Raftery & Retail Panel to Keynote NARMS Spring Conference

Stevens Point, WI …. Retail industry leaders planning to attend NARMS International’s 16th Annual Spring Conference can look forward to a keynote presentation anchored by Dan Raftery and a retailer panel. Entitled “What a Retailer Really Wants from an In-Store Service Provider” is referenced as a retail conversation facilitated by Dan Raftery of Raftery Resource Network. Specific retailers participating on the panel will be named later for the Sunday, April 10, 2011kickoff session in Monterey, CA.
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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

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NARMS Announces Burt Flickinger III as Keynote Speaker

Stevens Point, WI … The retail industry leaders of NARMS International will hear from Burt Flickinger, III; a widely known and recognized leading expert on all aspects of the wholesaling and retailing industry, as their keynote speaker at the 15the Annual NARMS Spring Conference in Wesley Chapel, FL on Sunday afternoon, April 18. Flickinger is the Managing Director of Strategic Resource Group of New York and will address “The Future of Marketing, Retailing and Communicating with the Consumer” at the NARMS meeting which launches three days of interactive meetings among retail service providers, manufacturers, retailers and associated industry suppliers.

Flickinger’s work career spans consumer and competitive strategy, marketing/advertising, effectiveness on copy/creative to media buying, cost efficiency in broadcast TV/radio, weekday and weekend print, retailing, buying/merchandising and operations, His vast career experience began as an executive with S.M. Flickinger, largest full-service institutional and retail wholesaler and retailer on the U.S.east coast.

ABOUT NARMS
NARMS 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. Additional NARMS information is available at www.narms.com, including details about the 15th NARMS Spring Conference & Exposition at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, FL on April 17-20, 2010.

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

NARMScertifyU Online Learning Center Launched March 1st

Stevens Point, WI … NARMS International proudly announces the launch of NARMScertifyU, the official NARMS online learning center. NARMScertifyU offers career-building courses with certificates of competition for marketing representatives. NARMScertifyU will benefit both NARMS member companies as well as marketing representatives through workforce training that is built on retail industry standards. Developed by industry experts, NARMScertifyU provides each participant with a valuable learning experience.

The all-new www.NARMScertifyU.com website was launched Monday, March 1st, 2010 with an initial roll-out of eight learning courses available at $15 per course. Courses currently available are: Retail Visit Excellence, Merchandising Standards, Demonstrations, Event Marketing, Fixture Installation, Mystery Shopping, Train the Trainer, and Team Lead Skills. More courses are planned to be released in the future.

NARMScertifyU provides a simple and straight forward learning experience. In just a few steps learners will gain applicable retail knowledge through job specific courses. Online courses can be accessed anywhere and anytime, so learning takes place at each individual’s pace. Marketing representatives who earn course certificates will achieve higher visibility within the NARMS Recruiter, improve their skill set, gain broader retail knowledge and increase their overall job satisfaction. NARMS member companies will benefit by gaining a centralized learning center, enhancing their team’s skill set, reducing workforce turnover, and improving their workforce quality and productivity.

NARMS International is the parent sponsor of NARMScertifyU and partnered with BDS Marketing Inc., a California based retail marketing agency, to build, manage and promote the online learning center. Both NARMS and BDS Marketing, Inc. built NARMScertifyU to fill a void in the industry by offering standardized training. The new learning center is designed to become a strong component in NARMS educational efforts. More information about NARMScertifyU is available from Scot Maurath, Manager of Learning Services for BDS Marketing, Inc. at 949.472.6700 x1107 or scot.maurath@bdsmktg.com.

About NARMS International –
NARMS’ 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 the retailing industry are all parts of NARMS – U, the educational arm of NARMS International. More NARMS information is available at www.narms.com, including details about the 15th NARMS Spring Conference & Exposition at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, FL on April 17-20, 2010.

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

NARMS Announces Board Nominees

Stevens Point, WI … A roster of retail industry leaders have been nominated for service with NARMS International, a global trade association serving the retailing industry.

In accordance with NARMS By-Laws, action by a member nominating committee has prepared a recommended slate of qualified nominees to fill available positions, each to serve two-year terms (April 2010 - April 2012). Named to the slate of nominees as repeat, two-year nominations are: Mary Jo Bastuba, Nintendo of America, Marietta, GA; Ethan Charas, Stratmar Retail Services, Port Chester, NY; Steve Donzelli, Chuck Latham & Associates, Parker, CO; and Jim Hall, Riteway Sales & Marketing, Lakeland, FL.
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Carol Spieckerman of newmarketbuilders to present at NARMS Conference

Stevens Point, WI … NARMS is pleased to announce that Carol Spieckerman of Bentonville-based newmarketbuilders has agreed to kick-off the NARMS Manufacturer-Retailer Connection Forum (during the NARMS Spring Conference – April 17-20, 2010) on Monday, April 19th at 9:00 AM at the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, FL with an hour long presentation entitled: “Are you Ready for the “Reset”? Three Revelations that Will Rock Your Retail Reality.” Carol has also agreed to facilitate the subsequent Manufacturer-Retailer Connection sessions that will be presented on the NARMS Spring Conference General Session stage from 10:00 AM through 12:30 PM.

Carol is president of newmarketbuilders and serves as a strategic out-of-enterprise resource to the retail industry for product, brand and marketing campaign launches, and retail best practices. Carol possesses a unique understanding of macro retail trends and how marketers can translate them into relevant and actionable strategies that resonate with retailers.

She is a speaker, author and regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Women’s Wear Daily, DSN Retailing Today, Home Channel News, and other national and international media outlets.

You can follow Carol on Twitter or LinkedIn.

To date we have commitments from Kelly Hampton of 20th Century Fox Entertainment, Joe Wood of Roundy’s Supermarkets and Mary Jo Bastuba of Nintendo to participate in 30 minute Q&A presentations that will be promoted as the NARMS Manufacturer-Retailer Connection Sessions. Additional participants will be forthcoming and we ask your assistance in sharing invitations to potential presenters. Todd Jones, President of Publix has also committed to an hour long presentation at 4:00 PM on Monday, April 19th.

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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

Publix’s Randall “Todd” Jones to Address NARMS Spring Conference

Stevens Point, WI… Member attendees of the NARMS International Annual Spring Conference will have the special opportunity to take part in “A Conversation with Randall “Todd” Jones”, President of Publix Super Markets, Inc. Jones will address the NARMS event on Monday, April 19; capping the 2010 Manufacturer/Retailer Connection Session, a forum where individual manufacturers/retailers will share news of their new initiatives, new systems and/or business philosophies with NARMS membership.

Jones’ near storybook 30-year ascent to Publix company president began as a part-time front service associate while in high school. Along the way, he progressed through the ranks of retail management, including ten years as a store manager before escalating into operational leadership at various points in the Jacksonville division. In 2005, Jones was promoted to senior vice president of product business development; then moved into the role of company president in 2008 where retains the responsibility for the retail operations and supply chain functions for the supermarket chain.

Publix, the U.S.’s largest employee-owned supermarket chain, operates over 1,000 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. The company has earned many honors and achievements, including recognition as one of America’s top 100 companies to work for and is one of America’s most admired companies.

NARMS’ nearly 450 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 part of NARMS – U, the educational arm of NARMS International. Additional NARMS information is available at www.narms.com, including full details about the 15th NARMS Spring Conference & Exposition at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, FL on April 17-20, 2010.

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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

A Room with a View

This week NARMS announced that Saddlebrook Resort is now available for reservations for the 15th Annual NARMS Spring Conference scheduled for April 17-20, 2010. To add to the excitement, the relationship between NARMS and Saddlebrook has resulted in a Room Sale that enhances the affordability of the event.

Your NARMS staff has been working diligently to make the Spring Conference even more attractive and affordable by negotiating lower hotel rates while maintaining the Conference Registration at 2008 rates. To that end, a special offer will be available for those individuals looking to save on accommodations. Through 5:00 PM (EST) on December 31, 2009 you will be able to save $30 a night on each room with a non-refundable full prepayment at the time of booking via a valid credit card authorization. Under this offer, no cancellations will be allowed though you can transfer the registrants name with the original credit card charge. This discount rate of $190 is a great savings for a spectacular Florida Resort property. If you do not want to take the risk of not being able to cancel, you can still make a reservation at the reduced rate of $220 per night. This is already a discount off the original contract rate of $249.

Reservations can be made by calling 1 800 729 8383 during regular business hours and mentioning NARMS Spring Conference. You can also visit the conference center on www.narms.com for more information.

In the days, weeks and months ahead, you will be reading and hearing more about the value-packed agenda in-store for conference attendees. The event is sure to be full of insightful education sessions, business building networking and enlightening speakers. Our Spring Conference Room Sale is designed to give you one more reason to register for a great view of your industry.

NARMS CERTIFY U. – Where it is all about U

Stevens Point, WI… NARMS International proudly announces further development of NARMScertifyU with the signing of a formal agreement reflecting a “partnership” approach with bds marketing, inc., a California-based retail marketing agency and NARMS member company.  This newly launched program can benefit all NARMS member companies through workforce training that builds on industry standards to improve the quality of workforce at the retailing level.  Available as an on-line learning program at www.NARMSCertifyU.com, the initial roll-out effort will include eight training modules available at $15 per module certificate with more to be added later. 

 
Called NARMScertifyU with a debut slated for February – 2010, this program will continue to be developed over the coming months as a benefit to both member companies and individuals seeking work in the at-retail service industry.  Addressing a recognized on-going industry challenge, the learning program is destined to become a strong component in the overall NARMS – U educational efforts by NARMS.
 
NARMScertifyU is an online learning center that adds credibility and quality to retail marketing organizations by offering training to their workforce on industry standards essential to building a higher quality workforce at the retail level.  As the parent sponsor, NARMS International considers the NARMScertifyU program as the official learning center for member companies and their field representatives while bds marketing, inc. will be responsible to design, develop, manage and promote the online learning system. 
 
The site is based on a Learning Management System, offering online learning modules and testing using Adult Learning Principles, with administrative performance management and measurement features.  Certificates of achievement are awarded for each area of study completed.  Social media is integrated into the users experience with discussion forums, bulletin boards and chats to create an extended learning experience and community.
 
Members’ reps who receive certificates of achievement can get higher visibility for job postings, enhance their skill set for career growth and gain broader retail knowledge.  NARMS member companies can build top-quality people and services, improve productivity, reduce turnover and have one centralized resource for information exchange and continuing education. More information about NARMScertifyU is available from Larry Dorr (office 949.472.6700 x1216 or cell phone 949.303.8492). 
 
ABOUT NARMS INTERNATIONAL
NARMS’ nearly 450 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 the retailing industry are all parts of NARMS – U, the educational arm of NARMS International.  More NARMS information is available at www.narms.com, including details about the 15th NARMS Spring Conference & Exposition at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, FL on April 17-20, 2010.   

CONTACT INFORMATION
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  
 
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NARMS Partners with UW’s Executive Education Effort

Stevens Point, WI … NARMS International and the University of Wisconsin School of Business Executive Education program have announced a partnership that will enhance educational programming for the retail industry gathering at the 15th annual NARMS Annual Meeting and Spring Conference, April 17-20, 2010 at Wesley Chapel, FL.

This joint effort will allow NARMS to extend a new level of quality educational opportunities of excellence under the NARMS-U “brand” as part of the agreement with the UW School of Business who will assist in the programming targeting the continuing educational needs of retail support service companies, manufacturers, retailers and all those affiliated with the retailing process.
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