Retail Trends Update @ North Shore Business Forum, Friday 11/6/2015 Acapulcos, Cummings Center Beverly

The North Shore Business Forum (NSBF) meets on Friday, November 6, 2015 at Acapulcos, 900 Cummings Center, Beverly, MA. Get an update on general retail trends and the importance of community engagement for large and small businesses on the North Shore from speaker Mark Whiting, Mall Manager of Northshore Mall, a Simon property in Peabody, MA. Registration begins at 7:15 AM, the meeting runs from 7:30 to 8:30. Admission is $10 at the door, and includes a buffet breakfast. Visit www.nsbforum.org for more information.

With the holiday season approaching, local business owners need to get up to speed on expected retail trends and events. Speaker Mark Whiting will offer his perspective, and also highlight the ways North Shore businesses can engage with the community. One example is the Simon Youth Peabody Learning Academy at Northshore Mall, which supports students who were once at risk of dropping out of high school and which is recognized as one of the most successful non-traditional high school programs on the North Shore.

About the Speaker: Mark Whiting began his career at Northshore Mall in 1997, where he is currently the Mall Manager. Prior to joining Northshore Mall, one of Simon Property Group’s premiere properties, he held executive roles at both Filene’s and Macy’s. He has also helped spearhead the Simon Youth Peabody Learning Academy at Northshore Mall, which is one of 22 Simon Youth Foundation (SYF) Academies nationwide that help at-risk students stay in school and graduate. SYF maintains a 90 percent cumulative graduation rate across all academies, including the one in Peabody. Mark graduated from Syracuse University in 1981 and resides in Stratham, NH with his wife, Ginny, and son, Ryan. For more information, contact Mark at mwhiting@simon.com or visithttp://www.shopnorthshoremall.com.

The North Shore Business Forum, Inc. (NSBF) is a group of small business owners from Boston’s North Shore who meet on the first and third Friday of each month for informal lectures given by business owners on a wide variety of topics. Members give a 30-second introduction of their business at each meeting. All business owners are welcome: future, past, profitable, experienced or beginning. Meetings are from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. (registration starts at 7:15) at Acapulcos, 900 Cummings Center, Beverly, MA. The $10.00 admission fee includes a breakfast buffet. No pre-registration necessary.

Contact: Brett Kirkpatrick, NSBF President, 978-239-6335, Email:events@nsbforum.org.

The “Meeting After the Meeting” Returns!

The North Shore Business Forum is re-instituting the concept of having members share their expertise with other members on an informal basis, in brief, no-cost sessions after its Friday morning networking meetings.

If you are an NSBF member with an interest in offering your own “Meeting After the Meeting” session in the future, please see NSBF President Brett Kirkpatrick at one of our meetings, or email him at events@nsbforum.org .