronts are east, west or somewhere in between, we all do the same things, have the same issues, and wear the overcoat of small business owners, and it is good to know there is someone like us to share our thoughts, challenges and successes with. We especially appreciate Primetime where we can do just this.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories.

We have so many wonderful memories of our years with NMG, from making new friends, to secret rooms filled with pre-production products, to learning computer skills necessary for our business, to rushing to the television to watch our Primemedia made commercials on TV, that it's hard to narrow down to one particular memory, but here is one that comes to mind often. We have been glad to report that we have attended every Primetime since our membership in NMG. The events have always been a wonderful use of our time. Each time there has been a great keynote speaker. One in particular was General Gerald Coffee, a Vietnam war hero. His words were inspirational to me, and I have thought of his story and the ordeal he went through, and the lessons learned from his imprisonment many times over the years. I commend the team who chooses the speakers for Primetime. They are outstanding!

Give Hutchins a follow!

The Hutchins team: Jim & Susie Swanson, Michael Swanson, Alex Heisler, Aaron Fernandez, Grayson Landon, Jake Howell.

Gray's Furniture & Appliances

Berwick, Pennsylvania

Year Founded: 1956

Year Joined NMG: 2005

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Customers appreciate having a locally owned business to deal with.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Website assistance and internet marketing.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

The Gray's team always enjoys being able to attend PrimeTime shows!

Give Gray's Furniture & Appliances a follow!

Gray's Furniture & Appliances is happy to support local little leaguers by sponsoring a team!

The Gray's team all loaded up and ready to make a delivery.

Atlantic Furniture Company

Providence, Rhode Island

Year founded: 1992

Year Joined NMG: 2016

Tell us a little about your store.

Atlantic Furniture is one of the best furniture stores in Providence, Rhode Island. We sells indoor and outdoor furniture for the home, as well as lighting and decor with hard-to-beat prices. We have an extensive collection of luxurious sofas, trend-forward dining tables, and space-saving furniture. Atlantic offers a 5-year warranty and a 1-year warranty for your furniture. They provide ultra-shield fabric protection. Convenient delivery and pick-up services are available to Providence customers. They are offering free layaways and 90 days pay off option. Nearly all types of furniture are available in various materials, including different woods and hundreds of different fabric choices.

Give Atlantic Furniture Company a follow!

Jeff Lynch Appliance and TV Center

The staff of Jeff Lynch in front of their new location on Roper Mountain Rd. Monday, April 17, 2006.

Greenville, South Carolina

Year Founded: 1951

Year Joined NMG: 1995

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being able to serve our neighbors with customer service like we would expect and knowing that they will always have an alternative to the big box choice to keep their business local and support our family and friends who live in our community.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Providing all of us independents the power of one to create accountability to the manufacturers and also coming together to share best practices with each other.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

In the early years meeting together with the founding president Lee Guttman and observing him hearing our answers to his questions about a vendor's performance and executing the power of the group to remove the vendor from the show.

Give Jeff Lynch Appliance and TV Center a follow!

Jeff Lynch storefront at 1120 North Pleasantburg Drive, which was home from 1993-2006.

Karl's TV, Audio, Appliances & Furniture

Gregory, South Dakota

Year founded: 1956

Year Joined NMG: 2006

Tell us a little about your store.

In 1956, when Elmer Karl opened the first Karl's TV in Gregory, South Dakota, televisions were just making their way into households. Customers expected that great service and businesses stood behind the products they sold because it was the right thing to do.

Since then many things have changed, but at Karl's, our commitment to exceptional customer service and satisfaction has remained the same. Karl's was founded on these easy to say, yet tough to deliver on principles. It is our commitment to these principles that allows us to grow and remain competitive year after year. At Karl's we value every customer and community we serve. Since those early days, Karl's has grown significantly.

Today, Karl's offers the region's broadest inventory of in-stock name-brand TVs and appliances. In addition, you will find a comfortable selection of seating and mattresses. Karl's now has 29 locations in 7 states. Through our expansive buying group relationships we are able to be priced competitively on a daily basis. The kicker at Karl's is simple: We truly service what we sell using our own dedicated staff of technicians, who are equipped to get the job done right. After being in business for over 64 years, we here at Karl's know what is most important to us and that is OUR CUSTOMERS!

Give Karl's a follow!

Karl's ribbon cutting at their newest location in Brookings, South Dakota.

Thornton's Furniture

Ripley, Tennessee

Year Founded: 1947

Year Joined NMG: 2015

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

We love helping people establish the atmospheres they want so their homes reflect who they are.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The relationship that we have with our Member Support Manager!

Give Thorton's a follow!

Don's TV & Appliance

Tyler, Texas

Year founded: 1979

Year Joined NMG: 2020

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Tyler, Texas is in the center on an interstate between Dallas and Shreveport, Louisiana, so it’s a pretty diverse town. We were born and raised here, all of us attended public schools here. I think what’s helped us be successful, we care about the community, and that’s really the message that we’ve been putting out since day one.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Early on in the pandemic when we were forced to shut down, we started scrambling and were looking for ways to communicate with our community. I had already looked at a few chat services a few PrimeTimes in a row. Tim and Greg Danko from Site On Time, they help me run my website and they are awesome, and you can trust those guys, and they react quickly, which was key during this pandemic that quick reaction. They helped me make a snap decision and get up and running with a service in no time.

Click here to listen to Don's TV Owner Donnie Thedford's interview on the Independent Thinking Podcast

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Mattress Warehouse Utah, Inc.

Sandy, Utah

Year founded: 2005

Year Joined NMG: 2009

What's the most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in your community?

Helping our customers change their lives through a great night's sleep.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Lowered costs of financing for us and our customers.

Tell us a little bit about your Sleep Fit—Rest Assured Experience.

The Sleep Fit—Rest Assured Experience is the best way to discover your assurance of the support and comfort, and the great night’s sleep, you are looking for. We invite you to come into anyone of our locations, lay back on three, just three mattresses, and we can direct you to the technology best for you at various price points that work for your budget, whether it be in our value lines, premier lines, or the ultimate in luxury. Our customers tell us we have no competition, and we know they aren’t simply flattering us because we have a 96% plus success rate in customer satisfaction. As a result, we exchange less than 4% of our mattresses, compared to a traditional brick and mortar retailer with 15% to 20% return/exchange rate, and an online return rate exceeding 40%.

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Rutland Appliances

Rutland, Vermont

Year Founded: 2012

Year Joined NMG: 2017

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being a successful independent retailer in our community gives us the freedom and ability to reward our employees and give back to our community. Every sale helps us pay our staff and reward them for their hard work, and dependability This past year has shown us how important it is to recognize and reward loyalty, dependability and hard work in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Our staff has remained through it all and they continue to help us do great work in our community.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Christopher LaFlamme has been a tremendous asset to our company. He has connected us to some of the best products and opportunities our company has ever had. He does this with careful consideration, always making sure he is offering our company something that will truly be of value. We never feel like we are being "sold" something and our time with Christopher is always time well spent.

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G&H Appliance, Inc.

Christiansburg, Virginia

Year Founded: 1969

Year Joined NMG: 1995

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Being trusted and regarded as a reliable business for over 50 years.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

Without a doubt the network of professionals and the great relationships built along the way.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

Moving into our new location in 2007, when the economic downturn hit. At that time we proved we could rise above another challenge and be better for it.

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King and Bunnys Appliances

Click above to check out our Digital Rewards case study, featuring King and Bunnys!

Renton, Washington

Year Founded: 1982

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

Community support! We have been heavily involved in our community since the beginning. We give back to the community because they support us.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

I have said from day one, the biggest benefit of being a part of Nationwide Marketing Group is having a connection with other dealers in other parts of the country. This allows you to find out different marketing strategies that may work in your own area.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

When my father started the business back in 1982, he was always so proud of negotiating his own pricing programs, advertising and VR directly with Whirlpool. King became friends with Kenny Lynch who had a store in a neighboring city. Kenny had been a member of a group called Key (later NMG west). Kenny kept telling King that he should stop doing his own negotiations and join Key. So, after years of badgering from Kenny, my father joined the group. After joining, my father was always a huge proponent of the buying group. Up until the day he died, he said “the best thing he ever did was join Nationwide.”

King, circa 1983-ish

The King and Bunnys team today. (Back row) Scott, Randy, Jason, Brock. (Front row) Peter, Danielle, Brandon.

Orsini's

Click here to check out Orsini's full Member Spotlight from February 2020.

Martinsburg, West Virginia

Year Founded: 1948

Year Joined NMG: 2006

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

We are proud to give back to the community that has supported us for for 73 years. We support many different charities and organizations and are always heavily involved in community activities.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The best part of being in the group is trading best shared practices with other independent dealers from all over the country.

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Silica For Your Home

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Year Founded: 1922

Year Joined NMG: 2015

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The most rewarding part about being an independent retailer in our communities that we serve is having the ability to impact so many lives. Whether it's the products that we sell to our customers which makes their life more convenient or enjoyable, or giving to non-profit organizations in our community to help others who are not as blessed as we are.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

For us, going to the shows to continually educate ourselves and also networking with so many great retailers is one of the greatest benefits that we receive from being part of Nationwide. This industry has changed so much over the past 10 years, and for us to go on our own without the support of Nationwide to help, or sharing ideas with other dealers in our industry would make it very difficult to keep up with the changes.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

There are many great memories that I have had with Nationwide over the years, but the one that comes to mind first is going to the first Primetime in New Orleans. Coming over from a different buying group that just focused on just the price of products, to a group that offered so many assets to help us run our business was a bit overwhelming. We realized early on that we needed to try to come home from the Primetime shows and focus on one or two things that will help our business, instead of trying to do it all at once.

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B&B Appliance & TV

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Year Founded: 1968

Year Joined NMG: 1996

What's the most rewarding thing about being an Independent retailer in your community?

The most rewarding thing about being an independent retailer in Cheyenne is being able to give back to our community in many ways like sponsoring local sports and events.

What has been the biggest benefit of Membership with NMG?

The biggest benefit of membership with NMG is being able network with others from all over the country and build solid relationships with those people. Another benefit is the learning opportunities that NMG provides.

Tell us some of your favorite NMG memories!

One of my favorite memories of NMG is on the first show that I ever attended I was also able to get the opportunity to visit the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Being a young child who watched the Grand Ole Opry on TV, it was almost surreal being able to visit it in person.

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