Course Catalog & Curriculum Overview

The curriculum at NARTS University is built by people who understand the realities of resale.

Every course, lab, and campus session is designed to address the challenges store owners, managers, and nonprofit leaders face every day. From operations and staffing to merchandising, marketing, and leadership, the goal is simple: provide practical learning that moves your store forward.

Some sessions will sharpen strategy. Others will improve systems or introduce new ways to think about your business. Every session is built to deliver ideas you can take home and use.

Below is a preview of the learning experiences currently planned for NARTS University.

Additional courses and faculty may be added as the program continues to develop.

Learning Formats

At Tucson Campus, learning is designed with intention.

Some sessions will challenge how you think. Others will challenge how you operate. Each one is built to move you forward in practical, measurable ways.

Whether you prefer a focused classroom environment or a more hands-on, interactive setting, the curriculum is structured to give you options and room to choose what fits your goals in the moment.

All-Campus Sessions

These are the moments when the entire campus comes together.

All-Campus Sessions bring every attendee into the same room for conversations that matter across every type of store. Whether you run a consignment shop, thrift operation, buy-outright model, furniture store, or nonprofit resale program, these topics connect the industry as a whole.

Expect big ideas, honest conversations, and perspectives that challenge and inspire. These sessions help set the tone for the conference and remind us that while our stores may operate differently, the challenges and opportunities of resale unite us.

This is where the entire NARTS community learns together.

Courses

Focused, classroom-style sessions built to sharpen leadership, strengthen systems, clarify financial thinking, and elevate customer experience.

These are the strategic rooms. The places where perspective shifts, blind spots surface, and direction becomes clearer. You will leave with sharper thinking and decisions you can stand behind.

Labs

Select session blocks will feature a Lab experience.

Labs are designed for a different kind of energy. Smaller rooms. More interaction. More participation. Less listening, more doing.

These sessions lean into application, guided exploration, and working through ideas in real time. They are intentionally structured to create movement, not just notes.

Not every session block will include a Lab, and space may be limited.

If you prefer to roll up your sleeves and work through ideas instead of simply listening, you will want to watch for these sessions.

Curriculum Preview

The NARTS University curriculum includes more than two dozen learning experiences designed specifically for resale professionals.

The course catalog shown here reflects the sessions currently planned for NARTS University. As the conference approaches, additional courses, faculty, and session details may be added.

The final catalog will be released closer to the conference date.

 

  • NARTS University Course Catalog Preview

    This is just a preview of what's to come at NARTS University in Tucson. Courses may be changed before the final catalog is published.

  • AI For Resale: Work Smarter, Sell Faster | Abraham Sanchez of Article Consignment Boutique

    AI isn’t just for big tech companies anymore, it’s a powerful tool that resale businesses can start using today. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll discover practical ways to use AI to save time, create better marketing, write product descriptions, generate social media content, and simplify everyday tasks in your store. Whether you sell clothing, furniture, or anything in between, you’ll walk away with simple tools and ideas you can start using immediately.

  • Analyze Sales for Strategic Planning | Robyn Hicks and Heather Nay of Another Season Consignments

    Numbers never lie, and your store numbers hold the answers. Discover how to analyze your sales and how to apply those numbers for intentional decision-making. Over the past year, Another Season has taken a deep dive into their numbers, using real data to evaluate their processes, sales floor, and more to drive their decision making. In this session, they’ll share their process for evaluating and tracking data, as well as the changes they made along the way.

  • The Creative Advantage | Brittany Moore-Deno of Camilla's Closet

    The Creative Advantage teaches how to turn creativity into real sales results. In this practical, hands-on session, you’ll learn how to make customers stop, look, and click using smart design and strategic advertising. Discover the essential do’s and don’ts of effective marketing, where and when to show up, and how to maximize visibility without a big budget, so your products don’t just look good, they get noticed and sold.

  • From A Dream to a Reality...How to Survive and Thrive During Your First 3 Years | Lori Hannon of Emily's Closet

    The session will help potential new store owners get ready to open a store providing information and ideas for all the things you need to do and think about prior to opening. It will also look at what to expect during your first few years in business and provide tips to get through the growing pains.

  • From Donation to Sales Floor | Stela Jantzen of Park Avenue Thrift

    This session will share Park Avenue Thrift’s approach to keeping donations moving from the donation door to the sales floor. We will walk through our systems for processing, pricing, and stocking inventory, with a focus on improving flow and show how to support staff along the way.

  • How to Lose a Sale in 10 Ways | Merra Jenkins and Alyssa Gonzales of Another Season Consignments

    What roadblocks exist in your store that might be stopping a sale? In this eye-opening session, we’ll uncover some of the subtle (and not-so-subtle) barriers that might be preventing your customers from making a purchase. Join us for “How to Lose a Sale in 10 Ways” to learn what those obstacles might be.

  • Inventory Opportunities Through Special Collections | Kelli Hulslander of Your Other Closet

    Explore the potential provided by hosting special collections and curated promotions. By offering a quick and specific promotion, shops can (1) enhance both the customer and consignor experiences, (2) investigate the potential saleability of a variety of items, and (3) boost sales during traditionally slower sales seasons. The workshop will include a guide on how to prepare, host and review a special collection.

  • The Journey of a Buyer | Nicole Schrater of MODAO Resale

    A clear store identity empowers buyers to make confident, intentional purchasing decisions that truly serve their customers. This session dives into the power of saying no: setting boundaries around intake, trusting your instincts, and ensuring every item earns its place in a limited, valuable space. Attendees will walk away with practical strategies to respect their time, protect their energy, and create a well-curated, highly shoppable environment where both buyers and sellers thrive.

  • Managing for Sanity | Meagan McDonald of The Green Monkey

    Managing for Sanity is a workshop for all store managers! If you are feeling the heavy weight of managing a staff, operations, and client relations, this is for you. Practical tips and tricks for communication, feedback, and keeping your spark when things feel bogged down.

  • The Multi-Small Business Event Blueprint | Lou Ray and Erin Ray-LaBarr of Deja Vu Furniture & Accessories

    "The Multi-Small Business Event Blueprint is a practical class for shop owners, downtown organizations, and community leaders who want to create a collaborative event that brings customers into multiple local businesses. Instead of competing for the same shoppers, this class shows how small businesses can work together to turn a normal shopping day into an exciting destination event."

  • Real Life. Real Camera. Real Connection. | Cecile and Brooke Reynolds of Brooke's Boutique

    A hands-on lab workshop that walks you step by step through creating engaging videos that connect with your audience. Learn what types of videos work best for resale businesses, how to define your message, and what your target audience wants to see. This session also covers simple techniques for filming and editing short-form videos, along with guidance on who on your team should handle content creation and how to make the process manageable.

  • Sublimaker's Lab | Angie Houloose of NARTS

    Ready to stop ordering 200 pieces of something you only need 25 of? Step inside the SubliMaker’s Lab and see how sublimation and heat press equipment can transform your promotional strategy. In this hands-on session, you’ll walk through the full process of creating custom branded products and walk out with a one-of-a-kind item you created.

  • The Systems That Built a 30-Year Resale Business | Lisa Ibias of Alaskan Dames

    Sustaining a resale business for three decades requires more than hustle, it requires systems. In this session, Lisa Ibias shares the seven foundational systems that have supported the longevity and profitability of her women’s consignment boutique. Attendees will receive a high-level framework of all seven systems and a deeper dive into three that directly impact inventory flow, team performance, and revenue stability.

  • Your Store Operations Manual Makeover | Jody Czako

    Your store operations manual functions as your voice, so make it speak clearly and confidently! This presentation is full of helpful tips and practical suggestions you can use to build a strong, beneficial tool for your team. Together we’ll discuss choosing topics, consistent presentation, and some legal necessities. This seminar is not just about writing, either. From AI analysis to YouTube videos, there’s more than one way to create meaningful content. Bring your current manual (in whatever form) and we’ll work together to enhance your business.

What You’ll Walk Away With

NARTS University is designed to deliver more than inspiration. It is built to provide real tools and clarity you can take home and apply immediately.

Attendees leave with:

  • Practical systems to improve store operations
  • Fresh ideas for merchandising, marketing, and sales
  • Leadership insight for building stronger teams
  • Real conversations with peers facing the same challenges
  • Renewed energy and confidence for the work ahead

This is education built specifically for resale professionals, by people who understand the industry.

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