The event also marks a first for Furniture Marketing Group (FMG) members, as they merge their Annual Symposium with Nationwide's PrimeTime!

RentDirect Nationwide Marketing Group’s Winter PrimeTime! buying show is scheduled for March 2-5, 2008 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas.

Online Registration is now open for RentDirect Nationwide Marketing Group’s upcoming PrimeTime! convention. The event will be held March 2nd to March 5th at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, TX. Attendees and exhibitors can register here.

RentDirect, a division of Nationwide Marketing Group, is the rent-to-own industry's largest buying group.

Held twice each year, PrimeTime! by Nationwide is a member conference, vendor exhibition and buying show featuring nationally-known keynote speakers and educational seminars through PrimeTime! University. The event also gives dealers the opportunity to receive exclusive savings and view the latest products with manufacturer representatives.

RentDirect Nationwide recently announced that Bud Gates, former CEO of Rent-A-Center, would keynote the RentDirect session being held during the Nationwide PrimeTime! (see story). Gates spent 11 years (1985-1996) at the helm of Rent-A-Center, steering the nation’s largest rental company through incredible growth including the 1987 sale to Thorn EMI Home Electronics (UK) Ltd.

James MacAlpine, Executive Director of RentDirect, said all rent to own dealers, members and non-members, are invited to attend the RentDirect show. "We're thrilled to offer the opportunity to attend Bud Gates' session and the rest of PrimeTime! to any rent to own dealer in the country - RentDirect members and non-members alike," MacAlpine said.

The event also marks a first for Furniture Marketing Group (FMG) members, as they merge their Annual Symposium with Nationwide's PrimeTime! member convention and buying show. Nationwide Marketing Group and Furniture Marketing Group aligned in November 2005, but have continued to conduct separate annual meetings up until this point.

Robert Weisner, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Member Services for Nationwide, describes PrimeTime! as “the place where the best independent dealers join together with the finest manufacturers, resulting in one phenomenal event!”

3,700 independent dealers attended the August, 2007 PrimeTime! in Las Vegas, Nevada (see story). Nationwide cited that an increase in membership, the addition of new vendors, and over 50 prospective members at the show, contributed to this spike in attendance.

Weisner went on to say, “There’s no better place than PrimeTime! for our members and vendor partners to fully gauge what’s available through Nationwide Marketing Group. PrimeTime! offers attendees a real opportunity to see, save, learn and grow more than they ever could if they stayed home. It truly is their place to experience more.”

Experience More: See! Save! Learn! Grow!” has been selected as the theme for PrimeTime!, March 2008.

The Nationwide team says they’re looking forward to returning to Dallas in 2008, “especially with all the new attractions the city has to offer”.

"It's amazing to see how much the city has grown since we were last there in August 2005," said Ed Kelly, President of Nationwide. "We want PrimeTime! attendees to also experience more of Dallas this time around, and plan to offer complimentary shuttles to the newest hotspots like Victory Park."

For more information on RentDirect-Nationwide and the March, 2008 PrimeTime! buying show, contact James MacAlpine at 336-722-4681 or via email at jamesm@nationwidegroup.org.

Show Agenda - Vendors
Saturday, March 1
10:00am Registration Desk Opens
10:00am – 10:00pm Vendor Setup

Sunday, March 2
7:00am – 7:00pm Vendor Setup
6:00pm – 7:00pm PrimeTime! Kickoff
7:00pm – 8:00pm Welcome Reception
7:00pm-11:00pm FREE Victory Park Shuttle (enjoy great dining and nightlife in Dallas’ new Victory Park area near the Anatole)

Monday, March 3
9:00am – 6:00pm Vendor Show for Core Members
10:00am – 6:00pm Vendor Show for Associate Members
6:30pm – 10:00pm Member/Vendor Dinner at Gilley’s

Tuesday, March 4
9:00am – 5:00pm Vendor Show for Core Members
10:00am – 5:00pm Vendor Show for Associate Members
5:00pm – 6:00pm Closing Reception and Prize Drawing
5:00pm – 11:00pm Return of Empties to Booths – Vendor Loadout

Wednesday, March 5
7:00am – 7:00pm Vendor Loadout

Thursday, March 6
7:00am – 12:00 noon Vendor Loadout