GMDC HBW Conference to Bow This Month

Key decision-makers from nearly 300 wholesale, retail and supplier companies are expected to meet for more than 7000 appointments at the 2011 Health Beauty Wellness Marketing Conference set for Sept. 9-12 in Phoenix. The event, hosted by the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Global Market Development Center (GMDC), enables industry players to capitalize on emerging opportunities within the HBW sphere.

GMDC events are already known for their signature Controlled Casual Conferences (CCCs), but the upcoming conference will provide an extra benefit with the inclusion of Senior Executive Conferences (SECs), a successful organization program that aims to stimulate senior-level, strategic dialogue between the wholesaler/retailer and supplier communities. The group will also present its latest study, “Consumer Shopping Habits for Wellness and Environmentally Conscious Lifestyles—GMDC Primary Research,” during the conference. According to GMDC President and CEO Dave McConnell, “This initiative will identify new opportunity areas that include targeting the Inner Mid-level health-and-wellness consumer, key gateway categories, and emerging information on nutrition bars.”

Further features of the event include an Educational Business Presentation, “Personal and Beauty Care Insights,” presented by Coty Inc., which will focus on today’s trends, who’s buying — where and why, and how to plan ahead for a future in which beauty products will play an ever more prominent role; and “How to Do Business With” Focus Sessions that will spotlight Bi-Lo and Meijer’s initiatives within their respective HBW departments, with valuable input from executives from both retailers.

“At the upcoming HBW Marketing Conference, the GMDC board of directors is committed to not only driving HBW category sales and drive revenue for the introduction of new products, but also listening to our members and learning how they think we can best accomplish their objectives,” note McConnell. “As a result, our marketing conferences work to the benefit of both retailer/wholesaler and supplier members, by deepening connectivity. GMDC provides 365 days of value that will continue to bring results in the years ahead.”

For more information about the 2011 Health Beauty Wellness Marketing Conference, visit the www.gmdc.org under “Conferences.”