RetailVision is introducing mainstream consumer electronics products as part of its semiannual event here next week, when the four-day meeting brings together some 90 retailers and 120 vendors at the Hyatt Grand Champions resort, April 26 through 29.
Organizers of RetailVision Spring 2004, which will make first-time presentations surrounding LCD and plasma TVs and projectors, said the response from both retailers and vendors about the new CE debut has been enthusiastic.
In an effort to maintain an element of surprise and to peak interest in its spring get-together, RetailVision is offering only teasers on some of its more popular events.
For one, it will not specifically divulge content about next week’s Welcome reception. Advance word is that this event will involve “ramming competitors with bumper cars” and checking out a spectacular view from a 50-foot Ferris wheel. “Great” prizes also will be offered, organizers reported.
“The team at RetailVision has been working overtime to one-up itself,” said meeting organizers. While last fall’s Rodeo Welcome reception was one of the best attended ever, the Welcome proceedings on April 26 at 7:30 p.m. have a good chance of topping this, said managers of the Gartner-produced event.
Advance billing for RetailVision’s annual awards presentations ramps up with the announcement that a host of entertainers from the TV programs, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and “The Drew Carey Show” will be on hand April 28 at 7:45 p.m. for the “Best of RetailVision” awards celebration. The theme for the evening is “Whose Award Is It Anyway?” and scheduled for the evening’s fun is the Improv All Stars, seen on the two TV shows, featuring Ryan Stiles and Kathy Kinney.
The Ingram Micro team will be revved up for another “outstanding” — and perhaps even a little “outrageous” — Harley Party at 9:30 p.m. on April 28, when the company’s Biker Bash follows the awards presentation, said RetailVision.
RetailVision University ChannelViews, April 28 at 8:45 a.m., will include leading industry experts, such as Insider Marketing, Koenigsberg & Associates, NPD, The Bellow Group and Levin Consulting. ChannelViews have industry consultants sharing their knowledge on a wide variety of pertinent topics.
Also at RetailVision University, PowerViews, April 27 at 8:45 a.m., will include leading retail executives discussing how manufacturers can be successful with their organizations. Best Buy, Micro Center and Amazon.com will conduct the presentation. PowerViews bring in retail executives to educate vendors about planning programs, selling products and building brands.
A key RetailVision feature during the week’s meeting is 15-minute Private Boardroom Appointments, which allow vendors uninterrupted access to retailer decision-makers, giving retailers the opportunity to review the latest products, services and technologies. These are scheduled for April 27 at 9:30 a.m. and April 28 at 8:30 a.m.
Retailers Coming To RetailVision
4Sure.com
AAFES
ABC Warehouse
ABS Computer
ACP Superstore
Amazon.com
American TV & Appliance
At Computer Plus
Baillio’s
Best Buy
Best Buy Canada
Best Buy.com
BJ’s Wholesale
Boise Office Products
BrandsMart USA
Brick Warehouse
Buy.com
Campus Retail Canada
Circuit City
Columbia Photo & Electronics
CompUSA
CompuSmart Edmonton
CompuSmart Montreal
Computer Renaissance
Costco
Cowboy Maloney’s Electric City
Datavision
Datel Systems
Dell
Digitally Unique
ebay
Ebuyer
Eurpac
Fry’s Electronics
Future Shop
Global Computer
Good Guys
Harmony Computers
Hartco
Hewlett-Packard
Home Shopping Network
InterTAN
J&R Music and Computer World
Kmart
London Drugs
MARTA Cooperative of America
Marine Corps Exchange
Micro Center
Microsupply
Musicland Group
NATM Buying Group
Nebraska Furniture Mart
New Tech Guru
Office Depot
Office Depot – Canada
OfficeMax
OfficeMax.com
PC Club
PC Connection
PC Mall
PC Universe
Quill
RadioShack
RadioShack Canada
R.C. Willey
RCS
Scholastic
Shop At Home
Staples
Staples – The Business Depot
State Street Direct
Target.direct
The Apple Store
The Computer Store
TigerDirect
Wal-Mart.com
Westworld Computers
Wolfe’s Camera
Zones
Vendors Attending RetailVision
3JTech
Adobe
Advanced Media
Alera Technologies
Ambicom
AMD
America Online
American Power Conversion
Antec
Aspire Digital
Atech Flash Tecnhology
Avanquest U.S.A. (Elibrium)
AverMedia
Battery-Biz
Battery Technology
BDI Laguna
Belkin
Best Software
Buslink
Cardo Systems
CasEdge
CD Library
Channel Intelligence
Channel Media
Chenbro Micom USA
Chois Technology
COKem
ColorVision
Continental Promotion Group
Corel
Corex
Cyber Acoustics
D&H Distributing
Dane Elec
DCL
Digital Innovations
Digital River
Energizer (Technuity)
Executive Software
Express Group
Falcon Safety Products
Finger System
First International Digital
Freecom Technologies
FutureDial
Gemini Industries
GetConnected
Global Hauri
Hartford Computer Group
Ideazon
IDParts (Karview)
Imation
InFocus
Ingram Micro Logistics
Intervideo
Iolo Technologies
iPark Silicon Valley
Kensington
Kestone Marketing
Keyspan
Koenigsberg & Associates
LaCie
Levin Consulting
LG Electronics USA
Logitech
mediaGear
Micro Innovations
Micro Solutions
Monster Cable
Mosaic Retail
M-Systems
Motorola
Mustek
NEC Solutions
Netgear
Norcent Technology
PC Treasures
Peerless Industries
PlusNetMarketing
Powerware
PriceGrabber.com
Punch! Software
Regent
Rentrak
Ritek/Advanced Media
Riverdeep
Roxio
Saeed Ghaemi
Sakar International
Samsonite
Saunders
Seasonic Electronic
Shuttle Computer Group
Smartdisk
SMC Networks
Speck Products
Startech
Strategic Vista
Sylvania
Synapse Micro
TCA Fulfillment
Teledex
Tentoe
The Express Group
The NPD Group
Thinkware Systems
Tom Fritz Consulting
TomTom
Toshiba
Tripp Lite
Ulead Systems
Unitrend
Vanguard USA
Verbatim
Viewcon
Visart Technologies
Visioneer
Wacom
Western Digital