2021 RMSBA Annual Meeting Agenda

The Art & Science of Buying NACS

The roles and responsibilities of a buyer are many and diverse, and one thing is clear: in the fast-changing retail world, buyers must stay alert, flexible, and responsive to market changes that can impact their sales, service, and product selection. Learn best practices from peer stores and see how art and science play a role in the buying process. Whether you're new to the role or a seasoned buyer, you can gain insights and tips to improve.

General Session - Building Healthy Supplier Partnerships- ICBA

Finding common ground between retailers and suppliers to mutually build sales and profits is more important than ever, so find out why sharing data, developing closer collaborations, and mutual problem-solving is essential to success for all parties (including consumers!).

Developing a strategy for managing supplier partnerships is critical to your success. How do you choose primary, secondary, and specialty suppliers in a given category? How do you say “no” without burning bridges? When does it make sense to use distributors vs. buying directly from a manufacturer? How do you develop true partnerships, where both parties can trust one another and succeed?

Retail Calculations Workshop - NACS

An understanding of retail math is crucial to campus stores. In this workshop, we'll take an in-depth look at calculations used in purchasing, daily analysis and running a retail business. Not a numbers person? That's okay! Extra time and attention will allow for all experience levels, and a take-home resource will be provided.

General Session - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice - Emily Ambrose and Kyle Oldham