We all operate in our own universe. If you are like me, you hope that your contributions spill over into the greater good for the total universe. All we know is that we try to do the best we can to affect our little world and those people in it. Next week this time, we will be in full swing, producing the fourth annual Home Improvement eRetailer Summit. It takes place November 6-8 at the Hotel Monaco Chicago in Downtown Chicago, IL. It is not a huge tradeshow or conference. It does not have thousands of attendees or exhibitors. Simply put, it is a gathering of executives wanting to learn and/or share more information about home improvement eCommerce; and, how to optimize the internet as a distribution channel.
One-on-One Meetings …
It is an invitation-only, intimate event focused on building relationships and knowledge. Retailers (all kinds), manufacturers, distributors, technology companies, and industry professionals attend to network, learn from each other and meet one-on-one with one another.
This event is not organized by a Fortune 500 company and does not have a huge budget. It is a grassroots forum run by an independent minority and woman-owned business. Yes, that would be my business. The business is supported by a team of passionate experts from around the country with various disciplines like logistics, finance, social media, marketing, and the list continues. Believe me, it does take more than a village to produce an event. Our team often laughs about how the smaller events are harder because there is literally no margin for error. We are vulnerable and know it. We do it anyway. We put ourselves out, in our own little universe, trying to make a difference.
“We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?”
Our onsite team members who are passionate experts from around the country…
We are thankful for the conferees who will be convening at the Summit next week. We do not say it enough, how grateful we are for these progressive professionals, who have a vision and are conducting business activities differently. We are glad that we can provide a curated environment for them to collaborate and grow. If you are not attending but have been curious about the event, this is our open invitation for you to join us at the Summit via social media. You can follow us on twitter @eretailersummit, on the Home Improvement eRetailer Summit LinkedIn showcase page, and on YouTube. Please use #eretailersummit19 to share your responses, questions and challenges.
It is, some would say, still a baby of events because it is young. Looking at other events as they celebrate monumental milestones, it encourages us that as the Summit keeps moving forward, it too will create decades of history behind its brand. We will be celebrating our 5th anniversary, September 30 – October 1, 2020. Please mark your schedule now to consider joining us.
As we move forward and continue producing this event, our hope is that the Summit is a small contribution of the dent in our own little universe.
Sonya Ruff Jarvis, is the Managing Member of Jarvis Consultants and the Founder of the eRetailer Summit and JC Event Group. An expert in her field, Sonya has been published in numerous retail industry b-to-b publications. Sonya shares her experiences in her book series Mindful Minutes: A Marketer’s Journey Through Business. In addition, Sonya collaborated in publishing an anthology, Mentoring Moments: 14 Remarkable Women Share Their Breakthroughs to Success.
Sonya has a M.B.A. in Marketing. She is married and has a daughter and they live in Trumbull, Connecticut.
Follow Sonya on twitter at @jarvisconsult or @eretailersumm