What's new at NACS?
The first NACS Show took place in 1973 and every year features a number of new features and enhancements. Here are five to look for this year:
- Cool New Products Preview Room
The Cool New Products Showcase has been expanded to include a broader scope of products and services beyond just products for resale. Now, in addition to viewing products for resale that fit into display space, attendees can preview floor and counter displays, shelving, technology and other types of services and equipment. Buyers will have exclusive access to the Cool New Products Preview Room on Nov. 15-17 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Nov. 18 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Organic Aisle
Within the Cool New Products Preview Room, attendees will have access to the Organic Aisle. This new area will feature new product options for convenience-store retailers to attract health-conscious consumers to shop in their stores.
- Retooled Ideas 2 Go
One of the Show's annual highlights is back, but with a refreshing new approach for 2005. This year the focus will be squarely on ideas, as opposed to specific stores, as retailers share what it takes to succeed in their markets. Learn what drives a customer's purchase, new ways to generate sales and profits, several cost-saving techniques and how to become an employer of choice.
- New products and services
The NACS Show is the place to see new products and services as scores of new products are introduced every year at the NACS Show. And there are always plenty of new exhibitors; last year, a record 328 exhibitors were first-time exhibiting companies, or approximately one in five.
- International offerings
Several events have been planned for international visitors, including in-depth presentations that cover new directions and formats in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Global State of the Industry, the Global Scholarship Competition, information about the NACS International Forum and several evening receptions. The International Lounge will be open from Nov. 15-18, while International Receptions have been scheduled for the evenings of Nov. 16 and 17 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
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[ nACS pREVIEW]
Open arms
With New Orleans devastated, NACS Show relocates to Las Vegas
By Tobacco Retailer
In October 2001 – in the days and weeks after Sept. 11 when airplane pilots were getting standing ovations from their passengers for safely landing their planes – the National Association of Convenience Stores found itself having to whip up enthusiasm for its annual NACS Show, the association's largest annual event, while most of the country was still recovering from the shock and horror of the terrorist attacks.
Held in Las Vegas, which had seen over 300 conventions cancelled in the wake of Sept. 11, NACS 2001, despite a subdued atmosphere, set a record with over 23,000 in attendance.
Fast forward to 2005. With preparations reaching the home stretch for NACS 2005, scheduled for Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina reared her ugly, destructive head, making the city of New Orleans unlivable for its citizens, while the Convention Center turned into a destination of last resort for people hoping to be evacuated.
NACS faced a decision: see if the city could be restored by the end of October, cancel the show altogether, or find a new location.
In the days after Katrina hit, NACS' Executive Committee unanimously approved relocation of the show to Las Vegas after New Orleans officials notified NACS and other organizations that because of the damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina, the city would be unable to accommodate such events.
So, NACS Show 2005 has been rescheduled for Sunday-Friday, Nov. 13-18, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
"There are more than enough (hotel) rooms," said Jeff Lenard, the association's communications director. "The headquarters hotel (Las Vegas Hilton) block is actually larger" than the one that had been secured in New Orleans. The Las Vegas Convention Bureau has also committed to providing enough additional rooms for the full NACS Show contingent.
The NACS Show typically draws some 25,000 attendees from the United States and more than 40 foreign countries, with gross exhibition space of almost 1 million square feet, and more than 1,400 exhibitors.
The relocation to Las Vegas will incorporate as many existing plans and commitments as possible, according to the association.
If you have registered for the NACS Show 2005, your badge and registration credentials should have been mailed to you in the first week of October.
If you are not able to attend the relocated show in Las Vegas, you are eligible to receive a full refund of your registration fee. Submit your refund request in writing via fax or e-mail to NACS at (703) 836-4564 (fax) or aburke@nacsonline.com. If you registered for local tours in New Orleans, refunds will be automatically issued.
The trade-show floor will be designed to resemble, as closely as possible, the New Orleans show's layout. The expo will take place in a more centrally located area of the Las Vegas Convention Center than the area used last year. It will encompass the same one-level hall that was used for the NACS Show 2001.
For exhibitors that are not able to exhibit in the relocated Show in Las Vegas, submit your cancellation and refund request in writing via fax or e-mail to Bob Hughes at (703) 836-4564 or expo@nacsonline.com.
There will be a few differences because of the relocation. The show will take place Tuesday through Friday, as opposed to the typical Las Vegas schedule of Sunday through Wednesday. NACS will also not conduct store tours, tours of local attractions or the post-Show store tour designed for international attendees.
The schedule for the NACS SHOW 2005 in Las Vegas is outlined below. The association said it will continue to deliver updates via e-mail and on its Web sites, www.nacsonline.com and www.nacsshow.com , in the days leading up to the show.
Finally, NACS said it will continue to work with the city of New Orleans to help the city get back on its feet as quickly as possible in recovering from the devastation associated with Hurricane Katrina.
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