The National Costumers Association (NCA) is launching a major two-day event later this month, free to attend and open to both members and non-members, to help them continue to survive and thrive as we move into the second quarter of 2021.
Taking place from 23 – 24 March, the Zoom event – called the NCA Success Summit – will be packed with peer panel discussions designed to give retailers ideas on finding new customers, better serving your existing customers, selling more products, saving more money, and overall being more successful.
“We’re excited to be producing this event, because we know a lot of costume businesses are suffering at the moment and need inspiration,” says NCA executive director Ed Avis. “This event is designed to provide solid, practical information to strengthen their businesses, while at the same time offering encouragement and the opportunity to see old friends and peers.”
The event will feature a combination of educational and social events. A survey went out to NCA members in late February to determine which topics should be covered, with possible options including:
* Ideas for serving the theatre community during/after Covid,
* Selling more products online,
* Selling to unconventional markets (cosplay fans, historical reenactors, drag queens, etc),
* Using pop-up stores to sell at events (such as comicons and sports events, etc),
* Selling retail items other than costumes/accessories (such as games, toys, books and impulse items),
* Ways to cut costs in a costume business,
* How to take advantage of ‘shop local’ programmes and encourage your community to do so.
The Success Summit will also include a historical look back on NCA’s long and rich history, using old issues of Costumer magazine, archived photos and videos, convention programmes and other material.
Social events will also form an important element of the event, providing opportunities for members to network with one another. For example, the event will open with a Zoom coffee hour, while a ‘bitch session’ will allow attendees to let off some steam and pick up a few tips on making their situation better! The event will close with a ‘fancy hat ball’, where attendees can show off their favourite headgear while enjoying a drink and the virtual company of their NCA friends.
Crucially, the Success Summit will be open to current, former and prospective NCA members and there will be no charge to attend. The NCA is committed to helping the entire costume industry survive and thrive and this event is an investment in the future.
To book your place on the Success Summit, visit www.costumers.org/2021-Success-Summit.
