NACS
If you want to meet the more than 22,000 influencers and professionals in the convenience and fueling retail industry, travel no further than the NACS show coming this Oct. 11-14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The four-day show will be fueled with learning sessions, buying and selling opportunities, networking and, of course, lots of fun.
At NACS, retailers can discover ideas and strategies to increase sales and build brands while suppliers can exhibit to increase exposure, introduce products and obtain leads. Last year, 24,000 people attended and 1,167 companies exhibited, all from more than 60 countries in 400,000 square feet of space.
The show is broken down into six categories: fuel equipment and services, food equipment and foodservice programs, candy/snacks, facility development and store operations, merchandise and technology. This segmentation will help attendees better target networking, learning and buying opportunities.
But the NACS Show isn’t going to be the same show as last year. It recognizes that change is good and moving forward only helps its attendees thrive and flourish in the industry. The show usually offers only three days of general sessions and speakers, but the event is expanding and offering an extra day of general sessions. General sessions include: Chris McChesney, author of “The 4 Disciplines of Execution,” speaking on Sunday; Connie Podesta, expert in the psychology of human relations, sales and leadership, speaking Monday; John Mackney, co-CEO and co-founder of Whole Foods Market, speaking Tuesday; and an “Ideas to Go” session on Wednesday that features hundreds of interviews with retailers from more than 40 states and five countries showcasing the industry’s best practices.
Along with an extra day of sessions, NACS has listened to its attendees who head to the show mainly to discover new products. NACS will feature a New Exhibitor section, completely dedicated to only new-to-the-show exhibitors and, as a bonus, will get an extra hour of dedicated show time every day. Additionally, the show is offering an event just for female leaders in the industry called Women’s Networking Forum. This session is open to all female retailers who seek professional growth through networking with other female professionals. The forum will be led by Roberta Oster Sachs, leadership coach and Emmy award-winning journalist, and former NACS Chairman Sonja Hubbard.
Ensure that you’re maximizing on your networking opportunity at NACS by checking out the 55 educational sessions, which will feature top-of-mind issues, led by industry leaders and experts. Also, be sure to stop by the Cool New Products Preview Room, which – aptly named – is a great place for buyers to locate new products in categories such as green/eco-friendly, health and wellness, new design, new flavors, new to the industry, new services and new technology. Those who visit this area will get to use handheld scanners to capture product details, exhibitor booth numbers and contact information to make buying a snap.
Finally, if you have a smartphone, nothing will help you navigate the massive show better than downloading the NACS apps. The NACS Show Mobile App will allow you to navigate the shortest paths between favorite exhibitors with an interactive floor plan, view the complete event schedule, review your personal agenda and receive show alerts and updates. Attendees should also download the MyShow Planner app, which you can use to explore the 55 educational sessions and save the sessions you want to attend, browse the exhibitor listing and add them to your agenda, all while syncing up with your NACS Show app.
For more on the 2015 NACS Show, visit nacsonline.com.