NONFOOD GROUPS TAKING NEW DIRECTIONS IN 1996

CHRISTINA VEIDERS Additional reporting: CAROL ANGRISANI JOEL ELSON DAN ALAIMO

Fine-tuning formats, changing dates and venues, attracting more supermarket retailers and just struggling to survive describes the directions major nonfood trade shows are taking in 1996.

Nonfood buyers will have one less show to attend next year now that the Food Marketing Institute, Washington, has decided to disband its General Merchandise and Health and Beauty Care Conference.

Following is a rundown of conference and show plans from the trade associations catering to HBC, general merchandise and video buyers.

· GMDC: The Colorado Springs, Colo.-based association will fine-tune its conference formats next year so that participants can attend more programs, said Rick Tilton, president.

Both of this year's conferences will be themed "Capture the Spirit . . . Share the Vision." The HBC Marketing Conference will run from May 31 to June 5 at Marriott's Orlando World Center, Orlando, Fla. The GM Marketing Conference will be held Sept. 6 to 11 at Marriott's Desert Springs Resort, Palm Desert, Calif.

At the GM conference, GMDC will present its 1996 Educational Foundation's major project: "GM/HBC Seasonal Promotional Best Practices."

· Exclusively HBA: Changing the date and venue of the Exclusively HBA Trade Show already has had a positive effect on registration for next year's event, slated for Feb. 19 and 20 in Las Vegas, according to Jay Spaulding, principal of Exclusively HBA, Chicago.

About 300 buyers and category managers and 200 exhibitors were preregistered for the seventh-annual show as of the first week in December. Along with the new time and place, other show changes have been made. The 1996 show has a new floor plan that will allow more flexibility in booth sizes. At the same time, the show has introduced an "invitational" feature, allowing each exhibitor to invite one major customer to the show free of charge. If the invitee accepts, Exclusively HBA will pay for airfare, hotel and ground transportation to and from the show.

· NACDS: The Marketplace Conference, sponsored by National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Alexandria, Va., has become a benchmark for other trade shows.

There are no changes to its successful format, which will run in San Diego June 16 to 19, with the association striving for yet another record-breaking year, said Ron Ziegler, NACDS president and chief executive officer.

"The major attention focused on this conference reflects the dynamic character of the chain drug store industry, which is moving through a period of profound, once-in-a-lifetime change," Ziegler said.

Next year's conference will include education and information sessions on beauty and personal improvement; a retail advisory council panel, an international symposium, and a consumer focus on how to sell more.

· National Housewares Manufacturers Association: 1996 will be the last year for the old format of the International Housewares Show, to be held in Chicago Jan. 14 to 17, said Tom Conley, executive director and chief operating officer of NHMA, Rosemont, Ill.

The show's organizers have been looking ahead to 1997 when the association holds its 100th exposition in the newly opened McCormick Place South Building. At that time the trade show will go to a new format in which there will be four expositions held under one roof, Conley said.

Although the 1996 format will remain the same, the trade show will reflect the association's new initiatives, including its efforts to bring the industry up to speed with new technology, and its Great Performance Alliance program.

· Video Software Dealers Association: For the first time in its 15-year history, VSDA, Los Angeles, will hold its annual convention in the major movie studios' back yards.

Even though the show will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and events will take place throughout the metropolitan area, VSDA is touting the location of the event as "Hollywood." The theme of the July 10 to 13 show is "Hollywood: VSDA On Location."

"Since this is the home of most of our major suppliers, you can be sure they are going to have an interest in putting their best foot forward for the retailers and the entire industry," said Bob Finlayson, VSDA's vice president of communications.

As part of its effort to attract more supermarket members, VSDA will be working harder than ever to bring supermarket video executives to the 1996 show. VSDA will address appeals to mailing lists it hasn't used before and advertise more heavily to the supermarket trade, Finlayson said.