Meeting Opportunity at the NACDS Marketplace

Collaboration between retailers and suppliers is key to business growth, say the organizers of retail pharmacy’s premier conference.

More than 8,000 appointments between chain drug retailers and suppliers took place at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) 2011 Marketplace Conference, which began on June 25 and wraps up today, June 28, in Boston, Massachusetts.

The personalized meetings are the foundation of the annual conference, which offers unique programming that gives industry leaders the opportunity to meet with retailers to learn how best to bring new and innovative products to market. This year’s conference boasted attendees from more than 32 countries.

“The NACDS Marketplace Conference is the place for industry leaders to come together to develop key relationships that can further enhance their businesses,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “Retailers and suppliers will find opportunities that will not only take place during this four-day conference, but will extend well-beyond as they return to their businesses and conduct their day-to-day operations.”

In addition to the meetings, which were held as part of the “Meet the Market” program, Marketplace offered “Meet the Retailer” sessions, in which suppliers heard directly from retailers about effective strategies for marketing their products. Participants included representatives from Chain Drug Consortium, Costco, CVS Caremark, Dollar General, H-E-B, Meijer, Rite Aid, Sam’s Club, Ulta, and Walgreens.

The conference also featured a business program, held June 27, 2011, in which Brian Gildenberg, chief knowledge officer from the market research firm Kantar Retail, shared his insights into the 5 “shares” retailers and manufacturers need to increase sales in the current economic climate.

For other articles in this issue, see:

• Do Groceries Belong on Pharmacy Shelves?
• At Marketplace, Users Flock to Mobile Tools