Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Distribution America and PRO Group’s annual Executive Planning Conference is going virtual.
This year’s conference will use Zoom online meeting technology in place of the in-person event that was originally scheduled to take place in Tucson, Arizona.
The 2021 conference will mark the 17th consecutive year Distribution America and PRO Group have joined forces to host the event, which is scheduled to take place Nov. 17-19, 2020, online.
Event organizers say the move to a virtual platform will safeguard attendees from COVID-19.
“With so much uncertainty surrounding the virus and not knowing what we might be facing later in the fall, moving to a virtual platform is the only responsible solution,” says Dave Christmas, president and CEO of Distribution America.
The event will allow distributor and manufacturer partners serving hardware stores, lumberyards, home centers and independent paint stores to meet safely for scheduled, one-on-one appointments.
“Many attending distributors and vendors have corporate policies in place prohibiting travel during the current crisis which also influenced our decision. Our priority is the health and safety of all attendees,” says Steve Synnott, president and CEO of PRO Group.
Focusing on Connections
Leaders from Distribution America and PRO Group say the primary goal of the 2021 Executive Planning Conference will be the 2,000 pre-scheduled, one-on-one private meetings with decision-makers from the nation’s largest group of independent distributors.
Conference vendors will be able to take advantage of Zoom’s breakout room features to present new products and review strategic objectives for the coming year. With recent improvements to video conferencing services and the ability for participants to share screens and files, the individual breakout rooms can feel similar to the in-person meetings that event attendees have come to expect.
The virtual Executive Planning Conference will also feature general sessions, including a topical seminar focusing on the 2021 economy with a live Q&A, a featured product showcase and a vendor recognition presentation.
While COVID-19 continues to have a lasting impact on events and the industry as a whole, the virtual Executive Planning Conference will facilitate the one-on-one interactions that foster new business relationships during a time when travel is less feasible.
Visit the Executive Planning Conference website to learn more and register to attend.
