“Meet me in Miami at ABC” is the phrase that many independent dealers are saying with regard to the June 2010 Advantage Business Conference, the annual event presented by S.P. Richards Company.

Within blocks of the shore and nearby host hotel, the legendary Fontainebleau in South Beach, the beautiful Miami Convention Center will host the ABC Office Products Expo. This is one of the largest shows in the industry, with 133,000 square feet of office products on display in 225+ booths. Every year, HP, 3M, Fellowes, ACCO Brands, Avery, HON and a host of manufacturers look forward to discussing their new products with the Independent Dealer community.

According to Senior VP of Marketing, Jim O’Brien, “We never tire of making every effort to bring a new and exceptional experience to our customers and suppliers. 2010 marks our 12th such celebration, and we can think of no better hotel and city destination than the magnificent Fontainebleau Miami Beach with the sights, sounds and sands of fabled South Beach.”

Each annual conference is always packed with networking opportunities, learning experiences and yes, fun. This year, lots of SPR’s product showcases go high tech. Virtual showcases will highlight cutting-edge products. These virtual showcases will be on the monitors in the Expo hall and before all General Sessions.

On the education agenda, attendees will find an entirely new track of seminars to address the latest trends, opportunities, strategies and methods in the market - to implement or re-establish - for profitable margins in today’s economy. Mini-keynotes will follow and include first-time speakers:

David Nour: Relationship Economics and Social Networking NEXT
Kelly McDonald: Maximize Your Marketing
Scott Deming: Creating the Ultimate Customer Experience
Troy Harrison: Name Your Price – and Get It! - and Making Your Net WORK!

All the action kicks off with a Buccaneer Bash and the following morning will feature keynote speaker, Larry Winget.

Insightful education, micro-events and planned entertainment always round out a productive and enjoyable show which allows for casual networking time for attendees and vendors within a mix of strategic interaction to gain the industry’s best “advantage.”

CSI: Miami
The acronym CSI is tagged for the show, whereby S.P. Richards unfolds its importance. No need for actual “forensics” like the popular TV show, but one can “investigate” to learn that the letters can represent a number of themes, thoughts or actions. Starting with:

C – Change, Create, Collaborate, Challenge and Commitment all come to mind, and weave their way throughout the course of the Miami event.
S – Strategy, Solutions and Success are all destinations or works in progress, that each will learn more about in depth.
I – Innovate and Investment are near the top of the list, but Investigate is the action verb for the week and will be your primary goal in Miami Beach.

Included in the event’s activities, OPI, in association with S.P. Richards Company, launches the inaugural North American Office Products Awards (NAOPA). OPI is the leading international office products industry magazine and they have hosted similar award dinners in Europe and the Far East for several years. Now the time has come to recognize the contributions of North American manufacturers from the U.S., Canada and Mexico who, through innovation in products and services, help deliver real value to the dealer community.

Eight Awards Presented For:
• Best Product – Core office products
• Best Product – Furniture
• Best Product – Technology
• Best Product – Cleaning & Breakroom
• Product Innovation of the Year - Product Development
• Product Innovation of the Year – New Product
• Environmentally Friendly Product of the Year
• Overall Product of the Year

In addition to the awards, entertainment comes by way of a fantastic Off-Broadway troupe called the Water Coolers. Think Seinfeld or The Office set to music!  The Water Coolers have been making audiences laugh since 2000 with their unique blend of music and comedy performed by top Broadway singers and comedians.

Says “O’Brien, “Our Office Products Expo will be our largest ever, and will include a special “Showcase” area displaying all product finalists in the eight award categories.”

Keeping the ABC agenda interesting, author and Duke University Professor Dan Ariely speaks, and the show’s final evening brings back the very popular author and witty columnist, Dave Barry, who is down right revered both in the tropics and elsewhere.

After all the networking, business opportunities and getting armed with strategies from experts delivering the education, the event concludes with an entertaining “Miami Nights” celebration. With the balmy climate, swaying palm trees, festive music right under your feet, the “SOBE” mindset (short for South Beach) has set in for a week to remember. See you on the beach!

About SPR
S.P. Richards Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Genuine Parts Company and distributes a wide spectrum of business products to office products resellers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Products include consumable office supplies, office furniture, computer supplies, consumer electronics, cleaning and breakroom supplies from all of the major industry manufacturers. S.P. Richards Company markets several private label lines, and recently launched a Managed Print Services Program.  For detailed information visit www.sprichards.com