The lineup for PRO Education Seminars at the NTP-STAG Expo has been announced. The live and online courses focus on business development topics aimed at broadening the appreciation and understanding of retailing while running successful store operations.
NTP-STAG offers a certification program for individuals that successfully complete the courses, and provides a scholarship to RV University for those that earn and maintain PRO certification.
“Each year we bring in qualified subject matter experts to develop and teach our courses. We focus on our industry as well as the larger business landscape to provide our attendees with a wide variety of topics and perspectives, which we believe enrich the overall learning experience,” said John Spaulding, director of communication and events for NTP-STAG.
Bob Phibbs, the “Retail Doctor,” is a featured lecturer for the 2018 PRO Seminar series at RV University. Phibbs is an American Express merchant advisor, IBM retail futurist and RetailWire BrainTrust partner. He has appeared on ABC, Fox, MSNBC, PBS and he and his work have been featured in articles in Entrepreneur, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. His seminar, “Retail Strategies: How To Be Better At Retail Sales,” addresses the key planning, selling and customer engagement tactics that improve store performance.
Christine Harrington will illustrate the importance of developing a consistent customer experience across the many different platforms consumers use for obtaining information and making purchases.
Richard Flint will address the importance of customer care in developing loyalty. In his presentation, “When You Care, They Know,” Flint will give his audience the seven reasons customers don’t come back, eight principles that insure positive customer experiences, and 10 things owners must do to show customers they want their business.
PRO is funded through supplier sponsorships and contributions.
“We are lucky to have businesses and business leaders in our market that view the value of education and training the same way we do,” said Spaulding.
The list of 2018 PRO sponsors include Coleman, Southwire Company, Westland Sales, Winegard, Airxcel, AP Products, Dicor, Dometic-Atwood, Adco Products, Arterra Distribution, Barker Mfg., Dura Faucet, Go Power Carmanah, Icon Technologies, King, National Quality Products.
In addition to the PRO education series, RV University, sponsored by Valterra, will host 33 product training seminars. These classes are presented by suppliers and cover a wide range of technical, sales, merchandising and new products topics.