The Year Ahead

This year when you come up with your New Year’s resolutions, be sure to add “get more involved with NACS” to your list.

2009 is the year for you to become a fully-engaged member of the NACS community and establish genuine and beneficial relationships between your company and other retailers and suppliers. NACS and Insight understand the effort it takes to run a successful convenience operation (or supply to one) — especially in today’s tough economic environment — so we do everything we can to provide you with the right knowledge and connections to make your business thrive.

We bring you thought-provoking educational programs and industry tools designed to increase efficiency and profits. Our tireless efforts on Capitol Hill are on your behalf. In a nutshell, NACS provides top-notch knowledge, connections and advocacy for the convenience and petroleum retailing industry.

We would like to help you make this New Year’s resolution the easiest one you’ll ever keep.

Let NACS help you form profitable partnerships that will give you immediate returns and help you position your company for enduring success. No place else can you easily access the tools your organization needs to innovate and grow in today’s market. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you get started.

February 2009
Exhibitors: Reserve your NACS Show expo space now. Find details in the NACS Exhibitor Prospectus or online at www.nacsshow.com.

The Leadership Forum on February 25 to 27 in Miami Beach, Florida, brings together established leaders from the convenience and petroleum retailing industry to explore high-impact, meaningful approaches to doing business better. Interactive sessions with suppliers and retailers encourage challenging current convention, accelerating change and disrupting outdated practices. High-profile speakers and plenty of networking round out the event. Contact Meredith Thomas at mthomas@nacsonline.com for retailer information on this premier event and Bob Hughes at bhughes@nacsonline.com for Hunter Club and supplier information.

March 2009
Attend the NACS Human Resources Forum, March 10 to 12 in Orlando, Florida. This yearly reunion of HR professionals focuses on the role and perceptions of human resources within organizations and how it impacts the workplace at all levels — from the cashier to the CEO. Contact Jenn Makarsky at jmakarsky@nacsonline.com for more information.

“Tech-tock” — the NACStech Super Saver discount expires, although it’s not too late to register. Visit www.nacstech.com.

Explore Ireland’s dynamic, progressive and innovative convenience retailing channel at the Insight/NACS Global Convenience Benchmarks 2009 conference on March 23 to 26 in Kilkenny, Ireland. As an added bonus, attendees can tour retail locations such as Centra, EUROSPAR, FreshCo and Tesco’s new eco-friendly store in Tramore. To register, visit :www.insightreport.co.uk/conferences/gcb2009/

Participate in the NACS Leadership Challenge, March 29 to April 2 in Paradise, Texas. A team-building experience for supervisors, the Leadership Challenge helps attendees discover personal leadership strengths that can help them create profitable, performance-oriented environments back home in their organizations. Enrollment is limited to 20 individuals from NACS retail member companies. Space is competitive. Contact Jenn Makarsky at jmakarsky@nacsonline.com for more information.

Pre-order your copy of the NACS State of the Industry Report of 2008 Data at www.nacsonline.com/shop.