GMDC takes product discovery to next level with debut of HBW16 Demo Day

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –  Global Market Development Center will host a product pitching “Demo Day” session during the 2016 Health Beauty Wellness Marketing Conference, the association announced Monday.



“We’re reinventing the typical industry marketing conference by turning HBW16 into a next-level event with the Retail Tomorrow Demo Day," stated Patrick Spear, president and CEO GMDC. "We’re connecting suppliers and retailers in a whole new way that inspires actionable results in solving problems and identifying opportunities,” he said. “Demo Day is all about creating change in the marketplace by awarding innovative, daring companies with opportunities to pitch their ideas to decision makers. This new platform also provides innovation education, networking, and engagement with industry thought leaders. That’s the power of this event.”



HBW16 Demo Day, slated for Thursday, Sept. 29, will feature pre-selected companies presenting innovative concepts and services on stage to accelerators, retailers, suppliers and potential investors. The event will be conducted inside an environment called Store of the Future that is designed to help retailers enhance their shopper’s experience for consumer health and wellness.



Companies presenting at the Demo Day include Akibah, EverlyWell, EyeQ Insights, Focal Systems, Herbal Zap, Impax Media, incentaHEALTH, June20, Nicotrax, Recoup Fitness and rhelief.



Judges include Bill Anderson, group VP operations SAFD for H-E-B; Tim Buskey, VP consumer products for AmerisourceBergen; Dave Jones, VP industry initiatives for Kellogg Company; Shari Wynne Ressler, president SKU; and Kosta Skoulikaris, VP of the Innovation Lab for Nielsen.



There will also be a panel discussion featuring Larry Myler, a Forbes.com entrepreneur columnist; Chris Skyers, VP health & beauty care at Wakefern Food Corp.; Adam Simons, head of emerging brands at The Clorox Company; Doreen Lorenzo, director for the Center of Integrated Design at The University of Texas at Austin; and Titus Jones, GM R&D at Kroger, Edge Project.



The initiative is fueled by GMDC’s Retail Tomorrow Advisory Board, which launched earlier this year to introduce innovation in the marketplace through development and advancement of unique and first-mover products, services and technologies for members. The board accelerates retailer “next practice” process and provides insights into the future.