Retail industry trade association Global Market Development Center (GMDC) is launching a new business development and educational event focused on the consumerization of health care and its impact on the future of retail: the Selfcare Summit.
Taking place Oct. 3–7 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, the summit will replace GMDC’s annual Health Beauty Wellness Conference (HBW) in order to address the industry’s evolving needs and new milestones that will transform the retail outlook into the future.
In response to the unprecedented evolution around e-commerce and the migration of core products from physical stores, the Selfcare Summit focuses on helping industry experts address the shift in power from retailers to consumers as well as leading businesses to untapped markets. With the rise of health care costs driving new consumer habits and buying patterns, research shows consumers are now opting to control their lifestyle in part by seeking health and wellness solutions within retail, with a concerted focus in grocery, drug and mass.
The launch of Selfcare Summit 2019 coincides with GMDC’s 50th anniversary and represents its evolving focus from connecting suppliers and retailers to fostering partnerships between retailers, suppliers, technology innovators, market disruptors, health care leaders, clinicians and nutrition experts, among others, to create more opportunities for consumers to access the wellness-oriented products and services they demand.
“Selfcare is a holistic lifestyle approach inspiring consumers to embrace proactive care through investment in wellness methods focused on food, movement, daily routines, work, relationships and better-for-you living conditions,” said Patrick Spear, president and CEO of GMDC. “For today’s consumer, selfcare is as much about information as it is about products and services. Our unique research indicates consumers are increasingly looking to retailers to guide their selfcare practices. The result of listening to our members and uncovering new consumer behavior trends through our Education Leadership Council and our Retail Tomorrow platform, the Selfcare Summit is further proof of GMDC’s commitment to innovation, reversing current retail trends and creating sustainable growth.”
The Selfcare Summit will feature three days of learning tracks aimed at educating attendees on the rise of the shopper and how to evolve from their product-centric past to delivering value in ways that are relevant to today’s consumers. Participants will explore such topics as “Selfcare and The Store of the Future,” “The Shopper’s Roadmap to Selfcare” and “Understanding Selfcare: Prevention, Maintenance and Recovery.”
The event will incorporate legacy portions of the former HBW Conference that facilitate face-to-face meetings between retailers and suppliers. It also will introduce industry-first offerings such as “Mic-Drop Quick Pitches” during which new companies and innovators will present to an audience of retailers and consumer panels. Each panel will have the opportunity to score the products or services, providing real-time ratings and insights.
“GMDC is uniquely positioned to lead the $100 billion selfcare revolution within brick-and-mortar and online retail because we’re member-driven by some of the highest-performing health, beauty and wellness companies in North America,” said GMDC Board Chair Tim Buskey of Intuity Medical Inc. “Selfcare Summit 2019 bridges the gap between industry experts and influencers so that they can stay ahead of the unprecedented shifts in retail as consumers take back control of their personal wellness journey.”
GMDC also has partnered with healthcare strategic advisory firm Health:Further to provide programming at the event. Health:Further will bring its background of industry insight and connections with the health care innovation ecosystem to the Selfcare Summit and will produce a learning track focused on accelerating innovation and building long-term partnerships that integrate healthcare solutions into existing retail models.
For more information about Selfcare Summit 2019, click here.
