Description: The NACDS Marketplace Conference is the largest and most powerful convergence of drug, food, mass, club, and value retailing in the United States, if not the world. The epicenter for health and beauty aids (HBA) and general merchandise (GM) buying and selling, Marketplace represents more than 90 percent of the industry. Bringing together more than 270 retail companies representing over 145,000 retail outlets with 700 manufacturing companies across 12 major categories, it represents over $500 billion in annual buying power. In a phrase, Marketplace is the lifeblood of the industry.

Date: June 28 - July 1

Location: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA

Topic: Discovering the Real Truth about Shopper Behavior:  2009 will be a paramount year for the transformation of the shopper. 2008 set a cornerstone position where the shoppers began to purchase everything from oranges to toothpaste to medicine to diapers with a new 'Lens of Affordability".

In 2009, new shopper rituals have been established as shoppers continue to understand how best to stretch their dollars. This presentation will center on the 2009 shopper ritual changes we are seeing. It will explore where shopper decisions are made; how they shop, where they shop, how advertising influences their purchasing decisions and the role of various forms of marketing vehicles - with regard to changing their mind.

We will explore the most basic behavior changes helping the attendees understand what attitudes are shaping what we believe to be the most fundamental change in shopper segment; a new shopper called the "conservative shopper." The conservative shopper is one who is more concerned about ensuring on-going financial viability for the long term & who buys less, buys more carefully. In many cases, studies what is offered to them before purchasing and carefully manages usage and consumption - as well as carefully selects the items that are essential to them.

The learnings for this presentation will help the attendees understand where the shopper is going & how retailers and manufacturers can begin to develop strategies to ensure long term success with the shopper.

Speaker: Thom Blischok, President of Innovation & Consulting, IRI, Inc.

Session Timing: July 1, 2009 – 8:00 - 9:15 a.m.

Learn More: http://meetings.nacds.org/marketplace/2009/index.cfm