National Thrift Training Conference
KNOXVILLE, TN
Learn How to
Do Thrift Better
What To Expect
On March 7th to 9th, SMCo Thrift will host its next thrift conference focused on equipping leaders in the industry to Do Thrift Better. Principles, strategies and tools proved successful in the 150+ locations where the SMCo Thrift team has assisted will be shared.
What You'll Learn
Expect to hear about, and then see, the interconnected elements within a thrift operation – such as receiving donations, sorting & pricing individual items to retail sales. The three days will include “lecture style” learning combined with interactive in-person hands on learning implementing the different thrift strategies and concepts. Directors, managers and other leaders will walk away with practical steps to implement at existing thrift operations to grow your social enterprise.
Be Prepared to Participate
Every conference is unique because of the people who attend. We recognize the value of different viewpoints so come prepared to share your challenges as well as your successes. Recent attendees have ranged from west and east coasts as well as places in between. They represented organizations with no stores to more than a dozen, with existing stores generating less than $25K per month to over $125K per month.
Accommodations
The Spring 2022 SMCo Thrift National Training Conference will be held at Bridgewater Place. Situated in West Knoxville, this beautiful venue boasts great meeting spaces and delicious refreshments. Within a short drive to many stores, restaurants, and hotels, this space will help make this event one to remember.
Conference Hotel Offering
We are pleased to offer a hotel block at a great rate for the SMCo Thrift National Training Conference. Within a 5 minute drive from our venue, Drury Inn offers wonderful amenities, comfortable stays, and a convenient location. Your stay even includes a complimentary hot breakfast and complimentary drinks and snacks every evening.
If you would prefer to stay at a different site, many other hotels are in the area of this year’s venue – Bridgewater Place.
Area Restaurants
There are many wonderful restaurants near the venue so make plans to enjoy your own “taste of Knoxville” during your visit. Check out Visit Knoxville for recommendations or be sure to ask a SMCo Thrift team member.
Planning Your Trip
Getting to Knoxville doesn’t need to be difficult. Located at the intersection of I-40 and I-75, a road trip is easy for many. McGhee-Tyson airport (TYS) is a great mid-sized airport served by all the major airlines (with short security lines). And plan to enjoy all the benefits of Knoxville by extending your stay.
If you need help planning your trip, let us know and we’ll contact you.
Schedule
Monday, March 7th
- Importance & Value of Donations
- Engaging a Donor
- Counting Touches
- Pricing Strategies
- Capturing Key Data
- Making Informed Decisions
We will host a reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres inside the Hilton Knoxville.
Snacks will be available throughout the day. Lunch is provided.
Tuesday, March 8th
- Customer Service
- Interacting with Donors & Volunteers
- Identifying Obstacles
- Defining Key Components
- Targeting Different Audiences
- Marketing Mediums & Resources
Interaction Session to Answer Any Thrift-Related Questions
- Building Displays
- Store Planograms
- Expanding Your Thrift Operation
- Selecting the Right Property
- Wholesale Business Component
- Connecting Your Thrift Operation
Snacks will be available throughout the day. Lunch is provided.
Wednesday, March 9th
BONUS CONTENT
For those who wish to stay for a third day or are still waiting to catch a flight, you have the opportunity to see a store in action.
Two store tours will be available, one featuring a small format store and the other featuring a large format store.
Following the store tours, sessions to help with software setup and to discuss best practices for Thrift Shopping Network, PickUpMyDonation, and ThriftTrac are available.
Register
Conference registration is non-refundable, but payment can be transferred to another individual or to the next conference.
For additional information, please contact the SMCo Thrift team to have your questions addressed personally.
Conference registration is $495 per person.
Vendors
We want our attendees to be aware of the best products and services available to help you Do Thrift Better. So joining us at each conference are some of the best resource providers in their business, including …
- Point of sale
- Merchant services
- Bale / Recycle
- Direct marketing
- Packaging
- Trash consulting
- Truck leasing
- Wholesaler
- Mattresses
Previous vendors have included:
