This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Local Voices

'Building Blocks for Today's Neighborhood Retailers' Educational Forum Dec. 3 in Tarrytown

Timely education for convenience store operators and other neighborhood retailers is the focus of a brand-new event taking place Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Tarrytown.

Titled “Building Blocks for Today’s Neighborhood Retailers” and presented by the New York Association of Convenience Stores, it’s a one-day laboratory of learning, networking, and product sourcing for retailers from the Hudson Valley, Metro New York, and surrounding areas.

Sponsors are Altria Corp., the McLane Company, Swisher International, and Convenience Store News for the Single Store Owner magazine.

Find out what's happening in Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“In today’s regulatory and competitive environment, success is really hard for neighborhood retailers to achieve – especially in New York State,” said NYACS President Jim Calvin. “This forum will provide practical knowledge, resources and key contacts they can use to build their businesses.”

 “Building Blocks” offers 10 free workshops for owners, operators and managers of convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, bodegas, newsstands, smoke shops, college stores, and other retail formats. These will be presented during two time blocks, as follows:

Find out what's happening in Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Morning Time Block, 10 to 11 a.m.

-  “Risks and Rewards of Money Services” with a Western Union representative.

-  “Maximizing Your Lottery Program” with Judy Drislane, Assistant Regional Director, New York Lottery.

-  “Convenience Store 101” with Rick Thelig, CPD Energy, and Josh Altman, Mountain/Service Distributors.

-  “Managing Gas Station Environmental Compliance” with Mike Magerle, Groundwater & Environmental Services; Jennifer Kotch, HRP Associates; and Mary Passaretti, Aztech Technologies.

-  “Making the Candy Category Even Sweeter” with J. Burke FitzPatrick, Convenience Customer Sales Executive, The Hershey Company.

Afternoon Time Block, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

-  “New York State’s Generator Mandate: Your Options” with a Kinsley Power Systems representative.

-  “Convenience Store 101” with Frank Hessari, Vice President, Prestige Petroleum Corp., and a Core-Mark International representative.

-  “Strengthening Tech Ties With Your Suppliers” with a McLane Company representative.

-  “Preserving Your Right to Sell Tobacco” with Molly Slingerland, District Director, State Government Affairs, and Eric Barker, Manager, Activations and Outreach, Government Affairs Outreach Programs, Altria Client Services

-  “Survival Skills for Single-Store Operators” with Donald Longo, Editorial Director, Convenience Store News for the Single Store Owner magazine.

Mid-Day Block, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

In between the workshop time blocks, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., retail attendees will browse tabletop exhibits by leading suppliers and service providers and enter drawings every 10 minutes for cash prizes totaling $1,000.

More Information

For workshop descriptions, directions, and to pre-register, retailers may call 800-336-9227 or visit www.nyacs.org.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?