Exhibitors Electrify Spring Conference Atmosphere

What would the atmosphere be like at the NARMS Spring Conference & Exposition without all the excellent exhibitors? Those companies who line the hallways and exhibition hall with goods and services specifically designed to support and enhance our members who provide at-retail merchandising and marketing services to the CPG manufacturers and retailers around the world. Many also help our members find retail support personnel to fill various retail jobs. Because of the importance of our exhibitors, NARMS has announced that, for the first time in NARMS history, attendees will be able to vote for the exhibitors Best of Show award at the 2009 spring conference. The winning exhibitor will receive a trophy and ten voters will be awarded exciting prizes.

Because of the relationship we have developed with our exhibitors, many of which are NARMS Associate members, it is important that we return the favor by enhancing their conference experience. We need your assistance assembling these prizes which will be awarded during the Exhibitors’ Reception. The prize donors will be recognized during the award festivities as well as in the spring conference program and pre-conference brochure. You can contact Paulette Blaskey at membership@narms.com for more information.

Physical Exhibits at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs will be open:

1:00 PM - 6:30 PM on Sunday, April 5
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM on Monday April 6
8:00 AM - 12:30 PM Tuesday April 7.

The exhibitor set-up is scheduled from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday and 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on Sunday.

But that’s not the only enhancement. Members have expressed a desire to extend the exposure to these blue ribbon providers of hardware, software, hosted services, recruiting, insurance, and the list goes on and on. That’s why exhibitors at the 2009 NARMS Spring Conference & Exposition will get the chance to participate in both the conference trade show and the pre and post conference virtual trade show.

In partnership with Digitell, Inc. of Jamestown, NY, the virtual trade show experience will give actual conference trade show exhibitors both pre and post show exposure via the internet with year-long exposure in the virtual world.

A powerful business relationship enhances the possibilities for all parties involved. By sweetening the pot for our exhibitors, we welcome new and continued support and stimulate development of cutting edge services. We also show our gratitude for helping create an electric atmosphere of learning, networking, motivation, and fun.

Dec 26, 2008 IRI / Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 12/26/08 edition of Retail Industry
News.

► Penn Traffic Sells Wholesale Business To C&S
► Walmart Looks To Buy Chile’s Biggest Supermarket Chain
► Sansolo Speaks: Who Knows?
► Bond Stirred, Not Shaken By UK Economic Climate
► FastNewsBeat
► The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
► The Balance Sheet
Read more

Think GlobalShop 2009

Increasing awareness of NARMS International and its members is an ongoing, everyday mission for your trade association. GlobalShop, a NARMS sponsored event, held in Las Vegas on March 23-25, provides a platform for us to spread the good word about our members and advance the cause of world-class at-retail merchandising and marketing services. It is time to make plans to attend. Registration for GlobalShop 2009 is now open and NARMS members pay a reduced booth fee to exhibit.

GlobalShop is the venue retail designers and brand marketers visit to find the most innovative concepts, newest products and services to create unique store design and at-retail marketing solutions. The event is the largest annual tradeshow of its kind in the world, featuring more than 900 exhibitors of fixtures, digital signage, visual merchandising and in-store marketing products.

Attendees can see the latest in store fixturing, visual merchandising, digital signage, and much more. There is also a full conference educational program designed by the editors of DDI and presented by leading industry experts. This is great opportunity to gain insight, receive advice, and learn practical application from experts in the retail industry

GlobalShop is really six shows in one. There are six pavilions and over 300,000 square feet of show floor to ensure you will find everything you are looking for. Visual merchandisers, brand marketers, store designers and store planners are all strongly encouraged to attend. The Store Fixturing Show and The Visual Merchandising Show are sponsored by A.R.E., the At-Retail Marketplace and the Digital Store are sponsored by POPAI and the Retail Marketing Services Pavilion is sponsored by NARMS.

In a time when spending your marketing dollars wisely is at a premium, you will find GlobalShop a tremendous opportunity to increase your business prospects. So come and join the many NARMS members who participate in this annual event and help increase awareness of the services and value that we bring to the table.

Dec 19, 2008 IRI / Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 12/19/08 edition of Retail Industry News.
► Walmart Considers New Effort To Expand in Windy City
► Sansolo Speaks: Five Questions
► E-Grocer Introduces Fresh Produce Rating System
► Sweetbay Points to Marked Market Improvement
► Tops Plans To Upgrade Stores…& Maybe Build New Ones
► New Plan Offers Suggestions For Parents Of Finicky Eaters
► Survey: More Holiday Shoppers Procrastinating This Year
► The Power Of A Differentiated Offering
► FastNewsBeat
► The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
► The Balance Sheet
► Executive Suite
Read more

Recent Developments Increase Scope and Reach of Association

On December 10, NARMS International announced that it will now allow for individual memberships. Prior to the announcement, the Association was limited to company memberships. Yesterday the announcement was made that NARMS Associate Members will formalize and develop a divisional committee. Both moves are designed to expand the scope and reach of NARMS as it further develops as a collaborative center point for the retailing industry. Not surprisingly, two industry veterans find themselves in the middle of the developments. Former NARMS President/CEO Gary Ebben, chief administrator from 1996 to 2005, was the first individual to take advantage of the individual membership opportunity. Charlie Fanning, the first Associate Member to serve on the board of directors, will act as the first Associate Division Chair.

The individual membership allows for any individual not associated with an active member firm or corporation and has an interest in providing merchandising services, manufacturing, retailing or the provision of goods or services within the retail industry to register for membership. What this means is that merchandisers, students, researchers, professors, retired retail marketing professionals or persons in transition and any other independent retail service person can now stay closely involved with the at-retail merchandising and marketing industry.

These individuals will receive a subscription to NARMS Today; earn a members discount on attendance at the annual NARMS Spring Conference; have free access to monthly NARMS Webinars highlighting retailing industry topics and to the NARMS Info-Share Library; access to Merchandising/Sampling Proficiency Tests, podcasts and use of the ever-expanding resources available at www.narms.com website.

Associate members have been an important part of NARMS since its inception. The decision to formalize will provide the Associates with a new voice and an opportunity to meet and develop programming specific to their business challenges. Associate members include companies that provide products and services that other NARMS members utilize in the day-to-day activities of managing and operating their businesses. Currently NARMS has 53 Associate member company members representing a wide range of product and service opportunities.

These two announcements enable NARMS to further advocate for the value that is brought to retail by our diverse membership. It is also demonstrates the Association’s commitment to be a leader and focal point in the industry. It is somehow appropriate that two early leaders, Ebben and Fanning, are again acting as trailblazers in the ongoing effort.

Dec 12, 2008 IRI/ MorningNewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 12/12/08 edition of Retail Industry
News.

► The Priceless Impact Of Private Label
► Dollar General Adopts In-Store Technology For Blind
► The Impact Of The Recession On Organic Sales
► Aldi Plans Multiple Stores For Lone Star State
► GMA Gets New CEO
► Sansolo Speaks: It Depends…
► Safeway Establishes New Real Estate Business
► Carrefour To Test New C-Store Format
► FastNewsBeat
► The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
► The Balance Sheet
► Executive Suite
Read more

Stay on the Radar Screen

The natural reaction to a downturn in the economy is to hunker down and ride out the storm. Many companies attempt to apply drastic expense reductions to offset the anticipated loss of business and increase operating costs. The first target of these cuts is almost always the marketing and advertising budget. As world-class providers of at-retail marketing and merchandising services, we would advise our customers that this is not the time to be pulling back on sales building shelf activities, but rather enhance the effectiveness through superior execution. As marketers ourselves, we should take the same advice. That was the key message during the sixth installment of the NARMS Webinar series - Marketing Tools That Work in Challenging Times - presented by Carolyn Weiland of Starworks Marketing & Communications and sponsored by Synergy Systems, Inc.

Weiland, a regular speaker to universities and business leaders, led an hour long discussion that not only addressed the current economic times, but also provided a framework on the basics of formulating a marketing and advertising strategy. She put particular emphasis on avoiding the trap of duck and cover marketing. In fact, she said that the real winners coming out of a recession are those who ramped up their efforts during the downturn. The key is to challenge your organization to find the appropriate marketing and advertising mix which may employ savvy, cost effective and sometimes even free tactics. In our Web 2.0 world, there are many initiatives that only require elbow grease and innovative thinking.

One of the fastest paths to losing your current customers, not gaining new customers, or falling off the radar screen in your industry is to sit on your hands and wait for the economy to come around. The easy route of budget slashing may look good in the very short term, but could doom you in the long view. Looking at your marketing budget as an investment rather than an accounts payable line item, can help you define your strategy and the ensuing tactics.

The next NARMS Webinar, powered by ReadyTalk, is scheduled early in the new year on Thursday, January 8 at 1 p.m. Central when Jamie Rappis and Chris Beaulieu of Clifton Gunderson LLP will discuss the latest in US Federal Tax Developments. You can register now for that event by clicking here. NARMS Webinars are now scheduled once per month through May of 2009, with several other ideas and topics being developed to provide even more value added content. If you have not taken advantage of the tremendous benefit of membership, you will want to visit it in the New Year.

Dec 5, 2008 IRI / Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 12/5/08 edition of Retail Industry News.

► Safeway Lays Out Plans, Goals For 2009
► Recession Woes Give Luster To Coupon Business
► MNB’s Tales Of Tesco
► Meijer Launches New Bonus Program
► Sansolo Speaks: Heroes
► FastNewsBeat
► The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
► The Balance Sheet
► Executive Suite
Read more

Next Week is Webinar Week!

A look at the calendar tells us it is time to start reflecting on the year that was. One of the many exciting developments this year at NARMS International has been the introduction of the NARMS Webinar Series. Next week continues this exciting new platform with two new sessions. On Monday, December 8 at 2:00 PM EST, guest presenter Anthony Miyake of Group M will take us through an Assessment of the US Economy in the Coming Year. And then on Thursday, December 11 at 2:00 PM EST, Carolyn Weiland of StarWorks will lead a discussion on Marketing Tools That Work in Challenging Times. The Webinar series is free to NARMS members and over sixty professionals have been taking advantage of this learning opportunity each month. And here is the best news of all. There is still time to register!

“An Assessment of the US Economy in the Coming Year”, brought to you by NARMS JobBank, will focus on consumer spending and the net effect on retailers. During the hour long session, Anthony Miyake will reflect on a recently released article by GroupM Business Science of the same title. Miyake will summarize the current economic situation and short-term forecast. Using the latest data available, he will explore consumer spending and what drives it and what impact the changes in housing values and unemployment rates may predictably have in the near future. GroupM Business Science is the global leader in measuring marketing ROI and marketing allocation optimization. Click here to register for this event.

“Marketing Tools That Work in Challenging Times”, sponsored by Synergy Systems, Inc., will explore innovative strategies that are budget conscious, yet will help you standout and market your products in new ways. Now more than ever is the time to shine by retaining and maintaining a growing customer base. Carolyn Weiland will lead a discussion featuring budgeting tips and ideas for creating excitement so your business doesn’t get lost in the shuffle during a slow economy. No matter what industry you work in, going about business as usual is a mindset that may end up closing your doors. Weiland is a regular speaker for classes at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Wisconsin Learning Center/ Business and Skills training, and chambers of commerce. Click here to register for this event.

The easy to use web tool is provided by associate member, ReadyTalk. Taking part in the NARMS Webinar series is a great way to get maximum value out of your membership. If you have not already taken advantage of the educational offering, you’ll want to see what you’ve been missing. So register for Webinar Week today, you won’t be disappointed.

Nov. 28, 2008 IRI/Morning NewsBeat

Below is the list of articles you will find for the week ending 11/28/08 edition of Retail Industry
News.
► Christmas Got Run Over By A Recession
► Food Prices At Center Of Economic Debate
► C-Store Chain Adopts Private Label Strategy
► Sansolo Speaks: Cliff Hangers
► Nimble Sunflower Eyes Aggressive Texas Expansion
► Cash In, Credit Out: Consumer Habits Change
► FastNewsBeat
► The MNB Wal-Mart Watch
► The Balance Sheet
Read more