Back home...for the moment

Just a quick post before I head back out of town to let you know the GHTA conference in Sanibel was terrific. The information shared was beyond helpful, and there were lots of open ears when it came to what retailers are going through these days.

I owe a huge thanks to the independent store owners who participated in the Retail Realities survey. Your wisdom and candor made all the difference, and allowed a lot of pretty big players in the gift, stationery, and home accessory industries to better understand what you need from them...both now and in the future.

Which brings me to the title: “Here and Now...and Tomorrow.” If you’d like to view a PDF of the slides used, visit the AlwaysUpward.com resource center (linked to from the “See Cinda” page). Will try to put together an audio counterpart upon returning home from Thanksgiving travels, to fill in the blanks.

Gobble, gobble, all.....and knock ‘em dead on Black Friday.

Photo credit: Carol Schroeder

The GHTA conference

Today’s the big day--the start of the Gift and Home Trade Association national conference, in Sanibel, Florida (yeah, tough gig, I know). For those of you not familiar with the GHTA, this is a collection of CEOs, Presidents, owners, and upper management representing the most influential vendors, manufacturers, sales agencies, and trade magazines in the gift and home accessory industries.

On Saturday, I’m presenting two seminars called “Here and Now...and Tomorrow,” detailing the realities that concern retailers today, what concerns them about the next year, and how those concerns are going to impact the way they continue to do business. Thanks to the contributions of an advisory group of independent retailers representing a cross section of stores nationwide, the data is as “of the moment” as it gets.

Thanks to those of you who answered the call, sharing your wisdom and suggestions for the sessions. This is one of those cases where you’ve got a captive audience of real decision makers; together, we can help them decide what will help independents most in this unprecedented economic climate.

Brain Trust

Let’s face it-—you can’t be in all places at one time, which means you can’t attend all the sessions simultaneously (probably a good thing; jamming that much information into every mental nook and cranny would land even the most mundane person in a neuro unit by day’s end).

Thankfully, I had the good fortune of meeting some truly wonderful folks along the way, whose values and professional ethics align with my own, recognizing the only way we succeed to is bring those around us along for the ride.

To Diana Repko and Nina Kaufman, you ladies are gems, with bright, shining futures ahead. Can’t wait to see where we all are a year from now....

And to Peter Stark, thank you so very, very much. While the success you’ve achieved is truly impressive, it pales in comparison to your generosity in sharing information and insights that come with years of experience.

I look forward to great things ahead. For all of us.

My newest hero

This whole NSA thing is really working for me.

The best parts of the conference come in bits and bites, via extraordinary keynotes and information-rich breakout sessions held throughout each day. With more than 75 topics to choose from, it’s not hard to find something of interest; truth be told, it’s a lot harder to narrow the list to one at a time.

This afternoon, my choice was a Marjorie Brody session focused on building one’s speaking business. I came away feeling great about where I am on the continuum, with wheels spinning about the other four hundred things I could be doing to take things up a notch.

It’s not often you get to learn from one of the pros-—especially one who’s so enthusiastic about paying it forward. Three cheers, Marjorie. Much deserved.

Not your typical "conference"

No, this isn't a rock concert...although, yes, it certainly looks (and sounds and feels) like one. This is, dear reader, the National Speakers Association national conference, and lemme tell ya, this ain't no mundane group. When the official Opening General Session opened tonight, it did so with the Rolling Stones blasting over the (admittedly impressive) sound system while normally tie-clad speakers with stellar reputations stood atop chairs and gyrated like they were eighteen.

Translated, this is the largest adrenaline rush on earth.

High points of the day:

“Nametag Scott” Ginsburg-—He’s either crazy or brilliant. I’m going with option B. Anyone who lands on CNN in his early twenties has something figured out.

Manny Medrano--The former ABC Supreme Court corespondent and former federal narcotics prosecutor in L.A. has moved--and continues to move--mountains with his challenge to lead your life with courage, heart, and soul.

Bill Stainton--Who knew the Beatles were teaching us about public speaking? His ability to turn the pop icons into a career lesson is astounding, entertaining, and crazy-brilliant.

God only knows what's in store for tomorrow. At this rate, I'll be levitating by Monday morning.

Off to the Big Apple

Might be a little quiet here on the blog for a couple of days; I’m headed to New York for the National Speakers Association conference. It’s my first time with this group-—could be interesting to see what happens when you gather this many extroverts in one place. Or really scary.

Seriously, I’m pretty hyped about it, given how highly regarded the NSA is and how much I enjoy my speaking career. Something tells me it will takes days to come down from the adrenaline rush ahead.

Promise to let you know if I begin to levitate.

Retail Rock Stars

To the retailers who attended my “Speed Networking” session on Sunday:

You guys rock. Big time.

It was my first fully interactive gig (as well as the first time I’ve allowed someone else to name the theme), which had the butterflies in my stomach flapping like mad over breakfast that day. As I told Mom, “Either this will work spectacularly, or it will bomb spectacularly. We’ll know in the first five minutes.”

Thankfully, you guys went with option A...and continued to do so for about an hour after the session officially ended. Felt like a proud parent on graduation day.

So...keep it rockin’ folks. You truly are someone’s Go To Guru* and the apple of my eye.

*If you were there, you know. If you weren’t, well...shoulda been.

Chicago Market

Holy cow, this is gonna be great.

Just found out the Power Lunch session I’m hosting at noon will probably be sold out, now that on-site registrations are factoring in. As buyers tighten their travel budgets, there’s no question the regional markets are holding their own.

The session title is “Speed Networking.” Needless to say, with a moniker like that, it’s going to be fast paced, fun, and a little fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants entertaining. Honestly, I can’t wait, having never tried this format before.

A “Strategies for Challenging Times” Forum later that day combines me, Carol Schroeder, and Tom Ungrodt (all charter members of the GHTA Retail Advisory Board). Tom will cover managing your cash flow investment; Carol will get into trimming your expenses and overhead; my segment’s about paring down your inventory to a cleaner, meaner mix, then dealing with what I call “Psych Marketing 101.”

If you’re in either (or both), be sure to say hello.

Photo credit: Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

Chicago game plan

Gotta tell you, I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Chicago gift show. This time, I’m speaking at two sessions-—first, the Power Lunch on Sunday, then later that afternoon as one of three presenters at the GHTA Forum and Trolley Tour.

The two sessions couldn’t be more different. The Power Lunch is titled “Speed Networking for Retailers,” as I wear my RetailSpeaks hat, focusing on fast paced, out of the box thinking with a roomful of peers. Don’t get nervous-—it ought to be fun, and will send you home with the creative juices flowing.

The forum is a bit more on the serious side, titled “Strategies for Challenging Times.” Tom Ungrodt, Carol Schroeder, and I will frame an attack plan for squeezing more cash out of your stores in this upside down economy. Immediately after the forum, we’ll set off on a Trolley Tour of cool stores in the Chicago area, complete with a yummy boxed dinners and drinks.

For descriptions of the sessions (as well as others), visit the Chicago Market Living and Giving website-—or just click here.

To sign up for the Power Lunch or Trolley Tour, rsvp before July 7th (by clicking here). The Power Lunch is free; since the Trolley Tour includes drinks, that one’s a nominal $24.99 per person (and is worth it; we really had fun last year).

To attend the forum, just show up. No rsvp or charge involved.

Hope to see you there; be sure to come up and say hello.