NAUMD's 79th annual convention will be held March 9-12, 2012, at the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. Much has changed since that first convention seven decades ago, including the NAUMD show itself - the format has been updated and expanded to better reflect 21st century marketplace realities – but the convention still remains the best place to network, source products, learn about the latest trends, and gain practical, take-home knowledge, making it THE GO-TO Place for Face2Face Marketing in the Uniform & Image Apparel Industries.

But don't just take our word for it. Here's a glance at the highlights:

Exhibits: More Hours, More Face2Face Time

Whether exhibiting or just attending, the two-day trade show at NAUMD offers one of the best ways to get in front of a lot of customers, prospects and vendors in a relatively short amount of time. And in 2012, exhibit hours have been expanded, giving you more time to find precisely what you need.

If you're wondering why you should make an investment of time and money when you can read and learn about anything these days at home on the internet, keep this in mind: you still have to have some idea what you're looking for in order to find it. The NAUMD show is your chance to find that "shiny new thing" you didn't even know you should be looking for: a new technology, design, option – something that could potentially help your business in a way you hadn't even thought about. In these competitive times, NAUMD could give you the edge you've been looking for.

This holds true for the exhibitor as well. The NAUMD show gives you the opportunity to not only show your product or describe your service, but also create that all important first impression. Of course, you don't always have the opportunity to go into as much detail in your presentation as you would like, but exhibiting opens the door for future communications -- a door that sometimes is very difficult to get your foot into.

If you've exhibited in the past and are on the fence about 2012, think about what that might say to your current customers who expect to see you there. And your competition might use your absence to their advantage.

You will never meet more people interested in your company and what it does than you will at the NAUMD trade show, and this is true for both the exhibitor and attendee. Show hours for the 2012 convention are:

• Saturday, March 10, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• Sunday, March 11, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Expanded Business Education & Certification: A Higher Standard

What began at last year's convention will be expanded in 2012. The NAUMD Certificate Education Program will provide uniform industry executives of member companies with a challenging and highly rewarding sequence of educational sessions designed to maximize their effectiveness and professionalism.

Taken at the convention or during the mid-year conference, participants will accrue course points towards the achievement of a "Bachelor Certification" in several specialties: Image Apparel, Public Safety, Sales and the Military; graduates will be recognized throughout the uniform industry as outstanding practitioners in their areas of specialty.

Each session will be taught by industry insiders, academics and leaders throughout the business community. The extensive curriculum includes the following:

• Customer engagement: drive business success by driving customer and employee trust

• Making the list: Building sales with GSA and other government entities

• It's a hit: winning ecommerce and social media strategies to position your business for growth

• Tales from the back room: inventory management best practices

• Understanding today's manufacturing process: from the supply chain to the factory to fabric selection to the store, what it takes to fulfill a uniform order

• Building a winning bid: the do's and don'ts to success

• Converting leads into sales – finding new customers; keeping old ones

• Sale Force Management – getting the most from your sales team

Plus, they'll be market forecasts and current industry statistics for both the public safety and image apparel segments.

Nowhere else will you find so many sessions specific to your business in one place at one time, suitable for management, store owners, executives, sales managers and other industry personnel.

Nor will you find this level of professionalism at any other trade show seminar. To ensure a quality experience, NAUMD has contracted with the Center for Executive Development (CED), an organization dedicated to the effective use of executive education in the training of senior executives in corporations across all industries and size ranges. CED provides a resource for the development of executive programs, as well as a platform for the healthy exchange of ideas among all participants.

Why Get Certified? Is this a gimmick? NAUMD Certificate Education Program is an important business development strategy for those looking to gain an edge in a hyper-competitive environment. Certification demonstrates a commitment to, and compliance with, the highest industry standards and may open the door to new markets. Certification lays the groundwork for your becoming a world-class resource to your customers, colleagues, and company. It's a validation of your skills, and demonstrates your expertise and proficiency in the latest technology and solutions.

More than just your run-of-the-mill convention seminar, NAUMD Certificate Education Program is a value-added service – for you, your company and your customers.

So skip the pool, and join us for this truly innovative program.

Networking Opportunities Galore: Sure, you can connect with colleagues via email or social media, but why not establish yourself through some good old-fashioned networking?

You'll find plenty of opportunities at the 2012 convention. From group meals to the education sessions to the new opening reception on the Exhibit floor, you're guaranteed to make the contacts you want to meet. There's ample time throughout the schedule for circulating and schmoozing. And don't forget to speak to as many people as you can while waiting in buffet or bathroom lines - you never know who will turn out to be a great contact!

Look for more information on the 2012 convention in future editions of NAUMD Industry News. To register, click here; to exhibit, click here. Learn more about the NAUMD and its activities by visiting www.naumd.com .