MEGA Gets Social

March 22, 2012  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Social Media on March 23, 2012

Thelaunch of a new social media program called "Social Extend" highlighted retail buying consortium MEGA Group USA's convention this week in Orlando.

Social Extend, exclusive for MEGA Group USA members, is a turnkey social media program that allows members to have automatic content feeds from manufacturers' Facebook and Twitter accounts posted directly to the social media presence for their store. Members who sign up for the program choose which vendors they would like to receive content and how often. Feeds from these sites are then automatically sent to the dealers' Facebook and Twitter pages providing ongoing informational and relative content to their customers.
 
For a monthly cost of $99, Netsertive will deliver selected content to retailers' Facebook and Twitter accounts. Netsertive will work directly with dealers to help them build their social media following, determine how much or how little to post, how to highlight holiday promotions and key selling periods and provide guidance on periodic personal posts as needed. Acceptance of the program by members was extremely high with many members signing up for the service at the convention. 

"We are excited to bring our members Social Extend," said Scott McFarland, director of information technology for MEGA Group USA. "While social media is extremely important to a retailer's business, we realize that they may not have the time to implement. That's why we launched this exclusive program that will help turn our dealers€™ followers into loyal and repeat customers."

With MEGA Group USA's continuing initiatives in Web marketing, the convention focused on online strategies including having dedicated workshops on Web Advertising, Search Engine Marketing strategies, and the importance of having a Web site featuring MEGA's WebFronts Premium program. WebFronts Premium provides members a robust Web site featuring unlimited product catalog capabilities, advanced merchandising, price tools, unlimited shopping cart, advanced SEO techniques, automated rebate center and product comparison capabilities. MEGA already has hundreds of members signed up on the WebFronts Premium program.

MEGA Group USA's Orlando Convention opened Saturday, March 17, with a user's session for current WebFront Premium dealers and golf tournament for participating members. The day closed with a Welcome Reception for all vendors, guests and members.
 
Sunday opened with keynote speaker Don Hutson encouraging members to determine their point of differentiation in the market and communicate that to their current and potential customers. Hutson also discussed the importance of leadership and influencing associates in positive ways in order to achieve the most from them. The advertising and online workshops then followed Hutson. Each workshop was packed with the more than 350 businesses in attendance at the show.  Hutson addressed the members again at lunch focusing on the importance of motivating and training associates and what are the steps needed to take a potential customer all the way to an advocate for the product.

The afternoon featured panel discussions where members were able to network and discuss best practices, tips, trends and industry happenings. The consumer and appliance members were moderated by Rick Bellows, president of MEGA Group USA and the furniture members by Jerry Honea, COO and furniture division manager. The panels and discussion groups strategized on such topics as retail financing, price tagging methods, floor space allocation, cash flow ideas, computer systems and delivery.
 
The actual Show opened Monday morning with more than 85 furniture, appliance, electronics, bedding, lawn and garden, and business service vendors in attendance. This year's show featured eight new vendor programs including EnGenX, Fairway One, Human Touch, Life of the South, Mat Tech, Perdue Woodworks, Samsung and Service Lamp.  Many of the vendors recorded an increase in sales over the last show including Latex Bliss, Why Not Lease It, Whirlpool and Simmons.

MEGA Group USA also officially debuted their Whirlpool Appliance Gallery at the convention. MEGA first introduced the Gallery at the Las Vegas Furniture Market to visiting dealers but unveiled the full Whirlpool Gallery to the entire dealer base at the convention. In working with Whirlpool, MEGA Group USA is offering this 1,000 square foot appliance gallery featuring all product categories exclusive to their dealer members helping position them as a complete Home Furnishings resource to their customers.