STYLE TALK - Just when you thought your sense of style couldn't get any sharper. Study the latest trends, hottest fashions and most cutting-edge chic through the eyes of some of the biggest names in the industry, at the STYLETALK Sessions. Sign up for one (or all) of these WSA Show exclusives, and learn what inspires the designs behind the fine art and flair of footwear & accessories fashion.
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
NSRA Retail Footwear Conference: Retail Survivor
Tuscany Suites & Casino Las Vegas, NV, 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Fee: $95 (NSRA members), $290 (non-members)
With this conference, NSRA enters the world of "edu-tainment" -- the hot educational concept of combining entertainment and education for an easy-to-remember experience. This conference promises to be an adventures in education, encouraging conference attendees to join into smaller groups that play an active role in the day-long program. In addition to hands-on group activities, sharing experience and wisdom, and having fun while you learn, you'll hear national speakers focus on three distinct tracks: How you, as an independent shoe retailer, can Outwit, Outlast and Outsell the Competition!
Click here for a complete overview >>
Thursday, August 4, 2005
Assessing and Solving Footwear Quality Issues
Sands Expo Center, 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Speaker: Jean-Luc Chaverot, PhD, Director of Product Quality, CTC
Fee: $40
Why do you have customers returning footwear? How do you assure quality in your product lines? Why are shoes yellowing, spewing, heels breaking and separations occurring between the upper and sole? Before you buy know what to look for in the quality of a shoe. Learn about flex point, the difference in materials and what to check out before you purchase. If you have received non-conforming goods, find out what you can do about it. This session presents an overview and identification of these common footwear issues and more. Find out how to communicate with your vendors about quality.
Passport to Europe: Women's Trends for 2006
Mandalay Bay, 12:30 pm to 1:30pm
Speaker: Maria Clifford, MLC Consulting LLC.
Trend Lunch Fee: $50
Pack your bags for an informative review of the European fashion scene. View store windows and trends on the street from Spring 2005. Learn the big ideas in women's ready to wear, footwear and color and how they will translate for Spring 2006. Footwear products emphasis will include key growth classifications, silhouettes, materials and details.
How to Profit From Your Excess Inventory
Presented by: eBay
Mandalay Bay, 2:00pm-3:00pm
Free Admission
Get more out of your inventory! Attend one of eBay's Retailer Sessions and learn how to move your excess inventory quickly. Did you know that on eBay over 14,000 pairs of shoes and more than 7,000 handbags are sold everyday? Target their audience of 147 million users worldwide and begin to profit from your clearance items.
STYLE TALK
Sands Expo, 4:00pm
Fee: $40
Guest: Donald Pliner
Topic: Womens & Mens High Fashion
Moderator: Amber Rodriguez, Accessories Editor for LUCKY Magazine
Friday, August 5, 2005
Build Your Business with Customer Loyalty
Sponsored by the USRA
Sands Expo, 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Fee: $40
An important component to the success of any business is customer satisfaction. A happy customer is as good as gold to a retailer: purchasing more products, more frequently and creating referrals. This panel of small, medium and large retailers has demonstrated their abilities to "own their customers." They share some of their secrets and tips on how to create customer loyalty and turn it into a profitable relationship.
Improving Profitability with Inventory Management
Sponsored by the NSRA
Sand Expo Center, 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Speaker: Henry Eisenson, Inter Store Stock Balancing, Inc.
Fee: $40
Optimized inventory management is the fastest path to improved profitability. The average retailer is 30% overstocked and 15% under stocked; such imbalances hurt cash flow and credit and cause products to drift into unauthorized channels. This session presents proven techniques and resources to handling overstock/under stock situations, including software, ordering strategies, training and a stock balancing program.
Key Insights into Today's Footwear Consumer
Mandalay Bay, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Speaker: Marshal Cohen, Chief Industry Analyst, The NPD Group
Trend Lunch Fee: $50
How to Profit From Your Excess Inventory
Presented by: eBay
Sands Convention Center, 2:00pm-3:00pm
Free Admission
Get more out of your inventory! Attend one of eBay's Retailer Sessions and learn how to move your excess inventory quickly. Did you know that on eBay over 14,000 pairs of shoes and more than 7,000 handbags are sold everyday? Target their audience of 147 million users worldwide and begin to profit from your clearance items.
STYLE TALK
Sands Expo, 4:00pm
Fee: $40
Guest: Richard Tyler
Saturday, August 6, 2005
Employee Theft: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
Mandalay Bay, 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Speaker: Bill Bregar, Loss Prevention Systems
Fee: $40
Learn the warning signs that you are losing money to employee theft. What are the 5 red flags you need to look for? What do you do if you suspect this is happening to you and what can you do to protect yourself before (and after) it happens.
Open to Buy Planning: "How Much Should I Buy?"
Mandalay Bay, 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Speaker: Mort Haaz, OTB Retail Systems
Fee: $40
This buyers workshop will detail the need, benefits and workings of the "open to buy" process. Retailers will learn how to set up a buying plan to insure leaner, better balanced, faster turning inventory with fewer markdowns and a positive cash flow. Whether your store is new or old, small or large, if you want to improve your bottom line, this is the seminar you must attend!
Color and Trends for Spring/Summer 2006
Mandalay Bay, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Speaker: Fran Sude, Design Options
Trend Lunch Fee: $50
Find out what's hot in color for men, women (including juniors) for 2006. This color trend program focuses on the West Coast perspective, which is where many trends are set particularly in the junior market. Learn what to make room for in your inventory in the upcoming season.
How to Profit From Your Excess Inventory
Presented by: eBay
Sands Convention Center, 2:00pm-3:00pm
Free Admission
Get more out of your inventory! Attend one of eBay's Retailer Sessions and learn how to move your excess inventory quickly. Did you know that on eBay over 14,000 pairs of shoes and more than 7,000 handbags are sold everyday? Target their audience of 147 million users worldwide and begin to profit from your clearance items.
STYLE TALK
Sands Expo, 4:00pm
Fee: $40
Guests: K-Swiss, New Balance, 310 Motoring
Topic: Street Scene/Urban Youth
Moderator: VIBE Magazine
Sunday, August 7, 2005
How to Profit From Your Excess Inventory
Presented by: eBay
Sands Convention Center, 10:00am-11:00am
Free Admission
Get more out of your inventory! Attend one of eBay's Retailer Sessions and learn how to move your excess inventory quickly. Did you know that on eBay over 14,000 pairs of shoes and more than 7,000 handbags are sold everyday? Target their audience of 147 million users worldwide and begin to profit from your clearance items.