Consumer Expert Kit Yarrow Signed as 2011 General Session Speaker

With the buzz still coming off the 2010 NARMS Spring Conference, NARMS International announced last week the signing of internationally recognized consumer and retail expert Kit Yarrow as the opening General Session speaker for its 2011 get together. The session is on Sunday, April 10. The 16th Annual NARMS Spring Conference will be held in Monterey, CA on April 9-12. You only have to do a Google search on Yarrow to realize that her participation can only build upon the positive momentum created by the NARMS-U educational platform introduced last year. Yarrow will discuss, “The Marketing Guide to Hooking-Up with Gen Y.”

Yarrow is an award-winning consumer research psychologist and a professor of both psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She chairs the Golden Gate University Psychology Department and is the 2009 Outstanding Scholar of the university. Yarrow has been a visiting scholar teaching consumer behavior at universities around the world, including the Helsinki School of Economics, UC Berkeley, Stanford and Cornell.

Her consulting clients have included General Electric, Del Monte, Landor, Nokia, and AAA. Her speeches on consumer trends, Generation Y and the psychology of consumers have been well received by both industry and academic audiences. She has delivered keynote speeches and presentations at Cisco, Lowes, Gap, GSK, AC Nielsen, IIR, Sanoma Magazines (Finland), Stanford, Cornell, Wharton Business School, Fashion Institute of Technology, The Commonwealth Club, The American Psychological Association and dozens of other industry and trade organizations. As a recognized consumer expert, Yarrow is often called upon by the media to explain and predict consumer behavior. She is a frequent guest on Good Morning America and Marketplace.

As you can see, The 16th Annual NARMS Spring Conference is off to a flying start. Make sure you check out the Conference Center often for news and developments. A preliminary agenda has also been posted. While you are at it, save the dates and make plans to attend this annual game changing event.

NARMScertifyU Setting the Standard

When customers walk into retail stores to shop, they rely heavily on their visual impressions to decide whether or not to make a purchase. The impact of the professional at-retail merchandiser plays a critical role at this moment of truth in determining the success of brand marketers and retailers. NARMScertifyU, the official on-line learning center of NARMS, offers a Merchandising Standards Course that teaches the standards necessary to become a productive and successful merchandiser.

The merchandiser will learn how to properly behave in the stores and how to easily create and maintain a safe working environment. Productivity is enhanced by learning what to do, and equally important, what to avoid. The learner will build a foundation of understanding regarding proven merchandising skills and behaviors that will enable at-retail success for all parties involved.

NARMScertifyU is available directly to individual merchandisers at $15 per course, or in a bulk pricing package now available to allow for member companies to purchase on-line courses for their field reps at a great savings. Questions about pricing and purchasing should be directed to Scot Maurath at NARMScertifyU. His phone number is 949-472-6700 ext 1107.

There are eight courses currently offered at NARMScertifyU: Train the Trainer, Retail Visit Excellence, Merchandising Standards, Demonstrations, Event Marketing, Fixture Installation, Mystery Shopping and Team Lead Skills. The user simply selects and completes the course to earn a certificate of completion. Their NARMS Recruiter profile is automatically updated with the increased level of knowledge making them a more valuable, accessible, marketable and hirable resource.

NARMScertifyU represents a quick, easy and inexpensive option for enhanced at-retail service knowledge for both service company and individual field personnel. To learn more, visit the site here and then help spread the word of this tremendous industry building resource.

July 23, 2010 IRI/Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 7/23/10 edition of Retail Industry News.

- Delhaize Makes Commitment To Sustainable Seafood
- Sansolo Speaks: “New and Improved?”
- Roundy’s First Chicago Store Opens Today
- “GreenBox” Gets A Slice Of Whole Foods’ Pizza Business
- Supervalu Announced New Partnership For Hispanic Save-A-Lot Stores
- Fred Meyer To Stop Offering Plastic Bags In Portland
- Kroger Announces New Digital Coupon Center
- Coupons Increasingly Used By Marketers, Consumers Even As Economic Pressures Ease
- Fresh & Easy Expands ‘Farm To Store in 24′ Program
- Sweetbay Amps Up Value Marketing Message
- FastNewsBeat
- The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
- Executive Suite

Click here to read Retail Industry News

NARMScertifyU Courses Offer Bulk Pricing for Members

NARMScertifyU, the official NARMS online learning center, has announced that it is offering a bulk pricing model to allow for member companies to purchase online courses for their field reps at a great savings. Questions about pricing and purchasing should be directed to Scot Maurath at NARMScertifyU. His phone number is 949-472-6700 ext 1107.

This exciting development will allow companies to purchase and assign specific courses to individuals. By purchasing courses in bulk, companies can take advantage of price discounts and reporting capabilities. Member companies can cover the entire cost of the course cost or only a portion of the cost, leaving the rest to the individual to pay. Here is a breakdown of the bulk price model. You can also have the option of purchasing a custom amount of courses to fit your specific needs.

100 courses @ $12.75 per course = $1,275 (savings of $225)
500 courses @ $12.00 per course = $6,000 (savings of $1,500)
1,000 courses @ $11.25 per course = $11,250 (savings of $3,750)

Payment for NARMS certify courses will be a credit card transaction via telephone. The NARMScertifyU system will generate a unique coupon codes for each learner to aid the distribution process. NARMScertifyU will assign and notify learners individually of course assignment via email. Learners simply sign into the online learning tool, input their unique code and start the course assigned to them.

At no additional cost, NARMScertifyU will track completion rates, individual progress, and other information. The system will run and send reports on weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annual bases. Reports are generated and formatted in Microsoft Excel and sent via email. You can also have the option of requesting custom reports.

There are eight courses currently offered at NARMScertifyU: Train the Trainer, Retail Visit Excellence, Merchandising Standards, Demonstrations, Event Marketing, Fixture Installation, Mystery Shopping and Team Lead Skills. The user simply selects and completes the course to earn a certificate of completion. Their NARMS Recruiter profile is automatically updated with the increased level of knowledge making them a more valuable, accessible, marketable and hirable resource.

NARMScertifyU represents a quick, easy and inexpensive option for enhanced at-retail service knowledge for both service company and individual field personnel. Please check out the NARMScertifyU bulk pricing program today and help spread the word of this tremendous industry building resource.

NARMS Announces 2011 Session Speaker – Kit Yarrow

Stevens Point, WI — NARMS International has announced Kit Yarrow (@GenBuy, LinkedIn) as a general session speaker at its Sunday (April 10) opening session at the 16th Annual NARMS Spring Conference to be held in Monterey, CA. Yarrow, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University and recipient as their 2009 Outstanding Scholar. Her book, “Gen BuY: How Tweens, Teens and Twenty-Somethings are Revolutionizing Retail”, (Wiley, 2009), was described by Publisher’s Weekly as “a must-read for all who hope to keep their companies relevant and viable.”

“Kit Yarrow will anchor our opening general session,” confirms NARMS President/CEO Dan Borschke. “Her presentation will help contribute to our NARMS-U educational efforts as she shares ‘The Marketing Guide to Hooking-Up with Gen Y’.”

As a recognized consumer expert, Yarrow is often called upon by the media to explain and predict consumer behavior and has consulted with General Electric, Del Monte and Nokia. A frequent guest on “Good Morning, America” and “Marketplace”, Kit has been a visiting scholar teaching consumer behavior at universities around the world including Stanford, Cornell and UC Berkeley.

ABOUT NARMS
NARMS’ nearly 400 member companies perform well over $3 billion in merchandising services, sales marketing, event marketing, demonstration and other retail services annually. The international trade association serves as a “central gathering point” for the retailing industry; promoting and establishing industry standards; providing critical industry research studies and educational information about the industry while acting as a voice for its diverse membership of service providers, manufacturers, retailers, and associates. NARMS represents all classes of trade including: grocery, drug, mass, department, home and building centers, computer and office supply, electronic, value retailers, specialty, and convenience retailers.

The varied educational offerings supporting improvement and excellence in retailing practices are all part of NARMS – U, the educational arm of NARMS International and include continuing education under the banner of NARMScertifyU.com. Additional NARMS information is available at narms.com, including details about the 16th NARMS Spring Conference & Exposition at Portola Plaza Hotel, Monterey, CA on April 9-12, 2011.

Contact:
Ken McKenzie
Vice President
National Association for Retail Marketing Services
2417 Post Road
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone: 1 888 526-2767
FAX: 1 715 342 1943
kmckenzie@narms.com

###

Retailing Today Merchandising Services Report Out Now

In May it was announced that DSN Retailing Today intended to produce a state of the industry special report to showcase the value NARMS members provide, and highlight recent developments and key trends shaping the future of our dynamic industry and your business. In case you missed it, the report is now complete and has been distributed to 30,000 retailers and 40,000 suppliers ensuring broad exposure for our industry. To download the July 2010 Retailing Today Merchandising Services Report, please click here.

Store level execution has never mattered more or been more challenging to achieve due to economic circumstances and evolving market dynamics. This special report on the critical role merchandising and marketing services firms play in the in-store execution process examines some of the key trends influencing the retail industry and offers viewpoints from thought leaders.

The report is broken down into four stories. In PIC(k) a New Growth Channel, Retailing Today highlights and summarizes the newly released Professional Installation Company White Paper – Continuing to Build Out the Future of Retail. Failure is Not an Option examines new at-retail initiatives which create an even greater need for excellent in-store execution. Making a Difference In-Store discusses how merchandising service companies can make themselves more relevant as a valuable strategic partner rather than being seen as just a back-end labor resource. And finally, there is an interesting Q&A between Retailing Today Editor Mike Troy and NARMS CEO Dan Borschke.

As we said earlier, this report is already being seen by thousands of your potential customers. Download a copy of the report today and share it with your executives, staff and customers.

July 16, 2010 IRI / Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 7/16/10 edition of Retail Industry News.

- Walmart Looks For The Biggest, Best Impact
- Sansolo Speaks: “Déjà Vu Again And Again”
- Couche-Tard Extends Offer For Casey’s Shares
- Grocers Supply Joins Topco
- Study: Moms Getting Older & Greener
- New Tactics Urged As CPG Companies Consider New Economy
- Wegmans In The News
- FastNewsBeat
- The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
- Executive Suite

Click here to read Retail Industry News

Co-Sales Expands Confection/Convenience into Southern California

Phoenix, AZ — Co-Sales Company is proud to announce their expansion of the Confection/ Convenience Store business into the Southern California market. We are now set to manage Confection/Snack brands for not only the Grocery Class of Trade, but for Convenience, Dollar and Vending, as well. For more information or to apply for open position:

Contact:
John Anthony
602.254.5555
john@co-sales.com

Don Cox
602.254.5555
donc@co-sales.com

Steve Horowitz
818.382.3100
shorowitz@co-sales.com

July 15, 2010 MyNARMS

In this issue:

- Economic Recovery Survey
- Retailing Today Merchandising Services Report
- Tom Greenwood

Read the newsletter

Streamlined (and lower cost) StratConn Event Around the Corner

You will want to be part of the NARMS members who are lining up to participate in the StratConn Retail Execution Resources event scheduled for July 28 at the Marriott O’Hare in Chicago. NARMS is partnering with the In-Store Marketing Institute to bring buyers and sellers together under one roof for a day of highly focused and efficient business meetings that will put you face-to-face with pre-qualified decision makers from top brand marketers. There is still time to register, but that time is running out. If you are interested, please call Gary Goff, Managing Director, Business Development at 847-675-7400 ext. 171 or write him at ggoff@instoremarketer.org by close of business tomorrow (Friday, July 16).

Due to hectic summer schedules and vacations, this event has been streamlined into a one day format. This adjustment has made the event more affordable than ever with registration now set at $8,000. The In-Store Marketing Institute has lined up key brand manufacturer executives with responsibility for retail operations and the execution of in-store merchandising who are ready and willing hear your pitch. We have a very eager group signed up which now includes Kimberly-Clark, Spin Master, McCormick, Novartis, Campbell Soup, Alberto-Culver, Chiquita, Crocs, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Bayer Healthcare, Ghirardelli, Hormel, Black & Decker and there will likely be another five or so to choose from.

The scheduling process allows you to choose up to 10 companies you would like to meet. These requests go through a review process and traditionally host companies get 99% of the meetings that they request. As a host company, you will be assigned your own private, dedicated meeting room that you can set up any way you want. Many host companies use this opportunity to set up displays, sales aides and computer equipment. The highly organized and efficient process sees a member of the staff bringing the guest company to you for a 30 minute session.

StratConn Business Meetings are designed to be as convenient as possible and represent a remarkably efficient use of your sales dollars. Where else can you get 10 high quality meetings with pre-qualified buyers in one day? The Marriott O’Hare is just minutes from the airport and allows you to get in and out of town quickly. You would normally spend way more time and money to court this kind of customer list.

If StratConn sounds like a good opportunity for you, you will want to act quickly. Registrations need to be finalized this week and, at this point, direct communication with Gary Goff is preferred. The meeting scheduling process starts next week.