NEW! Dealer Conference Designed to Maximize Your Sales & Grow Your Business

In conjunction with this year's Ed Expo is the Dealer Conference, a knowledge-packed day of learning, networking, and growing sales. NSSEA members pay just $75 for your entire team to engage in sessions in four different learning tracks. Bring your whole team and cover them all!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21

8:30 – 9:45 am

Retail Best Practices: Keep More of the Money You Make – Practical Solutions for Store Owners
David Persson, The School Box

If someone told you there were simple steps to take that can add up to substantial savings and increase your bottom line, would you be interested? Learn some ways to trim everyday expenses without affecting your customers' experience in your store. This session will cover many often-overlooked ways to squeeze a little more profit out of your business including potential savings on credit card fees, shipping costs, insurance premiums, operating supplies, telephone expenses, etc.

Marketing: Harness the Future — Using Technology to Your Competitive Advantage
Kevin J. Davies, President & CEO, TecKnoQuest Inc. and Jamey Firnberg, President, School Aids Inc.

Is technology your friend or your enemy? If you ask Amazon or Netflix, the answer is friend. If you ask Borders or Blockbuster, the answer is enemy. (Mind you, getting an answer from Borders or Blockbuster at this time might be difficult as they are both digital road kill…) The traditional retail model is evolving quickly; some might argue it is already gone... The importance and the strength of your geographic, physical location are quickly losing its relevancy. Your current (and former) customers are shopping online with other retailers that off er them not only a complete online shopping experience —but online support, teaching ideas, blogs, forums, Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, eBooks, etc. Decision time is now and there are only two choices: a) watch your business continue to erode as your customers leave; or b) take some simple steps to enhance your physical presence with online offerings. The presenters will demonstrate how to embrace your bricks and mortar, while leveraging the technology your customers are already using, and protecting your margins at the same time. This session will provide you with some basic, intermediate, and advanced ideas that you can start implementing immediately. Concrete and tested examples will be given to illustrate how enhancing your online offerings can have a direct impact on your business's future growth and prosperity.

Classroom/Ed Trends: Developments for Children with Autism and Other Special Needs
Merrick Williams, Skills Sales Manager, Center for Autism and Related Disorders

More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined. Autism now affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys. Are you carrying the products that parents and teachers need to help educate this fast-growing population of students? The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc., (CARD) has earned a reputation as one of the world's largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger's syndrome, and related disorders. A representative from CARD will share the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and what types of products can help them be successful both at school and home.

Curriculum: New Trends in Curriculum
Janie Ray Smith, Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, National and International Curriculum and Instruction Consultant

This session will highlight the important changes and reforms in public and private education that impact both educators and parents as they seek to support and supplement schooling, Aimed for educational retail store managers and owners, this session will offer current information about new resources and educational best practices. From Common Core Standards adopted in 45 states to performance based assessments to the latest in hand-held electronic educational devices, Ms Smith, will discuss changes in emphases in curriculum, instruction and assessment across the country. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.

10:00 – 11:15 am

Classroom/Ed Trends: Interactive Whiteboard 2.0 (The Evolution of Content Sales)
Paul LaPorte, Content Publisher, Classroom Complete Press

If your book sales are down, you need to attend this session! Understand the best practices on how to sell content in other formats including E-books and Apps for iPads along with other android devices. Learn key strategies on how to market Digital Content for Interactive Whiteboards and tablets. Paul will take you from truly understanding why Interactive Whiteboards are now standard classroom hardware, to the challenges and opportunities for retailers who enter this market. Learn what an Interactive Lesson Plan is and what elements make them different from old print versions. Paul will also take you through other market changing elements to enable you to rescue your lost revenue from your book content category.

Marketing: Unzipped: How To Capture And Keep the Heart of Your Customer
Michele Miller, Wizards of Ads

Basic, traditional marketing is no longer enough – with advances in technology and communication, the time is NOW for learning how to deeply connect with consumers. "Unzipped" is a combined presentation/interactive workshop aimed at giving participants solid information on a variety of customers, as well as take-away ideas that can be implemented immediately within each participant's business.

• The Number One reason why most marketing strategies fail
• How men and women are wired differently, and how it affects the purchasing process
• The two factors that influence every customer's purchasing behavior
• Why customers have different needs for the same product – and how to speak to each of them in a way that compels them to do business with you

Join Michele to learn where marketing is headed and how to keep your business competitive in the increasingly cluttered world of advertising.

Curriculum: The Future of Early Childhood Marketing
Mike Wilson, Director of Early Childhood Market, MCH Strategic Data

Follow the money and learn where to put your marketing dollars in the pre-K segment. Mike Wilson is one of the most respected names in early childhood marketing data and is recognized by the industry as the foremost expert in this area. He will share demographic data to teach dealers and suppliers how to strategically market their products during both good and bad economic times. He will also provide an exclusive preview of public funding for 2012. Come to this session to hear how to maximize your marketing dollars when targeting the early childhood market.

Retail Best Practices: New Growth Opportunities for Your Retail Store
Moderator: Susan Savoie, Teacher Heaven
Panelists: Melissa Sopata, Hamilton Industries/Buhl; Milton Ebesu, Education Works; Debra Wood, Paper Sack Promotionals, LLC

Are you looking for new product categories or service areas to increase foot traffic in your store and build a larger customer base? Come to this session to hear from a panel of vendors who will share ways in which you can diversify your offerings and appeal to a whole new group of potential customers.

11:30 am – 1 pm

Dealer Roundtable Luncheon*
Moderated by Members of the NSSEA Retail Store Council

One of the benefits in attending the Dealer Conference is the opportunity to network with, and learn from, a variety of dealers across different industries from across the country and around the world. Join your fellow dealers for lunch, lively discussion and problem-solving. Members of the Retail Store Council, your elected representatives at NSSEA, will facilitate discussions on subjects that are continually the "hot topics", such as how to increase traffic in your store, promotions that work, and retail trends.

*This is a Dealers-Only function. Exhibitors and Independent Manufacturer’s Representatives will not be admitted to this event. RSVP is required for attendance.

1:15 – 2:30 pm

Retail Best Practices: Merchandising Magic: How the Pros Do It
Mary Liz Curtin, Retail Design Expert, Co-owner of Leon & Lulu

Having the right merchandise is half the battle in retail but merchandising it well wins the war. Great display and presentation helps your customers understand the products, find what they need and ultimately buy more. Mary Liz Curtin will show you how to organize as well as romance the goods, give you suggestions for store layout, signage and design and show you examples of successful (and some not-so-successful) retail displays. This amusing and fast-paced session will inspire and delight buyers and merchandisers with real-life, affordable suggestions for making your store look great, appeal to the shoppers and work more efficiently. She will include ideas for seasonal displays as well as everyday marketing and suggestions for making your store attractive, fun to visit and easy to shop.

Classroom/Ed Trends:The Age of the Waterbed
Geoff Fletcher, State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)

It is an interesting time in education. In a time of tight budgets, many schools are shifting from print to digital in content, assessment and professional development. They are rethinking budgets, considering tablets, even allowing students to bring their own devices. In a kaleidoscope world where the pieces and parts are always moving, what will education look like and what will the classroom look like and will there even be a classroom? Come hear Geoff Fletcher, Deputy Executive Director of SETDA and a trained futurist provide his take on the Age of the Waterbed.

Curriculum: Marketing and Selling to the English Language Learner (ELL) Market
Lise Ragan, Course Crafters, Inc.

The ELL market is the fastest-growing segment of the Prek-12 market. As the language minority and immigrant population grows all across the country, the ELL market presents increasing and significant opportunities for parent/teacher stores, publishers, and other suppliers to schools. This practical workshop will provide an overview of the ELL market and the urgent needs of this burgeoning and at-risk student population, based on the presenter's recent market research. The session will also suggest specific marketing, sales, and product strategies to address the needs and opportunities of: ELL students, school districts, classroom teachers, and ELL parents.

Marketing Track: Beyond the Teacher — Marketing Direct to Schools
Laurie Uherek, Educate & Celebrate; John MacGregor, The Education Station, Inc.

So your store is established and well-known among the local teachers and parents looking for great educational products. How do you make the jump to filling school and district-wide orders? It can be difficult to get through to senior level school decision makers even at the small and mid-size school districts, but taking time to get to know the gatekeepers on a first-name basis is critical. Establishing a level of familiarity and confidence is essential to finding out the critical issues and needs the district has, and determining if there is a fit with your company's offerings and ability to deliver. This holds true for becoming a trusted source to the independent schools or expanding into markets that may not be familiar with your business. Join a panel of your fellow dealers to discuss proactive approaches to dealing with school districts, PTAs/PTOs, day care facilities, the private school market, and more!