The most anticipated agri-retail event of the year is almost here!

From Feb. 14-16, 2017, the 2017 CAAR Conference will provide agri-retailers, suppliers and industry experts from across Canada with the tools, knowledge and confidence to tackle the new year head-on. Featuring a stellar line-up of speakers, the all-new Innovation Showdown, the 10th annual CAAR’s Choice Awards and the chance to connect with colleagues both old and new, the 2017 CAAR Conference is the place to be!

Past conference attendees provide an in-depth look at how attending the CAAR Conference has helped their businesses and practices:

Brian Gross from UFA Co-operative Ltd. attended the 2016 CAAR Conference in Saskatoon, SK, and says the conference is a great networking opportunity to make connections across the industry.

“Learning from my industry counterparts, partners and even competitors was valuable to help me perform better in my own business,” he says. “By attending the conference, I was able to expand my knowledge of how things work in other parts of the country and was able to be a part of improving the industry and its perception with the general public.” He also found that the CAAR Conference focuses on important areas in the industry that other conferences do not.

“The CAAR Conference highlights the business management aspects of agriculture, not just agronomics. Every other seminar, conference or show in the industry seems to concentrate on agronomic or scientific data,” he says. “While that is of course, important, the business still has to succeed.”

CAAR member Markus Weber of LandView Drones, also found the networking opportunities were exceptional, citing the non-competitive atmosphere as a benefit for networking with competitors.

“The CAAR Conference is a great way to expand our networks with both competitors and collaborators in a non-competitive atmosphere,” he says. “There were many truly retailer-focused conversations about the “big picture” and driving forces for the future of ag retail.  It was great in Saskatoon in 2016, but how could we resist when we’ll be having those conversations in Banff this year?”

Mike Loney, CCA at McEwen’s Fuels and Fertilizers, says the CAAR Conference has continually provided him with the tools to improve and build his business. “The information they provided last year about dealing with the new generation of customers and staff made a big impact on our business,” he says. “Networking with like-minded people, whether it be suppliers or fellow independents, is always a great way to keep pushing forward.”

Loney adds that his team is already looking forward to this year’s conference in February. “Our hotels are booked and passes are purchased to attend this year,” he says. “We can’t wait to see what CAAR has in store for us this year."

Click here to register for the 2017 CAAR Conference.

Click here for a look at some of the highlights from last year’s conference.

 


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