Conference Sponsorships Put You at Forefront

The oncoming holidays bring a heightened sense of excitement as the retail industry braces for what is hoped to be a return to pre-recession consumer spending. Likewise, the fourth quarter of the calendar year is also crucial to the success of our trade association. We are currently undertaking our NARMS=Opportunity Membership campaign and registration is now open and on-line for the 16th Annual NARMS Meeting, Spring Conference and Exposition held on April 9-12 in Monterey, California. Just as budgeting and planning are important to our members in terms of renewal, they are also important in terms of marketing budgets. Today, we want to remind you of all the exciting and cost effective Spring Conference Sponsorship options available to you for our annual showcase event. There are still some great opportunities left, but interest is high, so you will want to act fast to get the opportunity that fits your company best.

While registration fees and exhibitor fees help to defray the cost for the event, the simple truth is that without the financial support via sponsorship dollars, such an event is not possible. There are Platinum, Gold and Silver level sponsorships and many other different options to fit the level and financial commitment that you want to make. The opportunities include everything from speaker sponsors; lunch, dinner and reception sponsors and golf event sponsorships. Additionally, there is an opportunity for a feature ad in the official conference program booklet. Click here to review all the options in detail.

If none of these sponsorships are a good fit for your budget, there is also the FRIENDS OF NARMS program to consider. For $100 you will be listed on www.narms.com and several places at conference.

Visit the conference center at www.narms.com to get a closer look at the agenda. You will see an event that is filled with educational, networking and customer building content. Having your name associated with the event puts you at the forefront of the industry and establishes your brand as a leader among at-retail service providers. Not to mention that your trade association will be eternally grateful.

NARMS Webinar Interest Continues

Stevens Point, WI — Offering meaningful and helpful online webinars for retail industry members continues to be an attractive member benefit of NARMS International. Since August, 2008, NARMS, a non-profit association with an educational focus, has offered nearly 50 different topical webinars to its member companies. Scheduling usually mid-week and mid-day for the convenience of attracting attendees primarily from a membership mostly within North America, the NARMS webinar model has shared a diverse range of topics reflecting the varied interests and developmental and knowledge skills of its own retail industry membership.
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Store Opening Solutions launches new website

Store Opening Solutions LLC (SOS) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee announced that they have recently launched a newly updated website, www.storeopeningsolutions.com. The website provides current customers a portal to SOS Online, industry information on consolidation, reverse logistics and fixture refurbishment, and case studies on the effectiveness of consolidation services.
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Lawrence Merchandising Announces Promotion of Josh Kinkeade to Vice President, CFO/CIO

MINNEAPOLIS — Lawrence Merchandising, a Minneapolis-based Merchandising Service Organization, today announced the promotion of Josh Kinkeade to the position of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer/Chief Information Officer effective October 22, 2010. Kinkeade had currently served as Vice President Controller/IT.
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Manufacturers and Retailers = Vital Members

During the first week of October, NARMS introduced the NARMS=Opportunity membership campaign. The campaign is obviously very important because the lifeblood of any trade association is a plentiful and engaged group of member companies. At its roots, the community that is NARMS is made up of at-retail merchandising and marketing service companies and the association is always looking to expand that list. But to be a true community, it is vital to hear from all the stake holders in the process. In short, NARMS needs to continue to grow our ranks of manufacturer and retailer members.

In order for this to happen, all of our members need to spread the news that NARMS is committed to improving the professionalism and raising the standards of at-retail execution. The evidence is seen though several initiatives including the Manufacturer-Retailer Connection Forum that has now become a centerpiece of the annual Spring Meeting, Conference and Exhibition. The IFBA division relies heavily on input from a Manufacturers Advisory group that convenes at its Top to Top Conference.

Our existing manufacturer and retailer members tend to fall into two groups. For some, at-retail merchandising and marketing services are so vital to their go-to-market plans that they operate their own at-retail field organization or store set-up groups. For these members, the ability to network with third-party organizations, access the NARMS-U educational platform, utilize the NARMScertifyU field training tools and have access to the NARMS Recruiter database helps to directly fulfill their at-retail mission. Our third-party members only benefit from the constant exchange of information and discussion of best practices that always accompanies such a conversation. The other group of manufacturers and retailers, who outsource at-retail execution services, are also deeply committed to world-class execution at-retail. They realize the value of networking, consulting and advising in the effort to improve their brand or store performance by helping to shape and sharpen member service offerings.

NARMS is actively seeking to grow our retailer and manufacturer membership. Because the best sales people we have are our existing members, we ask that you share this information and encourage any contacts that you feel might be interested. NARMS headquarters would love to hear from interested parties and further explain why their involvement with industry affairs though a NARMS membership brings great value to everyone whose success hangs in the balance at store level.

Oct 22, 2010 IRI/Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 10/22/10 edition of Retail Industry News.

- Walmart’s E-Grocery Plans Take Shape
- The Five Common Traits Of The 2010 Consumer
- Sobey’s Casts A Line To Sustainable Seafood Waters
- Gristedes Interested In Buying Food Emporium
- Report: D’Agostino’s Pulling Out Of Suburbs
- Sansolo Speaks: “Just One Second”
- Study: Peer Pressure Best Way To Influence Customer Behavior
- Looking At Changing Shopping Patterns
- Facing Bad News, Supervalu Turns To More Price Cuts
- Peapod Expands Into Indiana
- NRF Is A Little Optimistic About Holidays
- How To Get Products On Store Shelves
- FastNewsBeat
- The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
- Executive Suite

Click here to read Retail Industry News

Lawrence Merchandising Announces New President and Chief Executive Officer, Cindy Sattler

MINNEAPOLIS — Lawrence Merchandising, a Minneapolis-based Merchandising Service Organization, today announced the appointment of Cindy Sattler as the President and Chief Executive Officer effective September 13, 2010. Sattler succeeds Steve Birke who resigned on September 10, 2010 to pursue other interests.
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Webinar to Answer Question: Whose Store Is It, Anyway?

Merchandising Services Organizations and Sales & Marketing Agencies have invested wisely in Store Execution Management solutions. The software, often implemented with mobile devices, is invaluable for remote direction of field organizations and capture of performance information. Join James (Jamie) Tenser as he takes a closer look at these practices during the next NARMS Webinar –Whose Store Is It Anyway? - taking place next week on Thursday, Oct 28 at 01:00 PM CDT. The NARMS Webinar Series is sponsored by Natural Insight and brought to you through the technology of ReadyTalk.

Currently some larger MSOs and SMAs are offering proprietary SEM software to retailers as a value-add. The implications are complex, and have the potential to affect core business practices. Accepting the offered SEM software may be a de facto means for the retailer to appoint a store execution captain who provides information of value, but also could gain significant competitive leverage.

Should retailers accept the free offering? An exciting feature of this particular webinar is that you have a chance to be an active part of the content. As part of the registration process, you have a chance to answer some brief questions that will gage your opinion on the matter and drive the discussion. As with all NARMS webinars, you will also have a chance to participate in the discussion via the live chat function as we examine the implications of this practice and how it will affect our industry.

Tenser is Director of the In-Store Implementation Network, an industry group dedicated to the collaborative advancement of merchandising compliance and performance monitoring at retail. A career analyst covering the Retail & Consumer Products industry, he writes extensively on topics related to the merchandising, sales and marketing of consumer goods. His consulting practice, VSN Strategies, works with solution providers and brands to refine and communicate their thought leadership.

Make sure you block out some time in your schedule to attend this exciting event. The session is complimentary to NARMS members as a membership service but is also made available to other interested persons at a non-member rate of $99.95. NARMS is also inviting members of the ISI Network to register for the discounted rate of $29.95. We encourage you to share this invitation with other co-workers and anyone else who might gain value from this information-sharing opportunity. You can register for the webinar by clicking here.

Oct 15, 2010 IRI/Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 10/15/10 edition of Retail Industry News.

- Bottom Dollar Targets Philadelphia For Major Expansion Effort
- Five New Save-A-Lot/Rite Aid Hybrids Open In S.C.
- Sansolo Speaks: “Maybe It Is Rocket Science…”
- Walmart Looks To Team With Suppliers To Buy Raw Materials
- A&P Considers Restructuring Options As Debt Maturity Looms
- Cub Foods Unveils New Gluten-Free Program
- Walmart To Focus On Small Stores With Big Hopes
- Supermarkets Spend For Short-Term Traffic & Long-Term Loyalty
- FastNewsBeat
- The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
- Executive Suite

Click here to read Retail Industry News

Expanded Listing Expands Your Possibilities

Retailers and brand marketers regularly use the search engine at www.narms.com to find an at-retail merchandising and marketing service company to fit their needs. If you have not already done so, you can amplify your presence by upgrading to an Expanded Listing. The Expanded Listing provides a link to a bridge page that can contain much more detail about your capabilities and also provides a link to your website. But like the proverbial iceberg, the real weight of the Expanded Listing lies below the surface.

Members who enjoy the Expanded Listing also gain access to The Recruiter, a powerful database full of qualified field merchandisers. For many, this is the only labor recruiting resource they will ever want or need. The Expanded Listing not only gives you greater exposure to prospective customers, but it also gives prospective field people a chance to virtually visit your organization. Associate members who have an Expanded Listing can place an ad in the Featured Resource on www.narms.com.

Here is another thought. NARMS can display your video promotion and blog web address in your member listing on www.narms.com if your company has the Expanded Listing. Simply supply the URL of your blog and a short 160 character description. Although www.narms.com does not host video, you can use services that allow embedding codes such as YouTube or Vimeo. After the video is uploaded and tested, send the video URL and a 160 character description. In most cases a YouTube account is preferred. You can submit your URLs and descriptions to Paulette Blaskey at pblaskey@narms.com, but again only if you have an Expanded Listing.

The Expanded Listing requires an application separate from the membership application. The fee for the Expanded Listing depends on membership type, is for the calendar year and is in addition to membership dues.

If you do not already have an Expanded Listing, considering getting one. If you do have an Expanded Listing, remember to keep it up to date, accurate, and by all means use the tools as described in this article to enhance your image on what may well be your first chance to make an impression on your customers, both external and internal.