Chicago — Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA), the specialty A/V buying group, conducted the second in a series of three middle management meetings this past weekend.
The “Brazen Buyers Meeting,” held here, was attended by 35 buyers from member dealers and four staffers from Monster Cable, including Head Monster Noel Lee.
The gathering focused on honing buying skills and conveying the message that buying is a two-way street, said the group’s executive director Richard Glikes.
The itinerary included a presentation by Robert Ain of Ain Consulting, who tackled the subjects of developing a merchandising mix; setting up an open to buy; and reducing inventory dollars and improving inventory turns. The event also featured roundtable discussions on how to buy for a just in time custom install business, and the biggest problems buyers incur.
In addition, an open forum segment defined the responsibilities of a buyer, while Glike led a dialog on “The Art of Negotiating, and What You Need to Do When a Vendor Comes in to See You.” The conference was highlighted by a presentation by Lee on “The Law of Constraints” – and a White Sox-Indians game with sky box seating courtesy of LG.
The Chicago gathering followed HTSA’s Audio Boot Camp, held in Raleigh, N.C., in April. The final middle management meeting, for custom managers, will be held next month in St. Louis, Mo.
