Myrtle Beach, S.C. — Peak retail performance will be the theme of buying group Furniture First's ninth annual symposium here Feb. 5–8.
The event will focus on new methods and strategies for operating stores more efficiently while reducing costs and increasing profits.
Speakers include:
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Retail designer and consultant Connie Post, who will be present her 2005 Image Audit, designed to help increase the perceived value of stores through improvements to their public image. After her presentation, she will accompany the members on a tour of Garden City Furniture in nearby Garden City, S.C. Operated by Dianne Ray, the store is a Furniture First member that has successfully employed Post's recommendations on image and presentation.
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Barry Shamis, president of Selecting Winners, whose talk is titled, "How to Hire Winning Employees for Your Furniture Business." He will outline strategies used by the best companies in the world to recruit and hire.
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Brian Parsley, of BuyGitomer. com, who will talk about "'Can I Help You?' and 20 Other Fatal Flaws of the Retail Furniture Business!" He'll offer tips to engage, close and upsell the customer from his book, "Customer Satisfaction is Worthless ... Customer Loyalty is Priceless," which Furniture First recently distributed to all members.
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Bill Glazer, president of BGS Marketing, who will present his popular "Outrageous Advertising That's Outrageously Effective," with descriptions of successful ad campaigns and the behind-the-scenes strategies that made them work.
A popular aspect of past symposiums, the One Best Idea session, has been revised and will be called, "Retail's Most Embarrassing, Humorous or Funniest Moments OR What's Worked Best For You In 2004."
As before, members will share ideas that worked as well as some that generated unexpected results.
For more information about the symposium, contact Bill Hartman, president of Furniture First, at (717) 540-9725.
