07/13.
What Teens Want East. This VNU Business Media event looks at selling to teens with a movies/music focus. Howard Handler, CMO, Virgin Mobile, USA, tells how Virgin markets its brands to reach this ever-shifting group. Grand Hyatt, NYC. 646.654.7268. www.whatteenswant.com.
07/19-21.
Shopper Insights in Action, put on by the Institute of International Research, looks at new methodologies for understanding why people buy. Speakers will include execs from Wal-Mart, Best Buy, JC Penney, Unilever and Coke. Chicago Hilton & Towers, Chicago. 888.670.8200. www.iirusa.com/insights
07/24-25.
Ad Tech creates a meeting place for media, marketing and such technology as mobile, TV and games. The lines among the three are blurring and this will be explored in this Larkspur, Calif.-based ad:tech expositions event. Speakers include Hunter Hastings, CEO of EMM Group, who looks at the engagement components behind a new way for marketers to reach customers. Sheraton, Chicago. 415.464.8524. www.ad-tech.com.
OTHER NOTABLE DATES
8/15-17.
Building Blocks 2006. Presented by digitalhollywood.com, this event looks at such topics as ‘User Generated Content: an Internet, Communications and Advertising Transformation.’ Speakers from Google and Yahoo! highlight. San Jose, Calif. 212.352.9720. www.digitalhollywood.com/BuildingBlocks.
9/25-27.
PROOF: Market Research and Development for Package Design. This Institute of International Research event uses market research to prove the value of design. Keynotes include Clark G. Gilbert, professor at the Harvard Business School, who talks about ‘Finding New Growth through Disruptive Innovation.’ The Drake Hotel, Chicago. 888.670.8200. iirusa.com/proof.
9/28-29.
The Research Industry Summit: Improving Respondent
Co-operation. Research execs from CBS, GM, McDonald’s and more will come together at this Institute of International Research event in an effort to improve response rates. The Drake Hotel, Chicago. 888.670.8200. www.iirusa.com/respondentcooperation.
10/3. 2nd Annual Media in Canada Forum: Getting to Engagement. Presented by Brunico Communications, the keynote is U.K.-based Alan Rutherford, global media director for Unilever, the folks behind the innovative engagement plans for the likes of Axe and Dove. 89 Chestnut Avenue, Toronto. 416.408.2300 x313. www.mediaincanada/forum/2006/.
10/7-10. The 2006 National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention, presented by the eponymously named all-industry trade association, is largely set up in a business meetings format with private retailer/supplier get-togethers, but there are speakers as well, including a state of the association address by chairman Scott Poole, Wal-Mart Supercenters. Orlando Marriott World Center, Orlando, Fla. 717.657.8601. www.nfraweb.org.
