USA-based trade associations the International Housewares Association (IHA) and the Global Market Development Centre GMDC|Retail Tomorrow are coming together to facilitate GMDC|Retail Tomorrow’s 2021 Fall Strategic Meetings. From October 12-15, housewares retailers and wholesalers and their supplier and service companies will be able to participate in collaborative trading partner sessions.
Attendees (including IHA members) will have the opportunity to discuss merchandising, marketing, ecommerce, consumer and shopper insights, omnichannel agility, sales trends and business strategies.
Patrick Spear, president and ceo of GMDC|Retail Tomorrow recognises that housewares is one of the sectors that has evolved “at a rapid pace throughout the past year, and as this trajectory continues, this event series is an opportunity to address these changes and prepare for more as we approach the latter half of 2021.”
Meanwhile, Derek Miller, IHA president comments: “IHA’s mission is to bring buyers and sellers together regardless of format, and we are excited to work again with GMDC|Retail Tomorrow to connect our supplier members with their buyer members during this virtual event.” He continued: “Non-foods is an important and profitable category for grocery retailers, and until the industry gathers again in-person next March at The Inspired Home Show, this type of opportunity delivers the kind of new product and supplier discovery that retailers are craving.”
Similar to the successful joint spring event, attendees will be able to take part in 45-minute meetings via the GMDC Connect video conferencing platform.
The event registration deadline for housewares categories is August 20. For more information and to register for the GMDC|Retail Tomorrow and IHA’s Fall Strategic Meetings, please visit: gmdc.org/virtual-event-fall/.
Top: Buyers and suppliers will come together for the online GMDC|Retail Tomorrow event. Photo from GMDC|Retail Tomorrow.
