TOP SHELF- IRI Lists New Product Pacesetters

Helping new products reach the shelf is central to the mission of NARMS members. It is important for us to understand the challenges faced by our customers in the go-to-market process. In fact, you can hear from some top manufacturers and retailers at the Manufacturer-Retailer Connection forum at NARMS Spring Conference on Monday, April 19. To help further understand the trends, our friends at IRI have recently published the 2009 New Product Pacesetters: Innovating Growth in Recessionary Times.

According to IRI, the answer for product innovation during a very challenging 2009 was to introduce new technology and new ingredients into already existing, popular brands. This strategy helped to revitalize some CPG categories.

The IRI Pacesetters for 2009 seem to enhance wellness goals and support more at-home meal preparation and day-to-day tasks. Obviously, these trends were driven by the consumer’s need to conserve and make the most of hard earned money.

Take a few minutes out of your busy day and read this report. Discovering how these products survived and even thrived can help us all design on-going, value building services for our clients and their customers. As a reminder, don’t forget to hear directly from key trading partners at the Manufacturer/Retailer Connection forum at Spring Conference.

Learn More about NARMSCertify U

There are two opportunities to get more information. The first is a webinar scheduled for Wednesday, March 31 at 1 PM CDT. The next is a session at NARMS Spring Conference scheduled for Sunday, April 18 at 1 PM at NARMS Spring Conference at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida. These sessions will share the features and benefits of NARMS’ official online learning center. We’ll explore the course offerings, course descriptions, and the learning process. You will gain an understanding of how it applies to your business and clients as well as how you can help create and support a stronger workforce for both your current and future employees and independent contractors.

Metaworks Inc. to launch Mantis 4 at upcoming NARMS Show in Tampa

Metaworks Inc is proud to be launching our latest version on Mantis (Mantis 4). Mantis is our data collection and reporting system that has been developed specifically for the Merchandising and Manufacturing industries.

Mantis 4 is built on the success of previous versions as well as adding new features, including reports and overall increased flexibility.

There is a brand new look and feel to Mantis 4. Written in XML we have now allowed you, the user, to completely customize and add as many levels as needed to your products, accounts, and sales force. The layout of the screens as well as the customized labels will give you the freedom to make Mantis 4 your product. No longer are you making your company fit the system.

Mantis 4 still has all of the great features of previous versions:

- Build your own call reports, asking any type of question you need (multiple choice, text, inventory counts, etc.)
- Collect any type of field data you need (incl photos, signatures,)
- Collect data with handhelds , web entry or a combination of both.

As well as new ones:
- The handhelds now include Blackberry as well as the current Palm and Win Mobile units.
- Increased reporting functions which are easy to use. Mantis is designed to be used by your sales and operations staff.
- Better filtering of data for reports.
- Exporting of reports to other applications (incl Excel, and PDF).
- Improved access with greater flexibility to Mantis for both company staff as well as your clients.
- Graphs and Pie Charts of report results for better internal and client presentations.
- Also, within the next 3 months, customized Dash-Board Reports for quick big-picture results and better tracking of projects.

Metaworks offers a lease, rent, as well as purchase options for Mantis 4.

Please come by the Metaworks booth at the upcoming NARMS conference in April for a one-on-one live demonstration of Mantis 4 and get the complete picture.

See you in Tampa,

Mar 26, 2010 IRI / Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 3/26/10 edition of Retail Industry News.

- Safeway To Take Greater Control Of Its Private Brand Strategy
- Sansolo Speaks: “Simply Complex”
- Report: Former Acme CEO To Take Top Job At Kings
- Walgreen Rolling Out New Look Stores
- Kroger CEO Confident In His Chain’s Competitive Prospects
- Dollar General To Sell Rexall Brand Products
- BJ’s Moving HQ
- FastNewsBeat
- Executive Suite

Download the PDF

Division Sessions Designed for You

In addition to all the great general at-retail industry knowledge, research and networking during the upcoming NARMS Spring Conference, some of our service divisions take this time to offer programming customized to their specific in-store discipline. The Conference is on April 17-20 at the Saddlebrook Resort near Tampa, Florida.

An item of note for our Event Marketing Division members will be the unveiling of the, “2010 Sampling Survey Findings,” by Dr. Kenny Herbst of Wake Forest University. Herbst address will be part of the NARMS U Session 1 and 5 on Sunday, April 18 at 4:00 PM and Tuesday, April 20 at 2:00 PM respectively.

The PIC Division also has a couple of sessions on tap. PIC Division Session 1, “This is the Time for a Change,” is on Monday, April 19 at 7:30 AM and will be moderated by Dave & Laura Butler of Worklife Performance Consulting, LLC. PIC Division Session 2, “Building out the Future of Retail,” will be moderated by Chris Dammann of The Christopher Group and will take place on Tuesday, April 20 at 7:30 AM.

Our MSO Division has two sessions planned during the conference. MSO Division Session 1, “New Enabling Technologies to Meet Retail Service Industry Trends,” will be held Monday, April 19 at 7:30 and will be moderated by Vickie Alarie of Alarie Consulting. MSO Division Session 2, “MSO Share Group,” will be a round table discussion moderated by Mark Hunter, The Sales Hunter, and will take place on Tuesday, April 20 at 7:30 AM.

If you have not already done so, take a few minutes to visit the Conference Center on www.narms.com. This year’s agenda is value packed and is sure to make this event time well spent.

Oppenheimer’s Wynne and Long to Lead Investment Session

Tim Wynne and Robert Long of Oppenheimer & Company will be at NARMS Spring Conference to moderate, “How Your Company’s Investments Can Remain Viable In These Trying Times.” The conference will be held on April 17-20 at Saddlebrook Resort near Tampa, Florida. The Oppenheimer session will be held on Sunday, April 18 from 1:00-2:00 PM.

The economy and the resulting market corrections have left a lot of questions for members of the at-retail merchandising and marketing industry from both a corporate and personal investment perspective. This is a chance to hear from and interact with true financial experts.

Wynne is a Senior Director – Investments of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Assistant Branch Manager of Oppenheimer’s Minneapolis office. He has worked in branch management for Oppenheimer and its predecessors since 1989. Wynne holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Gannon University in Erie , PA.

Register This Week to Make Conference Directory

Each year, registrations for NARMS Spring Conference stream in right up to and during the event. On-line conference registration is available until the start of conference. We welcome all comers no matter when they make the decision to attend, but there are certain realities that benefit those who register earlier rather than later. The deadline is about to run out on one of those benefits. If you sign up by Friday, March 26 you will be included in the conference book and directory presented to all attendees.

The 2010 Annual NARMS Spring Conference will occur on April 17-20 at the Saddlebrook Resort near Tampa, Florida. Since this date is right around the corner, today is a good day to remind those who have not registered to do so now. The size and scope of the conference, and the logistics involved, dictate that we go to press with the conference booklet and directory of attendees next week. This booklet is given to each and every attendee of the event and thus provides exposure and networking value for you and your organization.

Registration for the event is currently $550 per person for members and $750 per person for non-members. NARMS has also provided a spouse or guest fee of only $250 per person. There are some optional events such as Closing Night Reception and Dinner and Golf Event that also carry a nominal fee.

If you are riding the fence on whether to attend or not, visit the NARMS Conference Center on www.narms.com and take a look at the value packed agenda. You can also click on the small icon to the right of each agenda event item to read more about each event. This particular conference has something for everyone ranging from education, research, training and networking. You won’t want to miss being a part of your industry’s showcase event and if you register this week, you’ll make the directory.

Mar 19, 2010 IRI / Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 3/19/10 edition of Retail Industry News.

- Wegmans Offers “Half-Plate Healthy” Promotion
- Aldi Counts On North Dallas 32
- Sansolo Speaks: “Sometimes, It Is Personal”
- Food & Money: Walmart Makes New Plans To Lure Shoppers
- Winn-Dixie: On Track, Stable & Feeling Good
- New Study Tracks Changes In Consumer Behavior
- Sheetz Makes A Blockbuster Deal
- Free Food Provides Marketing Magnet For Some Retailers
- Food Lion Decides Against Bringing Bloom Format To Raleigh Market
- FastNewsBeat
- Executive Suite

Apollo Retail Specialists opens Canadian Unit

Apollo Retail and its DDP Holdings Parent announced today the opening of its Canadian business unit Apollo Retail Specialists of Canada Inc. in support of the growing operational needs in Canada.

The new office is located in the Greater Toronto Area and will serve as the central point of contact for all clients in the region. The business unit manager will be Paula Ferreira as Director of Operations for our Canadian division. Paula has over 8 years experience; leading merchandising, reset and staffing operations for some of Canada’s leading retail service providers.

“Paula will leverage her experience in retail services to expand the reach of Apollo Retail throughout Canada. We have always been impressed with her professionalism having worked directly with our executives on previous projects in the Canada - such as our initial efforts with Lowes Hardware.”

Initial contacts may be directed to:
Apollo Retail Specialist
(905) 457-9751
paula.ferreira@apolloretail.com

HP’s Woodbury Joins Connection Forum

Loren Woodbury of HP is the latest participant in the NARMS Manufacturer-Retailer Connection Forum scheduled for Monday, April 19th at NARMS Spring Conference. Others include: Kelly Hampton of 20th Century Fox Entertainment; Joe Wood of Roundy’s Supermarkets; Mary Jo Bastuba of Nintendo and Kelly Baker of Tetter’s Floral.