DSN lands 'big one' for upcoming Industry Issues Conference

NEW YORK — The Drug Store News Group is going to need a bigger boat.

With an all-star lineup of leading retailers and a capacity crowd once again expected for the annual Drug Store News Industry Issues Conference, DSN has added Daymond "The Shark" John as the special guest speaker at this year's event, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 3, here, at Manhattan's New York Athletic Club. An annual event, now in its 15th year, DSN Industry Issues Conference offers a full day of thought leadership and important networking opportunities with many of the industry's leading merchandising and marketing executives.

Young entrepreneur, industry pioneer and highly regarded marketing whiz, John, who is perhaps best known for his role as one of the original investor-judges on ABC television's critically acclaimed "Shark Tank," will talk to Issues Summit attendees about his philosophy and theories on brand building, promotion and what it takes to break through in today's marketplace. The show features rising, upstart entrepreneurs who present their business models to the panel of expert judges in hopes of securing investment dollars from John and other celebrity judges, who also include Canadian business magnate Kevin O'Leary, National Basketball Association Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and others.

John got his start as the founder of the apparel company FUBU (For Us By Us), which he started in 1992 with a $100,000 mortgage on his Queens, N.Y., home, and at its height, reached worldwide sales of more than $350 million.

Participating retailers confirmed for this year's event include Ahold USA, AmerisourceBergen, CVS, Costco, H-E-B, Health Mart, Kerr Drug, Rite Aid, Sam's Club, Thrifty White, Walgreens, Walmart, Winn-Dixie and more.

In all, the DSN Industry Issues Conference features three separate panel discussions, including Issues Summit, which focuses on opportunities for retailers to grow the front-end business; Diabetes Chronic Care Leadership, which explores innovative approaches to disease management; and Health, Wellness and Technology Summit, which examines new and emerging solutions to drive improved patient care.

To learn more, contact Wayne Bennett at [email protected].