Summer NAMM to Offer the Next Level in Retail Know-How with the Retail Training Summit

At 2018 Summer NAMM, retail professionals of all areas of expertise are invited to take part in the new Retail Training Summit: a mini-conference that deep dives into the most relevant and critical areas for music retail success.

The Retail Training Summit marks an evolution of the popular Retail Boot Camp program as a way to offer specialized training for music retail professionals in a format designed to give hands-on, proven ideas, techniques and tools for retail success in a range of business areas. Retail professionals will be able to choose from six different sessions (one in the morning and one in the afternoon), covering a variety of hot-button issues and tools to stay competitive. In the morning, the program will offer social media and online marketing; financial management; and business growth and entrepreneurship; and in the afternoon, sales; website optimization; and succession planning. A complete list of sessions and descriptions is available below. In between the morning and afternoon sessions, a lunch will be provided.

The Retail Training Summit will be held on Wednesday, June 27 at Nashville's Music City Center before the opening of Summer NAMM, June 28-30. The Retail Training Summit is free and NAMM Members are encouraged to register early, as this summit is expected to be at capacity.

The Retail Training Summit Schedule

Morning (9 am–12 pm)

Social Media and Online Marketing – Jenn Herman, Digital Marketing Expert
Immerse yourself in the inner workings of social media and online marketing. Presented by Jenn Herman, leading Instagram blogger and social media authority, this training will give you an in-depth knowledge of what works in social media today and how to grow your music retail business online. You'll interact with real-world examples and dissect content to best understand the strategies that lead to success, whether it's making sense of algorithms or digging into analytics. Herman will cover the differences between the major social media platforms, measuring and interpreting results, time-management tactics, how to define success with social marketing, developing your brand voice and style, and steps to growing your audience—the right way.

Financial Management – Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe of Friedman, Kannenberg & Co.
This hard-hitting financial training will cover the most critical components of running a music retail business. Presented by Alan Friedman, CPA, and Daniel Jobe of Friedman, Kannenberg & Co., the financial track is for store owners and any retail staff who want to learn about and tackle the financial challenges facing music retailers of all types and sizes. Friedman and Jobe will focus on proven best practices in the purchasing and management of music retail inventory. You'll also discover how to buy the right mix and quantity of musical products and gear. Find out how to boost the bottom line—and become more profitable.

Business Growth and Entrepreneurship – Rick Drumm, Traction Business Coaching
Want a proven method to grow your business? Looking to seize new opportunities and solve long-term issues, even those you may not be aware of? Then join music industry veteran Rick Drumm for an immersive training for owners, managers, entrepreneurs and business leaders. With a 40-year track record of growing companies in the music products industry, Drumm will walk you through the six critical components of business success. He'll show you how to create the right structure for your company and find the right people. This training will also reveal how to create accountability and execution in your organization, how to measure success and new ideas for creating a complete experience for your customers. Drumm is the president of Traction Business Coaching and COO of Caleb Chapman's Soundhouse Performance Studios.

Noon: Hosted lunch

Afternoon (1–4 pm)

Sales – Thomas Post, The Friedman Group
Customers now know more, expect more and have more choices. You have to give them a reason to come into your store—other than just the right products and prices. And in this high-impact sales training, presented by Thomas Post of The Friedman Group, you'll get a proven method to improve your customer experience and sales. Discover the secrets to relationship selling, why customer resistance exists and how to overcome it, and techniques for building trust and establishing value. This training comes from Harry Friedman's Gold Star Selling Course and is designed for everyone from owners to managers to first-time salespeople. Post has successfully trained professionals in industries ranging from music retail to furniture to sporting goods. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the best!

Website and Google Checklist – Liz Jostes, Eli | Rose
You want to improve your website but don't know where to start. Or, maybe your website is working for you, but you want to take it to the next level—and get higher rankings on Google. If this sounds familiar, you'll want to be at this powerful education track, which is tailor-made for any music retailer looking to upgrade his or her online presence. Session host Liz Jostes, owner of Eli | Rose, has trained and consulted in industries ranging from retail to education to real estate. She'll cover the latest website and e-commerce best practices—including layout, design, functionality and mobile—drawing from successful examples both inside and outside of the industry. She'll also explain the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) and look at how to improve your SEO and Google ranking. Most of all, she'll cover this from the perspective of a small business with limited time and resources.

Succession Planning – Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe, Friedman, Kannenberg & Co.
For the first time at Summer NAMM, longstanding financial experts Alan Friedman, CPA, and Daniel Jobe of Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. will do a deep dive into business succession. This hands-on training will cover the pros and cons of various store transition options, along with the effect each option has on cash, control and taxes. You'll also discover what does and doesn't add value to your store, vital tips for starting the succession-planning process and how to calculate the dollar amount of what your business is likely worth. Plus, you'll hear five real-life case studies. This track is designed for everyone from owners and their families to managers and potential successors. Register today!