What was really interesting was what happened after. You’d come back with a handful of these gems from different conversations, and when we laid them out together, the direction forward for each shoe became clear. Not forced. Not overanalyzed. It just…revealed itself.
The product development process has evolved a lot since then, but that core idea still holds. There are a lot of smart people out there. Tapping into that collective insight—listening, asking questions, comparing notes—is one of the smartest ways to build a business. That’s true for brands, but it’s even more important for specialty retailers. Your business shouldn’t exist in a bubble.
That’s a big part of what we’re trying to support at the RIA. Whether it’s our quarterly Retailer Huddles, the Think Tank, Mastermind Groups, or the Summit, the goal is simple: create space for those conversations to happen. Because that’s where the gems come from.
The RIA Summit is the best example of that concept in action—two and a half days of conversation, connection, and learning with your peers and brand partners. The show is at capacity, but if you’re still thinking about joining us, go ahead and sign up. We’re not going to say no.
Our goal is to support you any way we can. And if we do it right, you’ll head home with a few gems of your own—the kind that help your business move forward in ways you didn’t expect.
Looking forward to seeing you all at The Summit.
- Terry Schalow, RIA Executive Director
