Conferring over Health and Beauty

Retail is always evolving, and the Global Market Development Center (GMDC) wants its members to be prepared for the future. The 2016 GMDC Health Beauty Wellness Marketing Conference will take place Sept. 28-Oct. 2 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas. The event will feature new programs that are designed to assist companies—ranging from startups to established brands—to keep up with a constantly changing business environment. 

“GMDC wants to focus on innovation, and help members connect to what’s next,” says Patrick Spear, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based GMDC. “You will see in our Health Beauty Wellness Marketing Conference we have a number of things that tie into the idea of the future of retail.” 

The event will begin with Strategic Executive Connection (SEC) meetings on Sept. 28 and 29. These are retailer and supplier meetings that are mutually selected, last 40 minutes and are meant to be more in-depth than Connect Collaborate Create (CCC), the 10- or 20-minute meetings between suppliers and buyers intended to build partner relationships. The CCC meetings take place on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. 

One new highlight this year will take place on the evening of Sept. 29. Demo Day will feature 10 innovators, or newer companies that are still scaling up their operations, presenting to an audience of retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and service/solution companies. Spear says the format is different from the more typical events where new companies present ideas to potential investors. While those events are important, the suppliers that present at Demo Day are looking for feedback, not investment capital. “We believe it is more effective to pitch to a room of retailers and wholesalers that might say this is relevant to their business,” he says. “This is an opportunity for us to connect the next generation of ideas to our membership ecosystem.” 

Presenters at Demo Day can also participate in the Store of the Future, which will be set up in the conference area so that attendees can see merchandising and other ideas. “Again the idea is, let’s connect our members to what’s next,” says Spear. “It’s not just beneficial for retailers and wholesalers but for manufacturers as well.” 

The efforts align with Retail Tomorrow—retailtomorrow.com—a new initiative from GMDC. Retail Tomorrow is a community of companies and entrepreneurs that collaborate to enhance the shopping experience, with the goal of helping grow brands and technologies in the marketplace. “These are people who are intrigued, inspired and engaged,” says Spear.  

Another conference highlight will be the business session on the evening of Sept. 30, focused on the emerging trends in home healthcare and the emergence of the patient as consumer. The theory is a person is a patient when they are in a healthcare system and a consumer when they are filling a prescription or buying health-related items in a store, so retailers have to adapt. 

“From the GMDC perspective, ‘healthcare’ is increasingly becoming ‘self-care,’” says Spear. “As consumers take more control over their own health and wellness, new opportunities are emerging for retailers to curate new products, services and technologies to enable the increasing levels of individual health and wellness accountability required in this new environment.” 

Popular features that will again take place at this year’s event are Market On-Ramp, a venue for first-time suppliers to introduce their products; Preview Box, which allows suppliers to put their products in the hands of retailers and wholesalers before the event begins; and Showcase, the display of products and merchandising vehicles during the event. 

Here are some companies that are presenting this year: 

Diva International 

divacup.com

Diva International was founded in 2002 by a mother-daughter team who wanted to make a healthy, more sustainable feminine hygiene product. The Kitchener, Ont., Canada-based company will present The DivaCup and DivaWash. The DivaCup is a reusable healthcare-grade silicone menstrual cup that provides up to 12 hours of leak-free protection, and DivaWash is a plant-based, pH-balanced cleanser that can be used for face, body and The DivaCup. The target consumers are women of any age who need period care, but women 18 to 35 are the main audience. Daniela Masaro, brand marketing manager, says consumers are seeking improved alternatives, and will switch to products that provide better leakage prevention and also a convenient, healthier experience. Masaro says sales are growing at double-digit rates in dollars and units, which is contributing real growth to the category.

Diva International is spending more than $5 million in marketing in 2016. The efforts include print and digital advertising, TV commercials, social media, public relations, promotional and educational materials, and resources and participation at trade shows and conferences. The company’s website has geo-targeted mentions to help drive consumers to participating retailers. In-store merchandising solutions include shelf displays, floor displays and clip strips, and Diva International participates in flyer programs, in-store promotions, temporary price reductions, coupons and loyalty reward programs.

Hyland’s 

hylands.com

Earlier this year Hyland’s, the homeopathic remedy company, launched Good Morning, a natural, caffeine-free alertness aid. The company promoted the launch with the Good Morning Photo Contest on social media. Consumers were invited to send in photos of a sunrise or other morning scene to win prizes that included gift cards and supplies of Hyland’s products such as Hyland’s Arnica 30X for pain relief, Hyland’s Muscle Therapy Gel, Hyland’s Leg Cramps and others. 

The Los Angeles-based company also offers a line of pediatric products including Hyland’s 4 Kids Bumps ‘n Bruises with Arnica, an advanced topical ointment stick for kids. It provides safe and effective relief for bruising, pain and swelling and contains Arnica Montana.  

​LanesHealth 

laneshealth.com

LanesHealth began in 1930, when Gilbert Lane created a company based on his passion for good health. He was an early supporter of the idea that people can improve their health through diet and the use of carefully selected plants and nutrients. He built the company in Gloucester, England, and over the years he and his son, Roger, developed herbal medicines that form the basis of the company’s product range today. Roger, who was trained as a pharmacist, laid the foundations for bringing together traditional herbal knowledge with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. The company is still owned by the Lane family. 

In 2007, Boston, England-based Jakemans, which manufactures menthol lozenges for relief from throat and chest discomfort, joined LanesHealth. Jakemans has U.S. headquarters in Bedford, N.H., and is the company that distributes GOPO Rosehip with Galactolipids in the U.S. Company officials say GOPO Rosehip with Galactolipids is produced under patented methods and conditions designed specifically for joint and cartilage care and health maintenance. 

Majestic Drug Co.

majesticdrug.com

Majestic Drug Co., based in South Fallsburg, N.Y, offers products for dental health and repair, denture comfort, and also personal care products. The company, founded in 1950, brought its dental products together under the brand “Dentist On Call,” and products such as Dentemp include the “Dentist On Call D.O.C.” logo on the label. Majestic Drug says Dentemp is the No. 1 selling over-the-counter dental cement, and is used to temporarily repair loose caps and crowns, and replace lost fillings, while providing instant pain relief. The company also offers SenzAway, designed to immediately eliminate tooth sensitivity from cold, sweets and heat for at least three full months with one treatment.

Mason Vitamins

masonvitamins.com

Mason Vitamins will present several items. Among them is Sugar Free Probiotic Gummies, designed to support a healthy digestive system and immune health. The gummies are made with a pectin base, not gelatin, so they are vegan friendly, and available in natural strawberry flavor. One gummy delivers 2.5 billion colony forming units, or CFUs, which Gary Pigott, president and CEO of the Miami Lakes, Fla.-based company, says is a higher amount of CFUs than competitors’ probiotics.

Other new items from Mason Vitamins include B Complex with Electrolytes to support energy metabolism and hydration when taken with plenty of liquid, Ubiquinol for a healthy heart and Tart Cherry Extract with Standardized Turmeric to support healthy levels of uric acid and help with joint mobility.

Navajo 

navajoinc.com

Navajo offers Handy Solutions, a full line trial and travel program. Company officials say retail customers have experienced a 50 percent increase in sales with Navajo’s patented Dispensits program, a gravity-fed merchandising solution that lets consumers see the bestselling brands available and reduces inventory and labor costs for the retailers. The system consists of boxes that show the product’s name and logo so that shoppers can find what they need more easily than if the small items were in a bulk bin. 

“We discovered the shopper has a hard time finding items,” says Mark Deuschle, president of Denver-based Navajo. “They see the top of a bottle and they don’t know if it’s conditioner or lotion. By putting that billboard in front of the box, people can easily find what they are looking for, and they buy more.” 

Navajo also uses sophisticated technology to help retailers drive sales. Handy Solutions incorporates IRI data and vendor data to show retailers their year-over-year increased sales. The information also helps retailers develop the right assortment, which lately has meant more natural and organic health beauty and wellness products. “Natural and organic are clearly on every retailer’s mind right now,” says Deuschle. “Navajo is committed to trial and travel in natural and organic.” 

The boxes for these items are brown, for that natural and organic look. Deuschle says retailers can merchandise these in the regular trial and travel section, and also outposts such as next to the full size organic items. The idea being a shopper might be interested in an organic shampoo, see that it retails for $13, and opt to buy the trial size for $2.99. “We are bringing trial back to trial and travel,” says Deuschle. 

PanTheryx

pantheryx.com

PanTheryx, based in Boulder, Colo., is a medical nutrition company that is dedicated to improving global health and quality of life through innovative life science. The company, founded in 2007, focuses on the research, development and commercialization of medical nutrition products targeting the gastrointestinal microbiome. 

PanTheryx will present DiaResQ Rapid Recovery for Adults. The item addresses the underlying causes of diarrhea instead of just treating symptoms. It is categorized as a food for special dietary use, not a drug, and comes in packets that the user adds to water and drinks. DiaResQ Rapid Recovery for Adults has no known side effects, contraindications or interactions with other medicines or medical conditions and it is effective for diarrhea caused by both viral and bacterial pathogens, say company officials.  DiaResQ was demonstrated in clinical studies to stop diarrhea fast and it also provides vital nutrients when the person is unable to eat solid foods.

PanTheryx will also present DiaResQ Soothing Relief for Children. It can be taken by children as young as one year old, and older kids and adolescents. Both DiaResQ Rapid Recovery and DiaResQ Soothing Relief for Children are available in vanilla flavor. 

Piping Rock Health Products

pipingrock.com

Founded in 1971 as a vitamin manufacturer, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.-based Piping Rock Health Products has expanded its product selection over the years. The company offers health products such as supplements, essential oils and aromatherapy.  

Piping Rock makes Nature’s Truth branded products, which includes more than 40 aromatherapy products ranging from 100 percent pure plant-based oils to roll-ons to ultrasonic diffusers. Kimberly Vigliante, senior vice president of sales and marketing, says the company is dedicated to bringing meaningful product innovation to market first. Its newest essential oil roll-on, Good Nite, is derived from one of the company’s top selling signature essential oil blends. It features an earthy aroma that has citrus notes to create a blend that is designed to be both comforting and relaxing. 

Also from Nature’s Truth, Fractionated Coconut oil is the brand’s newest premium base oil to be used with any of the essential oils. This nourishing oil is a base oil often used in aromatherapy as a skin care or massage oil. Vigliante says the lightweight, silky smooth formula makes it ideal for dry skin with zero grease residue. “Our coconut oil is carefully blended to be colorless, odorless and stain -free; which is indispensable when combining with essential oils,” says Vigliante. “There are so many DIY projects to create with Fractionated Coconut oil, and since it readily absorbs into the skin it’s an ideal oil for topical use.”

Unilever 

unileverusa.com

Unilever is a leading supplier of food, refreshments, home and personal care products. Unilever employs approximately 8,000 people in the U. S., generating more than $8.5 billion in sales in 2015. Unilever has a Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) that commits to decoupling growth from environmental impact, helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being, and enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020. 

Among the newest products from the Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based company is the TRESemmé Beauty-Full Volume collection, launched earlier this year. Company officials say the line is the only haircare system specifically formulated to work together, in reverse, and provide a salon-quality solution to achieving soft, voluminous hair. The first step in the system is the Beauty-Full Volume Pre-Wash Conditioner, formulated with fiber polishing technology to smooth hair, followed by the shampoo to wash away weight, by removing excess conditioner for everyday volume. Formulated with Fleximax Volumizers, the collection’s styling range includes a hair maximizer and mousse. Additionally, the Beauty-Full Volume Hairspray has an ultra-fine spray to maintain the hair’s natural movement and softness for flexible hold with a professional finish.

Wellnx

mypuregoodness.com

Wellnx Life Science, based in Mississauga, Ont., Canada, will be featuring its new line of Non-GMO Project verified plant-based protein powders and snacks under the new Pure Goodness brand. In addition to being non-GMO verified, all of these products are gluten- and dairy-free, naturally nutritious with no artificial flavorings, colors or additives. 

Dana Johnson, president of Wellnx, says the items can be merchandised in the adult nutrition or the natural/organic section of supermarkets. “The products themselves are very much in line with the major consumer trends of clean label, non-GMO, nutrient dense and free from artificial flavors, ingredients and sweeteners,” says Johnson. “Not to mention they are gluten- and dairy-free, and in the case of the protein powders also soy-free. From a diet trend perspective they are vegan-friendly, paleo-friendly and raw, which are three of the largest diet trends we are seeing today.” 

The Pure Goodness products include the protein powders Whole Food Supermeal, made from nine nutrient-dense superfoods; Pumpkin Seed Protein, which contains high levels of protein and nine amino acids; and Hemp Seed Protein, which also contains protein and amino acids and is made from hemp seeds sourced in North America. There are also Protein Clusters, which are bite sized snacks made from whole almonds, pumpkin seeds and chia seeds.