The evolution in consumer finance has streamlined the credit-approval process, which is a benefit to both the customer and the retailer. Synchrony Financial shares some tips for success.
Independent Thinking Podcast
159: EPA’s Dan Cronin Talks Earth Day, ENERGY STAR and More
Ahead of Earth Day 2023, we sat down with Dan Cronin, program manager for ENERGY STAR at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to talk about the program’s impact, the Inflation Reduction Act and much more.
158: Getting Seriously Small Town with Sorenson’s Appliance & TV
Geneva, Minnesota is town of just over 500 residents, and it also happens to be the home of Nationwide Marketing Group Member Sorenson’s Appliance & TV. Co-owner Dak Sorenson and his team have found success by leaning heavily into that small-town mindset in every aspect of the business.
157: Independent Retail Through the Eyes of a Nationwide Member Support Manager
Brett Kelley joined the Nationwide Marketing Group team roughly one year ago as a Member Support Manager — the team that sits on the front lines of the independent retail channel, engaging with our Members and helping them thrive on their own terms. As such, he (and the full MSM team) has a very unique perspective into what life is like as an independent retailer. We tap into that experience and more.
156: Pushing the Limits of Luxury Appliances with JennAir
JennAir is a company founded on the idea of challenging conventional norms in the appliance industry. That way of thinking hasn’t changed over the past 57-plus years, and it’s helped the brand continue to stand out as a true innovator of luxury appliances. We dive into all that JennAir has to offer with Nathan Puplis, who leads up the buying group initiative for the company.
155: A Crash Course in Retail Financing with Wells Fargo
From inventory financing to consumer credit, the world of retail financing is vast. To help get a handle on it all, we tapped into our partners over at Well Fargo Retail Services to dive into it. Steve Jermier, SVP of Relationship Management at Wells Fargo, sat down to talk about the work his team does behind the scenes to help independent retailers navigate the ins and outs of retail finance, the cause behind the recent rate changes and strategies to avoid letting it impact your business.
154: How Pocatello Electric Became a Community Staple
For over 120 years, Pocatello Electric has served the many needs of its local residents in southeast Idaho. That longevity has helped them become the oldest family-owned appliance store in the country. We chat with current-day owner Suzie Vigliaturo about business, what’s worked and how they’ve evolved over the years to remain relevant with their customers.
153: An Inflation Reduction Act Deep Dive with Frank Sandtner
Passed in August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act is considered a landmark piece of legislation that will have a major impact on many industries for decades to come — including retail. The energy efficiency portion of the bill aims to provide consumers with various tax credits and other yet-to-be-determined benefits pending state-level programs that will roll out in relation to this bill. There’s a ton to unpack, but we attempt to do just that with Nationwide Marketing Group’s Director of Business Services Frank Sandtner.
152: An Outdoor Overview with NMG’s John Laing
PrimeTime in Orlando this past August saw one of the largest and most-impressive Outdoor experiences to date. Nationwide Marketing Group’s Director of Appliances and Outdoor John Laing, who led the charge to bring that space to life, reflects on the experience, details what attendees can expect at PrimeTime in Dallas (March 25-28), and provides other outdoor updates.
151: On the Luxury Appliance Experience with Middleby Residential
As the calendar flipped to 2023, Nationwide Marketing Group formally launched a partnership with Middleby Residential. Home to some of the leading names in the luxury appliance and outdoor categories, Middleby Residential keeps a finger on the pulse of the luxury retail experience.
150: Into the Metaverse with ReadySet
Ahead of their appearance in a new Metaverse pavilion at the NRF Big Show, ReadySet dives deep into the world of virtual reality commerce. ReadySet CEO Steve McLean shares an overview of the Metaverse concept and helps independent retailers explore the ins and outs of the next-gen version of e-commerce.
149: A 2022 Recap
The year 2022 was a busy one for the Independent Thinking Podcast. Over the past 48 weeks (or episodes), we’ve gathered 1,516 minutes worth of conversations with our Members, Vendor Partners, industry professionals, trade media friends and our own Nationwide Marketing Group family. On this final episode of the year, we try to whittle those conversations down to one brief recap.
148: A Walk Down Memory Lane with NMG’s Rick Weinberg
As he prepares to retire at the end of 2022, Nationwide Marketing Group SVP of Business Services Rick Weinberg recaps a 30-plus-year career with the organization — and an even longer stint serving the independent retail community.
147: Danby Talks Appliance Trends Heading Into 2023
Jim Estill, owner and CEO of small appliance maker Danby, highlights some of the trends the company is tracking as the calendar gets ready to flip into a new year.
146: How Beko Has Built a Culture Around Convenience and Health
The commitment to creating products that promote convenience and a healthier lifestyle for the consumer (and world) at Beko is one of the things that sets the brand apart.
145: Crafting a Compelling Story — and Badass Products — with Austere
As a brand in its infancy, Austere should’ve stood no chance against a raging pandemic. But Ghazarian and her team created such a compelling brand story — not to mention some seriously awesome product — that the business not only survived, but is thriving.
144: Telesystem Shares Cybersecurity Tips for Retailers
Fresh off of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, we’re extending the conversation with Telesystem. Ira Feuerstein, manager of cybersecurity business development for the brand, shares a number of tips, tricks and fair warnings for retailers around protecting their data and educating their employees on this always-important matter.
143: Diving Into Holiday Shopping Trends and More with Dealerscope
Fresh off of his first trip to Berlin for IFA 2022, Dealerscope Senior Managing Editor Sam Hitt hops onto the podcast to talk about the latest gadgets, holiday retail trends and more. We dive into everything from gaming tech, e-mobility trends, the Metaverse — and the list goes on.
142: Profile of a Fast Growing Company with Orsini’s
For the second year in a row, Martinsburg, WV-based retailer Orsini’s has been recognized in the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list. We sat down with Owner PJ Orsini to talk about the honor, how the business has continued to thrive during uncertain times and more.
141: Andy Orozco Dives Deep Into the Custom Integration Industry
Custom integration industry veteran Andy Orozco hit the ground running — literally — as Nationwide Marketing Group’s new Senior Vice President of CI. His second day on the job brought him to Dallas for CEDIA Expo. A few weeks in now, Orozco sits down to talk about what excites him in working with NMG’s CI dealers, the opportunities that lie ahead in this industry and more.