Thursday
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.
Friday
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’.
Saturday
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.
Sunday
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.
