In an attempt to better prepare for a more connected consumer electronics and home appliance market, the CE buying groups Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) and Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) have formed a strategic alliance, effective immediately.
The alliance allows both independent organizations to maximize and leverage their individual strengths, while working cooperatively to increase member benefits, bolster vendor relationships, and amplify synergies in marketing, demand generation, and other services. According to the groups—which jointly announced their plans during HTSA’s 2015 Spring Conference yesterday in Nashville—the alliance not only presents new business opportunities for the members and vendors, but also forms the CE industry’s single largest buying and marketing collaboration, specifically dedicated to home technology specialty retailers and system integrators.
Part of this strategic alliance and new direction is the restructuring of NMG’s Specialty Electronics Nationwide (SEN) group into the new Home Technology Specialists of Nationwide (HTSN), with membership consisting of specialty AV retailers and system integrators. In conjunction with the announcement of the new partnership, the group has also revealed the HTSN logo, a symbolization of the strategic alliance and the opportunity it presents to drive the connected home business.
Referring to Nationwide “the HTSA of the appliance, business,” HTSA managing director Bob Hana, said that his groups sees “immense opportunity” to offer a more complete, connected home solution spanning everything from home entertainment, security and control to comfort, convenience and connected appliances. “Together with Nationwide Marketing Group, we are uniquely aligned to address the evolving needs of the CE industry and a new class of tech-hungry consumers,” he stated.
Nationwide Marketing Group works beside thousands of appliance, furniture, electronics, specialty electronics, custom installation, and rent-to-own dealers helping them grow their businesses and their bottom lines. With over 3,800 members operating more than 11,000 storefronts and $15 billion in combined annual sales, Nationwide is North America’s largest buying and marketing organization. Industry veterans, heading Nationwide’s seven regional divisions, work to provide independent dealers with personalized service and local programming in every market they serve.
Tom Hickman, senior VP of electronics at Nationwide said, “It’s rare to find such a unique opportunity in which members from both organizations are able to leverage the strengths of the other in order to capture the most available share in this space. These complimenting benefits showcase just how powerful this alliance will be for our retailers.”
Along with bringing heightened focus and energy to the home technology space, the alliance also empowers both organizations with added benefits and resources. For HTSN, the alliance helps to extend relationships with like-minded business owners who are marketing connected solutions, while also granting the HTSA membership access to best in class marketing tools and services, including NMG’s exclusive HD electronic signage system for digital content and HD commercials, customized marketing materials, and a dedicated web service team to generate a bigger digital footprint for these members. Professional-grade resources will pave the way for enhanced service and support, expertly tailored for the connected world, ranging from mobile-friendly training apps to live-streaming support technology.
“With 69 percent of consumers expected to own a connected home device by 2019, who better to manage today’s connected home and connected appliances than a professional, knowledgeable home technology specialist?” Hana asked. “HTSA and HSTN will now represent the future of smart home product delivery, support and service. This alliance is a forward-thinking plan of action proving that we don’t rest on our laurels.”
