Hundreds to connect, collaborate and fuel growth of GM; Olympic medalist John K. Coyle to keynote
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – June 9, 2017 – Global Market Development Center (GMDC), an association that connects its members to advance innovation in the marketplace, is hosting its annual General Merchandise Conference (GM17) June 23 – 27 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.
The event, which brings together hundreds of retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and service/solution companies, is focused on enhancing opportunities and creating collaboration to fuel the growth of GM categories amidst a highly competitive and rapidly changing retail environment.
Leading the event’s Saturday, June 24 business session is Olympic medalist and “design thinking” expert John K. Coyle who will deliver an entertaining, informative and thought-provoking examination of the hidden barriers and enablers of innovation. Coyle will share how he applied the concept of design thinking to his training, leading to a world-record-breaking performance. A panel of industry leaders, including John Gehre of H-E-B, and Sheila Kostiuk, AHOLD, will join Coyle in a discussion that will examine the threats and possibilities emerging in the retail industry and new perspectives on how to compete.
“As a growth accelerator and market pipeline for new ideas that enable supplier and retailer partnerships, our GM conference offers opportunities that only a physical event can deliver,” said Patrick Spear, president and CEO, GMDC. “From our keynote speaker, to our latest center store research and next practices for total store growth and profitability, attendees will walk away with actionable insights from our thought leader community.”
For retail teams focused on managing general merchandise, GM17 provides an effective way to meet with suppliers across the entire spectrum of general merchandise categories. Over the course of the conference, the typical merchant team will have 150 to 180 appointments, including deep dive meetings and discovery sessions.
Conference highlights include:
Executive-Level Connections – As the pioneer of the face-to-face appointment model, Strategic Executive Connections (SEC) meetings take place with some of the largest suppliers and service companies in the industry to review long-term plans with retail and wholesale members. Connect Collaborate Create (CCC) meetings take place in 10 and 20-minute intervals with a tabletop format that inspires creativity and deepens existing relationships between buyer-level retailers and legacy suppliers.
Become “Retail-Ready” – GMDC Academy, powered by the CPG Institute, demonstrates how retailers assess potential suppliers and decide which new products they will stock in their stores. The course offered to all companies, provides actionable and proven techniques on what retailers expect from supplier sales teams, and how to maximize results.
Discovery Opportunities – Market On-Ramp (MOR) meetings allow new and innovative companies to meet with every attending retailer. This is GMDC’s second year hosting this highly successful format where new-to-market companies unveil their latest ideas. The meetings are designed to cement trading partner relationships and enhance the path to discovery for retailers.
Feeding Children Everywhere – A team-building event for a worthwhile nonprofit allows GMDC members to get “hands-on” in making a difference for the communities they serve by creating meals for children in need.
For more information about GM17, visit: https://www.gmdc.org/conferences/2017-gm-conference.
About GMDC
Global Market Development Center (GMDC) energizes members and the marketplace by advancing a culture of Connect-Collaborate-Create-Commerce. As the leading GM and HBW trade association, GMDC is dedicated to serving its ecosystem of more than 600 General Merchandise and Health Beauty Wellness retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and service/solution member companies by enabling consumer-facing innovation and retail reimagined. GMDC's combined member volume represents more than 125,000 retail outlets and more than $500 billion in sales. To learn more, visit gmdc.org.
Media Contacts:
Todd Smith, Deane | Smith, President, CEO, [email protected]
Mark Mechelse, GMDC, Director of Communications, [email protected]