StratConn Will Exhibit at Conference

Connecting trading partners with at-retail merchandising and marketing service companies is an ongoing initiative for NARMS. The effort will have a strong emphasis at 15th Annual NARMS Spring Conference on April 17-20 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa. In addition to our Manufacturer/Retailer Connection sessions, we are excited to share that representatives from In Store Marketing Institute will be exhibiting in Tampa to introduce attendees to the StratConn event scheduled for this summer in conjunction with NARMS.

The StratConn event, produced by In-Store Marketing Institute, will take place on July 28-29, 2010 at the Marriott O’Hare Chicago. The concept features invitation only meetings that put buyers (manufacturers and retailers) and sellers (retail service companies) face to face over a two day period. The event will be customized toward retail execution services. There is a fee to participate.

StratConn will put you across the table from a pre-qualified decision maker who is actively seeking at-retail help. What better use of your sales, marketing and travel dollars to know that at the end of your trip, you had a chance to present your company’s capabilities to a qualified buyer who has a direct and immediate need?

So while you are at Saddlebrook, stop by the In Store Marketing Institute booth in the exhibit hall and learn more about StratConn. In the meantime, you can get more information by clicking here. 360NARMS2010

Flickinger to Keynote Conference

The roster of speakers for 15th Annual NARMS Spring Conference just keeps getting deeper and more impressive with the announcement that retail and wholesale expert Burt Flickinger III will serve as keynote speaker on Sunday, April 18th. The conference will take place at the Saddlebrook Resort near Tampa, FL. His address - The Future of Marketing, Retailing & Communication with the Consumer – will launch three days of interactive meetings among the stake holders of world class at-retail merchandising and marketing services, namely retail service providers, manufacturers, retailers and associated industry suppliers.

Flickinger, currently the Managing Director of Strategic Resource Group of New York, brings a vast array of industry experience to the table. His work 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.

Flickinger has worked as a Director of Price Waterhouse Coopers Consumer Products Companies and Retailing Consulting Practices and Vice President of Glendinning International Consulting. Prior to joining Glendinning, he worked at Procter & Gamble for 12 years where he helped develop and initiate P&G’s first customer sales, marketing, retailing and analytics group and multi-functional business teams. Flickinger began his career as an executive with S.M. Flickinger, the largest full-service institutional and retail wholesaler and retailer on the east coast.

When you add Burt Flickinger III to the other expert speakers, educational offerings and networking opportunities, this year’s NARMS Spring Conference is stacking up to be a spectacular event that you won’t want to miss. You can view the value packed agenda by visiting the conference center on www.narms.com, or simply by clicking here. And while you’re at it, take part in the ongoing conversation by joining NARMS Official Social Media Channels to stay in touch with the latest developments with Spring Conference via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Webinar to Cover Field Recruiting Strategies

Are you challenged with a low candidate response and a low return on your investments? Need to add some new ideas to your sourcing strategy and to build your pipeline of candidates? On Thursday, March 4 at 1:00 PM CST, recruiting expert Cathy Plumb will help recruiters and HR Managers with these challenges during the next NARMS Webinar – The Thrill of the Hunt! The NARMS Webinar series is sponsored by Natural Insight and brought to you through the technology of ReadyTalk.

During the one-hour session, another offering in the NARMS-U educational platform, Plumb will show you how to put the “thrill of the hunt” into your recruiting activity. She will share sourcing strategies that will produce candidates without busting the recruiting budget, creative sourcing for the hard to fill locations, techniques for getting the most out of your website career page, and additional tips and tricks for posting internet job ads. This webinar should be a great introduction and lead-in to Spring Conference where Gerard McLean of Rivershark, Inc. and Paulette Blaskey of NARMS will further the topic with the workshop, “Integrating Social Media with your NARMS.com Presence.” NARMS Spring Conference will be held on April 17-20 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida.

Cathy Plumb speaks directly to the needs of NARMS members. Plumb is a successful recruiter with over 6 years in high volume part time field recruiting. Her expertise and strong working knowledge uniquely qualifies her to share proven sourcing and recruiting strategies for your recruiting success!

The session is complimentary to NARMS members as a 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. Register for this exciting event by clicking here.

Webinar to Address Employee Drug Abuse

Qualifying labor resources has long been a challenge to the members of at-retail merchandising and marketing industry. With it now being an employers’ market, the timing to establish systems and standards is right. The next NARMS Webinar will show you the way as expert Dee Mason presents: The Price Point of Good Labor — Whether or not to Drug Test. The hour-long session, another in the NARMS-U educational platform, will take place on Thursday, Feb 25, 2010 at 01:00 PM CST. The NARMS webinar series is sponsored by Natural Insight and brought to you through the technology of ReadyTalk.

Employee abuse of drugs – prescription or traditionally “illegal” drugs - can severely threaten your margins. Shrinkage, lost productivity, accidents and workers compensation claims at the hands of substance abusing employees are but a few of the ways your profits can suffer.

Mason is president and founder of Working Partners, a private consulting and training firm offering comprehensive, integrated services for employers who are developing or maintaining a drug-free workplace (DFWP) that involves drug and alcohol testing. She and her firm are relied upon by individual employers, large third-party providers and government agencies.

The session is complimentary to NARMS members as a value added 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.

You don’t want to miss the information presented on a serious issue that directly affects workplace conditions at your company and bottom line numbers on your balance sheet. Click here to register.

Connection Session to Include Spieckerman

The NARMS Manufacturer-Retailer Connection Forum is taking shape with the recent announcement that Carol Spieckerman of newmarketbuilders will participate. The Connection Forum will happen on Monday, April 19th as part of the NARMS Spring Conference scheduled for April 17-20th at the Saddle Brook Resort in Wesley Chapel, FL. Spieckerman will start the event at 9:00 AM with - Are you Ready for the “Reset? Three Revelations that Will Rock Your Retail Reality – and then will stay on to facilitate the Connection sessions which will run from 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM.

Spieckerman 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. She possesses a unique understanding of macro retail trends and how marketers can translate them into relevant and actionable strategies that resonate with retailers. Spieckerman 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.

The addition of Spieckerman only strengthens what promises to be an exciting and enlightening day. The blue ribbon group of presenters that will participate in the 30 minute Q&A sessions include Kelly Hampton of 20th Century Fox Entertainment, Joe Wood of Roundy’s Supermarkets and Mary Jo Bastuba of Nintendo. Todd Jones, President of Publix will close out the connection theme for the day with an hour long presentation at 4:00 PM.

If you have not already done so, visit the conference center at www.narms.com for more information and to register. The agenda includes not only the Monday Manufacturer and Retailer Connection session, but a whole slate of business building education and networking activities sure to make this a memorable NARMS Spring Conference. 372NARMS2010

Using Trade Shows to Increase Brand Awareness

With the economy on the verge of recovery, many marketers are looking to reestablish their brands. While technology has brought a measure of new techniques, it seems like there is no replacement for actual face time with potential customers. A trade show can be a remarkably effective venue to see many potential customers at once. The next NARMS webinar - Taking the Guesswork out of Exhibiting – will explore how you can best use this tried and true tactic in a cost effective manner. Carolyn and Tom Weiland of StarWorks Marketing & Communications, Inc. will lead the one hour session on Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 1:00 PM CST. The NARMS Webinar series is sponsored by Natural Insight and brought to you through the technology of ReadyTalk.

If you have been contemplating using trade shows to increase your corporate or brand awareness, this webinar will discuss the many benefits and the “do’s and don’ts” of making any show a success. You will learn techniques to fully take advantage of getting in front of your customers, creating a face or image to your prospects, and developing a meaningful and cost effective presence. The Weilands will also cover determining budget, display type, incentives, or lead gathering techniques to maximize your investment.

Tom Weiland has worked with many client and industries over the years in stepping up their look and appeal to the business to business and retail markets. His award-winning ads are well received with loyal clients that love his work. Carolyn Weiland has worked in market development for a major national insurance company and as marketing director for a major software company. Her marketing programs resulted in millions of dollars of personal and commercial lines insurance sales, and the exponential growth of market share in a major software market.

If you would like to review the value of using trade shows to increase your corporate or brand awareness, this webinar is for you. The session if complimentary to NARMS members as a 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. You can register by clicking here.

Spring Conference to Feature Publix President

A decidedly pointed theme, connecting our members with retailers and manufacturers, has developed as we get closer to the 15th NARMS Spring Conference & Exposition at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, FL on April 17-20, 2010. Clear evidence of that commitment is the recent announcement that we will hold -A Conversation with Todd Jones, President of Publix- at 4:00 PM on Monday, April 19. The address from Jones will cap the 2010 Manufacturer/Retailer Connection Session. Monday at Conference will be a one-stop shopping opportunity to meet manufacturers and retailers.

The Connection Session is a new forum where individual manufacturers and retailers will share news of their new initiatives, new systems and business philosophies with NARMS membership. Others who are currently scheduled to appear at the event include Joe Wood of Roundy’s Supermarkets, Kelly Hampton of 20th Century Fox Entertainment and Mary Jo Bastuba of Nintendo. To add to the excitement, Monday will also feature RORI: Return on Retail Investment in the General Session at 2:00.

The opportunity to hear from Randall “Todd” Jones is chance to glean from his remarkable record of retail excellence. His 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, one of America’s top 100 companies to work for and most admired companies, operates over 1,000 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

The chance to hear from this expert panel is reason enough to head down to Florida in April. But if that isn’t enough to convince you, visit our conference center on www.narms.com to see all of the educational and networking workshops, classes and meetings on the agenda. The 15th NARMS Spring Conference & Exposition is truly a showcase event.

Total Customer Experience Webinar Next Week

The business climate today is unlike anything in the past. Business models are being challenged as never before with mutual expectations changing by the minute. The next NARMS Webinar - TCE: Total Customer Experience, A Business to Business Experience - will discuss methodologies and strategies for improving business communications and relationships between companies and their client partners. Join Phil Lauria as he leads this hour-long session on Thursday, Jan 28 at 1:00 PM CST. The NARMS Webinar series, part of the NARMS-U educational platform, is sponsored by Natural Insight and brought to you through the technology of ReadyTalk.

While the item that appears on everyone’s strategic agenda is ROI, there remains an essential component that needs to be addressed. It is essential to create a vibrant business relationship environment that fosters a desire to want to do more business together. Lauria will discuss the fundamental drivers creating a successful “Total Customer Experience” with a focus on how to think about creating lasting value driven relationships with clients that encourage multi-level business building opportunities.

An industry thought leader and frequent speaker and panel moderator, Lauria is founder and Managing Director of Pelco Advisors, LLC., a global retail marketing and merchandising consulting practice. He began his career with Kraft General Foods, founded LCA, Inc, and was the CEO of a leading MSO for several years. Lauria is an advisor to several companies and an active member of NARMS having recently developed the association’s strategic plan.

The session is complimentary to NARMS members as a valuable membership benefit and is made available to non-members for a nominal fee. We hope you will join us for this exciting and timely topic and we encourage you to share this invitation with other co-workers and anyone else who might gain value from this information-sharing opportunity. You can register by clicking here.

Webinar to Focus on C-Suite Relationships

We live in a world in which technology allows us to connect with each other at an unprecedented level. It is important, even while taking advantage of new communication channels, that we do not turn our backs on tried and true relationship building skills. In the next NARMS Webinar - C-Suite Status — Building Relationships that Build Business – Mark Hunter will show you how to use a blend of old and new communication techniques to break down walls and be seen as the go to person with whom CEOs, COOs, CMOs and CFOs want to connect. The Webinar is on Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010 at 1:00 PM CST. The NARMS Webinar series, another in the NARMS-U educational platform, is sponsored by NaturalInsight and brought to you through the technology of ReadyTalk.

Our technology-saturated world can never out-do the time-tested skill of building relationships. Jump start 2010 by connecting with the people who can have the greatest impact on your business — the C-Suite decision makers. This one-hour session will teach you about the importance of these relationships and how to develop them from consultative selling expert Mark Hunter.

Hunter, “The Sales Hunter,” helps individuals and companies identify better prospects, close more sales, and profitably build more long-term customer relationships. He spent 18 years working in the sales divisions of three Fortune 100 companies. His clients include British Petroleum, Coca-Cola, Sara Lee and Mattel. To find out more about Mark’s selling philosophy and to receive his weekly sales tip, visit www.TheSalesHunter.com.

The NARMS Webinar Series is a free member benefit and is available to non-members at a nominal fee. This topic has already generated a lot of interest. If you haven’t already done so, we urge you to register for this, the first NARMS Webinar of the new decade. Connecting with your fellow members today is the first step toward building better business relationships tomorrow.

PIC Division Input Needed

If you are member of the Professional Installation Company (PIC) Division of NARMS, there is a very quick survey in circulation designed to augment an ongoing research project that will benefit the industry and raise the profile of your services. The project is being called, “PIC - Continuing to Build Out the Future of Retail.” Because of the size of the division and the importance of the data, we are asking for 100% participation. If you have not already done so, take a few minutes to click here and fill out a survey.

The research project is an extension and update of a similar effort back in 2006 called, “Building out the Future of Retail.” Only summary results of this survey will be published, so we ask that you please be candid in your responses. The data will be submitted directly to The Christopher Group, an independent and impartial research firm so your individual responses will remain in confidence.

As with the 2006 project, this study will put a face on the diverse skill sets of PIC Division members and describe how their services are beneficial to the retail industry. Your responses will not only be used to verify the description of a PIC, but also to illustrate how the industry has evolved.

In addition to the member input, the current outline is to conduct several retailer interviews and research, as well as provide a model measuring the size of the marketplace and opportunity for PIC members. We are also seeking case studies and success stories to present as vivid examples of the effectiveness of these vital services.

The project findings will result in a document and will be presented in a workshop at the annual NARMS Spring Conference on April 17-20 at the Saddlebrook Resort near Tampa. Again, if you are a PIC, and have not already done so, click here to participate.