- The In-Store Marketing Institute is developing the StratConn (Strategic Connections) Business Meeting Series to let buyers and sellers connect more efficiently and strategically than ever before.
- Serving several niche markets in the retail and marketing industries, StratConn meetings bring business partners together for two days of well-planned, 30-minute sessions.
- Limited to a small number of high-value buyers and sellers, StratConns facilitate face-to-face planning sessions between solutions providers ("Hosts") and solutions seekers ("Guests") to review new products and services, marketing initiatives and business strategies. Each hosting company is provided a private meeting room in which to set up product displays, sales literature, visual aids or other meeting supplies. At regular intervals, the Institute staff escorts guests from room to room to meet with appointed hosts.
- These meetings are the central function of every StratConn. Hosts will have anywhere from 12 to 20 half-hour sessions with guests.
- To ensure a high level of satisfaction for all participants, host companies may send up to three senior-level executives to participate in the event. Similarly, each guest company may send up to three attendees, all of whom meet Institute standards relating to their decision-making authority.
- The Institute is scheduling four StratConn events for 2008. The first, covering "Shopper Insights," will be held Feb. 21-22, 2008, at the Marriott O'Hare Conference Center near Chicago's O'Hare Airport. At this event, the hosts will be companies that offer qualitative and quantitative, technology-based and analog approaches to understanding shoppers and retail environments. Guests will include media and marketing research executives from consumer product manufacturers, media buying professionals and retailer marketing decision-makers.
- A second Chicago-based StratConn covering "Custom Merchandising" is scheduled for June 25-26, 2008. Hosts will include top in-store display providers, with the guest list featuring large product manufacturers, top retailers and leading promotion agencies.
- For information about participating in future StratConn meetings, contact Maureen Macke at 847-675-7400, ext. 127
