SACRAMENTO, Calif. — BrandSource has begun registration for next month’s 2020 Virtual Convention, the first-ever online edition of the buying group’s annual late-summer conference and buying expo.
This year’s show, which shifted from Dallas to the Cloud, will feature all the buying opportunities, new product introductions, industry updates and networking forums of BrandSource’s on-site gatherings.
Moreover, as the industry grapples with such COVID-related concerns as supply constraints, new shopping behaviors, the impact of the presidential election and the unknowns of the fourth-quarter selling season, the convention assumes even greater importance as “a place to get the latest information about what is happening in the appliance, electronics, furniture and mattress industries,” said Chad Evans, vice president of merchandising for BrandSource parent AVB Inc.
AVB Merchandising Vice President Chad Evans will provide attendees with the inside track on product availability and sales trends.
The three-day event is set for Aug. 30-Sept. 1. Registration and show agenda are available at AVBevents.com/virtual-convention, and each registered dealer may bring an unlimited number of guests at no additional charge.
The 2020 Virtual Convention will replicate the most popular features of AVB’s on-site shows, including:
- Show-special Stampede deals and Fast Cash offers
- A virtual booth expo
- Region meetings and one-on-one vendor chats
- Marketing and merchandising insights from Evans and John White, AVB chief marketing officer
- A state-of-the-union address by AVB CEO Jim Ristow
Registered participants can log into a browser-based Event Web App for access to a personalized agenda with direct links to specific, invitation-only sessions, along with supplemental meeting materials and plugins such as uploaded PDFs, videos and images, and BrandSource member polls.
The app also includes a chat feature that will allow users to send messages to everyone participating in a session or hold private conversations with individuals.
Attendees can plan their virtual booth visits by perusing a directory of exhibitors, which will be showcasing their latest wares during the two-day-long expo. Vendors in turn can choose from one of five exhibit tiers to enhance their virtual booths with online meeting rooms, product training content, resource downloads and other buy fair assets.
The convention will conclude with a closing session hosted by BrandSource President Tom Bennett.
