Denver (1/12/2021) – In response to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, PRO Group Inc. has announced that the 2021 Group Merchandising Conference (GMC) will be a virtual event. After the resounding success of the 2020 virtual GMC, PRO Group will once again utilize the breakout rooms feature of the Zoom platform to facilitate over 1,000 one-on-one meetings between manufacturers and distributor buyers, making it one of the most interactive conferences in the industry.
“We are enthusiastic about building on the success of the 2020 GMC in 2021 with a virtual format that provides all attendees with the opportunity to discover new products and programs for their retail customers,” said Steve Synnott, President and CEO at PRO Group, Inc. “We are confident that the Zoom platform that will be utilized for the 2021 GMC will mirror an in-person conference and provide distributor buyers and vendors with a valuable one-on-one meeting experience.”
In addition to the scheduled one-on-one appointments, attendees will also be treated to a New Vendor Preview which will allow new vendor partners to introduce themselves, their company and the product they plan to showcase during their meetings. Distributor buyers will have the opportunity to request product samples from new vendors in time to have that product in hand by the GMC. And, to enhance the value the GMC brings to all who attend, a general session featuring keynote speaker Dan Tratensek with the North American Hardware and Paint Association will round out the schedule of events.
“In a year of canceled events and uncertainty, this event allowed us to find new ideas, items and vendors which was invaluable for planning our upcoming show. Congratulations to the PRO team for breaking paradigms to provide real value to both distributors and manufacturers in a challenging year,” said Mike Dawson, Retail Division Manager with Horizon Distribution.
PRO Group is confident that the 2021 virtual GMC will provide tangible value to distributor and manufacturer partners as steps are taken to recover from the pandemic. The live, pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings continue to provide an exceptional investment and deliver much of the same benefit as an in-person event.
“Our GMC Zoom meetings were amazing,” said Lori Crampton, Director of Marketing with Working Concepts, Inc. “What a great way to get in front of your distributors in this time of social distancing. We wanted to back out when this event went virtual. So glad we didn’t!”
Space is limited. Please contact Michele Simes at michele.simes@pro-group.com for registration information. For more general information on the GMC, please visit www.groupmerchandisingconference.com.
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PRO Group, Inc. (www.pro-group.com) is a multidivisional international merchandising and marketing organization with corporate headquarters in Denver. Its operating units include PRO Hardware, GardenMaster, FARM MART and GOLDEN-LINK. With over 70 distributors operating over 140 distribution centers serving all 50 states, the Group’s combined sales volume exceeds $6 billion through its member distributors and an alliance with the VAL-TEST Group.