CHANDLER, Arizona. Learning Express Toys hosted their 20th Annual Convention and Vendor Expo, in Chandler, AZ.
Here is a quick recap of the week:
Welcome Dinner
The Welcome Dinner was a fabulous kick-off for a week of fun, education and sharing of ideas. The evening gave everyone a chance to say hello to old friends and meet new friends. The photo booth and caricaturist captured memories! We even had a visit from Super Heroes – Wonder Woman and Spider-Man!
Monday – Education Day!
The theme of the day was the LE Way, 30 Years of Play, Entertainment, and Team Product Wow!
30 Years of Play!
We opened the convention with a walk down memory lane and this set the mood for the entire convention! With a little (or a lot) of help from their friends, our team put together an beautiful tribute to Learning Express. Everyone did a fantastic job and the presentation was a great reminder of how much our system has grown over the years and how fortunate we all are to be involved in the Learning Express family.
Message from our CEO
Our CEO and Founder, Sharon DiMinico, wrapped up the presentation with her annual address focusing more on the future rather than a look-back at the past. The key take-aways from Sharon’s speech were about what each store owner needs to do to remain relevant 5-10 years down the road.
Panel of the Pros – Marketing Version
This year’s panel included several of our current store owners. Each member shared their expertise by answering questions that were submitted by store owners about everything from Every Door Direct Mailings, Email Marketing, Text Marketing, Facebook and Events Workshops. We had three educational workshops in the afternoon. Team Product Wow was the theme.
Round Tables
Another great opportunity to sit with a table full of owners, managers and home office staff and share ideas on a number of topics.
PowerPlay
Everyone’s favorite event! A night of fun, food and beverages with an opportunity to learn about new products. Vendors shared their favorite hot new games and activities.
Tuesday – Vendor Breakfast, Vendor Expo and Awards Banquet Vendor Breakfast
Members of our team spoke at the vendor breakfast about vendor partnerships and the opportunities for vendors to support our stores now and in the future. Several awards were presented for individual category products and top sales and sales increase awards.
Vendor Expo
Always a great buying and learning event! Vendors were very pleased with the orders they received as well as the upbeat attitude of the owners. They truly appreciate store owners and managers taking the time to see new products, modify orders and make great connections.
Awards Banquet
This was another great networking and social event! We took a little time to recognize store owner and vendor contributions. A full list of award winners can be found at the end of the update. After the awards, we switched gears this year and had a little entertainment. Brett Barry, an Arizona mentalist, entertained the crowd with a mind blowing show. Although some were a little skeptical of his ability to read minds, all were entertained and had a great time.
Wednesday
It was back to the vendor expo for more ordering before everyone left for their flights or drives home. It was a great show, an amazing convention and a real WOW for Learning Express! Thank you to the owners who invested in their business and made the journey to the southwest. It was one of the best conventions ever! Way to go TEAM LE!