Registration Now Open For 2008 NACDS Conferences And Meetings

Main Category: Conferences
Article Date: 30 Nov 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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With the new year rapidly approaching, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) already has launched registration for its dynamic and value-packed 2008 conferences.

"There is no other option than to make each year's event the best and most valuable ever. In addition, 2008 marks a very special year in NACDS history - our 75th Anniversary," said NACDS President and CEO, Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. "NACDS takes great pride in our long standing commitment to successful conferences and meetings that provide timely information, unique networking opportunities, and contribute to the overall advancement of the community pharmacy industry. The early registrations are very promising, as they are even higher than our figures for the 2007 meetings at this time last year."

The first NACDS-sponsored conference of 2008 is the Regional Chain Conference, which will be held February 3-6 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida. The conference is specifically tailored to address the challenges facing senior retail executives who operate up to 250 stores.

The main highlight of the Regional Chain Conference is the broad spectrum of educational offerings covering topics from pharmacy, to front-end, to general management, and the peer to peer sharing that occurs as a result of the Chain Member Interactive Idea Exchange sessions. Another valuable feature is the one-on-one business meetings between chain executives and key supplier trading partners. In addition to these networking opportunities, the conference also offers the opportunity to earn pharmacy continuing education credits through selected educational programs.

Now in its second year, the NACDS Successful Selling Conference will take place February 10-12, 2008 at the Lincolnshire Marriott, in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

This "how to" conference provides many unique opportunities for small and medium sized manufacturers who are current or aspiring members interested in developing their business with Drug, Food, and Mass retailers. Members of the NACDS Outreach & Business Development Committee have developed the Successful Selling education program which details how to introduce new products and conduct business in this industry. In addition to understanding these important and unique fundamentals, this event also acts as a great preparation tool for the NACDS Marketplace Conference; the industry's largest gathering of drug, food and mass retailers.

Also taking place, Walgreens representatives will present their own "How to do Business with Walgreens" where attendees can meet Walgreens executives that work with new vendors on a daily basis. These vendors will also be able to present their product to a member of the Walgreens' purchasing team - face to face - during 20 minute meetings.

On March 2-4, 2008, the Supply Chain & Logistics Conference will take place at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, Arizona. This conference is the industry's most significant gathering of its most influential supply chain leaders. Participating individuals include retailers, product manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors who are involved in supply chain, logistics, inventory management, transportation, and/or business-to-business interchange. Additionally, those individuals and companies who provide products and services for supply chain management also participate. Over 23,000 retail outlets will be represented, providing attendees the opportunity to engage in discussion with potential partners and customers. To nurture these prospective relationships, the program includes one-on-one meetings between retailers, manufacturers, and supply chain vendors.

NACDS' Annual Meeting, the industry's most influential, strategically-oriented event, takes place April 26-30, 2008 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida.

For five days more than 2,200 business leaders from drug, food, mass and specialty retailing companies and their supplier counterparts gather to share insights, forge relationships, and explore future opportunities. The meeting will provide numerous opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with key trading partners at the most senior levels.

Long-regarded as our industry's most prestigious meeting, the Annual Meeting provides a unique opportunity to gain new insights into today's changing marketplace as well as strengthen relationships, discuss strategic issues, and identify enhanced business opportunities.

This year the NACDS Marketplace Conference will occur June 28-July 1 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. The exhibit and appointment-based show is the largest and most powerful convergence of drug, food, mass, club, and value retailing in the United States, if not the world. It brings together more than 250 retail companies who represent over $500 billion in annual buying power and more than 145,000 stores with 700 manufacturing companies across 11 major categories.

August 23-27, 2008 marks the date for the NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference, to be held at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. The conference represents the largest single gathering of retail pharmacy executives from drug, food and mass and their supplier counterparts. This is where pharmacy decision makers from more than 150 leading retail companies meet for cutting-edge educational programming and to review business plans, pharmacy products, and related services from more than 320 exhibitors.

Later in 2008, the RFID/Track & Trace Health Care Industry Adoption Summit will offer the latest information on RFID and track and trace technology. In 2007, more than 480 executives from various disciplines within the pharmaceutical retailing and manufacturing supply chain community attended to network with peers from across the RFID product and services supplier community. More details regarding 2008's Summit will be available in the coming months.

National Association of Chain Drug Stores

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