Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
On June 21-24, PRO Group Inc. held its annual Group Merchandising Conference (GMC) virtually. The 2020 GMC was also held virtually, but this year’s event featured Zoom breakout rooms, allowing attendees to enjoy a more interactive virtual format.
Through over 1,300 scheduled one-on-one appointments, attendees discussed product lines, discovered conference specials and learned about new program offerings. Prior to the GMC, attendees could attend a New Vendor Preview, where new vendors could introduce themselves, their company and the product they planned to showcase at the GMC. At the New Vendor Preview, distributor buyers were able to request product samples and set up meetings with new vendors to take place during the Pro Group GMC.
“The 2021 GMC facilitated outstanding interaction with member manufacturers and distributor buyers,” says Steve Synnott, president and CEO at PRO Group. “The virtual, private meetings via the Zoom platform were an outstanding way to position all attendees for continued success in the remainder of 2021.”
During their private appointments with attendees, manufacturers were able to share videos, images and presentations, creating new business relationships and strengthening existing ones. The General Session, which opened the conference, featured North American Hardware and Paint Association’s Dan Tratensek, who spoke on how the pandemic changed consumer behavior and the 10 lessons retailers can learn from those changes.
PRO Group and Distribution America will host their 2021 Executive Planning Conference in-person at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa November 16-18, 2021.
