Be Mobile at Spring Conference

By now, many of you have visited the Conference Center on www.narms.com and have seen the great agenda that is lined up for the attendees of the 16th Annual NARMS Meeting, Conference and Exhibition. The event this year will be held on April 9-12 at the Portola Plaza Hotel in Monterey, California. If you have not already registered, you can do so here. This year, you also have the option of taking the Conference Center with you via your iPhone, Android, Blackberry or other smart phone.

Simply scan the QR Code included with this story to be taken to the Mobile Conference Center. Here you will be able to access all of the events on any given day at a glance. If you do not already have one, you will have to download a QR Code Reader App for your smart phone such as Optiscan for iPhone.

The Mobile Conference Center is built specifically for your smart phone screen so it is easy to read and navigate. You will be taken to a home screen that allows you to view the conference agenda or reference conference sponsors and special offers.

Be sure to follow @narmscon on twitter to get workshop notifications and other information as the conference progresses. If you do not have a twitter account, just send FOLLOW narmscon to 40404 from your cell phone to get notifications. When the conference is over, simply send UNFOLLOW narmscon to 40404 to stop getting notifications. If you can text, you can tweet.

Conference is now only days away and the excitement for the at-retail merchandising and marketing services industry showcase event is building. The Mobile Conference Center is just another way for you to get the most out of your four days in Monterey.

Henderson to Address Business Capability Platforms

The NARMS U education platform is known for providing educational topics on a variety of business related disciplines in the form of webinars and workshops. The 16th Annual NARMS Meeting, Spring Conference and Exhibition again will feature four of these sessions. Today we will focus on NARMS U General Session #4 - Business Capability Platforms: New Models of Innovation and Operational Excellence. Spring Conference is less than two weeks away and will be held this year on April 9-12 at the Portola Plaza Hotel on Monterey Bay in Monterey, California.

Information technology is a critical component to the members of the at-retail merchandising and marketing services industry. On Tuesday, April 12 at 10:30 AM, Dr. John Henderson of the Boston University School of Management will share his expertise on the strategic impacts of information technology. Special areas of interest include the management of strategic partnerships, knowledge management, and the impact of mobility on organizations and markets.

Henderson is the Richard C. Shipley Professor of Management and Chair, Management Information Systems, Information Systems Department at the Boston University School of Management. He also serves as the Director of the Systems Research Center at the School.

He and Lloyd Baird authored, The Knowledge Engine: How to Create Fast Cycles of Knowledge-to-Performance and Performance-to-Knowledge that explores how effective leaders leverage knowledge assets. A noted researcher, consultant, and executive educator, he has published in journals such as The Sloan Management Review, Human Resource Management, MIS Quarterly, and IBM Systems Journal. The IBM Systems Journal selected his paper, Strategic Alignment of Business and I/T Strategies, as a turning point article and one of the most influential papers on Information Technology strategy published by the Journal since 1962. Prior to joining Boston University, Henderson was a faculty member at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

For more information on this session and all that Spring Conference has to offer, visit the Conference Center at www.narms.com and register today. #NARMSCON489

Mar 25, 2011 IRI/Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 3/25/11 edition of Retail Industry News.

- Paperless Receipts Gain Traction
- Sansolo Speaks: A Time to Act
- Retailers Try To Creating Shopping Experiences That Sing
- Roundy’s For Sale
- Supervalu Hopes To Bag Savings With New Program
- Companies Getting Smarter About Social Coupon Ventures
- Walgreen Buys Drugstore.com For $409 Million
- Target Joins Low-Salt Initiative
- FastNewsBeat
- The MNB Wal-Mart Watch

Click here to read Retail Industry News

Webinar to Coach on Catch and Correct

There is time for one more installment of the popular NARMS Webinar series prior to the 2011 NARMS Spring Conference. On Thursday, March 31, Jodi Wiff and Mike Krutza will present - Catch and Correct…the art of guiding behaviors. This NARMS Webinar is another in a series of member educational offerings by NARMS – U. As always, the one-hour session is sponsored by associate member Natural Insight and brought to you through the technology of ReadyTalk.

Catch and Correct is described as the one thing you must know to crack the code of engaging high performing business teams. Your employees will crave this proven skill which they can use instantly, even if they are cautious or stuck right now. This session is designed to give you the hidden secret mastered by businesses distinguishing themselves as the best. When registering for the event, make sure you answer the brief questionnaire. The gathered data will be used to guide the interactive discussion. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions via a chat function.

Jodi Wiff and Mike Krutza are leadership coaches working with organizations from $5 million in sales and 25 employees to $1.2 billion in sales and 450 employees. They were CEO and EVP of a business which was losing $300,000 per month, and employees distrust and disrespect defined the culture. The duo changed the culture and the profits to $500,000/month. Employees now defined the company as the best place to work. Wiff and Krutza bring a master level savvy to business leadership in a fun and engaging style. The effect is soaring employee engagement and massive growth in profits.

The session is complimentary to NARMS members as a value-added membership service, but is also made available to other interested persons at a non-member rate of $99.95. We encourage you to share this invitation with other co-workers and anyone else who might gain value from this information-sharing opportunity. Click here to register for the event today!

Networking, Networking, Networking

Of the top reasons to attend the 16th Annual NARMS Meeting, Spring Conference and Exhibition, networking is number one on the list. The conference is scheduled for April 9-12 at the Portola Plaza Hotel on Monterey Bay in Monterey, California. In addition to all the educational opportunities, speakers and workshops, the value-packed agenda also has some built-in times to meet and greet your fellow at-retail merchandising and marketing service professionals. You will also want to take an opportunity to speak to a very special group of exhibitors who will be available on the trade show floor to show you how their goods and services can help you achieve your goals.

On Sunday, April 10, the trade show opens at 1:00 PM and runs until 7:00 PM. Later that day, there will be an Opening Night Reception from 6:00-7:00 PM. The day will end with a chance to meet your NARMS leadership at the NARMS Hospitality Suite, which runs from 9:00 PM to midnight. This gathering will feature the NARMS Executive Committee, NARMS Board Members and NARMS Committee Chairs.

Monday, April 11th brings even more opportunities to network. The Internet Café opens at 7:00 AM for you to take care of some quick business between sessions and will remain open all day. Continental Breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 8:45 AM. Lunch will be on the trade show floor at 12:30 PM to give you even more of a chance to interact with exhibitors while you fuel up for the rest of the day. The trade show floor will remain open until 6:00 PM. Monday closes with an Exhibitor Reception at 5:00 PM followed by the NARMS Hospitality Suite at 9:00 PM sponsored by Natural Insight.

Tuesday, April 12 will begin again with the Internet Café and Continental Breakfast being available to busy conference goers. The trade show will open at 10:00 AM and close at 2:00 PM on the final day. Lunch will again be served on the trade show floor at 12:45 PM. A terrific Spring Conference will conclude with a NARMS Wine Tasting Networking Party at 3:00 PM and later that night, you will not want to miss the Closing Night Reception and Dinner scheduled for 6:00 PM.

Face to face networking is still vitally important as together we shape the future of the at-retail merchandising and marketing service industry. For more information on these events and all that Spring Conference has to offer, visit the Conference Center at www.narms.com and register today.

QR Codes: Mobile Barcodes Come to The Home Depot

Do-it-yourselfers will now be able to do more product research by themselves as well now that The Home Depot is bringing mobile barcodes to its shelves.

The DIY retailer has partnered with Scanbuy to include the codes in store, in print ads and signage.

Read the entire story on Mashable

Mar 18, 2011 IRI/Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 3/18/11 edition of Retail Industry News.

- Walmart Starts To Think Big About Building Small
- FreshDirect Gets An Investor From Across The Pond
- Sansolo Speaks: Warnings and Opportunities
- Delhaize To Convert 15 Carolina Bloom Stores To Food Lion Banner
- Publix Seeing Broad Appeal In New Online Shopping Initiative
- Supervalu Entices C&K To Change Wholesalers, But At What Cost?
- FastNewsBeat
- The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
- Executive Suite

Click here to read Retail Industry News

Customer Loyalty Expert Looks at Social Media

The members of the at-retail merchandising and marketing industry last heard from customer loyalty expert Myra Golden in a NARMS Webinar in August. Golden will make a return appearance at the 16th Annual NARMS Spring Conference and Exposition during NARMS U General Session # 6- Social Media as the New Customer Service. The session will take place on Tuesday, April 12 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.

Social Media is the new customer service. As one of the pioneers of social media for customer service, Golden knows all the social networking communities you need to be listening to and participating in and she will show you exactly how to maximize social media for customer service relevance. Golden will position your company to surprise and delight consumers who post gripes about your brand online, show you how to build buzz, and how to manage and protect your online reputation.

Golden runs Myra Golden Media, a customer service and public relations agency that specializes in strategic customer relations consulting designed and tailored to meet each client need. With more than 15 years of experience, Golden has developed a proven process that positions organizations to regain customer goodwill after even the worst has happened and to improve corporate reputations in the eyes of consumers through improved complaint response and more responsive customer service. Myra Golden Media specializes in a number of areas including customer recovery, customer loyalty, crisis management, call center training, and social media for customer service.

Golden has created customer recovery programs for such clients as Verizon Business, McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Scotts Miracle-Gro, National Car Rental, Michelin Tires, and Frito-Lay. She is co-author of Beyond WOW, creator of 5 customer service eLearning suites that are used by corporations worldwide, and she is an active customer service blogger with thousands of corporate subscribers.

For more information on this session and all that Spring Conference has to offer, visit the Conference Center at www.narms.com and register today. #NARMSCON493

Integrity Consultants Announces Strategic Partnership with Sales Quality Research Group

Saint Louis area company Integrity Consultants announces the development of a strategic partnership with Sales Quality Research Group in Tempe, AZ. As a result of the association, Integrity Consultants will now provide Project Management and Field Services to Sales Quality Research Group for current and upcoming projects as well as consulting and support services related to marketing and brand strategy.

Integrity Consultants CEO Kelly Truelove states, “We are honored to collaborate with Sales Quality Research Group as they continue to set the standard of excellence for Financial Services through Market Research.”
Read more

Retailer Follow Up On Negative Reviews Pays Off

According to The Retail Consumer Report, commissioned by RightNow and conducted online by Harris Interactive in January 2011 among 1,605 online US adults who shopped online during the most recent holiday season, consumers who have a bad experience, will not come back. And more than ever, unhappy consumers are turning to the social web to share their complaints.

However, retailers have an opportunity to fight back and use social media to turn unhappy customers into brand advocates, says the report that shows how retailers are using social media to win back customers and drive buying decisions.

Read the entire article at MediaPost.com