Meetings & Programs
Strategic Planning & Product Discovery
New supplier and service companies will have a chance to meet with buyers to evaluate existing product and marketing programs, discuss future business plans, and promote new or trending items. GM19 is all about product discovery. Our Preview Box program allows suppliers to send selected products directly to retail buyers attending the show BEFORE it begins. During the conference, suppliers can display their products in a store-like environment through the Showcase program. After the conference and throughout the year, retailers can follow-up with the suppliers they met with through GMDC MarketPlace, an online platform for product review and evaluation.
MOR Appointments | June 14 - 15, 2019
New members attending GM19 will have an opportunity to meet with all retail buyers. The Market On-Ramp (MOR) Program was created in order to give new and upcoming suppliers a chance to present their products and establish business relationships with some of the country's largest retailers and wholesalers. These meetings are the gateway to getting your products onto store shelves and into consumer's hands.
DEADLINE TO SIGN-UP FOR MOR APPOINTMENTS IS MAY 20, 2019
Preview Box
Preview Box is a program for suppliers to get their products directly into the hands of buyers BEFORE the conference. Participating companies will send products they wish to include in the Preview Box and GMDC will then select which items get sent to retailers. The selected products are then consolidated and shipped to retailers and wholesalers approximately 4 weeks prior to the conference.
THE DEADLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PREVIEW BOX PROGRAM HAS PASSED. NEW MEMBERS WHO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE AFTER APRIL 30TH WILL RECEIVE 2 SHOWCASE ENTRIES WITH THEIR REGISTRATION FEE INSTEAD.
Showcase
The Showcase Program takes place DURING the conference in a space designated for suppliers to set-up their products and displays in a store-like environment. Every attending retailer is then scheduled to tour the Showcase which increases the amount of exposure your products get to buyers. Suppliers then receive real-time updates when a buyer scans their item and upon the conclusion of GM19, the Top 10 Showcase items are recognized and highlighted in our post-conference communications with retailers and news outlets.
DEADLINE TO SIGN-UP FOR SHOWCASE IS MAY 10, 2019
MarketPlace
We've partnered with Repositrak to bring our members and GM19 attendees GMDC MarketPlace, an online platform for suppliers to gain additional exposure to their products, and for retail buyers to preview the items and categories they're most interested in. Following the conference, buyers can then use MarketPlace as a follow-up tool to connect with the suppliers they met with and the products they want to bring into the store.