Business opportunities, educational programming among highlights of NACDS Marketplace

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — This year’s National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference proved to be a productive four-day event as retailers and suppliers representing more than $500 billion in annual buying power convened in Denver to network, explore business opportunities and participate in educational programs.



“Attendees at this year's NACDS Marketplace Conference experienced high-energy business opportunities and innovative and value-packed programming," NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson said. "The conference offered both popular features, such as Meet the Market and Meet the Retailer, while presenting new features, such as the Digital Learning Center that will present educational opportunities right on the exhibit hall floor.”

 

As previously reported by Drug Store News, suppliers and manufacturers conducted nearly 8,000 prescheduled meetings with category managers during the “Meet the Market” program.

 

During the “Meet the Retailer/ How to Do Business With…” sessions, representatives from 99 Cent Only Stores, Chain Drug Consortium, Costco, CVS Caremark, Family Dollar Stores, Meijer, Rite Aid, Safeway, Sam’s Club and Walgreens provided suppliers an opportunity to hear first-hand from retailers about effective strategies for taking their products to market.

 

New this year at the conference, the NACDS Marketplace Digital Learning Center, offered retailers and suppliers presentations about the importance of developing and implementing a cohesive digital strategy. NACDS partnered with technology solutions company Inmar – an NACDS associate member – for this interactive educational resource. Seminars, hands-on displays and one-to-one meetings enabled attendees to further explore digital business opportunities.

 

“The Digital Learning Center offered attendees a preview of the innovative approach to trade show management that NACDS will apply to the 2013 debut of the NACDS Total Store Expo," Anderson said.

 

Two educational programs provided attendees insights on consumer shopping trends. Navin Gautam with SymphonyIRI Group presented “Inside the Mind of the Shopper: Understanding the Difference in Motivation by Generations.” John Carroll led a panel discussion called “Game-Changing Marketing: Best Practices for a Digital World,” which included panelists John “JD” Doughney with the Coca-Cola, Mike Haines with Facebook and Michael La Kier with Coca-Cola.

 

Products — 155 total — ranging from health and beauty to seasonal items were on display in the “Product Showcase” on the exhibit floor. The Showcase provided increased visibility for suppliers marketing products. Evaluated by the retail attendees, winners of this year’s “Product Showcase” are:

Baby care:

Company/Booth: Fleet Labs /Booth 1029

Product: Boudreaux’s Butt Paste

 

Consumables:

Company/Booth: Jack Link’s Beef Jerky/Booth 1632

Product: Big Dippers

 

Cosmetics and fragrances:

 

Company/Booth: Beauty 21 Cosmetics/Booth 1936

Product: LA Colors/LA Girl

 

General merchandise:

 

Company/Booth: Idea Village Products/Booth 1550

Product: Stompeez

 

Health care/OTC:

 

Company/Booth: Pharmavite/Booth 807

Product: Nature Made minis dietary supplements

 

Home health care:

 

Company/Booth: Apothecary Products/Booth 817

Product: Medication Disposal System

 

Household products/nonedible xonsumables:

 

Company/Booth: Fabri-Kal/Booth 1661

Product: Greenware Cups

 

Personal care/HBC:

 

Company/Booth: Advanced Beauty/Booth 1728

Product: Dr. Teal’s Milk Bath product line

 

Seasonal:

 

Company/Booth: Implus Foot Care/Booth 1268

Product: Aloe-infused aocks

 

The 2012 NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference will take place in less than two months — also in Denver — from Aug. 25 to 28. Decision-makers from more than 130 retail companies comprised of chain drug stores, supermarkets, and mass merchants who collectively represent more than 80,000 retail outlets and more than $200 billion in annual sales for prescription drugs, OTC and home health care.

 

NACDS' new trade show — the NACDS Total Store Expo — will debut Aug. 10 to 13, 2013 in Las Vegas. The new show will unify three NACDS meetings: the Supply Chain & Logistics Conference, the Marketplace Conference and the Pharmacy & Technology Conference into one event that will cut across departments and across the entire store.

 

“NACDS looks forward to continuing to showcase the value and opportunities in store for the NACDS Total Store Expo next year,” Anderson said. “But first, we look ahead to the high-value business and programming opportunities for retailers and suppliers at NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference this August.”