TPMA Annual Conference Attendance Up 110%!
Competition Grows as Brands Lose Places to Hang Their Wares

Consumer-Written Product Reviews Drive Sales
Symbol Appoints RFID Sales Chief to Top Channel Post

SAS Launches Channel Partner Program
New Members
Career Opportunities
Upcoming Events

 

Tpma Annual Conference Attendance Up 110%! The host hotel is almost sold out – reserve your room now!

Registrations for the TPMA Annual Conference is up 110% over previous years already.*  Due to the increase in projected attendance, the Chicago Renaissance Hotel, the official host hotel, is anticipating it will sell out rooms in the event’s reserved block. 

Attendees will network with service providers, retailers, and manufacturers on the sold-out exhibit hall floor. Exhibitors in each area of TPM will be represented, assisting the growing range of innovative companies looking for top-producing solutions providers at the TPMA conference.   

The TPMA Annual Conference is the trade promotion industry’s only national convention for those involved in trade promotion management – manufacturers, retailers, dealers, distributors, solution providers, media, and consultants.  

The annual convention will focus on how organizations maximize the value of their channel marketing programs. The agenda will feature sessions about the newest opportunities like RFID, supply chain integration, alternative media, brand management and TPM technology, side by side with seminars on cutting through post audit red tape and running a winning deduction management campaign. 

For up-to-date information on the conference program and speakers, visit our Web site at www.tpmaww.com.  

Sign up today! 

Register Here

*110% increase is based on paid registrations compared to Annual Conference 2005 San Diego, CA. 


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Competition Grows as Brands Lose Places to Hang Their Wares
Source:
(USA Today, August 28, 2006)


Walk into the Hecht's department store at Tysons Corner Center mall here and the first thing you'll likely notice are all the Macy's signs going up. The next easily could be the prominence of the Ralph Lauren displays. Blink and you could miss the Tommy Hilfiger racks in the women's department.

Some of the best-known clothing and accessories companies, such as Jones Apparel and Liz Claiborne, are dealing with fewer outlets to sell in, thanks to department store consolidation. Federated Department Stores (FD) bought May Department Stores last year, and on Sept. 9 former May stores across the country will become Macy\'s. Meanwhile, Saks (SKS) has sold several of its non-Saks department stores to Belk and Bon-Ton.

"Both the retailers and the suppliers are looking at their business with new scrutiny," says Arnold Aronson, a former CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue and the former Woodward & Lothrop department store chain. He says they are asking themselves: "How are we going to get better so we can survive? How are we going to get more efficient, more customer-friendly and give better product for the price?"

Apparel companies' relationships with retailers are important to both sides' bottom lines. "They need to work together to continue to gain share," says retail analyst Dana Telsey of the Telsey Advisory Group.

Department stores largely control how merchandise is displayed in their stores, how often it is promoted and at what prices. The apparel companies negotiate the size and placement of their in-store displays or departments. They also negotiate how much money they contribute to cover markdowns and which clothes and complementary designs — such as a brand's jeans and T-shirts — are purchased and in what quantities.

The Liz Claiborne company, which owns 43 brands ranging from Dana Buchman to Monet to Juicy Couture, prepared by opening more free-standing stores and diversifying its brands.

Darrell Rigby, head of the global retail practice for consulting firm Bain & Co., says smart brands also will form partnerships with the strongest retailers and customize their offerings the way some already have with Macy's. Along with heavily promoting its private labels, Macy's will have exclusive merchandise from Elie Tahari and Martha Stewart in fall 2007. Vera Wang announced a deal last week to create an apparel line for Kohl's, just as Isaac Mizrahi did for Target.  
Full Story:
  Click Here


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Consumer-Written Product Reviews Drive Sales

More Online Shoppers Demand Them; Analysts Cite Their Growing Marketing Impact  Source:  (Adage.com August 28, 2006)

While consumer input into product innovation and ad campaigns is nothing new and has only grown in importance with the internet, it's about to become a sort of marketing channel of its own. Bazaarvoice, an Austin, Texas, company that manages customer feedback for the e-commerce websites of major marketers such as Macy's, Home Depot, Sears and CompUSA, is starting to push its countless picks and pans to major shopping portals such as MSN, Google's Froogle, Pricerunner and Smarter.com.

The syndication deals Bazaarvoice has signed with these high-traffic destination sites for consumers who want to comparison shop are a signal that reviews themselves have become a major sales and marketing tool. Their mere presence on an e-commerce website is among the most important factors in turning a visitor into a buyer.

A report from Jupiter Research, for instance, issued a call for retailers to "use consumer-created content throughout the full circle of customer interaction," citing research that 48% of online shoppers find it critical that retailers post reviews. That report also found that the number of online shoppers who found reviews the most important feature in a site doubled from 2005 to 2006.  Full Story:
Click Here


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Symbol Appoints RFID Sales Chief to Top Channel Post
Source: (Channel Insider August 28, 2006)

Symbol Technologies appointed Aug. 23 Sanford "Sandy" Preizler, former head of RFID sales, to lead its channel effort as products and channels become more important to each other at the mobility components and solutions manufacturer.

Symbol is capping a three-year channel turnaround, growing indirect sales from 45 percent of revenue in 2003 to more than 75 percent in 2006, a Symbol official said. Marrying go-to-market strategy with product development has been a key, Preizler told Channel Insider.

"An example of that is the MC70 Enterprise Digital Assistant we introduced this year," he said. "This rugged EDA enabled partners who work in verticals like health care, field sales and field service to offer a multimode device that could withstand more rigorous environments than previous products in the EDA family."

Symbol's Wi-NG architecture and to-be-released "ruggedized" mobile reader are further examples, he said, of technological innovation with partners' businesses in mind. Symbol launches RFID training for VARs. Click here to read more.

Preizler, a former channel executive at Cisco Systems who served as head of Symbol's RFID sales since March 2005, redefined the go-to-market strategy for RFID at the Holtsville, N.Y., manufacturer, Symbol officials said in a statement.
Full Story:
Click Here


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SAS Launches Channel Partner Program

New vice president and dedicated channel teams will drive BI sales opportunities
Source: CRM Today, August 29, 2006 SAS introduced its new channel business unit for value-added resellers (VARs), systems integrators and independent software vendors interested in selling SAS® software in the Americas. At a time when the business intelligence (BI) market is among the fastest growing worldwide*, this group will deliver BI software efficiently and cost-effectively to small to medium-sized and midmarket businesses.

“Alliances play a critical part in SAS’ overall business strategy for delivering and implementing SAS software. Now we’re going to the next level by including a ‘sell-through’ approach,” said Dr. Jim Goodnight, CEO of SAS. “Building out our network of partners to formally include VARs gives us an excellent opportunity to build our revenue stream and ensure that businesses of all sizes have better access to the power of SAS business intelligence. These relationships will be invaluable to the future success of SAS. ”

Headed by industry veteran Miles Mahoney, who has built partner channel programs for Borland Software, Business Objects and Crystal Decisions, the new business unit will strengthen SAS’ position as the top independent software vendor in the BI market. With an established infrastructure that includes dedicated partner development teams, internal channel sales teams and system engineers, SAS’ channel program will focus on the SAS Enterprise Intelligence Platform, including business intelligence, data integration and advanced analytics.

SAS’ reseller program includes VARs such as Aviana Global Technologies, Claraview, COMSYS, Creative Computing, Mainline Information Systems, Qualex and ThotWave, among others. SAS is also utilizing existing partnerships with well-known companies like HP and IBM to expand the program. These resellers are reaching into new markets, helping organizations derive value from internal data that will impact future success.  Full Story:  Click Here

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New Members:

 

Red Gold Products

 

 

Career Opportunities:

 

Administrator Marketing Services

 

Are You Interested In Key Trade Promotion and Rebate Programs As An Administrator Of Marketing Services?? Please Review Our Posting Of What Could Be Your Next Position!!!

Assume leadership in providing trade performance services and analysis in the development of 3M's Consumer and Office Business customer related advertising and merchandising programs and systems.  Provide direction and business counsel regarding all aspects of customer trade promotion programs, financial controls and analysis reporting requirements.  Lead the development, implementation and assessment of key Trade Promotion and Rebate programs, systems and activities in support of strategic plan goals.  More Information:  Click Here


 

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Upcoming Events:

 

Retail Vendor Synchronization: Tactical Deduction Strategies for Key Customers

TPMA Annual Conference: Proving the Value of Trade Promotion Management  

 

VCF Global Conference – Retail Trading Partners Unite! 


 

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Retail Vendor Synchronization: Tactical Deduction Strategies for Key Customers
September 6, 2006 - September 7, 2006, Teaneck, NJ

 

Our conference is one of education, networking and awareness. See how to implement tactical deduction strategies using best practices, technology solutions and tools that can enhance a more efficient and cost effective supply chain.  This program is jointly hosted by the American Apparel and Footwear Association and the Vendor Compliance Federation.  

 

Our speakers are industry leaders discussing topics that matter most to your financial health.  Hear from Paul Charron, Chairman & CEO, Liz Claiborne Inc. share his insights on Trading Partner Relationships, a critical and key factor to remaining competitive in today’s retail environment.

 

Our second keynote speaker is Steve Hochman, Research Director, AMR Research.  Steve will present the tactics of "Fast Fashion: Zara & Beyond" providing attendees the important takeaways that this innovative retailer is using to improve supply chain performance to generate increasing profits!  Click here to register and view detailed agenda.

 

 

 

[back to Upcoming Events]

 

 

  

TPMA Annual Conference: Proving the Value of Trade Promotion Management 

September 24-27, 2006, Chicago, IL

 

You don’t want to miss this event!

 

Join TPMA in Chicago to profit from industry experts and their shared insight.  Explore and evaluate current systems, trends, and emerging technologies. Understand how leading retailers and suppliers are forging stronger links through trade promotion and supply chain management. The exhibits feature leading industry consultants and solutions providers.  

 

Learn from: 

 

Coty and CAS on Their Vision for Trade Promotion Management

P&G and OatSystems on Increasing In-store Promotions Using RFID

Chiquita Fresh Express and Synectics Group  on The Total Process of Selecting a TPM Vendor Through Roll Out to Field Sales

Verizon Wireless and ACB  on Strategic and Efficient Co-Op Advertising Spending

Rob Hand of HPM  on The Integrated Value Proposition of TPM

 

Of equal value don’t miss the opportunity to network with your peers (including: Land O Lakes, The Meow Mix Company, ADT, Expedia, Mentholatum, Red Gold, Inc., etc.) to share successes and build relationships across industries and channels.  SAP will take us out to the ballgame on Tuesday evening as we overlook Wrigley Field from our private rooftop event.

  

The first 100 people to register for the TPMA Annual Conference in September receive a complimentary copy of Bob Houk’s new book (3 copies left), “Trade Promotion Marketing”.  Click here to Register. 

PLEASE REMEMBER to make your room reservations. TPMA has negotiated special room rates for the conference. These room blocks fill up quickly so please make your hotel reservations by September 1st, 2006.

To make reservations at The Renaissance Chicago Hotel, call 1/312-372-7200 and ask for the TPMA rate. 

To make reservations online, Click Here

 

 

 

 

  

VCF Global Conference – Retail Trading Partners Unite!

November 5-8, 2006, Scottsdale, AZ

 

Are you struggling with deductions?

 

Do you want to prevent future deductions from occurring?

 

Then attend the VCF Global Conference at the Camelback Inn November 5-8, 2006! 

 

Retail trading partners will unite at the Camelback Inn and create new growth opportunities, learn how to reduce system disconnects and seamlessly execute their supply chains to the delight of every consumer they serve,  all the while learning how to prevent future deductions. 

 

Confirmed retailers attending so far...

  • AAFES
  • Big Lots
  • Circuit City
  • Dillards
  • JCPenney
  • Kohl's
  • Nordstrom
  • Pacific Sunwear
  • QVC
  • The Sports Authority

and more are confirming every day!

 

Register today and save your spot! Remember, members attend for only $695 - a $1000 savings off the non-member rate.  To register for the conference, click here.

 

Don't forget to make your hotel reservations now because rooms are already being booked!  To make your hotel reservations, call the Camelback Inn at 1-800-242-2635 for the negotiated rate of $245/night.  Reference the Vendor Compliance Federation to secure your special rate.

 

If you have questions, call Anthony Miano at 646-442-3701 or write to amiano@vcfww.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write to Mike Kantor at mkantor@tpcww.com for more information.