Discover best practices for business success: Americasmart University
(ATLANTA) — AmericasMart University (AMU) – the home/gift/area rug industry’s most complete retail business education program – gives January 2009 Market buyers unmatched learning opportunities with a slate of facilitators drawn from the highest echelon of designers, consultants, tastemakers and business practitioners.
In a standing curriculum offering Retail Business Basics, Buying & Selling and Building Your Brand, with beginner, intermediate and advanced classes scheduled in each, January buyers will profit from the expertise of such industry leaders as Cathy Fischer, Mercedes Gonzalez, Bob Negen and other luminaries. A-list course facilitators will be at Market in AMU classrooms to define and explore best practices for business, design direction, trends and more. Plus, the January AMU lineup adds a new Market exclusive: Safavieh hosting a designer dialogue featuring Suzanne Kasler, Jamie Drake and David Easton, preceding a showroom ribbon cutting celebration.
The January 2009 AMU schedule is:
Thursday, January 8, 8:30-10 a.m.
Explode Your Sales – Simple Marketing Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind
Buying & Selling – Beginner. Presenter: Bob Negen, Sponsored by One Coast. Breakfast. Building 2 WestWing
Thursday, January 8, 10:30 a.m.-Noon
Electronic Marketing – Easier, Cheaper, BETTER!
Building Your Brand – Beginner. Presenter: Bob Negen, Sponsored by One Coast. Building 2 WestWing
Thursday, January 8, 8:30-10 a.m.
Strategies in Developing an Exceptional Souvenir Business
Buying & Selling – Beginner. Presenter: Cathy Fischer, Sponsored by Options Breakfast. Building 2 WestWing, 6th floor.
Thursday, January 8, 10:30 a.m.-Noon
A Crash Course on Buying
Buying & Selling – Beginner. Presenter: Mercedes Gonzales. Building 3, 3rd Floor. Conference Center
Thursday, January 8, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Training the Best Sales Team
Retail Basics- Beginner. Presenter: Mercedes Gonzales. Building 3, 3rd Floor Conference Center
Thursday, January 8, 4-6 p.m.
Increasing Sales by Understanding the Value of Designer Rugs
Presenters: Suzanne Kasler; Jamie Drake and David Easton. Buying & Selling – Beginner. Sponsored by Safavieh. Wine reception & ribbon cutting. Building 1, Safavieh showroom.
Friday, January 9, 8:30-10 a.m.
Doing Business in the New Norm
Retail Basics – Beginner. Presenter: John Haste & Becky Smith, Sponsored by IMAX Breakfast, Building 2 WestWing.
Friday, January 9, 10:30 -11:30 a.m.
Where Have All the Customers Gone?
Building Your Brand – Beginner. Presenter: Chris Lemley. Building 3, 3rd floor Conference Center
Friday, January 9, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Hiring & Firing Employees
Retail Basics – Beginner. Presenter: Carol Hacker. Building 3, 3rd Floor Conference Center
Friday, January 9, 3-5 p.m.
Unique & Antique Rug Forum
Retail Basics – Beginner, Sponsored by the Oriental Rug Retailers Association (ORRA). Building 1, 4th floor, room 4-G-7
Saturday, January 10, 11 a.m.
Walk the (Area Rug) Market with Phil
Retail Basics – Beginner. Presenter: Phil Menendian, Sponsored by the Oriental Rug Retailers Association (ORRA). Building 1, 2nd Floor, ORRA booth #1200
Saturday, January 10, 1 p.m.
Are You Sending Customers to Your Competition?
Retail Basics – Beginner. Presenters: Steve Boodakian & Sy Mahfuz, MERA Consulting Group. Building 1, 4th Floor, 4-G-7
