Join Us At The World’s Most Comprehensive Educational Conference For Independent Retailers!
Because Main Street isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind, a way of doing business…
Whether on a small town street or a big city boulevard, in a suburban shopping center or a vacation destination, MIGHTY retailers are the heart and soul of their community!
Now more than ever, people recognize how much retailers like you do, how much you contribute, how important you are. During the pandemic, people could feel what their world would be like without you. And they didn’t like it. At all.
But there is a rub. Of course, there is a rub…
While they want to support you and the other local merchants in your community, their expectations are high and their options are endless. They want you to be local and great, not just local. Not pretty good. Not “meh.” They want it all.
And you’d better deliver or… poof… they’re gone.
The good news is that there has never been a better time to be an independent retailer. It’s never been easier to meet those high expectations. Ever. You have access to all the technology, training, and resources you need to become…
Are you ready to…
- Give customers a truly exceptional experience, not merely provide a space to shop?
- Make your neighborhood, town, or city distinctive, alluring, and unique (unlike the rows of monotonous chain stores)?
- Be the employer of choice for everyone from first-time job seekers to highly skilled executives?
- Deliver a massive economic impact to your community (and your family)?
- Create excitement, connection, inspiration, and belonging?
Then you need to join the hundreds of other MIGHTY store owners and managers coming from across North America and around the globe for two…
- AMAZING DAYS of retail-specific learning and growing…
- INSPIRING DAYS filled with fresh business ideas and new ways of thinking…
- REWARDING DAYS packed with money-making information, and practical guidance at the…
“It’s an absolute game changer. I can see a huge shift in my business journey (for the better!) after attending my first Summit. I even met my retail-bestie at Summit and we talk and support each other several times a week. I couldn’t imagine life without her, and it was all because of summit!”
Laura Oladokon, Sweet Boutique St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
At The Retail Success Summit You’ll Get…
- New Ideas & Inspirations… that will push you to become better, bigger, bolder, and well, MIGHTY on Main Street,
- New Skills… so you can confidently, competently, and profitably run your business, lead your team, and connect with your customers,
- New Strategies… to make your store the store of choice in a world of infinite possibilities,
- New Insights… into both the exciting new opportunities and potential dangers that lie ahead,
- New Tools… to strengthen your retail fundamentals, grow your business, lower stress, and free up your time,
- New & Stronger Relationships… within the wider Independent Retail community and your own industry,
- New, Refreshed Energy… to lean into the future and take massive action to build the business of your dreams,
- New Confidence… in your knowledge, decision-making powers, direction, and insight.
“I attended my first Retail Success Summit in 2019, traveling all the way from the UK (England) – it’s the best investment I could have ever made in my business! Not only did I pick up lots of great advice and ideas that have paid back my expenses many times over, I have also made some great, great friends!
Mark Turnbull, Turnbull’s Northumbrian Food, Alnwick, UK
A Clear, Prioritized Plan of Action
It doesn’t matter if you’re a brand-new retailer or have owned your store for 25 years, the more knowledge you have about what to do and how to do it, the better your results are likely to be.
BUT, knowledge alone isn’t enough…
While we hope you’re engaged, informed, and educated by every single moment of the Retail Success Summit, education without ACTION is merely entertainment. And we are not in the entertainment business.
We want to make a huge positive impact, so what we really want is for you to go back home, act on the ideas presented, transform your business, and get more satisfaction from your life.
That’s why there’s one very special feature built into the Retail Success Summit we know will make an amazing difference in your business.
Unlike most seminars where you come home with a bunch of notes that you stuff in a drawer somewhere, you’re going to leave the Summit with a personalized one-page action plan you can put to work immediately to grow your business.
It’s an exact blueprint of where you want to go and how you’re going to get there… a step-by-step plan for your path to success.
“So, I’m sitting here in the airport writing out my Top 3 Action Items to start implementing tomorrow. What an amazing trip, absolutely worth the investment! I’m ready to take these great ideas and start a new day.“
Sandy Herle, Close To You – Parksville, BC, Canada
Expert Speakers
At the Retail Success Summit you’ll learn from the most knowledgeable speakers around – speakers who aren’t just ‘masters of theory,’ but ones who have hands-on experience and can highlight both the opportunities and the pitfalls that you will face.
Independent Retail Experts, Bob & Susan Negen
Of course, you’ll get LOTS of mainstage with your conference hosts, Bob and Susan Negen. Their presentations are filled with inspiring, practical content that has the power to transform your retail business.
Bob and Susan have “been there, done that”, with a combined 40 years of on-the-floor retail experience. What they teach isn’t academic mumbo jumbo or high-brow theory, but proven, money-making ideas that WORK for indie retailers. If you haven’t yet heard Bob and Susan speak or met them in person, be prepared for an amazing treat.
Keynote Speaker, Kelly Merbler
Kelly focuses on developing great people into great leaders. Her 21-year career in Human Resources gives her a deep understanding of the important differences between management and leadership and how to harness the power of both in your organization. She uses real-world examples of standing in the trenches with leadership teams and provides an action plan for how to become the leader that everyone wants to follow.
She’ll explore…
- The 4 key needs all followers require from leadership and how to apply these skills.
- How to become a coaching leader to drive business performance through connection.
- How to create unity within your culture, so employees feel heard, connected, and recognized for the value they bring.
- How to increase leadership communication that sparks engagement and aligns with values.
When she’s not speaking or helping business leaders discover their strengths, you can find Kelly sipping her favorite coffee brew and filming her video blog, “Coffee with Kelly.”
Ideas & Inspiration For Mighty Retailers
You’ll get amazing insights from these blockbuster programs on the main stage and in your breakout sessions. Get ready to expand your mind and grow your business!
Day 1, June 12
- Mighty On Main Street: How Independent Retailers Are Changing The World…One Store At A Time! – By adopting the best cutting-edge technologies while keeping the deep, authentic human connections that only a local business can develop, independent retailers are creating outsized impact in their communities and their industries. You are MIGHTY!
- Activate Your Strategic Advantages – Uncover the true strategic advantages that make your store special, distinctive, and able to stand out in a crowded competitive landscape. These strategies impact and inform every other decision you make, from marketing and merchandise to staff and service.
- How to Thrive in the Tech-Driven Future of Retail – Technology continues to change the face of retail (even more than it already has) and transform how people shop. You need to be ready. This session is great for everyone – even the “I’m not really a tech person” retailer will leave energized and confident.
- 5 Ways To Level Up Your Retail Brand – Branding goes far beyond a pretty logo or snazzy color palette – and it’s a must for businesses of any size. Discover the key elements of a “drool-worthy” brand and how they will help you stand out from your competition.
- Ways to WOW ‘Em – An exceptional customer experience is the hallmark of successful independent retail businesses. This program is filled with ideas and inspiration for consistently WOWing your customers so they become your most vibrant and vocal supporters.
- It’s Your Time To Shine Online – Get ready to jumpstart your social selling mindset! It’s time to stop being the “best kept secret” and start operating your social media using an effective plan. You’ll leave with the actual framework you need to create meaningful, real results.
- 5 Customer Engagement Strategies That Drive Double Digit Sales Increases – Discover how to give your customers the amazing in-store experience they crave… even when they’re not in your store. Connect and engage with them via text, email, and social media and then track their journey all the way to the purchase.
- How To Be the Place Everyone Wants To Work – Employees expect more from their job and their employers than ever before. Attracting great people starts by creating a great place to work. The upside for you? Higher loyalty, lower turnover, higher sales, better service, and best of all… less stress.
Day 2, June 13
- Coffee With Cathy: Maximize Your Retail Mastery System – Learn how Cathy used the Retail Mastery System to solve all of the issues that come up in a normal retail store and grow her business 10X in 10 years. If you don’t know which tools you need to make the most profit from your business, this program is for you.
- Overcoming Overwhelm: Leverage The Power of Processes, Procedures, and Systems – Not gonna sugar-coat it… retail is hard. You wear lots of hats and have lots to do. But there are foundational systems and processes which will reduce the complexity of your business, amplify all your efforts, and simplify your life.
- Real Retailers, Real Ideas, Real Results – An attendee favorite! In this panel session, you’ll get to learn directly from some of the best indie retailers on the planet. They’ll take you behind the scenes and share exactly what’s working NOW to make their businesses grow faster and run better.
- The Best AI Tools For Retailers & How To Use Them – Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve seen the explosion of AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools in nearly every facet of business. In this program you’ll learn about the AI tools that actually make life better for store owners – with examples!
- How Brick & Mortar Retailers Become Online Store Stars: Attract Customers Worldwide Using A 5-Pillar Plan With ChatGPT – Learn how to download everything you already know about your customers to perfect your online positioning. The result? Your online shoppers will instantly fall in love with the same experience you deliver in-store – and BUY. Includes a $100M Case Study!
- 5 Critical Mistakes Retailers Make Managing Their Inventory – Every store owner needs effective strategies to manage inventory, build cash flow, and reach their full profit potential. Plus, you should know what NOT to do that might be sabotaging your success and holding you back.
- Fire Your Inner Boss: Unleash Your Leadership Brilliance – Every business needs great leaders. Explore the important differences between management and leadership and how to harness the power of both in your organization. Plus, you’ll get an action plan for becoming the leader that everyone wants to follow.
- Community-Based Marketing That’s WIN-WIN-WIN – One of the best things about being an indie retailer is the profound impact you can have on your community. This program shows you how to maximize the positive impact for your customers, your community, and of course, your own business.
“We saved over $30,000 a year just on one part of our business after attending the Summit. It motivates you, makes you stop and think, and opens your eyes to so many things you can make better in your business.“
Nancy Guinn, Dog Krazy – Richmond, VA
Breakout Speakers
Scott Cunningham
Our Online Selling Ninja, Scott slashes through complexity to make the online world a less confusing place. As an award-winning e-commerce sales expert, entrepreneur, instructor, and speaker he has helped thousands of brands master their sales positioning with his offer harmonics framework — orchestrating the perfect offer at each stage of the buyer journey.
The co-founder of Merchant Mastery, Scott hails from Canada and has developed truly useful tools for retailers ready to take their digital marketing up a notch.
Crystal Vilkaitis
Our Social Media Maestro, Crystal leads thousands of retailers to increase traffic, sales, and profits using social media. While her social media knowledge is wide and comprehensive, her concentration on what works specifically for indie retailers remains laser-focused. She’s a Retail Success Summit favorite and always delivers accurate, actionable ideas that work.
Crystal founded Crystal Media in 2012, but when she not on her socials, you could find her out walking her two Frenchie’s with her fiancé or relaxing with a glass of cabernet.
Gilbert Russell
Our Titan of Tech, Gilbert dives deep into the future of what technology will bring for our industry, but while his research may be academic, his understanding of retail and what works for store owners is purely practical. A store owner himself, his company has experienced everything from blistering growth to the edge of bankruptcy, Whatever a retailer is going through, he’s been there.
Gilbert is a retail expert, consultant, speaker, and proud WhizBang! Certified Coach.
Kaila Piepkow
Our Diva of Design, Kaila has created what she’s coined “drool-worthy design” for over 200 small businesses and entrepreneurs including retailers, hospitality, restaurants, creative entrepreneurs, business coaches, and more! What really lights her fire is developing a one-of-a- kind brand story with compelling and thoughtful visuals from top to bottom. Before starting her own branding agency, Dox Designs, in 2017, she worked for two award-winning design agencies.
When not designing cool brand elements, you will find Kaila loving on her dachshunds and her
new baby boy.
Nick McHenry
Our Digital Marketing Magician, Nick’s favorite trick is helping brick and mortar retailers leverage digital marketing tools and connect with customers through shoppable video, photo and text. All that, of course, leads to higher better customer relationships and higher sales conversions. Nick began his journey on the retail floors and then spent 10 years working in wholesale for luxury brands such as Giorgio Armani and Philipp Plein.
As the Founder and CEO of OneShop, Nick is usually busy leading his team, but when he’s not you could find him playing the drums or posting retail memes on TikTok.
Dane Cohen
Our Inventory Oracle, Dane knows that planning and predicting our customers buying patterns is a critical part of retail success. He brings more than a decade of experience in the fashion industry to the Summit. Independent retail is in his blood as the former leader of the family-owned chain of specialty department stores, Lester’s, and he has now joined the team at Management One, our favorite inventory planning partners.
Dane lives in Manhattan and when not working you can usually find him focusing on fitness, cooking, jamming to new music on Spotify, or shopping… of course.
The Summit Experience
Are you wondering just exactly what happens during your days at the Retail Success Summit? Here’s a run-down of just some of the fun stuff you’ll experience…
- Pre-Event Party – Join us Sunday, June 11th from 5pm – 7pm EST for early registration. Grab your name tag and goodie bag without the “morning-of” hustle and bustle. PLUS, you can sip a cocktail, do some networking, and find a retail friend to sit with the next morning!
- Custom Goodie Bag – Filled with fun and indispensable swag, every attendee will get the things necessary to make your Summit easy and effective. And the bag itself is pretty useful… even after the event is over!
- 2 Days of World-Class Retail Education – From 8:30 in the morning to 5 at night, you’ll be immersed in best-in-class training for independent retailers. Sure, we’ll give you some breaks so your brain doesn’t melt, but come ready to EXPAND your mind!
- Amazing Breakouts – You’ll have the opportunity to choose amazing breakout presentations by one of our expert speakers. Note: there are more breakouts than a single person can attend… it’s a great reason to bring one of your teammates with you.
- Easy, Effortless Networking – We cannot begin to tell you how much value, energy, inspiration, motivation, and excitement you’ll experience networking face-to-face with other MIGHTY business people. Meet new retail friends (maybe even a BFF!), build connections, gather new ideas, and have FUN.
- Lunch On Your Own… Or With Friends – We give you plenty of time for lunch, either alone to work on digesting what you’ve already learned, or with a new retail friend to share ideas and insights from the morning. You’ll get a whole list of delicious, diverse food options within easy walking distance.
- “Block Party On Main Street” – Immediately following the end of the first day you’re invited to a special neighborhood block party. Spend time talking with Bob and Susan, the expert speakers, and most importantly, connecting with the other MIGHTY retailers in the room.
- Enlightening Sponsor Conversations – Each one of the Summit Sponsors has incredible money-making, cost-cutting, business-enhancing products and services to tell you about. Trust me, we would NOT invite them if their stuff wasn’t absolutely top notch and a great fit for independent retailers. We vet every single one.
- “Baked In” Action Planning – During each session and throughout the day you’ll be building an actual PLAN that you can take back to your store and put into ACTION. Notes and ideas are great – a workable PLAN is far better. This has been one of the most powerful parts of the Summit for the last 14 years.
- BONUS: Recordings Of All Available Presentations – All attendees will get recordings of available sessions at no additional cost.
What Past Attendees Have to Say About the
Retail Success Summit…
Join Us on June 12 & 13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan!
The Retail Success Summit will be held at the DeVos Place Convention Center in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 12 & 13, 2023.
Grand Rapids features big city attractions and sophistication with the intimacy and charm of a small town and was named as one of the best places in the US to live by both the Men’s Journal and the Wall Street Journal Market Watch.
The Retail Success Summit’s home, DeVos Place Convention Center, is located in downtown Grand Rapids (only 15 minutes from Gerald R. Ford International Airport and easily accessible from all major interstates) and nestled beside the Grand River for a picturesque riverfront setting. Plus, it’s large enough to hold the 500+ retailers expected to gather for the Summit.
Check-in and name tag pick-up will begin at 8:00 am on Monday, 6/12 and the event starts promptly at 8:30 am. But, we’d like to invite those of you who arrive early to join us for a Welcome Reception on Sunday, 6/11 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Eastern Time. The Summit will close at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, 6/13.
Travel To The Retail Success Summit
Fly into the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR). There’s no need to rent a car, the airport is a short, 25-minute cab ride to the Retail Success Summit’s location at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.
Or if you’re traveling from nearby, click here for driving directions.The DeVos Place is connected via covered walkway to the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and the JW Marriott, and is within easy walking distance of great restaurants, shops, and museums.
Closest Recommended Hotel: Amway Grand Plaza
Amway Grand Plaza (Connected by sky bridge to DeVos Place).
WhizBang! Retail Training is pleased to offer discounted room nights of $184 per night for our Retail Success Summit attendees.
Click Here to reserve your room online or call 800.253.3590, and mention the WhizBang! Retail Success Summit. The block room discount is limited so please make your reservations right away.
187 Monroe Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
800.253.3590 | sales@amwaygrand.com
Newest Recommended Hotel: JW Marriott
JW Marriott (Connected by sky bridge to DeVos Place).
WhizBang! Retail Training is pleased to offer discounted room nights of $214 per night for our Retail Success Summit attendees.
Click Here to reserve your room online or call 888.844.5947, and mention the WhizBang! Retail Success Summit. The block room discount is limited so please make your reservations right away.
235 Louis St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
888.844.5947
While You’re In Grand Rapids…
Grand Rapids is rated as the #3 city in America for fun and recreation. Why not take a few extra days to enjoy our gorgeous West Michigan attractions including…
- Beer City USA
- Pristine Beaches and Hiking Trails
- Award Winning Art Galleries and Museums
- Vibrant Downtown
Learn More at the Grand Rapids Visitors Bureau.
Join Us on June 12 & 13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan!
The Retail Success Summit will be held at the DeVos Place Convention Center in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 12 & 13, 2023.
Grand Rapids features big city attractions and sophistication with the intimacy and charm of a small town and was named as one of the best places in the US to live by both the Men’s Journal and the Wall Street Journal Market Watch.
The Retail Success Summit’s home, DeVos Place Convention Center, is located in downtown Grand Rapids (only 15 minutes from Gerald R. Ford International Airport and easily accessible from all major interstates) and nestled beside the Grand River for a picturesque riverfront setting. Plus, it’s large enough to hold the 500+ retailers expected to gather for the Summit.
Check-in and name tag pick-up will begin at 8:00 am on Monday, 6/12 and the event starts promptly at 8:30 am. But, we’d like to invite those of you who arrive early to join us for a Welcome Reception on Sunday, 6/11 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Eastern Time. The Summit will close at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, 6/13.
Travel To The Retail Success Summit
Fly into the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR). There’s no need to rent a car, the airport is a short, 25-minute cab ride to the Retail Success Summit’s location at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.
Or if you’re traveling from nearby, click here for driving directions.The DeVos Place is connected via covered walkway to the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and the JW Marriott, and is within easy walking distance of great restaurants, shops, and museums.
Closest Recommended Hotel: Amway Grand Plaza
Amway Grand Plaza (Connected by sky bridge to DeVos Place).
WhizBang! Retail Training is pleased to offer discounted room nights of $184 per night for our Retail Success Summit attendees.
Click Here to reserve your room online or call 800.253.3590, and mention the WhizBang! Retail Success Summit. The block room discount is limited so please make your reservations right away.
187 Monroe Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
800.253.3590 | sales@amwaygrand.com
Newest Recommended Hotel: JW Marriott
JW Marriott (Connected by sky bridge to DeVos Place).
WhizBang! Retail Training is pleased to offer discounted room nights of $214 per night for our Retail Success Summit attendees.
Click Here to reserve your room online or call 888.844.5947, and mention the WhizBang! Retail Success Summit. The block room discount is limited so please make your reservations right away.
235 Louis St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
888.844.5947
While You’re In Grand Rapids…
Grand Rapids is rated as the #3 city in America for fun and recreation. Why not take a few extra days to enjoy our gorgeous West Michigan attractions including…
- Beer City USA
- Pristine Beaches and Hiking Trails
- Award Winning Art Galleries and Museums
- Vibrant Downtown
Learn More at the Grand Rapids Visitors Bureau.
“If you’re a small business in these times, this is a MUST ATTEND event. The event is AMAZING but also the networking after hours, at breaks and meals is also worth every penny for attending. Ongoing education is so crucial now with a business and this is the place to be.”
Michiko Seto, Blooming Boutiqu – Lewes, DE
What’s The Investment?
Your Retail Success Summit ticket includes 2 full days of business-building, money-making, retail-specific information, nationally-recognized guest speakers, amazing networking opportunities, and your take-home action plan.
Honestly, you’d have to sleep through the entire event not to pick up enough great ideas to pay the registration fee 100x, 200x, or even 500x over. A $50,000 ROI on this event should be a slam-dunk for any retailer who has half a brain (you do) and is willing to use the ideas you’ll learn (you will).
Registration for the Retail Success Summit is $997 for the first person and $297 for each additional person from your store.
OR call 800-842-1660 to register by phone. The WhizBang! Team would love to talk to you if you have any questions.
Get Your Tickets Today
Through Sunday, June 11, 2023Two days of world class education for independent retailers.
Bring additional guests for only $297!
Your 100% Better-Than-Money-Back Guarantee!
If at the end of the first day of the Retail Success Summit, you do not feel you are getting ideas, strategies, tools, and techniques that (put into action) would generate at least $100,000 in revenue for your store, simply turn your notebook in to our team, have a phone call with Bob, and you’ll get a 100% refund of your registration fees… PLUS $1,000. Why? Because, quite simply, the value is there. No other event gives a guarantee like this, but then again, no other event is quite like the Retail Success Summit!
Register above OR call 800.842.1660 to register by phone. The WhizBang! Team would love to talk to you if you have any questions.
Are you ready to join the thousands of past Summit Alumni and become…
Right now, you’re facing a moment of truth. Now is the time to decide.
- Are you going to choose to be a MIGHTY merchant who is an inspiration and source of pride and joy to your community – or are you going to let this opportunity slip away?
- Are you going to choose to embrace the opportunities the new reality is handing you or are you going to play small and secretly hope that things go back to the way they were?
The truth is… ‘HOPE’ is not a good business strategy.
Retail Success Summit is for action-takers and innovators in retail… people who want to take control of their independent retail business, and multiply their storefronts, profitability, and customer-base, without exhausting their energy, personal life, and support structures.
It’s for those who are ready to invest in themselves, learn new skills, and prepare for the opportunities that are coming next. It’s for the MIGHTY on Main Street!
“I want to thank Susan and Bob for an absolutely amazing event filled with invaluable information as well as inspiration! I am now motivated to take my customer service, social media marketing, and staff training to a new level!”
“It’s a recharge of your batteries and the networking is great. So many tidbits of ideas! Everyone should go at least once, and then once you go you have to keep going year after year. Bob and Susan have a true passion for retail!”
“Thanks to everyone on the WhizBang! Team for another great Retail Success Summit. My 3rd Summit and my action item list is full. Now I have an action plan in place that is aligned with my strategic goals. The guest speakers were outstanding and I had a great time spending 2 days with successful independent retailers!”
“Thank you for the great time and all the knowledge. My family business is stronger because of you!“
“I’ve learned so many things that I did not know existed in the retail/business world… investing in yourself to learn will push you so far in life and success.“
You’ll Get To Meet These Amazing Resources For Retailers
