Summer NAMM Empowers Industry with 35 Educational Sessions


Summer NAMM provides the ultimate educational experience on what’s working right now in music retail—brick-and-mortar, online and multichannel—July 9-11 in Nashville. NAMM U has curated 35 sessions to help music retailers hone a winning business strategy for the second half of the year and far beyond. The educational opportunities start with NAMM U’s Retail Boot Camp, leading into three-days of Breakfast Sessions and NAMM Idea Center topics designed to inspire and share practical tactics for success in the rapidly evolving music industry.

“We’ve had NAMM Members say that Summer NAMM’s offerings are akin to those at expensive executive retreats with high-level speakers, cutting-edge ideas and opportunities to network with industry leaders one-on-one,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. “We’re excited about the educational line up at Summer NAMM and believe that dealers who come to the show will benefit and be better prepared for success in the fall and holiday selling season.”

NAMM U’s Retail Boot Camp, starting the day before Summer NAMM opens is an intensive, one-day training for anyone working in music retail – from owners to salespeople. This year, marketing and sales guru Bob Negen reveals promotions and special events that get results, as well as tips for creating a service culture that sells. Financial experts Alan Friedman, CPA, and Daniel Jobe of Friedman, Kannenberg and Co. will then share tactics for improving cash flow and back-office operations.

Start show days off right with NAMM U Breakfast Sessions in Music City Center’s Davidson Ballroom. Thursday morning’s “NAMM Retail Summit” delves into how NAMM Top 100 Dealers are successfully competing today. At Friday’s “No More Average Marketing—How to Cut Through the Noise,” online marketing maven Larry Bailin reveals strategies for online marketing. Saturday’s “Best in Show,” now in its 10th year, features a roundup of the best products and services at the show—chosen by music retailers, for music retailers.

Held every half-hour throughout the show, right on the show floor, the NAMM Idea Center will feature peer-to-peer learning with ideas designed for immediate implementation.

Just a few Summer NAMM Idea Center standout sessions include:

•   Essential Tips For A Successful YouTube Channel

•   How We Eliminated Makeup Lessons

•   7 Ways To Improve Your Website Now

•   The Used And Vintage Market: What You Need To Know

•   Sure-Fire Ways To Improve Collections

•   Use Instagram To Build Your Brand And Customer Base

•   Effective Online Marketing Ideas From Top 100 Dealers

•   How To Set Up And Profit From Maintenance Agreements

TEC Tracks, educational sessions designed to empower the growing pro audio and recording market, will debut at Summer NAMM in 2015. Presented next to the NAMM Idea Center on the show floor, TEC Tracks supports recording, live sound and music pros with three days of engaging programs and hands-on training.

Intellectual property and import/export roundtables will be held in the NAMM Member Center located in the lobby throughout Summer NAMM. This is a convenient and free opportunity for NAMM members to meet directly with representatives from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on intellectual property issues and representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on regulations and reporting requirements that affect the manufacturing, sale and transportation of musical products.

Don’t miss NAMM at Night events including Wednesday night’s ‘Insight 3: An evening of music and stories’ hosted by country music star Vince Gill and Two Old Hippies’ Tom Bedell and Friday’s Top 100 Dealer Awards. Enjoy all that Summer NAMM has to offer by registering for badges and locking in hotel bookings. Exhibit space is available. For more information on Summer NAMM 2015, visit https://www.namm.org/summer/2015.