By Nick Fry

The Leading Appliances management team are working very hard, and very cohesively, as we transition our member stores across.

We’re very cognisant of the pending 1 April 2013 deadline, so under the guidance of general manager Michael Carr, we’ve all been assigned very specific tasks, across the spectrum of what needs to be done, for the next six weeks

Michael is working very closely with our transitional stores to answer their queries and update them on the process as it unfolds. Membership Agreement Packs have gone out to all prospective members, and we’re starting to see the group take shape.

We feel it is important to clarify a few points as there appears to be some slight miscommunication out in the channel.  Although Leading Appliances is not a member of Narta, Michael has retained close communication in this process with the Narta head office, as well as the Retravision head office, to ensure optimum communication flow and exchange of information, processes and updating of progress.

Lee Scott, our group merchandise manager, has been working very closely with me in managing the vitally important Marketing and Merchandising side of the business, as we work towards our landmark first April Catalogue, which will unveil our exciting new corporate look and feel, which we believe will be a market leader.

We’ve also been meeting with our key preferred suppliers, who are unanimously very supportive of Leading Appliances, and these discussions are well advanced with most of the major suppliers.

It will be very exciting and reassuring for our members to know that they’ll have access to the market leading brands, at very competitive pricing, backed by a market-leading strategy.

Leading Appliances will not be providing central billing to our members, as our stores currently have direct accounts with  most suppliers, however, we will be working very closely with the all stores, providing very professional administration and marketing support to help drive their business to achieve maximum sales and profitability.

There are many bases to cover to ensure the transition is a smooth and stress-free one for our members, and we are all working very hard to achieve this. With six weeks until we launch there’s still a lot to be achieved, but the team is working around the clock to get it done.

We know from supplier feedback that we have the right model for our members and for our suppliers. We want to be an active, proactive and interactive independent retail group, working with our members and suppliers to deliver great results for everybody involved.

Nick Fry is the national product manager at Leading Appliances.

Editorial responsibility for this post is taken by Current.com.au editor Patrick Avenell.