The Perks of Going to the National Grocer Association Trade Show

 

For many grocers, 2020 was a strange year in terms of operating their businesses and keeping up with the demands of pandemic-fatigued consumers. Between the massive changes to how retail POS systems operate and the huge shift in customer shopping habits, changes may have been inevitable. For example, the number of customers who have purchased their groceries online surged to 79%, after resting at just 19% in 2019.

These changes have illustrated the importance of adapting quickly in this industry. If you worry about being left behind, you might consider conferring with grocers just like you at the National Grocer Association’s 2021 Trade Show. This is what you should know:

 

What to Expect from the NGA Trade Show

The National Grocers Association has been the premier gathering place for members of the wide-reaching food industry, from independent grocers to food producers and supermarkets. Excitingly, this year’s show will be held in person! As always, it will feature the best and greatest innovations for the coming year.

So, with all of that in mind, what should you be looking for?

Bigger, Better, Brighter E-commerce

One of the most obvious shifts in shopping trends has been the huge push towards e-commerce. For the majority of customers, the pick-up was the preferred option. Right now, many stores are likely not properly equipped for this.

The NGA Trade Show is primed to show off some of the most intriguing developments in this field. Some aspects of this facet of the show include unique and innovative ways to manage pick-up orders in stores.

Solutions that are being proposed and exhibited include unique ways to store e-commerce orders and a clever utilization of formerly unused floorspace to properly stage these areas. While stacking pick-up orders into tied-up plastic bags might have worked this year, it’s time to polish your presentation a bit.

 

Taking Advantage of the At-Home Meal Prep Craze

Keeping as many customers coming back as you possibly can is essential to retaining the pandemic’s boon to the grocery world. COVID-19 reminded people of just how fun and delicious it can be to cook their meals at home, so it makes sense that people should be seizing on the trend.

The NGA Trade Show will be drawing from the industry’s greatest minds to bring some of the freshest (if you’ll pardon the pun) options to you.

Shopify, for example, will be exhibiting its unique recipe-based platform. By including your products in their pre-made ready-to-order recipe packages, you can increase your brand’s visibility and income at the same time.

 

Pick-up Takes on Delivery

While many people have been picking up their groceries themselves, others have been getting their goods delivered directly. Grocery giant Kroger is betting big on the latter of these shopping methods, and they’ve even invested in creating robotic fulfillment centers.

There’s no way to predict the future, so it’s too soon to say if this splurge will be a success. Regardless, it’s an interesting area to investigate, and it’s always worth keeping an eye on trends.

For consumers, delivery offers them more free time. For retailers, delivery sometimes means that they may be able to push higher-value items to compensate for fees and services.

 

The Evolution of Loyalty

With more tech and a changing world, it stands to reason that it might be time to refine consumer rewards programs. Some retailers, like Walmart, are offering paid rewards programs. Others are taking more creative approaches, such as handing out locally-sourced coupons for businesses within the community.

Whatever path you choose, the NGA Trade Show will be showing off a variety of solutions to decreasing customer loyalty. 

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Mini-Summary

The NGA Trade show is the perfect place to keep up with the latest trends, from mergers and acquisitions to evolving approaches to displaying your products.

As of June 2021, over 400 vendors have signed up to offer their expertise and products at this amazing show!

The show will also host unique events, such as a championship to determine the country’s fastest bagger. These engagements are the perfect opportunity to network with others in the industry. Whether you’re a small grocer or a member of a massive team, you’ll find something to interest and improve you and your business at the NGA Trade Show.

 

Key Takeaways

Now, if you’re looking for a quick rundown of the perks of the NGA Trade Show, look no further. These are just some of the perks you can expect:

  • The opportunity to interact with the latest and greatest technology in the industry;
  • Interactive experience with industry leaders;
  • Networking opportunities;
  • Demonstrations of cutting-edge retail POS solutions from companies such as IT Retail;
  • Ideas and solutions from some of the best innovators;
  • Live speeches and lessons about modern solutions to problems;
  • And much more!

Come say hi, our booth is 319 also ask us what new at our booth! Our system is designed to be used by grocery stores, and our team is always there to help you. See how well your store could be functioning with our POS system by signing up for a free demo.