PEER-TO-PEER COLLABORATION
The pace of change and required innovation in today's marketplace has accelerated beyond anything we could have imagined just a decade ago. Advanced technology, the abundance of available information, the dawn of AI, and more, are continually revising our assumptions around consumer behavior and how we need to adjust to it. Our decades of experience with trade organizations and third party "experts" has taught us that some of the most current and valuable insights around today's best practices and consumer behavior come from those who live it every day -- independent retailers.
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The CIVITAS support Team includes former retailers who have experienced the power of collaboration among business leaders first hand. We understand the value of sharing the kinds of ideas and experiences that can only be acquired through putting a key a store's door every morning, then letting "all hell break loose". As a result, CIVITAS takes advantage of every opportunity to provide vehicles for community interaction and the exchange of ideas upon members' request.
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Vehicles for community collaboration include:​
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Annual Leadership and Train-the-Trainer 3-Day Summit - CIVITAS provides the industry's most comprehensive array of team acquisition, development and retention resources. To optimize its value, leaders need to understand what is available and how to implement it. In addition, the CIVITAS support team is constantly listening to ideas for improvement and new resources.
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Annual Marketing and Content Development 3-Day Summit - In a world of questionable marketing advice from commission-driven consultants and agencies, the real-world experience of the retail community has become more valuable than ever. With today's wide array of digital and traditional marketing options, this shared wisdom can increase utilization of effective vehicles, while avoiding or minimizing use of the duds. In addition, each year the CIVITAS marketing team creates a fresh array of marketing resources and this interaction provides direction and a wish list for coming productions.
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Annual Finance and Operations Best Practices 3-Day Summit - CFOs, COO, Controllers, Warehouse Management, Service Department Management, Inventory and Retail Finance, and more share best practices. Staffing, compensation, cost controls, government compliance, facility maintenance, vehicle fleet management, shipping and receiving, vendor service, and more are just some of the challenges faced.
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Annual Merchandising Best Practices 3-Day Summit - Merchandisers and buyers are constantly confronted with rapidly changing product selections, pricing fluctuations and consumer preferences. Today's hot product can become tomorrow's close-out, one manufacturer's weakness can become another's opportunity. Staying abreast of these trends and comparing notes on various sources of information can yield savings by optimizing selection and minimizing mistakes. CIVITAS is not a buying group. In fact, we recommend that members take advantage of the buying group of their choice. We are, instead, a selling organization providing the resources to help members empty their warehouses at the right price rather than filling them at the right price.
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Annual Owner, President and CEO Vision Summit - Creating a vision for your company's future calls for staying abreast of the latest trends, opportunities and challenges. In addition to accessing outside authorities on the latest business developments, this summit provides opportunities to tap into your unique peer group who share many of the same challenges as you.
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Private Collaboration Events in Concert with Industry Trade Shows - Several times each year members of the community send leaders to various trade shows and industry events. Once that investment in travel and lodging has been made, arranging a time and place for additional collaboration time can, not only provide timely updates, but can enhance to take-aways from that show or event.
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