By Patrick Avenell

Leading Appliances recently held its inaugural Advisory Committee meeting at the Leading Edge head office in Sydney. This committee has been formed to represent the interests of the 64 members and it contains some of the most well-known independent retailers in the country.

The foundation members of the Advisory Committee are:

Peter Bolte (Taree, NSW)
Stu Caruthers (Gloucester, NSW)
Anne Blampied (Mansfield, Victoria)
Chris Thomson (Euroa, Victoria)
Gavin Douglas (Longreach, Queensland)
Steve Lestone (Charters Towers, Queensland)
Rick Macera (Mt Gambier, SA)
Karen Hayes (Merredin, WA)

According to Leading Appliances head of product and marketing Nicholas Fry, these members were nominated and elected by their fellow members.

“The Advisory Committee represents our 64 member stores, providing feedback, suggestions, and professional advice to further the advancement of Leading Appliances, working closely with the Leading Edge management team to ensure best practices,” Fry said.

“The Committee provides input towards our preferred supplier list, our core range of products and our catalogue products, working closely with general manager Michael Carr, merchandise manager Lee Scott and me.”

Steve Lestone, from Charters Towers in Far North Queensland, said working with the Leading Edge Group has been a “breath of fresh air” and that he has been relishing the new organisational structure since joining from the old Retravision group.