RETAILOBSERVER.COM JULY 2017
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in-store grilling and cooking events and provide a space for members
of the community to use at no charge.
"There wasn't a bad idea in the group of finalists," Lau says. "Our
next phase is to work with our local health department and then start
laying out the kitchen. Then construction starts. We hope to be live
by Labor Day."
Lau is eager to provide his community with another space to
gather. "It's about accumulating experiences, and a café lends
itself to that. It's the vibe, the experience. And there isn't a lot of
community space in our town, so this will be a good place for
community groups to gather."
NRHA ALL-INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
The NRHA Village Stage stayed busy with a slew of speakers
that discussed a variety of topics, including providing top-of-the-
line customer service, the importance of brick-and-mortar stores ,
and much more.
The keynote speaker on the first day was Dr. Kit Yarrow, spoke
about "Decoding the New Consumer Mind." Her presentation is
based on a book of the same name, which discusses how consumers
have changed their shopping habits over the years.
"The No. 1 thing customers say they want is omnichannel retailing,"
says Yarrow. "Customers say they prefer to go to a store, but it's just
so complicated to get there. Bring technology into the store to help
customers understand what they are about to buy."
The second day's keynote speaker was retail expert Mary Walter
who presented "Your Remarkable Service Advantage." She spoke
about how independent retailers can set themselves apart through
personalized customer service.
"Protect yourself by exploiting your local knowledge," Walter says.
"Make things easy for customers. Provide easy checkouts and fast
returns, and make it easy for customers to find things in your store.
2017 NATIONAL HARDWARE SHOW
®
A GREAT SUCCESS IN LAS VEGAS
