Stay tuned for information about the 2008 NBDA Super Seminars at Interbike and OutDoor Demo East.

See what you missed last year and get an idea of what to expect in 2008 below.

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In 2007, Interbike attendees experienced three days of learning, entertainment and inspiration at the NBDA Super Seminars at Interbike in Las Vegas.


Sessions were held in the Venetian's Casanova meeting rooms near dealer registration area on each day of the Interbike Expo. The opening keynote presentation featuring Linda Armstrong Kelly (Lance Armstrong's mom) was both interesting and inspirational. The other sessions were intended to help retailers improve their businesses, and included presentations from nationally-acclaimed presenters, along with industry overviews, sessions on bicycle advocacy, as well as the annual NBDA members meeting.

Day One
Wednesday, September 26

8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Keynote Presentation
NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH: My Life Story
Linda Armstrong Kelly
As a young, single mom, Linda Armstrong vowed to raise son Lance with all the advantages she did not have growing up in the Dallas projects. Her positive influence as a parent was the driving force in encouraging him to fulfill his destiny as one of the greatest athletes in history. She was with Lance from his first bike ride to his final Tour de France victory in 2005. Her life experiences dealing with a domestic abuse, teen pregnancy, single motherhood, and care giving for a cancer survivor demonstrate her strength, positive attitude, and survival skills.

Linda's hard work and that "fire-in-the-belly" outlook paid off when she achieved her career goal as a global account manager with Ericsson Microelectronics.

After 15 years with Ericsson, Linda retired, and with encouragement from her husband, Ed, she took on the task of telling her life story. In April, 2005 her book, No Mountain High Enough: Raising Lance, Raising Me (Broadway/Doubleday) was published. Publishers Weekly hailed the book as "a sincerely heartwarming tale, laced with true Texas grit."

In 2005 Linda was the subject of a one-hour television biography on TLC entitled Raising a Champion: The Linda Armstrong Kelly Story. Other recent television appearances include The Dr. Phil Show, CNN, NBC, CBS and ESPN. Linda was the recipient of Ericsson's "Mother of the Year" award in 1999 and has been recognized as one of "America's most fascinating women" by Ladies Home Journal magazine. She has been featured in national magazines such as People, The New Yorker, USA Today, Ladies Home Journal, Us and Texas Monthly, as well as countless newspaper, radio programs, and news shows.

This keynote speech is based on her book. Linda believes that living with love and joy, maintaining focus, and risk-taking are at the heart of every successful endeavor and that these things are the foundation for a life well lived. Included in her speech are life skills such as:

• Maintaining a positive attitude
• Improving leadership skills
• Achieving peak performance
• Creating work/life balance
• Developing and delivering strong work ethics
• Setting and achieving goals both personally and professionally
• How to turn a bad choice into a life-learning opportunity

Learn more about Linda Armstrong Kelly on the web: www.lindaarmstrong.com
 
10:30 a.m. to noon
It's All About the Customer: Managing Your Sales Floor
Dan Mann, President, The Mann Group
The industry recognizes that more than 180 million Americans are NOT riding bikes. Many are making it their mission to point out the advantages of cycling—and why the local specialty bicycle retailer is their best choice when buying bicycle products and services. When these folks come into your store, will you be ready? This session will be an overview of proven strategies and techniques for effectively serving a new wave of cyclists when they walk into your store. Dan Mann is the presenter. He has a long background in retailing and now offers business consulting services. He works with numerous bicycle retailers nationwide, manages the NBDA's Profitability Project, and also works with the NBDA on specific projects. You will learn:

• Effective strategies for staffing
• Management techniques for the showroom
• Mistakes to avoid
• What works and what doesn't

Learn more about Dan Mann on the web: www.manngroup.net

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Bicycle Market Overview: Trends and Opportunities
Jay Townley, Gluskin Townley Group, LLC
Jay Townley has been one of the most respected analysts in the bicycle industry for many years. He has experience in retail, supply-side and consulting, always with a strong emphasis on sound research. In this presentation, Jay will present a detailed overview of the bicycle market based on the latest research and his own observations based on work in the field with both suppliers and retailers. Included will be:

• The market overview for 2006
• What's hot and what's not in 2007
• Trends and developments in bicycle retailing nationwide
• Strategies for attracting new customers to the cycling market
• What will 2007 look like when the year ends?

Learn more about Jay Townley on the web: www.gluskintownley.com

2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
How Much Should I Buy?
Mort Haaz, OTB Retailing
This 90-minute session is all-new and focused on those interested in understanding and implementing an inventory management system based on the "open to buy" process. This 90-minute workshop will detail the need, benefits and workings of "open to buy" that helps reduce overbuying, eliminate old or unwanted inventory and increase profits through the benefits of improved inventory turns. Retailers will learn how to set up a buying plan to insure leaner, better balanced, faster turning inventory with fewer markdowns and a positive cash flow. Mort Haaz has owned and operated retail stores since 1965.  He formed OTB Retail Systems in 1985 to help retailers with open-to-buy planning, and in 1987 introduced software to assist with the process.

See Mort Haaz on the web at: www.otb-retail.com

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The NBDA Annual Meeting
NBDA members and non-members are all invited to the NBDA annual meeting. NBDA board members and staff will be on hand to provide updates on new NBDA programs and to review the direction the NBDA is taking to help "lead bicycle retail to excellence." They'll also seek input from attendees on a variety of issues including dealer promotion, trade shows, publications and more. Back by popular demand, there will also be facilitated roundtable sessions so dealers can also discuss the issues of the day with each other.

See the NBDA on the web: www.nbda.com


Day Two
Thursday, September 27

8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Challenges Of The Future – The Rebirth of Small Independent Retail
James Dion, President, Dionco Inc.
Over 95% of all retailers in the U.S. have only one store. Yet this segment is under tremendous pressure from larger competitors. This groundbreaking workshop is based on a study of successful independent retailers who are beating the odds and their larger competitors. Learn how they are doing it with practical, low cost tactics to not just survive but to thrive in this world of hyper competition. The presentation contains updated trends that are affecting customers and how they shop, and what independent retailers need to do to not just satisfy these customers but also delight them so that they will come back.

Jim's speaking and training practice include hundreds of workshops, seminars, and keynote speeches every year for some of the largest companies in the US and overseas. Companies like Microsoft, Maytag, Vestel (Turkey), IBM, Honey-Baked Ham Company, Harley-Davidson, Ritz-Carlton and more have all benefited from Jim's insights on retail selling, merchandising, technology, and consumer trends. Jim is also a frequent speaker for leading associations including, the National Retail Federation, the Association of Golf Merchandisers, Narta (Australia), National Shoe Retailers Association, National Sporting Goods Association and many more. He is a faculty member in the MBA program at Harley-Davidson University. Jim has appeared on NBC, Fox News, and CNN Turkey. He was also a judge for the Microsoft© Retail Developer Awards as well as for CIO Magazine Top 100.

Learn about Jim Dion on the web: www.dionco.com

10:30a.m. to Noon
Now What Do I Do?
James Dion, President Dionco, Inc.
This workshop could also be titled Retail 101. It is a fast paced look at basic tactics that any retailer can use today to increase business. It's a great presentation for store owners, managers, and sales associates. None of the strategies are about discounting price. All 20 of the ideas can be instituted immediately and are presented in a fast paced and fun way.

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.      ***Lunch Included***
The 10 Greatest Ideas (Ever) for Making Bicycling Better in Your
Hometown...and Growing Your Retail Business as You Do It
The Bikes Belong Coalition
Getting more people riding bikes is one of our industry’s greatest growth opportunities. Recently, the bicycle movement has gained a lot of visibility and momentum. Bicycles are increasingly seen as a part of a comprehensive solution to create more livable communities, reduce pollution and crowding, and improve peoples' health. Join us for lunch as we share the best ways for retailers to integrate advocacy into your business, improve the local environment for cycling, and increase your profits at the same time. RSVP to scott@bikesbelong.org by September 14th.

See The Bikes Belong Coalition on the web: www.bikesbelong.org

2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
People Still Count! Finding, Selecting & MOTIVATING Outstanding Staff
James Dion
It has been called a million dollar decision and often that is the case. A "bad" hire can cost a company a tremendous amount in lost productivity. This is a real working session for managers who are responsible for hiring new employees. This session not only provides the "how" to interview prospective candidates, but also comes with a complete interview guide with questions and goals to help the hiring manager make the right decision.

4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Developing and Using Key Performance Indicators
Kerry Roberts, Certified Public Accountant
The NBDA's Cost of Doing Business study has given retailers solid financial benchmarks for many years. In this session, Kerry Roberts will focus on ways you can use the benchmark numbers to analyze your business and develop strategies for improving those numbers. The Cost of Doing Business study is created from financial statements of specialty bike shops around the country. It shows how the average store stacks up in terms of payroll costs, rent, advertising and more. It also reveals average profit margins, as well as indicators for employee productivity. In addition to being a CPA, Kerry owns the Bike Pedlar, a multi-store bicycle retailer in Nashville, Tennessee.

See Kerry Roberts on the web: www.allanti.com


Day Three
Friday, September 28

8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Pricing Strategies for Profits Plus!
Tom Shay, Profits Plus Seminars
One of a retailer's most important decisions can be developing a pricing strategy for the business. There are many options in use by retailers today, such as variable pricing, everyday sale pricing, blind price items, and sensitive price items. Pricing is up to you, so attend this session to learn what's involved in developing a pricing strategy for your business that benefits your bottom line, and keeps the customer coming back.

Tom Shay's experiences as a fourth generation merchant provide him with the knowledge and background to present tried and proven ideas to assist owners, managers, and staff with the day to day operation of their business. During the 25 plus years that Tom was a part of the family business, the stores were ongoing laboratories for the management and promotional techniques that are the backbone of the seminars that Tom now produces.

He presents proven and time tried ideas on the topics of: promoting, customer loyalty, business management design, employee skills development, and financial control.

A native of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Tom started his first job working in his grandfather's general store. Tom moved to Florida to join his parents in the family operation they had purchased in 1971. Over the next 26 years, the Shay family owned and operated three businesses. In 1997, Tom sold the business to devote full time to the development of seminars and writing magazine columns and books.

In addition to providing proven business building ideas through his writings in over 60 trade publications, Tom has authored EZ Cashflow - a book teaching how to accurately forecast your next 12 financial sheets, and a series of books of management tip books beginning with 100 Profits Plus Ideas for Power Promoting and 100 Profits Plus Ideas for Power Managing. As a speaker, Tom has earned the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) distinction, an honor that has been earned by less than 7% of speakers worldwide.

See Tom Shay on the web: www.profitsplus.org

10:30 to 12 Noon
Creating the “WOW” in Your Store Through Design and Merchandising
Jim Rasmus, Retail Design Associates
Do you need to remodel or build a new store? Are you unsure how to start? This seminar has helped many bicycle dealers develop a plan of action for building or remodeling a store that maximizes sales. Store designer Jim Rasmus will show you a step-by-step plan that can fit your budget and timing.  With the competitive environment intensifying for bicycle stores, now is a good time to consider remodeling or building a destination store for your customers to shop and for your staff to work in.  Learn how to set goals, create plans, prioritize and how to budget your next remodel or build a new store without going to the poor house.

Visit Retail Design Associates on the web: www.retaildesignassociates.com

12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Making Your Business Investment Work Harder for You
Tom Shay, Profits Plus Seminars
If you invest money in the stock market or put it in a savings account, you are sure to ask what will be the rate of return. Yet with your bike shop, many people have no idea how well their investment is working for them. And, do you know how you can make subtle changes in your bike shop so that your return will drastically improve? Attend this all-new session with Tom Shay to learn what these secrets are. Attendees will be provided with links to online tools that will assist you in mapping your route to increased profits.