Dallas Market Center (DMC) is launching RETAIL READY, the first B2B marketplace creating an AI education program tailored to the unique needs of independent retail. Education and support for the use of AI as a business tool will be provided over several months. The program will take place via social media, email, videos, webinars, and the company’s website as well as activations and hands-on training during January 2027 markets.
RETAIL READY is being created and managed by a leadership council of industry professionals that includes Alison Dodson, award-winning owner of A. Dodson’s of Suffolk, VA; Trudi Bartow, AI evangelist and vice president of business growth and business strategy with gift manufacturer Unemployed Philosophers Guild and founder of TRB Insights, an AI learning and consulting company that helps retailers, sales reps, and industry leaders use AI in practical, approachable ways; and Cole Daugherty, senior vice president of marketing communications with DMC.
Dodson says RETAIL READY isn’t designed to turn retailers into AI experts. Rather, it’s designed to create better retailers. “I hear from my store-owner peers every week asking for help with AI, and this is the best way to support one another,” she states.
Bartow says the goal is to help make retailers’ jobs easier, and it’s not something to be feared. “AI tools have changed; you no longer need to know how to code or understand complicated technology,” she says. “Instead, you can simply type a question, talk, take a photo, or upload a file. That means AI can now help with some very ordinary—and very time-consuming—parts of running an independent retail business.”
The program, open to all retailers with no special sign-ups, is organized for busy business decision-makers who want to quickly learn how to get started, learn practical tools to help solve problems and save time, and create easy-to-follow processes for supporting their business. The themes of RETAIL READY include:
Buy: Sales analysis, vendor comparison, assortment gaps, trend research, market planning
Sell: Retail merchandising, cross-selling, staff product knowledge, promotions
Promote: Email, social media, events, content calendars, customer messaging
Run: Scheduling, procedures, vendor communications, meeting notes, repetitive administration
Grow: Business analysis, competitive research, customer trends, strategic planning
At Market: Plan, discover, make appointments, compare lines, find merchandising stories, organize notes, and more.
“We’re going to keep it simple,” Daugherty says. “Each week, we’ll present one real problem independent retailers face and one practical way AI can help via short demonstrations, real retail examples, and AI prompts to copy and try.”
RETAIL READY’s content via DMC marketing channels begins immediately, including a dedicated webpage at dallasmarketcenter.com/retailready. Community-oriented webinars will follow. At-market activations will take place during January markets. Follow DMC’s social media channels and register as a buyer for complete program content.
The post Dallas Market Center Launches AI Training for Independent Retailers appeared first on Footwear Plus Magazine.