This past October, the sold-out AFFTA Dealer Summit proved to be a hotbed of discussion, networking, and idea-exchanging. Speakers such as Dan Mann (the Mann Group) and Brian Hawkins (bhawkins inc. and Fixture Lab) helped attendees better understand how to utilize their retail spaces, merchandize accordingly, and grow their store’s presence within the marketplace.
Evenings were filled with hosted cocktail parties and dinners, proving onceagain fishermen love to talk and exchange ideas over a drink. Many extended their trip to Bozeman in order to experience the area’s fishing, and networking proved to be alive and well as several attendees took advantage of the Summit to plan future trips with fellow industry folk.
Shop owners left with notebooks full of information, but the general consensus seemed to be five points in particular stood out:
• Know your customer—how do they interact with you now, and how will they in the future? (Maclaren Latta)
• Three phases are needed for a great store: design, merchandising, and operations. (Brian Hawkins)
• Connect with the customer, then connect the product with the customer. (Dan Mann)
• Learn to balance risk and uncertainty. Risk can be quantified and mitigated; uncertainty can’t. (Weston Fricke)
• Make your business easy to find and explore online. (Dwayne Martin)
If you did not make it out to the Dealer Summit this year, we hope to see you and your shop staff next October!