I'll be attending Conference for the
first time and I don't know anyone. What if no one talks to me?
No one is a wallflower at a NARTS
meeting. Trust me, you'll make friends before leaving the first function. It's
amazing how fast your circle of friends will grow. All of a sudden you are not
alone at Conference and as an added benefit you'll have a group of peers you can
call after Conference when you need some advice or a little support. NARTS
members and meeting attendees are the friendliest, most sharing group of people
I've ever encountered! If you are still concerned, we will have a very friendly
group of Conference Greeters available to make sure you are comfortable.
We want your first Conference experience to be nothing but wonderful! Here
is
My First Meeting story that I'd like to share with you.
What is a Conference Greeter?
A Greeter has previously attended
Conference and volunteered to get a first time attendee off to a good start.
Our greeters will make sure your first NARTS meeting is a positive experience.
They will be outside the first two opening events to welcome you, answer
questions and
introduce you to other attendees. Before you know it you'll be off on your
own with your new found friends. If you have any questions prior to
Conference, that are not addressed on this page, please contact one
of our Greeters:
Debbie McDaniel.
What is included in
the registration fee? Are there any additional registration fees?
All Conference events
listed on the Agenda are included in the registration fee for attendees. Full
Guest Packages include all events listed on the Agenda except for the workshops.
The only additional registration fee is for the Resale Shop Bus Tour which is an
optional event for registrants and guests.
Do I have to
register for Window Walk or Meet & Mingle?
You do not have to register
for either event and there are no additional fees.
What is Window Walk?
Slip on those tennies,
grab a notebook or clipboard, and let's go learn from the professionals! A
Thursday-afternoon event worth arriving early for! We'll visit the Fashion Mall,
attached to the hotel, and Kate Holmes, author of TGtbT The Complete Operations
Manual for Resale & Consignment Shops and many other industry guides, will show you how to examine what the
new-merchandise stores do, with an eye to adapting these ideas to your shop. How
are their windows displayed? Where are their dressing rooms, sales desk, swing
shop? What subtle visual clues draw shoppers in, and what makes them buy at one
store instead of another? This casual but educational get-together is free. Meet
on the second level of the hotel at the skyway to the mall (near the elevators
in the Suite Tower) at 3 PM on
Thursday. We'll spend about two hours exploring how to make our shops look as
good as the mall shops at a fraction of the cost. Afterwards you may want to
join some of your new friends for dinner in one of the many restaurants or the
food court in the mall before joining us for Meet & Mingle.
Download a Window Walk
fact-finding form at
www.TGtbT.com/windowwalk.htm
Window Walk is
sponsored by Too Good to be Threw Products for the professional Resaler and
HowToConsign.com, the site that finds YOUR shop's next client.
What is the Welcome Session?
Want to get the most out of your Conference
experience? Join us on Friday at 9 AM and discover how to take advantage of the
many education and networking opportunities available during the weekend. The NARTS Board of Directors will introduce themselves and
"walk" you
through the daily agendas. They will give you details of each event and answer
all your questions.
Should I attend Conference if I haven't
opened my store yet?
Attending Conference is the
best investment you can make in your future business! You will gain an
invaluable education, build a network of peers and save yourself from making
many mistakes.
Read testimonials from future owners, beginners and seasoned resalers. If
that doesn't convince you, here is what Industry Icon, Kate Holmes said to one
of her readers... "Lots of prospective shop owners attend Conference and are
very grateful they did! It's flabbergasting how much you can "leap ahead" of
beginner status just by attending, listening, talking, networking. Everyone's
VERY kind and giving, and you will be comfortable AND excited!"
Do most people go on the resale
shop bus tour? Is it JUST another shopping trip?
Yes, over 90% of the attendees go
on the tour. And No... it isn't all about shopping, although you will probably pick up
some fine buys for yourself or your store. The tour is intended to be an
educational and networking event. It's an opportunity to brainstorm
with your peers, make new friends and glean ideas to adapt and implement in your own
shop. Stores will vary in size, design, and type & quality of merchandise...
allowing you to learn from different perspectives. Regardless of the
differences, all stores have signage, lighting, layout plans and displays -
any of which could give you that one dynamite idea to take back home.
Why should I stay at the
Sheraton
Indianapolis Hotel & Suites
?
Conference 2008 will be
held at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites. Networking, learning, sharing and
friendship with your peers doesn't end at the workshop doors. Staying at the
meeting hotel is the best part of the conference experience. It's also very
convenient... you'll be able to run to your room between sessions to change
your shoes or drop off some of your papers. You'll have more time to relax and
change before evening events when staying at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel &
Suites. The hotel not only
offers great amenities, discounted rates and the best networking
opportunities, but staying within NARTS room block will help us meet our
obligation to the hotel and avoid penalties. Booking outside the block hurts
the Association. Lastly, you won't find a less expensive hotel that is as nice
and located in such a great area as the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites... believe me, we looked!!!
Click Here
for the ONLY way to make an
Online Reservation at our special group rate.
What is Info Share?
Info Share is a collection of
printed materials from resale shops across the country. Handouts,
flyers, contracts, ads, business cards, store newsletters, consignment and employment policies, promotions and
regional brochures that attendees bring will be arranged on tables so
you can gather all the materials you find useful. When you are back at
your store you can sort and file the information for future reference. It will
become a valuable resource when you begin a new project and need fresh ideas or
just a new perspective.
Info Share only works if everyone
participates, so make sure you add Info Share
contributions to your 'to pack' list. Please bring approximately 200
copies—or whatever you can spare. Drop-off your materials during registration or
before Sunday at our help desk.
Is there anything
else I should pack?
Remember to bring plenty of
business cards to exchange with your peers. Also, business checks and lots of plastic for
your shopping trip through SourceMart and for all the bargains at Auction! You may
also want to bring an extra tote bag so you can pack all the papers and
goodies you accumulated during Conference.
Bring your store photo album or scrapbook with you to the Thursday evening Meet &
Mingle reception. We will have display
tables set up for sharing. Be sure to include store name, address and your
name on the front or inside cover. Each owner is responsible for reclaiming
their own books at the end of the evening. You are welcome to share albums
anytime during unstructured portions of Conference. What better way to get to know a
resaler than by seeing their store? A picture can be worth a thousand
words! If you have any questions, please contact
Patti Acquisto.
Do many stores
bring employees and is it beneficial?
The number of store managers
and employees attending Conference increases yearly. Bringing staff members
with you shows that they are a valuable part of your business. It also helps
you bond and build a stronger relationship which makes for happier
employees. With more people, you can attend more workshops. Share what you learned and go back with even
more ideas to implement so your store can grow and flourish. One store
owner said she got her investment back ten-fold! Here is what
another attendee said on the evaluations,
"This
year I brought two different employees to let them 'experience the magic' of
conference and they really did. They have been changed by being part of that
three day event. They benefited so my shops are benefiting. They have tried
several ideas they learned and feel empowered to make improvements. If you
can bring employees, do!! You will truly reap the benefits."
I'd like to bring my manager. Do I
have to pay the higher non member price?
No, you can join your manager,
business partner or employees as
Associate members of NARTS for only $36 a year per person, then register them for
conference at the 2nd Member Registration Fee of $389 or Additional Member
Registration Fee of $339 - a substantial savings
from the $539 Non Member Fee. 2nd and Additional Member Registrants MUST
be from the same store as the 1st Member Registrant. Use our convenient online
membership application
to join your manager
and employees.
Can I tape the workshop sessions?
We are not taping workshop sessions
and welcome audio recording with discretion after obtaining express permission
from the speaker. Video taping of events will only be allowed on a very
limited basis with prior approval of the meeting planner. No video taping of
workshop sessions will be allowed.
How can I get the most out of Conference?
Network, network, network! Don't
hide... attend all events, introducing yourself to as many people as possible.
If you are attending Conference with others from your shop or your local resale
peers, don't get in the habit of always sitting with them. Be open to
meeting new people. Hang out in the lobby, sit with someone you don't know
on the buses . . . you'll meet some really great colleagues.
For more ideas
on how to get the most out of Conference, read Kate Holmes'
Have A
GREAT Meeting!
Agenda