“Creating Your Business Future” is more than a theme for the 2010 PMMI Annual Meeting. It’s a priority. We’ve counted at least seven ways the 2010 PMMI Annual Meeting can help you achieve it.

Registration for PMMI’s 2010 Annual Meeting (September 13–15; Greenville, SC) is open, and I hope you’ve put aside the time to attend.

New Approaches to Marketing Technology

Jumpstart your thinking with Monday afternoon’s Technology Test Drives. This three-hour open session includes table top displays from six marketing solutions suppliers. As you arrive, you’ll be able to browse displays and view short demonstrations:

• Social Media Tips and Tricks — How to improve the response from your client base.
• 3D Modeling for Customer Presentations – Solidworks and Autodesk both offer modules you can use to simulate your company’s solutions with an actual customer package. Learn how easy it is to set up and use these programs for your presentations.
• Maximizing My PACK EXPO for Exhibitors – Use this complete tool to help attendees learn about your company and solutions on display at PACK EXPO 2010.
• Developing Low-Cost Videos for Business Marketing — Learn from videographers what works best for videos in a B2B environment.
• PMMI U Training Programs — Packaging-specific training programs that can strengthen your team and the CPG customer teams operating your machinery.
• Mobile Business Apps— Your Smartphone can do more than tweet and e-mail. Learn about customizing business apps to monitor production lines and service issues.

World-Class Insight

Even excellent, first-class facilities can improve. Our tour of Hartness International’s world-class Greenville facility will take you through the plant and then into Pit Stops. The Kaizen-like exercises will hone in on improving processes — and yield insight your company can use. Thank you, Bern McPheely and team, for opening your doors and creating what will be an outstanding event.

Voice of the Customer

You want to know what consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) expect from suppliers? Two panel discussions will deliver the message. In one, mid-sized CPGs discuss expectations for automation needs, single-source suppliers, workforce skills and needs, and the role of equipment suppliers in early packaging design stages. In the second, David Luttenberger of Iconoculture facilitates a discussion of materials choices and how they affect your machinery and products.

Strategies for Sales

Now that you’ve heard what CPGs think, learn a bit more about working with them. Jim Camp will be on hand to share what he knows about the negotiation tactics CPGs use to drive down your prices, and how to counteract them. In addition, Richard Weylman, CSP, CPAE; of The Weylman Center for Excellence in Practice Management, will speak about how to channel your passion and performance to achieve the best possible return on your PACK EXPO investment.

Economic Insight

Alan Beaulieu of the Institute for Trend Research brings wit, wisdom and predictions for the economic short term. He’ll talk about the fourth quarter, how it’s shaping up, and what it all means to you.

Exporting Understanding

PMMI’s Export Conference has become a fixture of the Annual Meeting. We will close out the week, with sessions focusing on Eastern Europe and “Benchmarking  Chinese, European and American Manufacturers.” The data and insight will be valuable whether you’re courting global clients or are up against international competitors.

The Benefits of Networking

Networking at the PMMI Annual Meeting goes far beyond the two shirtsleeve sessions, even though they are truly excellent opportunities. And it goes beyond planned events like the Chairman’s Reception and Dinner on Monday, or the Networking Reception on Tuesday. Consistently, the feedback we hear from members is that any time you’re not in a session, listening to a speaker, is networking time. This meeting is a chance for you to talk with your peers about the issues your business faces and the successes you’ve had. Those unstructured opportunities to connect are what makes the meeting so beneficial.

Register — and get a full picture of the event — online at PMMI.org. If you have additional questions, contact PMMI: 703.243.8555 or meetings@pmmi.org. See you in Greenville!