Leading Edge sets up Appliance Group as it seeks to lure Retravision stores
“The store owners will be offered the opportunity to join the newly formed Appliance Group, headed up by Michael Carr and operating within Leading Edge” CEO Tony Middlebrook said.

Membership will be based on a rollover of the existing Retravision arrangements for IT, marketing and supplier negotiation support.

The new membership offering will include continuity of software supply, marketing support and an enhancement of the supplier/store relationships and terms. It supplies a slew of brands including Samsung, Olympus, Sony, Philips and Asus.

The move comes as buying group Retravision announced it would be winding down operations due to ongoing credit difficulties with suppliers earlier this month, leaving 180 stores out in the cold.

The stores are to be taken in under the Narta buying group with Leading Edge taking in stores with turnovers of $3m or less, Retravision CEO Paul Holt said.

Middlebrook said the newly group will be contacting current Retravision members in the near future “to advise them of our offer and commitment to them.”

The new Appliance Group will offer Retravision stores a “strong service”, “product diversity,” and “geographical spread” merchandising and marketing services.

“We are passionate about supporting independent retailers,” Middlebrook said as the new group seizes on the opportunity to expand its group which already has 400 members in the electronics and IT trade.

Leading Edge is working with Narta and Retravision to provide the stores exiting the Retravision brand with a strong service offering, Middlebrook said.

“Leading Edge creates a community of independent retailers and works with them in a co-operative manner to achieve much more together than any of us could achieve by ourselves.”

“Product diversity and geographical spread places it well to provide the level of expertise required to support the exiting Retravision stores.”

Its member base totals 1,200 (400 in electronics, IT and telecommunications), as well as Music, Books, Video, Professional Golf Shops and Jewellery and has annual turnover $320 million.