Education conference and gift show team up

MRA’s 6th Annual Retail Education Conference is fast approaching, and with some new twists this year. First, it will be held in conjunction with the Lansing Gift Show in Lansing on February 25, making it easier for retailers to attend both events.

In addition, the event will be shorter, with two seminars on topics of interest to all retailers, presented on Monday afternoon. Nationally recognized speaker and retail expert Bob Negen, of Whizbang! Training in Grand Haven, will present two seminars on topics of interest to all business owners: marketing, sales and customer service.

Negen, who speaks at business meetings across the country and has authored a best-selling book on retail marketing with his wife, Susan, knows the challenges and opportunities small business owners face. His hard-hitting and often humorous stories come from over two decades building his own business from a mere $17,000 in annual sales to a multi-store, multi-million-dollar operation.

One seminar, entitled “Marketing Ideas So Simple And Effective They Will Blow Your Mind,” teaches the secrets of an organized, consistent method to generate large sales increases through marketing.

“It’s not about spending a fortune, finding the next Beanie Baby or creating a killer newspaper ad,” says Negen. “It’s about creating exponential growth by doing lots of little things well. It’s about planting many seeds and watching them grow.”

The second seminar, “Customer-Friendly Selling—How To Make The Sale Without Being Pushy,” is an interactive workshop offering practical, proven customer service and sales strategies that retailers can use immediately.

“Too many retailers are afraid to sell because they don’t want to be seen as ‘pushy,’” explains Negen. “My workshop not only challenges outdated ways of looking at sales, it teaches the skills needed to create confident, customer-focused salespeople.”

Those who attend the conference may also wish to attend the Lansing Gift Show, being held February 24-26. Admission to the show is free, but only qualified buyers associated with a retail operation will be admitted by showing proper identification such as a business card.

For more information on the Lansing Gift Show, call Expo Promotions at 231.526.1270 or visit www.lansinggiftshow.com.

Because it is shorter, this year’s conference is also more affordable. At $49 for MRA members, and with access to the free gift show, the conference is an educational bargain.

A registration brochure with detailed information on the conference will be mailed to all members in January. For more information or to register, call MRA’s Kammy Johns at 800.366.3699 or kjohns@retailers.com.