Triathlon Business International (TBI) has today announced the topics for the Retailers and Manufacturers track, the second of three curricula tracks, for the 8th Annual TBI Conference, taking place on 26-28 January 2018 at the Mission Palms Resort in Tempe, Arizona.
The track topics were developed by a committee of multisport retailers led by Trent Nix, co-owner, Tri Shop, Dallas, Texas, and TBI board member Richelle Love, co-owner, Tri-It MultiSport, Calgary, Canada.
Topics include:
Riskophobes unite!
TBI notes that retailers in the multisport industry are ‘failing left and right because they don’t know how to maintain gross profits and customer service, sell from full shelves, while inoculating themselves from an increasingly cyclical and perilous landscape.’ This topic will be addressed with the aim of showing that strategies for risk mitigation are possible.
Why consumer direct is the future; why consumer direct is not the future
This session addresses… ‘Which sales channel is your future as a manufacturer? Or are all channels your future? Are there pathways for consumer direct and B&M to work profitably?’
Nobody wins the race to the bottom
Here, TBI adds that the entrepreneur’s graveyard is full of those who won on price… ‘Let’s talk pros and cons of minimum advertised pricing (MAP), team discounts, and premium brand management; with examples of brands and retailers who’ve won the MAP war.’
Put your money where your mouth is: a panel evolving business models
A panel of retailers and vendors each seen as emblematic of new and novel ways to structure their businesses will talk about how they see the future shaping up and what they are doing about it.
“I’ve spent the last 15 years teaching bike fit to retail stores and advocating for them,” said TBI President Dan Empfield. “My 15 years before that were spent as a manufacturer, selling to them. So, to quote Joni Mitchell, I’ve looked at life from both sides now. The IBD is as essential as ever, yet, the product and service delivery landscape is massively changing. We’re going to talk about it candidly at our conference.”
Through committees for the coaches/clubs, retail/manufacturers and race directors tracks, Empfield put out the call for ‘user-generated content’ so that the conference would be developed by people who are most involved in the sport, and who best know and understand the trending topics. The Coaches & Clubs track topics were announced in November, and curricula for the Race Directors track will be announced in the coming week.
2018 Conference Registration
Current TBI members
- US$475 through 31 December 2017 (Fees are ‘all-in’; no additional charges will be added at checkout)
- US$575 from 1 January 2018 to the conference start on 26 January
Non-members
- US$575 through 31 December 2017
- US$675 from 1 January 2018 to the conference start on 26 January
Non-members will have the opportunity to join TBI during the conference registration process. Those who join TBI at registration will receive the US$100 discount of a current member.
Conference partners include: ACTIVE (technology); Headsweats (headwear); MPA Event Graphics (corporate); Ashworth Awards (corporate); FinisherPix (corporate).
Companies and vendors interested in sponsorship or expo opportunities should contact Jan Fambro (jan[at]triathlonbusinessintl.com) or Dan Empfield (slowman[at]slowtwitch.com) for more information.
Conference hotel block
Room reservations at the Tempe Mission Palms are now open for the conference. TBI has a room block for the conference dates at a US$179/night rate, which is a 40% discount off the published weekend rate. This room block is limited and attendees are encouraged to reserve their rooms as soon as possible to avoid missing the opportunity. Conference registration opens at 09:00 local time on Friday 26 January, and outdoor activities are also planned for the morning. Thursday night reservations are available at this rate on a very limited basis.
