The Running Event 2025
Thank you for joining us at TRE 2025! We love getting to be a part of this awesome event and meeting people like you! Below you’ll find downloadable presentation materials and handouts along with our full lineup for the day! You’ll find different members of our team leading a category strategy workshop in the morning, sharing the stage with Circana after lunch, breaking down P&L’s in the afternoon, and leading the RIA Master Mind discussion!
PRESENTATION MATERIAL
Planning Your Best Buy: Building Effective Category Strategies
9:30-11:00 AM Room 301A This workshop is designed for retail leaders who want to make smarter buying decisions and enhance business efficiencies through category-level strategies to drive performance. You’ll leave with a practical template—and more importantly, a customized category strategy for your key product areas, developed during the session.
Presentation Material: BUILDING EFFECTIVE CATEGORY STRATEGIES
FEATURED SESSION: Unlocking Consumer Insights for Run Specialty Retail: How to Remain Authentic and Competitive in Today’s Market
12:00-1:00 PM Stars at Night Ballroom 1&2 Running has become more than a sport: it’s a pillar of today’s lifestyle and culture. As more runners become new customers, competition for their loyalty has grabbed the attention of the retail world. Join Circana and Karnan Associates for an engaging discussion on the latest data and trends that shape consumer behavior and influence run specialty retail. Beth Goldstein, a footwear and accessories analyst with Circana, will present exclusive top-down insights on current industry market dynamics, followed by a “bottoms up” perspective from David Durkin, co-owner of Karnan Associates, who will offer practical ways retailers and vendors can turn this information into actionable strategies.
Circana and Karnan Associates will identify opportunities for growth and best practices that position your store as a steadfast operator, emerging trend setter, and trusted run specialty partner in your community. Whether you are a retail buyer, marketing professional, experienced store owner, or brand leader, you will walk away with the tools needed to stay ahead of rising consumer expectations and ensure long-term relevance and authenticity in the run specialty market.
Where does the money actually go?
2:30-3:15 PM Room 302A In this eye-opening and interactive session, we will break down the average cost and gross profit of a pair of running shoes—and visually show how each remaining dollar is spent. From payroll and rent to marketing, insurance, and operating expenses, you’ll see exactly how your margins stack up against industry benchmarks.
For retail leaders, this session offers a valuable opportunity to compare your financials to industry standards and identify potential areas for improvement or reinvestment. For sales associates and team members, it provides a clear, practical understanding of the business side of run specialty retail—and why every sale truly matters.
Whether you’re trying to improve profitability, educate your team, or just get a clearer picture of where the money goes, this session will equip you with insights to make smarter business decisions.
BEN ANDERSON
Ben started for Karnan Associates in 2022. He works with stores to optimize buying strategies, assortment planning, and retail operations. With a data-driven approach, he focuses on assisting with tools and strategies that help retailers improve inventory performance, strengthen vendor partnerships, and anticipate consumer trends. He is passionate about supporting retailers and brings a blend of industry experience, analytical insight, and practical experience to every engagement. He resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, where you can find him outside or on the trails everyday.
email Ben: Ben@KarnanAssociates.com
MAGGIE BUTTERFIELD
Maggie is Co-Owner of Karnan Associates, where she focuses her time and talents on developing buyers and store leaders. Before bringing her talents to Karnan Associates, Maggie led RC Outfitters (Running Central) as the General Manager and served as the Executive Director of the Pearce Community Center.
email Maggie: Maggie@Karnanassociates.com
DAVID DURKIN
David is Co-Owner of Karnan Associates. He is most often found working with owners and buyers on forecasts, market studies, and building new tools for the Karnan team and clients. As a prior store owner, he is able to offer both his analytical expertise as well as an understanding of the day-to-day challenges of ownership..
email David: David@KarnanAssociates.com
PARKER KARNAN
Parker founded Karnan Associates in 2006 and has worked with hundreds of business owners and learned the inherent challenges entrepreneurs face as they work to create a thriving business. Parker and his team are focused on the specialty run industry and strive to half-step the ever-changing running landscape.
email Parker@KarnanAssociates.com
SPENCE BEATTY
Spence brings training expertise in biomechanics and gait analysis. He spent the last several years of his 7-year tenure at Playmakers (Mid-Michigan) overseeing New Hire training from initial onboarding to floor approval. Spence also headed biomechanics injury labs for Playmaker's veteran staff. He is passionate about training staff to improve customers' alignment and help them to move better!
email Spence: Spence@KarnanAssociates.com