National Association of Convenience Stores Unveils Its Virtual Event
April 17, 2012
More and more shows are realizing that attendees want to be engaged more than just a few days on a physical showfloor.
As a result, organizations such as the National Association of Convenience Stores are taking their events into the virtual world.
The 2012 NACS Show Virtual site will allow retailers to experience the NACS Show before, during and after the live event, which takes place October 7-10 in Las Vegas.
This year’s site is significantly enhanced from last year, with much more robust content and a cleaner look that allows for easier navigation, according to NACS organizers.
“We have incorporated the ideas and comments from last year’s participants to make significant upgrades into the site and provide exactly what retailers had asked for,” said Donovan Woods, NACS’ strategic sales initiatives manager.
The site contains more than 10 hours of exclusive content from this past year’s NACS Show, as well as videos and images highlighting the most popular Cool New Products released in 2011.
More content will be added in the coming months, including a preview of the 2012 Cool New Products that will be on display at the NACS Show.
On-demand content from NACS Show 2012 education sessions will be posted online in late October.
NACS Show Virtual content posted before the 2012 NACS Show is available to all retailers at no charge.
NACS Show 2012 retail attendees will have access to exclusive bonus content by purchasing a one-year NACS Virtual subscription for $25.
Non-attendees also can subscribe to NACS Virtual and receive bonus content at rates that start at $100 per year.
Overall, 22,312 attendees were at the 2011 NACS Show in Chicago, a 1.5-percent increase, compared with last year’s attendance.
Attendees came from a record 58 countries and international attendance was a record 1,913 delegates. The NACS Show featured a 387,000-plus net-square-foot exposition floor with 1,333 exhibiting companies — of which 324 companies were new to the NACS Show.
In addition, the 2011 NACS Show featured three days of standing-room-only general sessions, 53 educational workshops, four training sessions and a Category Management Seminar.
The workshops drew 6,750 attendees, averaging approximately 120 attendees per workshop.
Reflecting the growing international scope of the NACS Show, select workshops were translated into Portuguese, Spanish and Chinese.
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