MEGA Group USA Sets Attendance Record

September 6, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on September 7, 2011

Furniture, appliance, electronics retail buying group MEGA Group USA reported record-breaking attendance at its August 25-28 National Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

More than 500 MEGA member businesses attended the bi-annual four day show that kicked off with a special appearance from the Tempur-Pedic Roadshow Experience interactive training program. 

Friday morning opened with a "State of the Furniture Industry" address by Jerry Honea, COO of MEGA Group USA, and other industry representatives. Honea gave the audience a recap of 2011, outlook for 2012 and some insights into what has been very successful for MEGA members over the past 12 months. 

"Our exclusive Paula Deen Home by Serta Mattress Collection continues to be a winner with consumers," Honea said. "The collection is in over 300 stores and is proving to drive traffic and revenues for our members."

Another program Honea emphasized that is driving profit for MEGA Group USA members is the Product Protection Plan.

"MEGA's enhanced Product Protection Plan is a key ingredient in helping increase sales and margins," said Director of Business Services Parker. "When sales are challenged, the product protection plan needs to be a vital component of the overall business strategy." 

Other industry experts that participated in State of the Furniture Industry session included Tom Prato with Bassett Furniture, Joe Hunt of Latex Bliss and Sean Bergman of FabricTech.

Another highlight was the launch of the new WebFronts Premium Plus Mattress and Bedding Platform. During the first few hours after unveiling the new platform, more 50 members had signed up for the Mattress and Bedding platform and MEGA anticipates that will double over the next few weeks. 

Saturday morning of the event, MEGA Group USA featured new media marketing expert, Jeff Korhan, as the key note speaker. Korhan not only encouraged members to have a robust Web site, but also to implement search engine marketing, embrace social media strategies such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, consider blogging, utilize YouTube, and adopt e-mail marketing. 

"Sixty five percent of adults that are online use social media," Korhan said. "The 50-plus segment is the fastest growing group. The more robust your social media strategy is, the more traffic you will get to your site, the more people who will visit your store and the more sales you will have."

Korhan wrapped by telling members, "This is your time. Online marketing levels the playing field and social media amplifies the qualities that you as independent retailers have. Large companies are trying to emulate you, so keep doing what you do well."

Following Korhan, the show opened where members shopped 80,000 square feet of floor space ordering from over 75 vendors including Bassett Furniture, Southern Motion, Serta, Sealy, Simmons, Tempur-Pedic, Klaussner, Leggett & Platt, Coaster, Latex Bliss, Catnapper and England among others. 

Members also spent time with an array of business services that MEGA Group USA offers to help them run their retail stores. A new business service that MEGA introduced at the show included MEGA Web Advertising, powered by NetSertive. MEGA Web Advertising is an exclusive search marketing and display ad program focused on increasing local sales opportunities and targeted online exposure by providing technology-driven and high-performance strategies.

"MEGA Web Advertising is just one more example of our commitment to provide our members effective online programs that help them market their own stores," said Rick Bellows, president of MEGA Group USA. "Our focus is to provide them all the necessary tools to build their individual brands within their market and not only compete, but beat the big box retailers in the process."

MEGA Group USA National Convention dates for 2012 have been set for March 17-20 in Orlando, Fla., at the Marriott World Center; and August 20-23 in Louisville, Ky., at the Downtown Marriott.