The hour-long session will help you to gain trading partner insights, identify market needs and opportunities, quantify the value of at-retail activities and track marketplace conditions. You are invited to register for this event now! This NARMS Webinar is another in a series of member educational offerings by NARMS – U.

Dammann of The Christopher Group is one of the original at-retail marketing services observers and commentators. Having spent six years with an original member of NARMS, he combines that industry knowledge with the objectivity of nine years as an independent market research writer and consultant. Dammann last conducted this survey for NARMS in 2004 and is a frequent contributor to the NARMS InfoShare library. He is also editor-in-chief of NARMS Newsfeed and the author of the weekly Friday Focus blog on www.narms.com.

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. We encourage you to share this invitation with other co-workers and anyone else who might gain value from this information-sharing opportunity.

Right now, there is a survey being circulated to better understand NARMS member interest in a potential event. We ask that you and your company give us your thoughts and input on the idea. Please complete this survey as promptly as possible so that we can proceed with planning and promoting an event.

The event would likely be held in the Tampa area in conjunction with the NARMS 2010 Conference. The major goals of the conference would include the development of more professional and responsive reps, as well as expanding the labor base while exposing participants to NARMSCertifyU and NARMS Individual Membership.

The questions on the survey ask if your company would participate, would help to develop content, would be a sponsor and would attend the event. Other questions focus on the format of the event.

The leadership of NARMS believes the time has come to reach out as an industry to the arms, legs, eyes and ears in the marketplace. An event of this nature and scope is only possible with your input and participation. Please take a few minutes of your valuable time to give us your thoughts.

How consumers plan for and execute CPG shopping trips is the focus of the October issue of IRI Times and Trends, “Zero-Moment of Truth: Redefining the Consumer Decision-Making Process.” The report reveals some sharply changing shopper tactics. For instance, in the latter part of 2007, 60 percent of shoppers were making decisions at home and 40 percent in the store. Fast forward to July of 2009 when 83 percent said they made their purchase decisions at home. A 23 percent increase. This is where the shopping list makes its entrance.

IRI research shows that 64 percent of shoppers are now making a shopping list prior to visiting the store. Many of these lists are created through looking at coupons and flyers. This finding could represent a great opportunity for at-retail merchandising and marketing companies. Consumers who put an item, supported by a cents-off coupon or a special deal, on the list are going to expect to find the product easily and are going to expect it to be in-stock. Failure to do so could quickly turn the shopper to put a new brand or different store on their list.

Savvy CPG retailers and manufactures can look to NARMS members to carry out a variety of at-retail marketing support activities to match the changing trends. They can also look to our in-store experts to help measure retail marketing effectiveness at the point of sale. Brand Marketers are now changing their marketing strategies and tactics to match this new consumer behavior. They will be happy to know that the members of NARMS are perfectly positioned to support these efforts.

The hour-long event will feature Paula Cozzi Goedert and Jeremy B. Lewin of Barnes & Thornburg. They will offer practical tips for developing a strong workforce by asking the right questions before you hire and safely weeding out poor performers after. Get the inside scoop from a former EEOC investigator on best practices for hiring, firing, job eliminations and layoffs.

Goedert is a partner in the Chicago office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP where she is a member of the Business, Tax and Real Estate Group. Ms. Goedert serves as legal counsel for NARMS. She is listed in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America

Lewin is a partner in the Chicago office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP and a member of the Labor and Employment Law Department. Mr. Lewin advises employers regarding compliance with state and federal employment laws and represents management in labor and employment litigation matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Lewin was an investigator and mediator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The session if 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. 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 this event by clicking here.