Learn makeover magic at education conference

If you can make over a hairstyle, a wardrobe or a home, why not a retail store? This year’s Retail Education Conference will help members consider a retail makeover, with seminars designed to help retailers grow, adapt and improve.

To be held at the Embassy Suites in Livonia on June 6, the conference, entitled “Magical Makeover,” will feature several new faces as well as speakers from past years who are back by popular demand.

The featured speaker will be Jim Dion, founder and president of Dionco Inc., a retail consulting firm in Chicago. Dion will share findings from a recent national study, “Challenges of the Future: The Rebirth of Small Independent Retail in America.”

Dion’s workshop will offer practical survival strategies intended to help small retailers:
• obtain merchandise in appropriate quantities at competitive prices;
• keep up with the speed and overwhelming nature of technology;
• stay a step ahead of consumers who are increasingly more knowledgeable about a transparency of prices from a variety of sources;
• become more adept at financial analysis, strategic planning and other critical management issues.

Dion, author of two best-selling books on retail and a popular consultant and speaker, has appeared on NBC and Fox News. He is a frequent speaker for national associations, including the National Retail Federation and the National Shoe Retailers Association.

As a consultant, Dion has helped hundreds of retailers reposition their businesses. He also studies and evaluates new retail POS, EDI, merchandising systems and relationship-marketing software.

Another new face to address attendees this year is Stephan Hokanson, director of client strategy at Fluid Marketing and Advertising in Muskegon. Hokanson will share his expertise on e-marketing, from getting the most out of your website to using e-mail marketing.

Hokanson has 15 years of experience in advertising and marketing. He believes e-marketing should be part of an overall marketing strategy that remains consistent to the client’s brand and mission.

Joel Woods, of Confidential Fraud Investigations Inc. in Shelby Twp., will address security concerns in his presentation, “Business Security in an Unsecured World.” In light of recent news stories about problems with retail data security, Woods’ seminar promises to be timely and practical.

Favorite speakers from past conferences making a return this year include Jeff Greene and Mike Crosson.

Greene’s seminar, “Is the Customer Always Right?” will offer a makeover to your customer service approach. Crosson will use “before” and “after” photos of store makeovers to help you consider ways to make over your visual merchandising approach.

Participants coming from outside the immediate area may choose to stay at the Embassy Suites the night before and/or the night after the event. To reserve a suite, call Embassy Suites at 800.EMBASSY (800.362.2779). State that you are attending this event to receive a discount on the rate.

The conference fee, which includes all seminars and a luncheon, is $99 for members or $119 for non-members. To register or for more information, contact MRA event coordinator Kammy Johns at 800.366.3699 or kjohns@retailers.com.