Help Guide Other Members


We Are Now Accepting Session Proposals For This Summer’s Conference

Our conference education is built by members who are doing the work every day.

Owners. Managers. Nonprofit leaders. Teams who have figured things out through experience, not theory.

If you’ve solved a problem, created a system that works, learned something the hard way, or found a better path forward, this is your opportunity to share it.

 

What We’re Looking For

We are prioritizing sessions that are:

  • Practical and usable
  • Rooted in real experience
  • Relevant to today’s resale and thrift operations
  • Clear in what attendees will walk away knowing

This is not about polished perfection. It’s about substance.

Topic Areas We’re Actively Building Around

Non-Profit and Thrift Leadership

  • Volunteer management systems
  • Staff training with constant turnover
  • Merchandising donated goods effectively
  • Clear mission and donor communication
  • Using data for grants and reporting
  • Community partnerships that drive impact

Consignment and Resale Leadership

  • Data that matters and what to ignore
  • Succession planning in owner-run stores
  • Auditing intake quality and inventory control
  • Defining the right inventory mix
  • Planning for slow seasons
  • Rethinking markdown strategies

Topics That Cross All Store Types

  • Effective staff training systems
  • Marketing that works without chasing trends
  • Cybersecurity basics
  • Evaluating technology wisely
  • Addressing internal theft without damaging culture

If your topic doesn’t fall neatly into one of these categories but solves a real operational problem, submit it.

Partner and Vendor Participation

Many companies that support the resale industry have valuable tools, services, and solutions that can help store owners operate more effectively.

Because conference education sessions are designed to focus on operational learning and peer experience, presentations that center on a specific product or service are usually a better fit for the Market+Exchange area of the conference (formerly SourceMart). Market+Exchange is where partners can demonstrate their solutions, answer questions, and have meaningful one-on-one conversations with store owners who are actively exploring options.

If your proposal includes a specific platform, service, or solution, our team may recommend Market+Exchange as the best way to connect with attendees.

What You’ll Need to Submit

  • A working session title
  • The audience your session is designed for
  • The problem your session addresses
  • Three to five practical takeaways

Clear and specific answers matter more than clever wording.

How Sessions Are Selected

All proposals are reviewed with one question in mind:

Will this help members operate better day to day?

Sessions are selected based on relevance, clarity, and overall program balance.

Submission Deadline

Sunday, March 1st

Selected presenters will be notified after review.

Ready to Submit?

If something you know could make someone else’s path clearer, this is your opportunity.

2026 Workshop Application

Session Proposal Submission

If you’re here, it means something you know is worth sharing.

This form is simply a way for us to understand what you want to teach and how it would help other members. You don’t need a finished presentation. You don’t need perfect wording. You just need clarity on what you’ve learned and why it matters.

Be straightforward. Be specific. Tell us what works.

First Name: *
Last Name: *
Store Name: *
City | State: *
Email: *
Phone Number: *
Have You Spoken At A NARTS Event Before?: *
Yes
No
Proposed Session Title: *
Primary Audience: *
Non-Profit | Thrift
Consignment | Resale
All Store Types
Briefly Describe Your Session: *
What Problem Does This Session Solve?: *
List 3-5 Takeaways For Attendees: *
Any Additional Information:



Thank you for taking the time to submit this application. 

We review every proposal carefully, and sessions are selected based on relevance, clarity, and practical value for members.

If your session is selected, we’ll follow up with next steps and expectations. If it isn’t selected this year, that does not mean the topic isn’t strong. It simply means we’re balancing tracks and time.

Raising your hand to share what you’ve learned matters. That’s how this industry stays honest and strong.