Avad, HTSA Formalize Distribution Alliance to Meet 'Rush Inventory' Needs

Avad and the Home Technology Specialists of America announced an alliance Monday giving dealers the opportunity to “consolidate their distribution purchases with a single program." The agreement covers 20 markets where Avad has branch locations and warehouses, they said. The goal is giving dealers in those locations the ability to meet “rush inventory needs," said HTSA spokesman Ted Green. HTSA member David Young, president of The Sound Room, Chesterfield, Missouri, told us the Avad alliance won’t change how he does business because most of his vendor relationships are direct and there’s no Avad operation near his St. Louis location. Some members of the Azione buying group also have relationships with Avad; Azione President Richard Glikes told us the Avad alliance with HTSA won’t affect those ties. Jon Zabel, Avad vice president-sales and vendor management, said in a statement the alliance allows Avad to increase its dealer base and offer its “value-added service” to dealers. At HTSA’s spring meeting, Executive Director Jon Robbins downplayed his organization's role as a buying group, saying it wants to be known as a “trade consortium” because the group has “so much more to offer than just taking dues from people and distributing rebates. That is not what we are about.” Robbins wasn’t available to answer questions.