JUNE 20 I SUMMER NAMM 2016 I BY KATIE KAILUS
Educational Punch
At this week's Summer NAMM Show, educational sessions abound. From the Retail Boot Camp to the Idea Center to TEC Tracks, there is something for everyone in the MI industry

For a few days this month, the MI industry will lace up its boots and head to Music City USA for the 2016 Summer NAMM Show – to be held June 23-25.

Due to the earlier-than-usual dates, all exhibits and programming will be held in Halls C-D of the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, which is opposite of last year's location. But, other than the small locale change, Summer NAMM promises to pack an educational punch that is second to none.

"There will be a wide array of professional development opportunities provided by NAMM U, which commence the Wednesday before the show with Retail Boot Camp," said Joe Lamond, NAMM's president and CEO.

This year, the one-day training session will include two tracks: sales and marketing, which will feature sales expert Doug Fleener and marketing guru Mike Coleman, and financial management, which will be put on by Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe of Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. For those who can't make it out to the show early, the Idea Center promises to be chock-full of educational tips and tricks all three days.

"The daily sessions that take place inside the Idea Center will be sure to provide small businesses with tangible ideas to improve their store and keep customers coming through their doors," Lamond said.

Highlights include Thursday's opening Breakfast Session when Lamond will sit down with MI retailers who have owned the Internet as they share their strategies for harnessing e-commerce, third-party platforms and online marketing. On Friday at 3:30 p.m., Sammy Ash and Ben Ash of Sam Ash Music will share their insights to retail longevity, and on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Vintage King will present its Pedal Summit, where a group of experts will discuss pedal design strategies and secrets.

TEC Tracks will be back for its second Summer NAMM and will feature sessions on easy live recording and the future of instrument and amplifier modeling.

Each night after the show closes, there are plenty of events for attendees to check out from The Charlie Daniels Band which will play on Thursday night at 6 p.m. on the NAMM Nissan Terrace Stage to the annual Top 100 Dealer Awards, which honors this year's MI retailing leaders.

"The Top 100 Dealer Awards is more than an awards show; it's an evening to celebrate all retail stores and to honor those who are stand-out leaders in their community," Lamond said. "As a result, it's also a peer-to-peer learning opportunity for important retail strategies, including marketing, community relations, in-store design, customer service and brand building. It's truly an evening of camaraderie that leaves all attendees feeling inspired."

WHY ATTEND?
For those on the fence about making the trip to Nashville this summer, Lamond said this summer's show is an investment retailers will be happy they made.

"Summer NAMM provides the right mix of opportunities to meet with buyers and vendors, learn new business ideas and strategies at the Idea Center and to network with industry friends," he said. "There's a social pace to the show, so there's more opportunity for attendees to engage with our members' products. For buyers attending, it's all about creating the right product mix, and with many new exhibitors at this year's Summer NAMM, it's a great opportunity to build a strong fourth quarter product inventory." MI