2024 RI Annual Conference

UPDATE 3/10 – HERE IS THE LINK TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENTATION THAT LINDSAY FROM SOLAR GARD DID YESTERDAY – Solar Gard Social Media Presentation

UPDATE 3/9 – AXE THROWING – ADDRESS:  770 VILLAGE CENTER DRIVE, BURR RIDGE – 2 MINUTE DRIVE FROM HOTEL NEXT TO TOPAZ RESTAURANT

UPDATE!!! 2/29 –

• SATURDAY NIGHT FUN EVENT:  ‘AXE THROWING’ – PLEASE SEE BELOW AND LET ME KNOW BY FRIDAY MARCH 1 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US!! 
• PLUS SOME AGENDA UPDATES / ADDITONS – SEE BELOW IN RED

UPDATE!!! 2/28 – SOME AGENDA POINTS ADDED

UPDATE!!!  1/31/24 – HOTEL INFORMATION & ‘GETTING THERE’ INFO SEE BELOW!!!

UPDATE!!! 2/8/24 – AGENDA DETAILS – CUTOFF DATE FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS – THEME:  ‘THE RI ADVANTAGE!’

IMPORTANT!  PLEASE MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATION NOW!!  OUR ROOM BLOCK WILL EXPIRE NEXT WEEK ON FEB 15 – IF OUR ROOM BLOCK IS NOT FILLED BY THEN, TWO THINGS HAPPEN: 

• 1) YOU MAY PAY A HIGHER RATE FOR A ROOM, AND
• 2) WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY UNUSED ROOMS SO PLEASE MAKE YOUR ROOM RESERVATIONS ASAP!!  MANY MANY THANKS!! 

Our Annual Conference last year, February 2023, held at Sharpline Converting in Wichita, Kansas, was a SUCCESS!!!  And it seems everyone is in agreement to hold another Annual Conference this year, 2024, but with a few twists and turns…

DATES & LOCATION: 

• MARCH 8 – 10, 2024
• GRIMCO’S BEAUTIFUL FACILITY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
  • LOCATED AT:  575 WEST CROSSROADS PARKWAY – SUITE B,  BOLINGBROOK, IL  60440

HOTEL INFORMATION

12/14/2023 HOTEL: 

CHICAGO MARRIOTT SOUTHWEST

AT BURR RIDGE

• Reserve online – Book our Group Rate for RI
• OR:  Call direct – Michelle at 630-568-7846 between 7am and 3pm Monday – Friday

IMPORTANT:  If you need to arrive before or stay after the dates shown in the reservation link above, or if you have trouble using the link, call Michelle at 630-568-7846 between 7am and 3pm Mon-Fri – she will take your reservation directly.

IMPORTANT:  The last day to book and receive the RI group rates is Thursday February 15th, 2024!!  Please book before then – if you wait until after February 15, we will not be able to guarantee the $149 rate.

GETTING THERE BY AIR:

• O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (located on the city’s Northwest side)
• MIDWAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (located on the Southwest side, smaller but closer to the city)

GETTING FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL TO GRIMCO:

• Rental cars are available at the going rate
• Uber (Tip not included in prices):
  • O’Hare to hotel – about $50
  • Midway to hotel – about $35
  • Hotel to Grimco – about $25

Consider car pooling if possible.

AGENDA:  Theme – ‘The RI Advantage!‘

• Friday March 8  —  Evening:
  • 6pm – Meet & Greet in Hotel at the Ciazza Kitchen + Bar
• Saturday March 9  —  Daytime:
  • 8:30am – Doors open for attendees
  • 9:00am – Welcome from RI Staff and Grimco!
  • 9:30am – AAM Group with BJ Leanse – ‘The AAM Advantage’ – updates on their website tools and testimonials from RI Members who are using their platform
  • 10:15am – Champion Auto Systems – Bill North will present the ‘RI Advantage’ with seat comfort and sunroofs
  • 11:00am – Grimco – ‘The Grimco Advantage’ – tours along with new opportunities and ideas
  • 12:00 – Lunch
  • 1:00 – Sharpline with Tom Adams – ‘The Sharpline Advantage’ – product updates and open forum
  • 1:45 – Solar Gard – ‘The Social Media Advantage’ – live video presentation with Lindsay Webdell on how to use and benefit from social media
  • 2:45 – Avery – ‘The Avery Advantage’ – color change products / supreme wrap films / digital media to wrap
  • 3:30- Auto Accessory Configurator – Tom Waitzman will present some software solutions for capturing leads and scheduling
  • 4:15 – Dash Designs – Guy Howie (in behalf of John Maxwell) will present their dash cover lineup
  • 4:30 – Open discussion: 
    • ‘The RI Advantage’ – what did you see today that could benefit your business?  what new products / ideas did you see?
    • Plus throughout the afternoon, an opportunity to try a new product / business idea from Grimco and come away with a conference souvenir!
  • 5:00 – End of day’s activities at Grimco / return to hotel – then head to ‘axe throwing’ fun!!
• Saturday, March 9 – evening
  • FUN EVENT NEAR HOTEL!! What is it?  “Just call and axe us”
  • 6:00pm – 7:30pm Saturday – Axe Throwing at Bullseye Axe Lounge next to the hotel –
  • 770 Village Center Drive, Burr Ridge
  • https://www.bullseyeaxelounge.com/
    • IMPORTANT:  so I can know how many lanes to reserve, if you want to participate in our ‘axe throwing’ fun, please send an email to tim@restylersinternational.com AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (preferably by Friday, 3/1), stating how many will participate!!  Thanks!!
    • we will have several lanes reserved 
    • average is 3-4 people per lane
    • they will provide a trainer to show us how to throw
    • cost $35 per person
    • Food – you may bring food in if you wish – they will provide tables – there is no charge for this
    • BYOB – they do not serve alcohol, but you may bring your own – there is a $5.00 per person setup charge for alcohol
    • RI will take care of the ‘large party gratuity’
• Sunday March 10  —  Morning:
  • 8:30 – doors open
  • 9:00 – RI – welcome / follow up / updates
  • 9:15 – General session Q&A – follow up questions with RI and vendors
  • 9:45 – ‘The Social Media Advantage Part 2’ with Lindsay Webdell from Solar Gard
  • 10:45 – Grimco – follow up
  • 11:30 – RI wrap-up and thank you
• AGENDA ‘ADD INS’ – these are some last minute items that will be added into the agenda at whatever point we can get them in – hopefully on Saturday
  • Auto Accessory Configurator – Tom Waitzman will present some software solutions
  • Champion Auto Systems – Bill North will present their seat heater lineup for RI
  • Dash Designs – Guy Howie (in behalf of John Maxwell) will present their dash cover lineup

PLEASE CHECK BACK OFTEN  —  ALL UPDATES WILL BE BOLD, DATED AND IN RED!!!