Retail expert Bob Negen to deliver IGC Show 2018 keynote address

Chicago – IGC Show organizers have announced the second of three free morning keynotes at this summer’s IGC Show: Well-known retail expert Bob Negen will present “The Ultimate Marketing System for Independent Garden Centers,” Thursday, Aug. 16, at 9 a.m. in Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom.

Plus, for the first time at the IGC Show, Negen will lead a free bonus breakout session immediately after his keynote in the IGC Networking Lounge on the trade show floor. There, he will present “Stop Showrooming Dead In Its Tracks!” and answer questions from IGC retailers in the audience up close, one-on-one.

Negen is a retail consultant and best-selling author with the tools and knowledge to help independent garden centers realize higher profits. Since building his indie kite store business from $17,000 in annual sales to a multi-store, multi-million dollar operation, he has spent the past decade consulting with retailers, store owners and managers on the customer-focused business philosophy that made his retail business a lasting success.

“I started out with a passion for a product, but it didn’t take me long to realize that passion wasn’t enough to make it profitable,” Negen says. “Learning to become a successful retail business owner is a combination of real-life experience, which means making a lot of mistakes, and actively acquiring the skills, wisdom, strategies and tactics it takes. The real-world foundation of all I teach now was built on what I learned working the sales floor of my own family business.”

Negen’s creative marketing system builds on his personal tried-and-true methods, like gift certificate giveaways and cause marketing, that will earn your garden center recognition and respect within your local community while simultaneously growing your bottom line. You’ll take back new strategies for pricing, sales training, bundling and the secret to moving high-margin impulse items.

IGC Show’s trade show, three morning keynotes and Tuesday’s party and concert with The Marshall Tucker Band are free if you register now at www.IGCShow.com. Early bird savings are currently in effect for the Continuing Education @ IGC conference and the IGC Show Store Tour.