With the goal of ushering "specialty coffee retailers through a sticky economic thicket," Coffee Fest has announced its educational program lineup for Coffee Fest 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, June 12-14.

The program will kick off with the Executive Summit. Held one day prior to Coffee Fest, the Thursday Executive Summit, entitled "Surviving and Thriving in Coffee Today," is billed as a primer, plus. The full-day intensive educational event is designed to inspire and inform owners, executives and managers within the specialty coffee, tea and related industries. The session will allow professionals to gather with their peers for comprehensive dialogue coupled with applicable information for their retail operations.

"Our philosophy is to acknowledge the economic downturn, while also encouraging retailers to continue to generate business," says David Heilbrunn, Coffee Fest show manager. "We will continue to provide retailers with innovative educational programming that evolves to fit the business and economic climate. This isn't the time to fold your cards and go home. This is the time to dig in and make your shop work for you."

Retail Shop Finance: What, Why and How To Do It
Industry professionals who have wrestled with the ups and downs of entrepreneurial ventures share their expertise and advice throughout several sessions and roundtable give and take. Participants can take a sober yet optimistic view of costs with "Expense Management, Where to Focus Expense Reduction without Negative Impact to your Revenues and Customers" and tease out a line item from a bottom line in "Understanding Your Financial Statements." How to receive financing is deciphered in "Obtaining Guaranteed SBA Loans."

Roundtable executive networking sessions include current economic trends and what the industry can brace for; how to manage debt, staffing and labor management; how vital your business plan is to capital infusion; and using sales analyses to grow your business and your brand.

Included in the $245 seminar fee are: five educational sessions, three networking roundtable sessions, lunch and a three-day general admission pass to attend Coffee Fest Las Vegas Exhibition and Education. Space is limited, and preregistration is required. The educational program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. each morning of the three-day show. Once retailers stock up on knowledge, they can swarm the trade show floor to find all they need to outfit their retail shop. Trade show floor hours are Friday and Saturday from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Coffee Fest is also revving up its regular show program with more inspiration for retailers with its brand-new "Coffee Retailer Ultimate Profitability Seminar." This full-day program held each day of the show is about culling the best of the specialty coffee industry professionals to help retailers hone in on what they need to do to make their profits soar regardless of the economic climate. The cost of this session is $495. For more information or to register, visit www.coffeefest.com.