NEWSLETTERS - "Silver at the Summit" to offer the best of retail and rent-to-own

"Silver at the Summit" buying show to offer best of retail and rent-to-own

According to Associated Volume Buyers (AVB) CEO Bob Lawrence, the decision to co-locate trade shows next week with the oldest and most well-established rent-to-own buying group in the nation was one driven by convenience as much as necessity.

Pooling resources with TRIB Group and providing more member options, Lawrence says, fulfills a larger goal of both groups to meet the needs of a rapidly diversifying  marketplace head on.

AVB CEO Bob Lawrence

TRIB's institutional knowledge and reputation in the rent-to-own industry -- the group is celebrating its 25th anniversary at the Dallas show -- combined with AVB's retail muscle -- Lawrence clocks the groups membership total, including TRIB members, at 4,500 -- will make the upcoming buying show even more valuable to both buyers and vendors.

"Rent-to-own is a big part of the puzzle in our goal to be able to supply consumers with everything they need for a home," says Lawrence, who has served as AVB's CEO for 14 years. "Whether they want to rent or buy, our goal is to provide a source for it. TRIB is an invaluable component in our being able to achieve that, if it wasn't, this partnership wouldn't have happened."

Around 500 rent-to-own professionals -- vendors and dealers -- travel to the annual TRIB Group buying show March 17-19 at the Anatole Hotel in Dallas.

Those attendees represent approximately 100 TRIB rent-to-own dealer and 80 vendor companies.

The show dubbed, "Silver at the Summit" will celebrate TRIB's 25th anniversary and marks the first time TRIB and AVB have co-located their respective shows since signing a strategic alliance in May 2006.

"By consolidating the shows, it's less expensive to suppliers and our members benefit from better programs," Lawrence says. "Suppliers have no desire to go to any more shows than they're already going to."

TRIB Board President Ernie Lewallen agrees, but says AVB members have just as much to gain from the partnership as TRIB members do, namely through TRIB's extensive partnerships in the furniture industry.

"Neither of these large retail buying groups does a great job with furniture. We do," says Lewallen, a 15-year TRIB member with over 27 years in the RTO industry. "If you come to a TRIB show, you could operate your entire business with what's offered within the walls of that show. The decision to co-locate with AVB only enhances that."

TRIB Board President Ernie Lewallen

Specifically, Lewallen is referring to AVB's Expert Programs including service offerings that address everything from providing financial advice to providing access to human resources and health insurance programs.

AVB programs such as  Expert Warehouse are particularly well-suited to TRIB members who purchase smaller quantities of electronics and appliances because the arrangement allows such dealers to take advantage of "truckload pricing", Lewallen says.

Combined with access to AVB's retail-vendors, programs and buying power -- Lawrence says AVB members collectively pull in $11 billion in annual revenue -- TRIB is still the buying group to beat for the independent rent-to-own dealer, Lewallen says.

TRIB's long track record and close association with APRO -- over 80 percent of TRIB members are APRO members -- give members unique access to a culture and and fellowship that is second to none.

"The camaraderie and information exchanged in our "meetings of the mind" dealer only meetings allows us to just talk shop and share the good, the bad and the ugly amongst ourselves," Lewallen says. "That culture of TRIB is the most valuable part of my membership. If nothing else, the mixing of our knowledge will cover your back."

In addition to the culture and floor deals, the TRIB Group will give away $25,000 to one lucky company in a drawing at the conclusion of the conference to celebrate it's silver anniversary. Tickets for the raffle will be awarded based on the volume of purchases made by attending companies.

Both TRIB and AVB Boards will meet independently during the conference.

Conference attendees are also encouraged to take advantage of some of the 20 breakout sessions offered during the conference on topics ranging from "Marketing to Women" to "How to Update Your Storefront for $10,000 or Less" to "Consumer Electronics".

"That's one of the most exciting parts of the program," Lawrence says. "Knowledge is power."