By Patrick Avenell
The Leading Edge Group has begun assembling the team that will manage the transition of former Retravision members into the new Appliances division of the diversified buying group.
Keith Rowe, formerly of Sharp and Betta, has joined the organisation as an expert consultant and Nick Fry has resigned from GAF Control to be Leading Edge’s new product and advertising manager.
Both Rowe and Fry will report to Leading Edge Electronics and Digital general manager Michael Carr.
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Fry comes to the Leading Edge Group with an intimate knowledge of the Retravision business, having worked as an appliance buyer for Retravision Southern prior to its collapse.
Since then, Fry had been working as the general manger of GAF Control, marketers of the Pye, Sunair and Heller brands.
“I've resigned on very good terms with GAF and I leave them in a stronger position than when I started there six months ago,” Fry told Current.com.au “I oversaw the rebuilding of key customer relationships as well as implementing many internal procedures to improve efficiencies.
“The GAF Chairman was very understanding and supportive of my decision to leave.
“The opportunity to join the very strong and dynamic Leading Edge Group as its product and advertising manager, in their new Appliances Division, is an opportunity too good to refuse.”
Fry will be part of the team working to ensure a smooth transition of retailers left without a buying group following the sale of the Retravision brand to Narta in late 2012. The Narta Group is understood to have placed strict turnover minimums on stores to join its group, leaving around 70 stores without representation.
“It's been a volatile year for independent retailers, which I witnessed first-hand with Retravision's demise, and the Leading Edge brand and business model secures a lifeline for many strong and viable businesses who can now trade on with great confidence,” Fry said.
“I am personally looking forward to re-establishing close ties with major suppliers to secure the right deal for Leading Edge members.
“The feedback from key suppliers towards the Leading Edge Group has been very positive.”
As a former buyer for Retravision Southern, this new role will put Fry back into contact with former members.
“I am looking forward to working closely with many ex-Retravision retailers with whom I have a very close relationship.
“With the 1 April 2013 deadline looming for the changeover of stores from Retravision to Leading Edge, I will hit the ground running when I commence on Wednesday 6 February 2013 to secure all supplier agreements, as more and more stores get on board with Leading Edge for what promises to be a very exciting and challenging year ahead.
“Once these agreements are all in place and our memberships secured, I can get started on our first National Catalogue planned for April.”
Meanwhile, in related news, Current.com.au understands that the Leading Edge Group has secured the trading rights to Retravision’s point-of-sale system, meaning transitioning members will not have to pay for a new POS installation.