STARS (Southeast Trade and Retail Symposium) will be held Labor Day weekend in conjunction with DragonCon in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.  For more information, see 'Retailer Programming at DragonCon.' 

Requests for STARS information can be sent to gameforum@hotmail.com .  DragonCon information can be found at www.dragoncon.org .

Saturday, September 1st

1:00 PM How the Hobby Game and Comics Industries Work
An explanation of how each industry is structured, how the three tier distribution system works, what goes on behind the scenes and look at the current state of the industry.

2:30 PM Basics of Hobby Game and Comics Retailing
An overview of how to start and run a hobby game and/or comics store.

4:00 PM Salesmanship
The first part of this seminar will cover basic sales training. The second part covers relationship based sales techniques.

7:00 PM Retailer Roundtable
An open discussion of issues of interest and importance to retailers with a moderator. All are encouraged to participate.

8:30 PM Game Industry Forum Live
A live version of the online forum run by and for hobby game industry professionals. This is a fast paced open discussion where a subject is offered for discussion, attendees each get a chance to give input, then move on to the next subect. For those that are members, it is a chance to meet face to face with fellow members.

Sunday, September 2nd

1:00 PM Attracting New Customers
How to build up your customer base. What advertising helps. The limits of advertising. Putting your customers to work to gain new customers.

2:30 PM Store Layout and Display
How to make the best possible use of your floor space. How customers tend to shop in a store. Making effective displays. Taking into account security, convenience, visibility and disabilities.

4:00 PM A New Retailer Association?
A discussion about the possible need for a new hobby game/comics retailer organization. What is should and should not be. Coverage of work done for a potential new organization.

7:00 PM D20 System and the Open Gaming License
A discussion of what has happened since Wizards of the Coast introduced the D20 system as an Open Gaming License. How has it changed gaming and game manufacturers. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these changes. Where will D20 products go from here.