OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- Each year, members of the convenience and petroleum retailing industry explore many options to take their business to the next level. The conference that kicks off the new year and consistently delivers distinguishable ROI is CSP Business Media's Convenience Retailing University (CRU), to be held at the InterContinental Dallas from Feb. 4-6, 2015.
Due to its educational nature, CRU regularly welcomes several hundred senior marketing executives, category managers, operations managers and other managing executives seeking insight, key trends and data and valuable ideas to implement in their stores. Industry and non-industry experts enlighten attendees to new visions for success, regardless of the sphere of responsibility they maintain within the convenience store industry.
CRU again will provide fundamental information and accentuate the principles that drive overall strategy and lead to greater revenue. From thought-provoking keynote speakers to targeted educational sessions as well as ample time to collaborate with industry peers, CRU delivers, in one location, a learning environment fostering insight and answers to drive revenue and growth.
"[CRU] is like a good friend, who has a lot of wisdom," said Brian Donoghue, director of foodservice at Weigel's Stores Inc. "They're that old confidant that I can go to, listen to and learn from so I can better develop what I'm doing in my business."
"[CRU] provides wonderful learning experiences and I'm always finding the idea or ideas to return home to make a profit," said David S. Johnson, vice president of operations at Toot'n Totum Food Stores LLP.
In addition to the supreme educational aspects of CRU, the conference is a place where retail industry peers as well as convenience store suppliers can network, innovate and engage face to face. The focal point of the suppler and retailer interface is the C-Store Product Gallery, where they can engage with people and products to network and discuss building business.
These unique networking opportunities afforded at CRU are the building-blocks for developing long-term business relationships. "Environments like this really give us the opportunity to have meaningful conversations that give us market insight that enable us to provide a better product," said Leslie Williams, national sales representative at Capitol Cups Inc.
The camaraderie of the convenience store industry is evident with the charitable giving activities of CARRE, the Charitable Alliance of Restaurant & Retail Executives. At CRU this year, CARRE will introduce the Quest to Cure Melanoma initiative. Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer that has tragically affected thousands of people including members of the industry.
"We strive to provide leaders with valuable insights and ideas to implement in their stores to drive their revenue and growth, and also provide reasons for us all to create a personal connection, touching lives for the better" said Kay Segal, senior vice president at CSP Business Media. "We want every attendee to be inspired in both the business as well as in life. CRU is truly a one-of-a-kind conference with content and connections that are unparalleled."
Speaker and agenda highlights from CRU 2015 include:
- Ty Bennett, founder, Leadership Inc. and author of The Power of Influence
- Christopher Brace, owner, Shopper Intelligence
- Eduardo Briceño, CEO, Mindset Works
- Wendi Clauss, concept development manager, Wawa Inc.
- Mark DiDomenico, director of business development, Datassential
- Don Farrell, founder and chief cultivating office, Fresh Revenues
- Carlos E. Garcia, senior vice president, Multicultural Practice, GfK
- Ieva Grimm, senior director of education services and executive director of NACS Center for Achieving Foodservice Excellence
- Eric Klinenberg, researcher, professor and author of Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise & Surprising Appeal of Living Alone
- Tom Montgomery, category manager, Delek Holdings US/Mapco
- Sue Nicholls, CPSA, president, Category Management Knowledge Group
- Eric Pratt, managing partner, Revenue River Marketing
- Jackie Rodriguez, senior manager, Technomic
- John Zikias, COO, Holmes Oil Co. Inc.
- Nearly 100 product displays within the C-Store Product Gallery
- Category Management Store Tours
- More than 10 hours of general sessions and workshops
- CARRE Foundation charity spotlight: Quest to Cure Melanoma
Registration for the event is available online at ConvenienceRetailing.com. To attend the conference, operators can contact Bryn Cotton at bcotton@cspnet.com or (480) 337-3420
(480) 337-3420. For sponsorship information, please contact Michael Burkette at mburkette@cspnet.com or (425) 861-3461(425) 861-3461.
Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based CSP Business Media, publisher of CSP, Convenience Store Products, FoodService Director and Restaurant Business magazines, is a market-dominant, business-to-business, multi-media communication company specializing in the convenience retailing, restaurant and on-the-go food industries. In addition to its print products, CSP Business Media has an extensive portfolio of online products including e-newsletters (including CSP Daily News), websites, web conferences, CSPTV and other video products, mobile applications and custom solutions. And CSP Leadership Conferences & Events produces more than 20 major EduNetworking live conferences and focused meetings.
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