Registration is open for the 2019 National Advisory Group (NAG) Conference, set for Sept. 8-11, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis.
NAG provides the industry one of the most exclusive environments for small, mid-sized and family-owned retailers to interact with one another and share ideas for reducing operating costs and increasing sales.
“The agenda for this year’s NAG Conference again highlights the association’s ability to understand the needs of convenience store retailers and deliver educational sessions designed to help them grow sales and profits,” said John Lofstock, executive director of NAG. “The high level of input from the retailer board of directors ensures that NAG is meeting retailers’ needs with content that will make them better c-store retailers.”
Burning Issue Topics
Can’t-miss topics at this year’s NAG Conference include:
- Local Lobbying: Why your voice matters more than ever. Whether it’s increasing tobacco taxes, rising minimum wages, fuel regulations or credit card fees, convenience store owners need to make their voices heard on the important issues integral to store sales.
- How Cashier-less Sites Will Impact the Convenience Store Industry: Amazon and other cashier-less concepts are no longer a novelty. They are fast becoming destinations in markets such as San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago, and they are challenging conventional convenience stores in the race for time-pressed customers.
- Equipped for Foodservice Success: How to execute a successful foodservice strategy in small spaces.
- Developing Your Digital Strategy: How artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting retail. The hype around AI has never been higher, and one industry where it has a chance to make a major impact on profits is retail.
- The Importance of Family Values in the Convenience Store Industry: Family-owned small businesses are the backbone of our economy. In this session, we will hear how three unique chains have made their mark on the convenience store industry.
- Merchandising and Marketing for Success: New technology, such as heat maps integrated with high-resolution cameras, allow retailers to see where customers are going, what they are looking at and how much time they spend in each area of the store.
New Breakout Sessions
New this year, NAG will feature a number of breakout sessions, including:
New and Emerging Fuels; HR: There’s an App for That; The Future of CBD and Vape; Foodservice: Forecasting Demand; How is Industry Consolidation Changing the C-Store Industry?; and LEED Certification and Embracing the Green Movement. There will also be a special boot camp for young executive leaders: How Millennial Insights Can Connect Your Brand with Customers.
View the complete agenda here.
As always, NAG will feature its signature Information Exchanges, known as the “heart and soul” of NAG, where retailers can discuss key business issues with non-competing industry peers.
Attendees can also enjoy ample networking opportunities, a golf tournament and a chance to tour convenience stores in Minneapolis.
