Typically our customer has one, possibly two locations, and is a second or third generation family owned-and-operated business.
Joel Biterman, ALMO Midwest Regional Sales Manager

RTO Online videocast interviews from the recent ALMO Expo in St. Louis.

Joel Biterman, Midwest Regional Sales manager for ALMO. the nation's largest distributor of major appliances and electronics.

Tim Hector, Purchasing and Marketing Manager for 33 store chain National Rent to Own.

Interview with Mark Alexander, Owner of Alexander and Ray's in Olathe Kansas.

Photo gallery of the St. Louis ALMO Expo.

For ALMO, the nation's largest distributor of major appliances and electronics, bigger dealers don't necessarily make for better business.

Joel Biterman, ALMO Midwest Regional Sales Manager, is one of four regional sales managers employed by ALMO's appliance and electronic division that includes a team of 25 inside and more than 50 outside salespeople. Biterman disputes the theory that independent retail is waning, and will be replaced by either online shopping or a minimized slate of big-box retailers.

"Typically our customer has one, possibly two locations, and is a second or third generation family owned-and-operated business. We ourselves service close to 5,000 independently owned-and-operated companies. My average salesperson, and I work with eight people, has between 40 and 60 active customers they work with day in and day out."

Biterman says the reason independent dealers are still thriving is that they have learned the secret to remaining relevant within their communities.

"They try to provide service on a personal level. They know their customers. They live and work and contribute to their local communities. And yet everything that the big box retailers do, these folks have to do even better. Yet, if everything was about price we'd never see one another except through some sort of electronic media. People like to shop. People like the tactile experience of going into a retail enterprise, talking to somebody that is happy to see them and that is knowledgeable about the product. I don't think that will ever change."

Biterman and his colleagues at ALMO are holding a series of Expo events this summer to provide additional product training for their customers and also to ensure that the personal touch that makes their local dealers so successful is felt by those dealers themselves when working with ALMO. Despite their status as the largest distributor of major appliances and electronics throughout the U.S., Biterman says ALMO works hard to maintain strong relationships with even the smallest of dealers.

"It's still personal. It's people to people. Unless you've cornered the market on something so unique and so rare that we must do business together, I think most people still want to deal with people that they want to be with."

ALMO provides a slate of additional e-commerce services that are on display during their Expo events. Highlights include the ALMO Access website which features product training with one click and negates the need for independent dealers to search through dozens of different websites for product specs and knowledge. ALMO also provides value-added benefits to dealers in the form of electronic automatic shipping and back order notices to customers. It's the type of benefit usually demanded by large, sophisticated companies, but that allows independent dealers the same level of operational control as a major chain. Despite offering such ‘big box' enhancements, the ALMO team knows exactly who their most important customers are.

"We still provide distribution on a personal level. We don't want to act like a big entity. We want to see our customers. I love doing these events. The rubber will always meet the road right here. Always."

Upcoming ALMO Expo Events:
August 11-12 Verona, New York
August 14 Bloomington, MN