ICFA Revamps Pre-market Education Program for Retailers
Friday, July 26, 2019
How can brick-and-mortar stores compete with the massive selection and ordering ease of online stores? The marketing experts at ACE Hardware say, throw a party!
ACE is a 95-year-old premium hardware retailer with 5,000 independently-owned and operated locations. The International Casual Furnishings Association has invited the company’s marketing team to share its in-store event expertise in an all-new Special Events Seminar, Panel Discussion and Think Tank on Monday, September 9, the day before Casual Market Chicago opens.
Gary Drummond, Digital Marketing and Brand Strategy manager; Dan Polanski, Marketing Retail Operations manager; and Heather Woods, Promotional Execution Specialist, all with ACE Hardware, will present, “In-Store Events 101: Online Stores Can’t Throw a Party!” The executives will share their passion for developing in-store events that transform the retail environment into a shopping experience.
The presentation will be followed by a panel of industry leaders sharing special-event success stories. Participants include Steve Elton, Brown Jordan; Susan Kiley, Bay Breeze Patio; Jessica Salisbury, Village Green; and Brad Schweig, Sunnyland.
The noon to 7pm event takes place in conference room 6-180 at theMART and will open with lunch sponsored by Treasure Garden. The program begins at 1pm. Klaussner Outdoor will host a reception to cap-off the day from 6 to 7pm in their showroom, Suite 16-100. Gensun will sponsor the Think Tank session.
Registration is $50 for ICFA members and $75 for non-members. A portion of each registration will be donated to City of Hope. Attendees will be eligible to win a variety of door prizes, including merchandise and gift certificates.
The International Casual Furnishings Association, based in High Point, North Carolina, represents manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, and designers of outdoor furnishings, plus suppliers to the industry.
