GAMA Retailer Summit

Are you a retailer, who just hasn’t had time to get to the GAMA Trade Show? Interested in becoming a retailer some day? Join our GAMA Retail Division Board Members and expert retailers as they show you how it’s done, in our third GAMA Retailer Summit. You’ll walk the exhibit hall with other retailers, hear great speakers in our seminars, and chat with other retailers in the GRD Lounge. Nothing can replace the experience of GTS, but the GAMA Retailer Summit is the next best thing!

Retailer Lounge 2-6pm
Open and staffed by board members and speakers available for small group and one-on-one discussions. For retailers, new and old, as well as those considering going into the business.

Retail 101 / Opening a New Store 10 – 11am
Everything you ever wanted to know about opening and operating a retail store, for retailers and would-be retailers.

Retailer Lounge 10am – 6pm
Open and staffed by board members and speakers available for small group and one-on-one discussions. For retailers, new and old, as well as those considering going into the business.

Store Identity and Design 11am – 1pm
In an effort to reach out to new customers and not just sell to the same old regulars, you need a store that encourages new fans and doesn’t just stock the product. We will examine displays, advertising, marketing, and customer interaction methods to make your store more interesting to everyone that comes in.

Marketing & Promotions on a Budget 3- 4pm
This seminar will discuss aspects of marketing and advertising, from direct mail to community donations. Learn how to set your budget, assess markets and strategies, and determine if your current marketing plan is working for you. Pick up ideas on simple things you can do to help market yourself to the public

Customer Service Basics and Beyond 4-5pm
This session covers all aspects of customer service from the greeting to closing the sale, including the aspects of customer service that happen ‘behind the scenes’.

Buyer Training Workshop 10 – 11am
Good stocking is a lot more than just ‘order 1 of each, 2 if it’s D&D’. Industry veteran Dave Wallace will discuss specific strategies for building your expertise, tracking sales and order data to allow more efficient buying, and more. Learn how a dedicated buyer can free up time for managers to manage and owners to concentrate on long-term strategy, and the systems you’ll need to put in place to let one buyer handle multiple product lines and/or stores and get the feedback needed to make smart purchasing decisions.

Retailer Lounge 10am – 6pm
Open and staffed by board members and speakers available for small group and one-on-one discussions. For retailers, new and old, as well as those considering going into the business.

Exhibit Hall Walk 11am – 1pm
A great chance for retailers to walk to hall together. Discuss product afterwards in the retailer lounge.

The Bottom Line 3- 5pm
This seminar presents the tools you need to analyze where your money is going and how to keep more of it in your pocket. It teaches valuable concepts such as cash flow, fixed vs. variable costs, and what discounting really costs your business. Please feel free to bring your store’s financial data (profit and loss statement, year-end, etc) for comparison and friendly peer review.

Retailer Lounge 10am – 1pm
Open and staffed by board members and speakers available for small group and one-on-one discussions. For retailers, new and old, as well as those considering going into the business.