2008 NBDA Super Seminars at Interbike

More great seminars than ever - that's the theme for the NBDA 2008 Super Seminars at Interbike.

Not only will the NBDA provide sessions each day of the Las Vegas expo, they will also be offered the day before the show opens to serve those who are arriving in town that day.

Seminars will also be offered both days at Interbike's newest event, Outdoor Demo East, October 21-22 at Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island.

The Las Vegas sessions will once again be held in the Venetian meeting rooms Casanova 506-507, on the ground level near the registration area.

A wide variety of seminars are being planned, with topics ranging from sales, marketing, management strategies, and industry trends. A new point of emphasis for 2008 is store merchandising and design, with three presentations from experienced display experts in Las Vegas, and one in Rhode Island.

Interbike Las Vegas, September 23-26
Venetian, Casanova meeting rooms 506-507

NEW FOR 2008!! TUESDAY SEMINARS

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

12 noon to 1:30 p.m.
How to Make '09 Turn Out Fine
Tom Shay, Profits Plus Seminars

Sure the media is telling us to be concerned about the economy for 2009. You can do more to make 2009 be a great year as compared to just riding it out. Come hear Tom Shay explain what to do, what not to do, and what to stop doing so that you can weather tough economic times and make '09 turn out fine. Some proven strategies include taking control of the business by analyzing strengths and weaknesses, focusing on repeat customers, changing things that aren't working, revising pricing strategies, and expense control strategies.

On the web: www.profitsplus.org


2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
When Your Management Style Isn't Working and Your Employees Aren't Either
Tom Shay, Profits Plus Seminars

It is a frequently heard comment; "My employees aren't doing what I need them to do. I just don't have good employees." Unfortunately, what many of these employees have in common is a manager or owner whose management style isn't working either. This interactive session helps attendees to identify how they will react and manage in situations within their business. Then they are shown a different style of management for that situation and invited to compare the two to see which way is more likely to help with their management decisions.

On the web: www.profitsplus.org


Wednesday, September 24, 2008

8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
The Sales, Marketing, and Advertising Matrix…
Techniques to Make Your Business Thrive During Challenging Times
Rick Segel, Rick Segel & Associates

The success of any business is dependent on a company's ability to attract new business and maximize the business for existing accounts. What are the best methods and techniques to attract, retain, and up-sell accounts? How do you market, advertise, and sell in today's highly competitive marketplace without competing on price? This interactive program will have you look at your marketing and advertising in a different way.

• Learn how to sell solutions, not price
• Learn the keys to marketing that will make your advertising stand out without spending a lot of money
• Learn relationship building skills
• Understand the techniques to use when the economy slows down
• Understand the power of non-manipulative selling
• Learn the role that the internet plays in the entire process and what you have to do to make ecommerce work for you

On the web: www.ricksegel.com


10:30 a.m. to noon
The Retail Store Manager as Leader
Dan Mann, The Mann Group

As retailers look for improvement in efficiencies, implementation and profitability, one staff position becomes increasingly important: Store Manager. In most retail companies, few roles have more impact on revenue growth, company culture, store environment and customer satisfaction. But how can a store manager be MOST EFFECTIVE? Great retail organizations recognize the store manager's role as leader. The store manager influences, teaches, solves problems, coaches, builds a team and represents the brand to the public. The store manager is responsible for meeting revenue goals.

This seminar addresses these topics:

• Defining the ideal role for a store manager
• Characteristics of this manager/leader
• Leadership strategies for the sales floor
• Maximizing your influence for the company's benefit (and yours!)
• Developing leadership skills for this role

On the web: www.manngroup.net


12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
How to Evaluate A Retail Store
Rick Segel, Rick Segel and Associates

This program is designed to help you evaluate your retail business so that you will have a better understanding of your strengths, areas to improve, and how you compare to other retailers. The 9 key areas that will be covered include store management, product, pricing, presentation, promotion, customer engagement, reporting, profitability, and technology. The goal is to provide you with the information that will enable you to run your business more efficiently, more profitably, and with more customer focus. The research for this program was sponsored by Microsoft. You will be able to take home an actual CD version so that you can take this test over and over again and see how your business improves in order to survive and thrive in this era of hyper competition.

• Learn what the winners are doing to become successful
• Learn how to evaluate your own business
• Recognize the strengths and weaknesses that need to be addressed
• Create an objective analysis of the viability of your business

On the web: www.ricksegel.com


2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Power Merchandising for Bicycle Retailers
Chris Miller, Pacific Store Designs

Merchandising is always a "hot" button for retailers, manufacturers, and distributors. This is a great topic that focuses on things that can be implemented immediately to improve your retail presentation.

Chris Miller has developed his "Ten Commandments of Merchandising" that cover merchandising techniques, end cap promotions, tonnage statements, "WOW" factor, and window displays. Best of all, he uncovers secrets on how to maximize and maintain your store's optimum selling image.

What you will learn:

• Ways to merchandise your store.
• 10 bolt on, do-it yourself techniques.
• Secrets of how to keep your store looking good 24/7.
• Innovative display ideas.
• How to make the shoppers eyes see more merchandise.

On the web: www.pacificstoredesigns.com


4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Creating the "WOW" in Your Store Through Design and Merchandising
Jim Rasmus, Retail Design Associates

Looking to remodel or build a new store? This seminar has helped many specialty retailers develop a plan of action for building or remodeling a store that maximizes sales. Store designer Jim Rasmus will show you a step-by-step plan that can fit your budget and timing.  With the competitive environment intensifying for bicycle stores, now is a good time to consider remodeling or building a destination store for your customers to shop and for your staff to work in.  Learn how to set goals, create plans, prioritize and how to budget your next remodel or build a new store without going to the poor house.

On the web: www.retaildesignassociates.com


Thursday, September 25

8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
You Don't Know What You Don't Know! Four Trends Reshaping Business
James Dion, President, Dionco Inc.

Four trends are emerging that will play havoc with almost any retail business: price transparency, customers with "relaxed consciences," retail as experience and technology creep. Learn what these trends mean to retailers and how to prepare your company, people and stores to thrive in this very interesting new world we are living in.

Jim's speaking and training practice include hundreds of workshops, seminars, and keynote speeches every year for some of the largest companies in the U.S. and overseas. Companies like Microsoft, Maytag, Vestel (Turkey), IBM, Honey-Baked Ham Company, Harley-Davidson, Ritz-Carlton and more have all benefited from Jim's insights on retail selling, merchandising, technology, and consumer trends. Jim is also a frequent speaker for leading associations including, the National Retail Federation, the Association of Golf Merchandisers, Narta (Australia), National Shoe Retailers Association, National Sporting Goods Association and more. He is a faculty member in the MBA program at Harley-Davidson University.

Jim has appeared on NBC, Fox News, and CNN Turkey. He was also a judge for the Microsoft Retail Developer Awards as well as for CIO Magazine Top 100.

On the web: www.dionco.com


10:30 a.m. to noon
Recession Proof Your Business - 10 Strategies To Help You Thrive
James Dion, President, Dionco Inc.

When we talk about trends of the future, we forget that recession might be one of them. Just as it is important to learn and prepare for a new market or consumer trend and act upon it, it is paramount to plan for things to do when a recession comes. And it now appears that we are in one and it is likely going to be long and difficult for many retailers. Learn ten+ actions that you can take right now to help you not just survive a recession but thrive in one.

On the web: www.dionco.com


12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Bicycling On a Roll
The Bikes Belong Coalition

Bicycling is on a roll. Government and corporate leaders at all levels are recognizing how new bicycling facilities and promotion can help reduce road congestion, improve personal health, cut air pollution, and address key economic challenges.

Our businesses are well positioned. Please join leaders of Bikes Belong for an update on current trends, legislation, bike-friendly programs, and a look at what the next few years will bring for bicycling and our industry. Specific strategies for you--the bicycle retailer on the front line--will be discussed.

Lunch will be served. RSVP please by September 1 to paul@bikesbelong.org.
Please limit your participation to no more than two representatives per retailer.

On the web: www.bikesbelong.org


2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Creative Store Merchandising
Mercedes Ross, Merchandising Werx

In this entertaining and informative seminar, experienced store merchandiser Mercedes Ross will cover a range of ideas that store owners can take back to implement immediately.

Included will be:

• Merchandising 101: three main items to start , atmosphere, traffic flow, product placement,
• Store identity and consumer perspective: how the retailer is promoting their brand name, carrying it through with marketing and the consumers perspective,
• Traffic flow: Product and fixture placement can increase or decrease sales by 30%!
• Product merchandising: product placement is the key , where you put things  can make or break sales,
• P.O.P.: A big question , everyone wants the dealer to put out their POP how to make those decisions,
• Dealers should be changing their platform: It doesn't take a remodel to change your platform.
• 10 action items that you can implement immediately

4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Profitable Marketing: What bike stores can learn from The Big Guys
Greg Carter, Senior VP, Haggin Marketing

No squishy marketing advice here: this fast-paced session covers hard facts, proven techniques, and insights from America's leading marketers. Learn the most important website elements, tips on email, wise use of direct mail and the five most common marketing mistakes. Greg has 20 years marketing experience and his firm counts ebay, Dell, Office Depot, Safeway, American Express, Adidas, Gold's Gym, among it's many blue chip clients. Greg's lively talk focuses on specific lessons bicycle retailers can learn from sophisticated businesses approaching marketing, tracking ad results, and building their brand.

Greg is an active road and off-road rider and a board member of SBTS, a leading Marin County Mountain bike trails group. This session is sponsored by Catalyst Communication. A short presentation of Catalyst 2009 direct marketing promotions will immediately follow this seminar.


Friday, September 26

8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Practical Methods and Systems to Increase Profits in Your Service Department
Brett Flemming, The Bike Gallery and Efficient Velo Tools

Brett Flemming's inspiring presentations have been rated as exceptional by dealers in numerous venues. This new and updated session will focus on practical and proven ideas for helping bicycle stores improve service department profitability, as well as service customer experience and mechanic retention. Brett will share the practices and concepts that have been implemented at The Bike Gallery, a multi-store cycling retailer in Portland, Oregon. Labor revenues have grown by over 50% in recent years at The Bike Gallery as a result of implementing these creative strategies.

On the web: www.efficientvelo.com


10:30 a.m. to noon
Productivity, Compensation and the Cost of Doing Business Study
Kerry Roberts, Certified Public Accountant, owner of The Bike Pedlar, Nashville, TN

The NBDA's Cost of Doing Business study has given retailers solid financial benchmarks for many years. In this session, Kerry Roberts will focus on ways you can use the benchmark numbers to analyze your business and develop strategies for improving those numbers. The focus will be on personnel productivity and compensation strategies. The Cost of Doing Business study is created from financial statements of specialty bike shops around the country. It shows how the average store stacks up in terms of payroll costs, rent, advertising and more. It also reveals average profit margins, as well as indicators for employee productivity. In addition to being a CPA, Kerry owns the Bike Pedlar, a multi-store bicycle retailer in Nashville, Tennessee.

See Kerry Roberts on the web: www.allanti.com.


12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Bicycle Market Trends and Opportunities
Jay Townley, Gluskin Townley Group

Jay Townley has been one of the most respected analysts in the bicycle industry for many years. He has experience in retail, supply-side and consulting, always with a strong emphasis on sound research.

In this presentation, Jay will present a detailed overview of the bicycle market based on the latest research and his own observations based on work in the field with both suppliers and retailers. Included will be:

• The market overview for 2007
• What's hot and what's not in 2008
• Trends and developments in bicycle retailing nationwide
• Strategies for attracting new customers to the cycling market
• What will 2009 look like?

Learn more about Jay Townley on the web: www.gluskintownley.com


Interbike Outdoor Demo East,
October 21-22, Roger Williams Park, Providence, Rhode Island

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The Retail Store Manager as Leader
Dan Mann, The Mann Group

As retailers look for improvement in efficiencies, implementation and profitability, one staff position becomes increasingly important: Store Manager. In most retail companies, few roles have more impact on revenue growth, company culture, store environment and customer satisfaction. But how can a store manager be MOST EFFECTIVE? Great retail organizations recognize the store manager's role as leader. The store manager influences, teaches, solves problems, coaches, builds a team and represents the brand to the public. The store manager is responsible for meeting revenue goals.

This seminar addresses these topics:

• Defining the ideal role for a store manager
• Characteristics of this manager/leader
• Leadership strategies for the sales floor
• Maximizing your influence for the company's benefit (and yours!)
• Developing leadership skills for this role

On the web: www.manngroup.net


10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
How to Make '09 Turn Out Fine
Tom Shay, Profits Plus Seminars

Sure the media is telling us to be concerned about the economy for 2009. You can do more to make 2009 be a great year as compared to just riding it out. Come hear Tom Shay explain what to do, what not to do, and what to stop doing so that you can weather tough economic times and make '09 turn out fine. Some proven strategies include taking control of the business, focusing on repeat customers, changing things that aren't working, revising pricing strategies, and expense control strategies.

On the web: www.profitsplus.org


Wednesday, October 22

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Practical Methods and Systems to Increase Profits in Your Service Department
Brett Flemming, The Bike Gallery and Efficient Velo Tools

Brett Flemming's inspiring presentations have been rated as exceptional by dealers in numerous venues. This new and updated session will focus on practical and proven ideas for helping bicycle stores improve service department profitability, as well as service customer experience and mechanic retention. Brett will share the practices and concepts that have been implemented at The Bike Gallery, a multi-store cycling retailer in Portland, Oregon. Labor revenues have grown by over 50% in recent years at The Bike Gallery as a result of implementing these creative strategies.

On the web: www.efficientvelo.com


10:45 a.m. to 12:15 pm.
Power Merchandising for Bicycle Retailers
Chris Miller, Pacific Store Designs

Merchandising is always a "hot" button for retailers, manufacturers, and distributor attendees. This is a great topic that focuses on things that can be implemented immediately.

Chris Miller has developed his "Ten Commandments of Merchandising" that cover merchandising techniques, end cap promotions, tonnage statements, "WOW" factor, and window displays. Best of all, he uncovers secrets on how to maximize and maintain your stores optimum selling image.

What you will learn:

• Ways to merchandise your store.
• 10 bolt on, do-it yourself techniques.
• Secrets of how to keep your store looking good 24/7.
• Innovative display ideas.
• How to make the shoppers eyes see more merchandise.

On the web: www.pacificstoredesigns.com