To the retailers who attended my “Speed Networking” session on Sunday:
You guys rock. Big time.
It was my first fully interactive gig (as well as the first time I’ve allowed someone else to name the theme), which had the butterflies in my stomach flapping like mad over breakfast that day. As I told Mom, “Either this will work spectacularly, or it will bomb spectacularly. We’ll know in the first five minutes.”
Thankfully, you guys went with option A…and continued to do so for about an hour after the session officially ended. Felt like a proud parent on graduation day.
So…keep it rockin’ folks. You truly are someone’s Go To Guru* and the apple of my eye.
*If you were there, you know. If you weren’t, well…shoulda been.
Holy cow, this is gonna be great.
Just found out the Power Lunch session I’m hosting at noon will probably be sold out, now that on-site registrations are factoring in. As buyers tighten their travel budgets, there’s no question the regional markets are holding their own.
The session title is “Speed Networking.” Needless to say, with a moniker like that, it’s going to be fast paced, fun, and a little fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants entertaining. Honestly, I can’t wait, having never tried this format before.
A “Strategies for Challenging Times” Forum later that day combines me, Carol Schroeder, and Tom Ungrodt (all charter members of the GHTA Retail Advisory Board). Tom will cover managing your cash flow investment; Carol will get into trimming your expenses and overhead; my segment’s about paring down your inventory to a cleaner, meaner mix, then dealing with what I call “Psych Marketing 101.”
If you’re in either (or both), be sure to say hello.
Photo credit: Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Gotta tell you, I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Chicago gift show. This time, I’m speaking at two sessions-—first, the Power Lunch on Sunday, then later that afternoon as one of three presenters at the GHTA Forum and Trolley Tour.
The two sessions couldn’t be more different. The Power Lunch is titled “Speed Networking for Retailers,” as I wear my RetailSpeaks hat, focusing on fast paced, out of the box thinking with a roomful of peers. Don’t get nervous-—it ought to be fun, and will send you home with the creative juices flowing.
The forum is a bit more on the serious side, titled “Strategies for Challenging Times.” Tom Ungrodt, Carol Schroeder, and I will frame an attack plan for squeezing more cash out of your stores in this upside down economy. Immediately after the forum, we’ll set off on a Trolley Tour of cool stores in the Chicago area, complete with a yummy boxed dinners and drinks.
For descriptions of the sessions (as well as others), visit the Chicago Market Living and Giving website-—or just click here.
To sign up for the Power Lunch or Trolley Tour, rsvp before July 7th (by clicking here). The Power Lunch is free; since the Trolley Tour includes drinks, that one’s a nominal $24.99 per person (and is worth it; we really had fun last year).
To attend the forum, just show up. No rsvp or charge involved.
Hope to see you there; be sure to come up and say hello.
