In Pursuit of Business Excellence, Part 1

 -  Lori Colborne

In Pursuit of Business Excellence, Part II

 -  Lori Colborne

You Be the Judge

 - Robert Moore
We will look at actual court cases that deal with liability involving direct martketing. Participants will review the facts of each case followed by a discussion of the liability issues in each scenario. Next,we will take a poll of the participants, asking them how they would rule on the case if they were the judge. Lastly, we will discuss the outcome of the actual case and the basis for the decision by the court.

Farm Direct Marketer of the Year
 

What Flew and What Flopped 

Audience participation 

Track: Technology

Cash Registers on the Farm: Overlooked and Underutilized

 -  Donna Coleman
Explaining how we use cash registers at our operation. Advantages to what we use compared to what we use to do. Why we switched from what we used to do. And how we can use cash registers to better our records.

 -  Elna Edgar
I will describe the cash register & inventory tracking system at our "Innisfail Growers" booth at the Calgary Farmers Market at Currie Barracks; very successful year round farmers market. The successes, failures and pitfalls along the way to developing the system we are currently using as well as our vision of the next steps as our needs and wants change will be discussed.

 -  Jan Vala
I will present our system of handling money that makes each cashier responsible for the money and transactions of the cash
register. This provides more security and less opportunities for theft and mistakes.

Taking the Next Step: Point of Sale Systems

  -  Kristin Seaquist
My presentation will be a question and answer time - questions asked by Mark Simmons regarding our point of sale system.
Hopefully, this format will generate the information people are looking for.

Industry Update -  Mark Simmons
Mark will walk through ROI examples showing how not having a POS system is costing you money!

What Flew & What Flopped

Audience participation

Track: Retailing Principles that Sell

  -  Wade Kuipers
Wade will offer examples, instuctions and advice on many of the construction projects we've tackled ourselves around the farm.
Coming from a background in the concrete industry, he is well versed on the many uses of decorative concrete, including stamped
 concrete and acid-stained concrete. He has also used recyled barn wood extensively in the retail shops and display areas. From
eletrical to plumbing, he's done a bit of it all!

-  Dick Kraus

 -  Kristin Borzynski

 -  Joy Grose
How to increase bakery sales by merchandising your baked goods in a "grab and go" area. 
Packaging, sampling, and presentation will be discussed.

When Customers Talk

          - T. Scott Gross

Do you know what your customers want? If you said low prices, then you really need to come to this session!

Audience participation

 

Read about the School Tours, Farmers' Markets and Family & Youth tracks