Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM AUGUST 2018 64 A s the summer hits the "dog days" it will be anything but that for the appliance service industry. In mid-September, the National Appliance Service Convention (NASC) will roll into Las Vegas for four days packed with technical and business training, opportunities for interactions with key members of the industry, and a chance to greet old friends and make many new ones. NASC 2018 will take place September 17-20 at the Westgate Resort in Las Vegas, and we are all gearing up for a great week! Technical training is always a key component of NASC, and this year will certainly not disappoint. Whirlpool, Electrolux, Dacor, Bosch, Samsung, Alliance Laundry, LG, Beko, and others are scheduled to take part in this year's convention and will be presenting on their current product line offerings. In addition, PTAC training will be offered by National Service Alliance, and Lokring training will be offered by Vulkan. PSA will also offer more product platform-specific training and electrical and schematic training classes Many classes will also focus on promoting and refining your business and office processes, along with support classes by Rossware, Fred's, and others. Guests will have opportunities to become certified as technicians or service managers throughout the week, and will get a look at the latest tools and products impacting the appliance service industry. The popular trade show will take place Tuesday evening and throughout the day on Wednesday. You will have a chance to chat with people from throughout the industry, see their wares and hear their perspectives on the business and how you can better take advantage of the latest tools and knowledge. In addition, you can take the opportunity to register for great prizes! This year's convention will be highlighted by the Wednesday evening banquet dinner, headlined by Tim Lawrence, executive director of SkillsUSA. Tim has been on the front lines of Skills' tremendous expansion over the past several years, and brings a great deal of experience in motivating young people to consider careers in the trades segment of the workforce. Tim will speak on how we can work together to bring more people into the appliance service industry, and how we can work on local and national levels to guide more quality workers into our industry. While the week will be jam-packed, the most important part of a convention like NASC is meeting and chatting with people from within our industry. You'll meet people who will become friends and mentors— people whom you'll be able to call and bounce ideas off of, sharing stories of frustrations and successes — people who may well become lifelong friends. This is always an underrated but key point of any convention — taking the time to introduce yourself and network with folks that have the same interests as you. Some good practices to keep in mind: • Don't spend all your time outside of conference sessions using your phone or immersed in reading material. Be open and engaged and you'll be more likely to meet like-minded people. Most people attending a conference are looking for others to interact with, so don't be afraid to approach people yourself. You don't even need an excuse; you can simply walk up and introduce yourself and ask about the other person. • Conferences are more than just sessions; they are an assembly of like-minded folks with great intentions. How often do you get uninterrupted time to discuss matters of interest with industry peers from around the country? Many great experiences can happen during the downtime, so don't leave those experiences to chance. Reach out to your contacts beforehand and set up an early breakfast or lunch. • Bring business cards. The exchange of business cards is a time- honored tradition at conferences. When exchanging cards be sure to make notes on the back of cards from people you want to follow up with so you'll remember who each person is once you're back in the office. You can find more information on NASC 2018, including the latest agenda, at our event website, applianceconvention.com. Keep in mind that the agenda will continue to evolve right up until the week before the convention, so keep an eye on it and plan what events you might want to take part in, with the understanding that time and dates are subject to change. You will receive a complete agenda at the time you check into the convention. We're looking forward to another great week, with a big crowd in Las Vegas! The Westgate Resort is a great facility that is rolling out the red carpet for our guests, so we hope that we will see all of you this fall at NASC 2018! TRAINING OPPORTUNITY ALERT- NASC 2018 IN LAS VEGAS! S E R V I C E D E P A R T M E N T RO Randy Carney- Executive Director- PSA

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