Retail Shippers Expo 2012 - RS Academy Professional Skills Certification Training

RS Academy is recognized as the industry leader in specific subject-matter certification. Academy classes combine precise business rules, science, and philosophy. We test you to make certain your certification is based on actual knowledge gained, so you can be proud to show your customers your commitment to excellence.

NEW OWNER TRAINING

RS BootCamp - New Owners Seminar

Course is designed to give potential and new store owners a comprehensive overview of what it takes to get started - and survive - in the retail packing and shipping industry. Know what to expect, avoid major pitfalls, and start your new business with a professional edge.

RS BootCamp is presented by RS Associates' President and one of the industry's leading experts on store operations, Brandon Gale.

Topics presented in this 8-hour seminar include:

• Industry Overview
• Small Package Carriers Overview
• Store Site Selection
• Business Plan
• Lease Negotiation
• Store Design - Furniture and Fixtures
• Licensing, Permits, and Business Entity

• Equipment and Tools-of-the-Trade
• Inventory
• Vendor Relationships and Ordering
• Carrier Account Setup
• Sales and Marketing
• Multi-store Operations
• Pricing Strategies

RS Premium Member Price: $328.50

RS Basic Member Price: $365.00

NOTE: The first Attendee is full price, discount pricing for additional attendees from the same store
RS Premium Member $180 / Basic Member $200

PACKING

Packing 101 - Packing Essentials
Find a box in the nearest dumpster, throw your stuff in, slap some duct tape on, mark it "Fragile", then ship it. Simple, right? Wrong. Many Retail Shipping Store operators make a grave mistake in thinking that packaging is simple. But in order to properly prepare your packages to survive the rigors of the transportation network, you must follow very specific carrier rules and the physics of packaging dynamics. This class covers both the science and rules; containers, packaging/cushioning materials and how to use the "right" one for the job, packaging techniques, sealing, carrier rules, and tricks of the trade that will make you a true packaging expert. Topics presented include:

• The Distribution Environment • Carrier Requirements • The Dynamics of Packaging • Shipping Containers		• Cushioning Materials • Packing Tools • The Packaging Process • Packaging Demonstrations

RS Premium Member Price: $76.50
RS Basic Member Price: $85.00

Packing 102 - Advanced Packing

Stock box sizes don’t always fit items being shipped or sent via freight. Custom box/container design and construction is an art, and the product can be a significant profit center with extraordinary margins. Learn – and practice - professional techniques for custom box building for fragile, large, awkward and valuable items. Become your neighborhood Packaging Expert. This is a lab-based course, tools and materials will be provided for you.

Topics presented include:

• Packaging Dynamics
• Carrier Considerations
• Packaging Design

• Corrugated Carton Design & Construction
• Carton Design Diagrams

RS Premium Member Price: $76.50

RS Basic Member Price: $85.00

SHIPPING

NEW – Shipping 101 - Basics of Small Package Transportation
Designed for new store owners and staff, this course covers the basics and the essential rules, requirements, science, and best practices for small package shipping in the United States. Subjects covered: specific carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS) rules and terms of carriage, shipment size and weight limitations, insurance and shipment value protection, packaging requirements, package processing, pricing, shipping product options, service guarantees, automation options, and carrier account setup. Topics presented include:

• Carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS) rules and terms of carriage • Shipment size and weight limitations • Insurance and shipment value protection • Carrier packaging requirements • Package processing		• Shipping product options • Service guarantees • Automation options • Carrier account setup

RS Premium Member Price: $76.50
RS Basic Member Price: $85.00

Shipping 102 - International Shipping
International shipping is a substantial profit center for retail shipping centers, but remembering every detail, procedure, and regulation can be a challenge. Rules and services can change every day - and knowing how to adjust to those changes can mean the difference between great profits and great losses! Topics presented include:

• Carrier-specific regulations & updates • Customs documentation • Restrictions and Prohibitions		• Red Flag countries • Shipping options • Resources & Forms

RS Premium Member Price: $76.50
RS Basic Member Price: $85.00

Shipping 103 - Freight & Air Cargo

Large freight is an increasingly important menu item for today's successful Retail Shipping Store. As a high-potential profit center, freight can be complex and certainly has risk, so understanding the rules, options, and opportunities is crucial. This course covers the details-National Motor Freight Classification, trade lanes, carriers, Full Truckload, Less Than full Load (LTL), Air Cargo, Sea Container, shipment preparation (crating, palletizing, specialty packaging/handling), pickup and delivery options, and pricing. Become your neighborhood freight expert and start packing the profit pounds on your bottom line.

RS Premium Member Price: $76.50

RS Basic Member Price: $85.00

OPERATIONS

Operations 102 - CMRA Mailbox Rental Management & USPS Approved Shipper Program
If postal services are a part of your product mix, the United States Postal Service plays a vital role in your day-to-day operation. As a regulator, the USPS requires compliance with the rules and regulations imposed on private mail box rental services through the Commercial Mail Receiving Agent (CMRA) program. And as a business partner, the USPS Approved Shipper Program provides marketing tools and operational support for reselling USPS products and services in your center. This three-hour operations course covers all the basics – and all the bases. Topics presented include:

• CMRA Guidelines • Compliance Issues • Mail Center Security		• Aviation Security and Hazardous Materials • USPS Approved Shipper Program

RS Premium Member Price: $76.50
RS Basic Member Price: $85.00

NEW – Operations 103 - Administration & Accounting for Retail Shippers

Proper accounting, tax planning, banking, and financial analysis are mandatory in any successful business. This course teaches established best practices on how to manage your income, accounts payable, cost centers, payroll, profit and loss analysis, and sales forecasting. The course instructor is a career accountant with extensive experience with retail shipping stores.

Topics presented include:

• Step-by-step Quickbooks setup with industry-specific chart of accounts
• Banking setup
• Credit card processing
• Reconciliation

• Accounts payable/receivable
• Tax planning/filing
• Forecasting

RS Premium Member Price: $76.50

RS Basic Member Price: $85.00

SALES & MARKETING

Sales & Marketing 102 - Marketing for Retail Shipping Stores
In the fluctuating climate of today’s market the successful business owner has created a living marketing plan. This document will be reviewed, altered, added to and taken from over the course of its life. The marketing plan will help identify areas of strength and weakness within your sales/business and will help with your customer relations, prospecting and retention. This course will cover the basics to creating a marketing plan and how to make your retail shipping location shine above the rest. Topics presented include:

• Creating a basic marketing plan and updating to keep it ALIVE • Marketing inside and outside your STORE		• Merchandisingto make the SALE • Ideas from seasoned store owners that have WORKED

RS Premium Member Price: $76.50
RS Basic Member Price: $85.00