New Name, Same Game

PHOENIX — Meeting for the first time as the Global Market Development Center, which is the new name for GMDC, Colorado Springs, retailers and wholesalers attending the association's General Merchandise Marketing Conference here this month found the familiar mix of business meetings and social occasions, spiced with more educational opportunities than in the past. In the future, the new name signifies additions to GMDC's programming, but the core of the marketing events — the Controlled Casual Conferences — remained the main interest for most buyers and suppliers. Attendees saw a presentation on new research regarding seasonal merchandising, and concurrent workshops were presented on category management, wellness centers and GMDC's offerings.