St. Dalfour’s Post

My Highlight of the Year Comes Early – The NRFs Big Show is Calling! The biggest Retail Exhibition in the world is just around the corner—or perhaps not quite so close, given that it’s all the way to New York! But let’s face it: when an event sets global benchmarks and defines the trends for the year ahead, it’s a trip you simply can’t miss. And to be honest—New York is always worth the journey, especially when it’s buzzing with the energy of Retail innovation.  🛫 So, this weekend, I’m heading to the NRF—an event I’ve attended for years and would never miss. But this year, there’s something even more exciting on the horizon...  🤩 The real highlight for me is happening the day before the Retail Federation kicks off: "What’s In Store for Retail Media Networks" on Saturday, January 11th. This isn’t just another conference; it’s the gathering for global innovators redefining in-store retail media and I am very proud to be a part of it. We launched this series last year with incredible success, hosting satellite events worldwide, including at DMEXCO. This time, we’re bringing together top names in the industry to explore trends and strategies that will shape the future of Retail Media Networks. 🚀 With an incredible lineup of speakers including Patricia Grundmann (OBI), Robert Jozic (Schwarz Group), Omer Gajial (Albertsons Companies), Quentin George (McKinsey), Christian Raveaux (REWE Group), Alicia Esposito (Retail TouchPoints), and Michael Krans (Macy’s), this event is set to deliver invaluable insights and drive the conversation around Retail Media innovation. I’m both excited and a little nervous (who can relate?)—New York, here I come!   P.S. The picture doesn’t quite match—it was taken at DMEXCO in Cologne last year, another incredible event, though it feels like ages ago now. I’ll be sharing fresh snapshots from New York soon and will keep you all updated! #nrf #nyc #retail #retailmedianetworks

🎥 Newbook x American Glamping Association Video Series: Featuring Brandon Sidney of Impulsify Learn how Impulsify is transforming retail for the hospitality industry with innovative, revenue-driving solutions below!

"The rising tide lifts all boats." John F. Kennedy. I firmly believe that good collaboration (the rising tide) only exists when major win-win outcomes occur for the parties (all boats) involved. While planning the first-ever Classic Cookie® festival, I wanted to be sure those we collaborated with had a positive experience with our brand When we selected Historic Downtown Sevierville as the festival's location, I knew we had an opportunity to elevate each downtown business during the event. Here are the highlights from the collaborative efforts between some downtown businesses and our company. 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 Collaboration #1: The salon/spa hosted the birthday cake gallery competition in their boutique retail area. Classic Cookie® Results - A comfortable indoor space for guests where the cake entries would not melt. Salon/Spa Results - High foot traffic and most boutique clothes they have ever sold in the store. 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 Collaboration #2: A two-month-old soda fountain business contributed prizes for social media and festival giveaways. Classic Cookie® Results: We had a unique marketing opportunity to engage fans before and during the festival. Soda Fountain Results: They had their biggest sales day in company history during the event. 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 Collaboration #3: The BBQ restaurant sold the Classic Cookie® Cinnabon cookie warmed up and topped with official Cinnabon frosting. Classic Cookie® Results: We had a vendor who could sell this exclusive item and a place where festival guests could enjoy a savory meal after all the sweets. BBQ Restaurant Results: Packed restaurant during the event with many locals saying they loved the food and would have never tried the place if not for the event. 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 🍪 I am grateful for all these business owners who worked with our team to make our company's birthday celebration special. Through our collaborative efforts, we created massive win-win outcomes for each other.

Looking for a way to spice up those conversations? Check this out.

Arid Zone Sweeps APPA Awards, Taking Home Top Honours! We are beyond thrilled and humbled to announce that Arid Zone has won not one, but TWO prestigious APPA (Australian Promotional Products Association) Awards, along with the coveted Platinum Award for overall excellence! 🏆 The Australian Promotional Products Association celebrates the achievements of its top distributors, suppliers and decorators each year in a fun filled night of festivities. Last night the competition was fierce, with only four Distributor categories in total - so we were honoured to receive the Gold award for 2 categories: - Promotional Product Innovation and Design: Chobani x All Blacks campaign - Event Merchandise: Coors Brewing Company x Good Drinks Australia Ltd Super Bowl campaign  These wins are a testament to the incredible trust our clients place in us to bring their brands to life. We couldn't have achieved this without your unwavering support. Thank you! We also want to extend a massive shoutout to our amazing team at Arid Zone. These awards recognise your hard work, passion, and dedication to delivering excellence in every project. We're incredibly proud of these achievements and excited to continue pushing boundaries in the promotional products industry. Arid Zone was established in 1987 and has won many APPA Awards in that time, but each year as we pull together our award entries, we reflect on the amazing relationships that we have built with our clients. Without the trust and support of our clients, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to create campaigns that engage audiences and contribute to business results whether that is improved brand awareness, increased sales or deeper customer engagement. In the evolving landscape of promotional marketing and events, innovation and ingenuity are not just buzzwords but essential catalysts for success. Traditional approaches are no longer enough to capture attention and drive engagement in an era where consumers are constantly bombarded with information and choices. We work collaboratively to create memorable experiences that really resonate with the relevant target audience. By constantly pushing boundaries and embracing new ideas, Arid Zone continues to stay ahead of the curve. If you want to drive sustainable business growth then contact us to see how our experience and expertise can elevate your brand. #APPAawards #Chobani #AllBlacks #GoodDrinks #Coors #EventMerch #PromotionalProducts #PromotionalMerchExcellence #APPAWinners

Listen up, Medica exhibitors. The real magic often happens after the show floor closes. That's when you have the chance to build those personal relationships that are crucial in international business. Here's your game plan: 1. Füchschen Brewery: This Altstadt favorite is perfect for a casual team dinner. The traditional German fare and house-brewed Altbier will give your distributors a true taste of Düsseldorf. 2. Bar Olio: For a more upscale experience, this cocktail bar near the Hofgarten is ideal for intimate conversations with your key partners. 3. Pebble's Bar: Located in the Hyatt Regency, this is a great spot for a nightcap if you're staying near the Messe. Remember, these social outings aren't just about fun… they're about building the kind of trust and rapport that leads to long-term, profitable partnerships. Pro tip: Always have a plan B. Medica is busy, and restaurants fill up fast. Have a backup option in mind for each night. Doug Bruhnke 🌎 Global Chamber® Kathryn Read Justin Michael 🦸 #medica #messedusseldorf #internationaltradeadministration #globalsalesmentor

Exciting news! I, alongside Warwick R., will be showcasing Reputation at Propel Info's 'Excellence In Pub & Bar Retailing Conference 2024' on 14th May. We can't wait to connect with industry professionals and share how our innovative solutions can help elevate your hospitality business. Make sure to stop by and say hello! If you can't make it but want to know more about how managing your company's reputation performance, reply below or shoot me a DM. #ExcellenceInPub&BarRetailing #LondonConference #SalesTeam #Networking"

We want to hear from you! 💭 As we gear up for another exciting year of ICA Events across the globe, we’re curious to know: what are you most looking forward to at our upcoming events? Is it the cutting-edge technology, the opportunity to network, or something else entirely? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and let us know what makes our events a can't-miss for you! Plus, stay tuned for a special announcement based on your feedback — because at ICA Events, your insights help shape our future! 👍 Like, 💬 comment, and 🔁 share this post to keep the conversation going with peers who might be attending too! #ICAEvents #Networking #TechInnovation #EventFeedback #EventPlanning

Want an example of how to capture content at events? Look no further than Shawn P. Walchef visit to the Pizza Expo 2024. While there, Shawn caught up with industry leaders, like Matt Plapp 🎥 🎤 🍴 📚, 🍔🍟🍕🎙 David "Rev" Ciancio, and Felix Bazgan as well as gave us a behind the scenes view of the events with local phenoms, like Guiliano Raso. Watch our behind the scenes look at this amazing event and be sure to listen to the replay of our Rising Tide LinkedIn Live Room for tips on how to navigate industry events. How do you plan on telling your event story?

Hot take: I believe trade shows and conferences benefit from being expensive for both attendees and exhibitors alike. Why? Because it creates a filtering mechanism for who really wants to be there. It cuts down on the noise to signal ratio. This is our 2nd National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Annual Meeting... It’s held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, which is one of the nicest hotels in the world. It’s $6k per ticket. $14k for a meeting table. And it and its related events run from Friday morning to Wednesday evening—straight through the weekend. Add in flights/hotels/food for multiple people, plus some trade advertising, and an emerging brand can easily spend $50k to be here. Of course, the big brands/companies spend way more than that. Last year, the first time we attended NACDS Annual, we almost backed out right before the event because I believed “there’s no way we were going to get an ROI on such a big expense for a show that doesn’t even have many merchants.” In hindsight I’m sure glad we didn’t chicken out… NACDS does such a good job pulling the leaders of the industry together that by the end of the first day of Annual we already made our money back by orders of magnitude through unlocked distribution. Alcohol-related health & wellness is a new category. Some merchants are afraid of what their bosses might think if they bring our product in. But we have found that if we get their bosses excited about Cheers, and then they bring it back as an idea that the merchant might consider, then our odds of getting in that chain go way up because the merchant has the blessing. It’s still the merchant’s decision, but now they aren’t worried about any potential internal stigma when making that determination. For us, NACDS Annual = unlock the distribution for the category/brand with retailer executives. And then NACDS TSE = present the brand/items to merchants and make it happen. Both Annual and TSE work together for an emerging brand to work with retail leaders to build out a novel category in their store. Because of NACDS we’ve gone from 0 to 11,000 stores in 2 years. And now we’re exploring Mass & Club. My only regret when it comes to NACDS is that we didn’t join earlier! Of course, while we joined mostly for retail distribution, the supplier-to-supplier networking alone makes it worth it. I feel like we’re playing a game of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” with Regis Philbin… except rather than one phone-a-friend per game, now we have multiple phone-a-friends per question!