Yes, AI is on everybody's minds these days but for many people, it's more about being confused and unsure what to do than having a solution.
Well, I'm real happy — and proud — to tell you we've got that solution for you.
We’re announcing the launch of Retail Ready, a new AI training program for independent retailers. Education and support for the use of AI as a business tool will be provided via social media, email, videos, webinars and the DMC website as well as activations and hands-on training during January 2027 markets.
After requests from across the entire spectrum of the industry — retailers, sales reps and exhibitors — we’re the first B2B marketplace creating an AI education program tailored to the unique needs of independent retail.
Retail Ready is being created and managed by a leadership council of industry professionals that includes Alison Dodson, award-winning owner of A. Dodson’s of Suffolk, VA; Trudi Bartow, AI evangelist and vice president of business growth with gift manufacturer Unemployed Philosophers Guild; and Cole Daugherty, senior vice president of marketing with Dallas Market Center.
The program, open to all retailers with no special sign-ups, is organized for busy business decision makers who want to quickly learn how to get started, learn practical tools to help solve problems and save time and create easy-to-follow processes for supporting their business.
We’re focusing the program on six themes:
1. Buy: Sales analysis, vendor comparison, assortment gaps, trend research, market planning
2. Sell: Retail merchandising, cross-selling, staff product knowledge, promotions
3. Promote: Email, social media, events, content calendars, customer messaging
4. Run: Scheduling, procedures, vendor communications, meeting notes, repetitive administration
5. Grow: Business analysis, competitive research, customer trends, strategic planning
6. At Market: Plan, discover, make appointments, compare lines, find merchandising stories, organize notes, and more.
In speaking with Cole, he framed the program this way: “We're going to keep it simple. Each week, we'll start with one real problem independent retailers face and one practical way AI can help via short demonstrations, real retail examples and AI prompts to copy and try.”
Retail Ready’s content via Dallas Market Center marketing channels begins immediately. Community-oriented webinars will follow. And the at-market activations will take place in Dallas during January Markets.
I can’t wait for all of us to get started...together.
Cindy Morris,President and CEO, Dallas Market Center