April 24, 2001
MRA sponsors business seminar
in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS -- Retailers and other business owners in west Michigan can discover profitable business strategies at an upcoming seminar sponsored by the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA).
Mining Diamonds in Your Own Backyard: How to Double Your Sales! will be held Thursday, May 24, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids.
The seminar will be presented by Bob Negen of Specialty Retail Solutions. Negen is a Grand Haven resident and cofounder of Mackinac Kite Co., a successful specialty store.
"Mining Diamonds in Your Own Backyard" shows retailers how to increase their sales more rapidly by maximizing the value of every customer. Tools such as customer databases and frequent buyer programs facilitate communication with customers and increase their loyalty to the business.
"Developing a customer-focused marketing philosophy is the most efficient, rewarding and profitable way to grow your business," said Negen. "Deepening your relationships with your current customers is much more profitable than advertising to find new ones."
Cost of the seminar is $15 for MRA members and $25 for non-members. To register, contact MRA's Robin Gregory at 800.366.3699 or rsgregory@retailers.com.
"Mining Diamonds in Your Own Backyard" is part of a spring seminar series offered by MRA's Michigan Retailers Academy. Ten seminars on a variety of business topics are scheduled throughout the state.
The Michigan Retailers Association is the unified voice of retailing in Michigan and the nation's largest state trade association of general merchandise retailers. MRA's more than 5,500 retail business members operate more than 12,000 stores across the state.
