A renewed emphasis on providing stimulating, eclectic information for retailers and suppliers will mark this year’s NACDS Marketplace Conference, which runs June 28 to July 1 in Boston.

“We’ll have people from east, west, north and south at the Boston Convention Center, and chains and manufacturers of all sizes,” says Jim Whitman, National Association of Chain Drug Stores senior vice president of member services.

“From ‘Meet the Market’ exchange on Sunday to ‘Meet the Retailer’ presentations on Monday and through to the two new general business programs on Tuesday and Wednesday and the show floor’s close, we want to disseminate comprehensive information in a timely, concise fashion.”

BOSTON — A renewed emphasis on providing stimulating, eclectic information for retailers and suppliers will mark this year’s NACDS Marketplace Conference, which runs June 28 to July 1 in Boston.

“We’ll have people from east, west, north and south at the Boston Convention Center, and chains and manufacturers of all sizes,” says Jim Whitman, National Association of Chain Drug Stores senior vice president of member services.

“From ‘Meet the Market’ exchange on Sunday to ‘Meet the Retailer’ presentations on Monday and through to the two new general business programs on Tuesday and Wednesday and the show floor’s close, we want to disseminate comprehensive information in a timely, concise fashion.”

Todd Kwait, president of Product Quest Manufacturing LLC and chairman of the NACDS Retail Advisory Board, says the conference is critical to the businesses of retailers and suppliers.

“The conference is a must for small, medium or large companies looking for opportunities in the marketplace,” he notes. “The more time and energy you put into preparing for the conference, the more you get out of it for your business.”

Much of what will be learned at the show will be applicable for the rest of this year and into 2010, and be a springboard for show floor discussions, Whitman notes. And the overall conference will extend the theme of Econ ’09 and help fulfill the vow to “see the return of NACDS,” he adds.

Econ ’09, an umbrella initiative for probing the economy’s effect on the industry, will be highlighted by Tuesday’s presentation by Dan O’Connor on “Survival Retailing 2010.” O’Connor, chief executive officer of Retail/Net Group, will explore what economic indicators mean for business plans in the first half of next year.

Also, Thom Blischok, president of consulting and innovation at Information Resources Inc., will discuss key changes in shopper behavior and attitudes.

The yearlong Econ ’09 initiative was conceived by the NACDS Retail Advisory Board and launched at its meeting in March and then revisited at the Annual Meeting in April.

The expanded “Meet the Retailer/How To Do Business With” program will underscore the focus on member services in the pledge to “see the return of NACDS.” It will present executives from 11 chains representing all three trade classes.

“It’s an outstanding in-depth program and what this industry is all about,” remarks Steve Perlowski, vice president of member relations and industry affairs at NACDS.

Meet the Market will enable merchandisers to see new products from small, innovative companies. The daylong program, with appointments coordinated in advance by NACDS, will unite category managers with suppliers and products in their specialties.

And back by popular demand is Monday morning’s Retailers’ Preview, in which merchandisers can tour the show floor before it officially opens for the day.

“It’s really important for NACDS meetings to be relevant and valuable for the attendees,” Whitman says.