Path to Purchase Expo Will Offer Shopper Insights to Boost Sales

ROSEMONT, Ill. — The 2016 Path to Purchase Expo will bring marketers, retailers and agency professionals together to discuss actionable strategies that influence decision-making along the path to purchase.

The annual educational conference and trade show hosted by the Path to Purchase Institute — formerly known as the Shopper Marketing Conference & Expo — will take place Sept. 20-22 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Registration for the expo, which is expected to draw more than 3,500 attendees, is now open at www.path2purchaseexpo.com.

Attendees will collaborate with more than 120 exhibitors to find solutions that increase sales through research and insights, point-of-purchase displays, merchandising tools, loyalty programs, digital and mobile engagement, and augmented and virtual reality.

This year's expo offers keynote addresses from marketing executives at Walmart, Coca-Cola and Walgreens. There will also be 12 seminar tracks and four symposiums, presented by more than 120 industry experts.

In addition, the 2016 Path to Purchase Expo is introducing an educational track specific to marketers and partners in the home improvement retail channel.

"The education at Expo focuses on improving business performance through insights that influence shopper behavior. Expanding the scope outside of the grocery, mass and drug channels to help raise the integrated marketing sophistication levels of both manufacturers and retailers operating in the home improvement retail and DIY [do-it-yourself] is a logical development," said Peter Hoyt, CEO of the Path to Purchase Institute.

Some other highlights on this year's agenda are:

Retail Academy: More than 150 senior-level executives, representing more than 30 leading retailers, participate in the Retail Academy, the leading industry initiative that fosters the most productive and collaborative environment for brand and retail partners. These executives use Expo as a convenient place to discuss shopper marketing opportunities one-on-one in a neutral zone, free from competing organizational conflicts, difficult schedules and restricting silos.

Design of the Times Gallery: The gallery showcases a collection of nearly 100 finalists in the Design of the Times Awards competition. Winners are recognized for the most effective in-store activations, displays and campaigns of the year. A reception and awards ceremony honoring these finalists and the year's top winners takes place Sept. 21.

Inaugural Women of Excellence Awards Reception: The Women of Excellence Awards Reception recognizes a deserving group of female executives who have distinguished themselves in the industry through their leadership and involvement in influencing shoppers along the path to purchase. These inspiring and influential women will also be celebrated on Sept. 21.

The Path to Purchase Expo is the official event of the Path to Purchase Institute, a sister company of Convenience Store News. The event is supported by leading industry publications, including Shopper Marketing magazine, Progressive Grocer, Convenience Store News, RIS News, Consumer Goods Technology, Store Brands, Retail Leader and The Gourmet Retailer. 

The Path to Purchase Institute, based in Rosemont, is a global association serving the needs of retailers, brands and the entire ecosystem of solution providers along the path to purchase.