I'm thinking of opening a store here to sell mid-high level HT gear.

How do you go about becoming an authorized retailer? Can you easily become authorized for multiple (competing) brands? I was thinking Samsung and Pioneer at first...

Any other insight on taking on something like this would help - would it be worth it?

The only other retailer B&M for this type of stuff here is The Brick, so not much competition (and they price like the MSRP mostly).

You would have to buy both through distribution. To get reasonable costs you would need to belong to a buying group. Might see if there are any Nationwide dealers nearby. Check your local appliance store, many of them belong.