Seminars
Tuesday, July 20
9:30 - 11:15 A.M.
2010 Industry Update: Challenges and Opportunities
10:30 - 11:15 A.M.
Presented by Scott Wright, NRHA Director of Member Services
In the wake of the recession and the housing crisis, home improvement retailers have been presented with a whole new set of challenges as well as opportunities. What are the economic trends that will dramatically impact the future of our industry moving forward? What have successful home improvement retailers done to survive? This presentation will assess where we currently stand and address the growth challenges that independent retailers as well as big boxes face in the post-recession economy.
The New Reality: How Our Industry Has Changed and
How We Move Forward
1:15 - 2:15 P.M.
Retail Panel #1
This retail panel discussion will address how the industry has changed in the past several years due to macroeconomic factors and how independent retailers big and small are adapting to these new realities. We will discuss today’s challenges for growth and profitability and ways retailers are moving ahead with their growth initiatives. What will happen with new home construction and home remodeling activity levels? How will growth of the industry’s big-boxes be affected? We’ll showcase some proprietary research from NRHA and pose these and other related questions to our panel to learn more about how independent retailers can capitalize on the realities of tomorrow’s home improvement industry.
Capitalizing on the Changing Nature of Today’s Consumer
2:30 - 3:30 P.M.
Retail Panel #2
Consumers see the world differently today than they did just a few years ago, especially as it pertains to their finances and home spending activity. In this panel discussion, retailers will discuss the changing nature of today’s consumer and what’s important to them now. What consumer segments show the most potential today? As more consumers embrace do-it-yourself activity, what implications will this have for independent retailers in meeting their needs? We will thoroughly explore this topic and highlight some new research from NRHA to discover how independent retailers can better serve today’s consumer.
Wednesday, July 21
8:45 – 9:30 A.M.
Maximize Your Store’s Presentation
9:45 - 10:30 A.M.
Presented by Phil Mitchell of Discovery Based Retail
Within the four walls of your store you have a finite amount of square footage and resources to work with. With these limitations, how do you know if you’re maximizing your potential? In this NRHA Workshop session, Phil Mitchell of Discovery Based Retail will encourage you to begin to use new thought processes to evaluate and improve your store’s overall presentation, which includes elements of store design, salesfloor layout, category adjacencies as well as décor and other environmental attributes. Mitchell will also highlight new strategies to help expose shoppers to more of the products on your salesfloor by keeping them in your store longer and increasing their overall shopping interest. Learn new ways to communicate to customers while they are in your store. This session will be jam packed with information you can use as soon as you return to your stores!
Pathways to Retail Growth
10:45 - 11:30 A.M.
Presented by Jim Robisch of The Farnsworth Group
There are basically three ways to grow a retail home improvement operation: You can expand your current store, move to a different location or open a branch store. Which path you choose depends on a variety of factors, such as the strength of your current business, your competition and other opportunities your market presents. This seminar from industry expert Jim Robisch of The Farnsworth Group will thoroughly analyze these three pathways to retail growth opportunities to help you determine which path might be right for you.
Bottom Line Financial Management
11:45 - 12:30 P.M.
Presented by Gary Petz of Discovery Based Retail and
Scott Wright, NRHA Director of Member Services
To run a profitable retail home improvement business you constantly have to manage your bottom line. It requires a thorough understanding of key financial benchmarks as well as a disciplined approach from store management to make it happen. This retail workshop for storeowners and managers will highlight key financial benchmarks and trends from NRHA’s Cost of Doing Business study for hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards and what numbers you can’t afford to ignore. Industry consultant Gary Petz from Discovery Based Retail will also present several case studies of retailers who proactively manage their bottom lines to ensure ongoing profitability.
Learn more about these bright young entrepreneurs that are paving their way in the industry! Join us for the awards banquet on Monday evening.
Whether it is technology, store operations, competitive strategies, training, merchandising or marketing, these retailers are pioneers in retail innovation. This is the spot to find out more on these retailers and the Retail Innovators of the Year program.
For more information on becoming a convention sponsor please contact Diane Allen at dallen@nrha.org, or (317) 275-9430.