Getting Specific About General Merchandise

Known for its “speed dating” style meetings at its two main annual conferences, the Global Market Development Center (GMDC), is still working to make the conference experience even more robust for participants. Attendees at GMDC’s 2016 General Merchandise Marketing Conference in Orlando will have even more opportunities to present and learn about new products. This year, GMDC is launching several initiatives at the show, which will take place at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes, June 10-14. 

The show is best known for its Connect-Collaborate-Create (CCC) culture, through 10-or 20-minute meetings in which manufacturers present products to retail and wholesale buyers. In the past, there were two sets of meetings, A and B, but this year there will be only one set of CCC meetings. The B sessions, which will now last eight minutes, have been revamped as Market On Ramp, a format focused on first-time supplier attendees. 

“What we’ve done is create an environment for true discovery between buyer and seller,” says Patrick Spear, president and CEO of Colorado Springs, Colo.-based GMDC. “It could be a company that has been around for years and was not in GMDC, or a Kickstarter company that just discovered our ecosystem.” 

Also new this year is PowerBuy, the opportunity for suppliers to offer buyers volume discounts on specific programs displayed on the CCC floor. The GMDC show is typically not an order-writing event, but the new program will offer limited opportunities for aggregate buying. This event will be limited to a select group of suppliers, as an exclusive promotion at the event, not closeouts. 

Another event will be the Business Session, featuring Kevin Coupe, host of the blog and website Morning Newsbeat. Also presenting at that event is Tom Furphy, who will appear via videotape and is the CEO and managing director of Consumer Equity Partners, a venture capital firm. The two present a program called Innovation Conversation. 

The Showcase, a venue for suppliers to display products and merchandising vehicles, is another mainstay of the GMDC show. Buyers review the products and, with handheld mobile scanner devices, scan the ones for which they want more information. This year a new feature, the Chairman’s Choice Award, will recognize an outstanding product. The product will be selected by GMDC board chairman Stephen Davis from Weis Markets, and other board members. “The idea here is, let’s create some excitement and reward innovation,” says Spear. The winner will be recognized at the June 12th awards dinner. After the conference, GDMC will announce the top ten most scanned items. 

Here are some of the companies that are attending, and the items they will present: 

American Greetings

americangreetings.com

American Greetings will be introducing cards from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel. Card senders can get help from Chewbacca, Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Marvel’s Avengers and even Darth Vader to help celebrate occasions including birthday, thank you, congrats, wedding, baby, anniversary and thinking of you. Also, the new line of Big Talkers birthday cards features favorite Disney, Marvel and Star Wars characters in an eye-catching die-cut format, and each card features multiple authentic audio clips.

Also from American Greetings, P.S. Hello will arrive in card departments this summer, to help shoppers celebrate life’s big, small and in-between moments, such as a obtaining a driver’s license, a big accomplishment with co-workers or getting a new pet. 

In the fall, the Cleveland-based company will launch several birthday card collections. Chill Outs feature fun-themed refrigerators that open up to reveal characters singing and dancing to light-hearted, original music, and have warm, playful messages and whimsical illustrations. Hyper Pop-Ups are multi-sensory, pop-up cards that feature high-quality audio, synchronized lights and small animatronics with the power to produce motion, vibration and other sensory effects. Remote Control Wishes feature funny photos of furry friends that the consumer can “pop” off the card, then set it down, press the button on the remote, and watch it shake and sing along to a fun song. Also from American Greetings, Wish Wonders Birthday gift bows have a button at the base of the bow to light the candle, so the recipient can blow it out and watch as lights and music start to play. 

For Halloween, Fun House cards feature a displayable pop-up design, music, lights and motion. As each card pops up to form a house-like shape, the doors swing inward to reveal a character that sings and dances to an upbeat song as lights flash in time to the beat.

“Consumers are looking for authentic ways to connect with family, friends and other important people in their life,” says Patrice Sadd, director, corporate communications. “As a leader in meaningful connections, American Greetings helps them connect for every occasion, from celebrating important milestones or simply sharing a laugh to brighten someone’s day.”

Avanti Press

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There are plenty of greeting cards in grocery stores, says Marc Trobman, vice president of business development for Avanti Press, but not enough funny greeting cards. “That is our focus,” he says. “We are manufacturers and distributors of funny greeting cards.”  

The cards feature bold graphics and funny characters as well as glitter, foil and other textures. “Our cards are cross generational,” says Trobman. “Our imagery is one of a kind. Nobody does what we do.”  

The Detroit-based Avanti Press has reengineered the A*Press brand, its line of premium graphic illustration cards. In April, Avanti added six cards to the A*Press collection, bringing the total to 22 new cards published in eight months. Avanti also offers outpost displays, so retailers can merchandise the cards in other areas in the store, such as near the wine. Also, the company is expanding its licensing, with Avanti characters on products such as calendars, plush items, clocks, magnets, back to school products and drink tumblers. 

Big Time Products 

bigtimeproducts.net

Thus far, Big Time Products has launched more than 50 SKUs in 2016. Several of these items will make an appearance at the GMDC GM show. 

Before arriving at the show, attendees will receive a product bundle in their Show Preview Box. This bundle includes the new Rainbrella Emergency Poncho and a 2-pack of GardenChem long cuff disposable nitrile gloves and Soft Scrub Premium Fit Reusable Latex gloves. The Emergency Poncho is designed to be the perfect size for travel, is priced affordably and can be displayed in a clip-strip or floor display, say officials for the Rome, Ga.-based company. The GardenChem brand provides specialty hand protection products intended to be used when working with chemicals such as pesticides, weed killers and fertilizers, and the long cuff disposable nitrile gloves are intended for consumers to “spray and throw away.” Soft Scrub Premium Fit Reusable Latex gloves are treated with Ultra-Fresh antimicrobial protection and are tougher and thicker than standard reusable latex gloves, add officials.

Buyers at the GMDC meetings will have access to other recent launches including the Digz brand Waterproof, Honeycomb and Full Grain Goatskin gloves. Michele Rikard, director of marketing, says the company has added three collections to its successful raingear brand, Rainbrella. “We now offer a variety of sizes and styles in fashion inspired colors and fabrics, plus playful umbrellas for the kiddos and ponchos for the whole family,” she says. “The new Premium Defense Heat Resistant Glove, a BBQ enthusiasts’ best friend, will also be a must see.” 

Bradshaw International

www.bradshawintl.com

Bradshaw International, which is best known for its kitchen gadgets, metal bakeware and cookware, recently entered the plastic food storage business. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based company will show new items under the brands of Good Cook, PROFreshionals, Sweet Creations Baking and Bialetti. Bradshaw will also focus on off-shelf programs.

Consumers are looking for innovation and a value proposition, says Scott Bradshaw, senior vice president of sales. “The consumer today in a food store wants the latest in trend and functionality, but at a fair price,” he says. “Bradshaw’s roots are deep seeded in the grocery industry, which allows us to understand what the consumers’ and retailers’ needs are. Bradshaw looks at all new offerings with both the consumer’s needs and wants in mind, while at the same time understanding how each new offering will perform for the retailer and wholesaler.” 

Hallmark Cards 

hallmark.com

Two of Kansas City, Mo.-based Hallmark’s focus areas for the GMDC show include Hallmark Signature brand and the Innovation portfolio of cards and gift-wrapping. 

Hallmark Signature cards feature distinctive, detailed and dimensional designs made of high-quality materials. “Style serves as the inspiration for this premium brand, and each card makes a statement at shelf and in one’s hand,” says Scott Young, vice president of strategic relationships and business development. “Like a work of art in a museum, Hallmark Signature now has a special place to shine. We’re offering retailers an elevated merchandising solution that reflects the style and quality of Signature cards and signals consumers to stop and look.” New signage is made of rich, textured paper stock embossed with Hallmark’s logo.

Signature cards are available for everyday occasions and holidays and will be supported by national marketing campaigns. Hallmark is also introducing Signature for Kids and Signature ornaments in 2016.    

The Innovation portfolio features greeting card and giftwrap products to inspire consumers to connect in new ways. Among the products that Hallmark will highlight include Motion-activated Light & Sound cards that feature attachments such as wrist bands that play music and light up when activated by motion, and Pop Up Mechanics Sound, a series of card collections that feature pop-ups and papercraft motion along with celebratory music, songs and silly sound effects. The cards have die-cut peeks on the cover to signal something fun to discover inside.

“Connections and relationships are essential parts of human nature,” says Young. “Although the need to connect remains constant, consumers are always looking for new and different ways to make that connection. That’s where Hallmark comes in.”

Select-A-Vision

select-a-vision.com

More people are beginning to need non-prescription reading eyewear. “This is a very interesting category since it continues to grow as our population expands in the over 40 age bracket,” says Steve Liebers, president of Select-A-Vision. 

The Collegeville, Pa.-based company will introduce two products in its Advanced Lens Technology line. A proximity-based reader has multiple powers in one reader, allowing the customer to use the same reader for three distances, close-up reading, mid-distance computer vision and further distance over the desk. The new advanced lens is designed to eliminate the need to continually remove the reading glasses to focus on various distances. The Optitek computer reader filters the harmful blue light emitted from electronic devices such as computers, tablets, cell phones and florescent lighting. Blue light is the shortest wavelength of visible light just after invisible UV light. Liebers says studies show that prolonged exposure to this light can cause computer vision syndrome or digital eyestrain, causing headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and could lead to eye diseases in later life. He adds that the average person stares at a digital screen for approximately seven hours per day. 

Select-A-Vision offers retailers a program featuring a modular display that separates product lines based on lifestyle categories. The categories are value, ladies fashion, flexible super light frames, sport designs, green readers that use natural wood and advanced lens technology. 

Whink Products Co.

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Whink Products Co. will be launching several items in 2016. One is Whink Lime and Rust Remover, which is packaged in a 32-ounce economy size, squeezable bottle. It is designed to clean a variety of surfaces such as shower door glass and stainless steel sinks. Whink Lime and Rust Remover also cleans stubborn deposits. It is the companion product to the brown bottle Whink Rust Stain Remover.

Also new from Whink is a general use Mossy Oak laundry detergent with the same scent-killing properties as the pre-soak. “Whink GameStain Remover laundry pre-soak impressed the sales force at Mossy Oak so much they wanted their name on the product,” says Steve Throssel, CEO of the Eldora, Iowa-based company. “This winning combination of the No. 1 camo clothing supplier and the No. 1 specialty cleaner company has created a great laundry item for year-round use.” He adds that the new product is perfect for an end-cap during hunting season.